Life of Riley: Tea for two
"Come in if you're good looking."
"I wish you wouldn't do that, mum", I said through the screen door. "I could be anyone. I don't know why I bother to knock."
But she wasn't listening. Stephanie had just learnt that Sebastian was dying.
"I should have guessed it", I said, stepping into the lounge. "You're watching your soap."
"Since you're up, make us a cuppa, will you? And I'll have a Tim Tam. They're in the cake tin on the second shelf."
There was nothing for it. I walked through to the kitchen and did her bidding.
"Let it draw a bit, love", she said from her armchair. "I like it to brew."
"You're a good boy", she said when I bought her the tray. With Home and Away over she could attend to other things. "What would I ever do without you? Oh dear, you know how I dislike drinking my tea from a mug. Never mind — at least it's hot and it's wet. How's Jill and the kids?"
"They're fine", I said. "Are you coming Sunday?"
"Of course, love. I wouldn't miss my grand-daughter's ... eh ... "
"Twelfth, mum."
"Is that it? Twelve years — it only seems like yesterday when she was born. You know, I left school when I was her age. I did. Your gran sent me out to work because we needed the money. It was common then. Not like today, eh? Pour me another cup will you?"
"No, mum", I said, refilling her mug, "not like today".
"But what have we gained? Tell me that. I worked right up to the time I married your father (God rest his soul). You've had the advantages denied us. You and your sister went on to university. And that took some doing on our part, I tell you. And you've done alright."
"Yes, mum. I've done alright."
"But what has a 12-year-old got to look forward to today? Tell me that. Schooling for what? All these educated young people and no one wants to employ them. It makes me wonder what we've gained over the years."
"I've done alright."
"Oh yes, you've done alright. But it's a bit unfair on today's kids. They can't cash in their chips as easily as you could."
"Don't you think it's a bit early to be worrying about her future when she's only just turning 12?"
"Someone's got to. We battled all our lives — your father and I — but at least we got somewhere. We educated you kids, paid off the house, got a nice car and secured a little comfort for our old age. But where's the guarantees for my grand-children? Tell me that.?"
"I'm certain they'll manage", I said.
"You know what your trouble is: you got it too easy. You were too accepting of the world. Maybe at university when you joined up with those radicals ... "
"SYA, mum — Socialist Youth Alliance."
"Yeah, them — you had some heart. But you soon put those days behind you."
"I grew as a person, mum, and changed for the better."
"What a pity", she said, "that the world didn't".
By Dave Riley