“Hi mum.”
“Hello darling, how did College go today?”
“Ok mum, can Charlie stay to tea? He’s helping me with this project.”
“Oh hello Charlie, yes of course Ben, Charlie’s always welcome; I told you that.”
“Hello Mrs Peters; thanks.”
“You don’t need to thank me love, and how many times it’s Clair. You make me feel old, it’s bad enough having a son who’s turned 18 already, you’re 18 today aren’t you Charlie, Ben said it was your birthday.”
“Ok sorry Mrs, ugh, I mean Clair, yes 18 today.”
“That’s better Charlie, now we’re friends aren’t we, why don’t you take Charlie into the sitting room Ben, I’ll have something ready for you both in a while.”
“Dad coming home tonight then is he mum? Or is he staying in Newcastle again.”
“Um I think he’s staying longer love, he won’t be home until the weekend.”
“Good.”
“I know, very good darling isn’t it.”
“Come on Chas let’s go watch some telly for a while.”
“Um Ben?”
“Yes mate.”
“Don’t think I’m being nosey, but why is it good?”
“What Chas?”
“You know, your dad not coming home until the weekend.”
“Oh did I say that, I didn’t say that, did I.”
“Yea mate, and your mum agreed with you like, didn’t she, Oh fuck I’m a nosey bastard don’t take any notice Ben.”
“That’s Ok Chas, I dunno, maybe we meant it’s good he has plenty of work on.”
“Ah yes, of course, sorry Ben, tell me to keep my nose out if I start again, you know what I’m like.”
“You two boys want a drink?”
“Oh Ok, yes please, um Clair, cup of tea maybe.”
“Oh Charlie, I mean a real drink, Jack’s got a heap of beer in the cupboard, we may as well take advantage while he’s away, I always take advantage when he’s away, would you like one?”
“Oh I’d love one Clair, if that’s alright.”
“Umm I bet you would Charlie, Ben, want one as well do you?”
“Yes why not love, I’m always ready for one, I mean I’ll drink his beer.”
“Here we are then you two, a lager each, nice big one as well, nice to have a big one inside you isn’t it Charlie?”
“Oh yes I’ll say Mrs Peters, hehe.”
“Charlie?”
“Sorry Clair, I meant Clair. Thanks Clair.”
“Here you are Ben darling, a big one for you as well.”
“Thanks love.”
“Right I’m off to the kitchen to get on, see you both in a bit.”
“Ben?”
“Yes mate.”
“Do you always call your mum love, you know sort of all relaxed like, my mum would go banana’s if I called her love, well my dad would, she’d laugh.”
“Oh did I, well we are a very liberal family Chas, very liberal.”
“How about the project then mate, shall we get on with it?”
“Well I dunno, no fuck it, can’t be bothered Chas.”
“But I thought that’s why I’m here Ben, you know your project, I thought you were struggling with it.”
“No mate, no, it suddenly all clicked into place in my brain, I’ll finish it tomorrow at College, let’s just have a good drink and get pissed up.”
“Oh well, I’m all in favour of that Ben boy, let’s go for it.”
“Tell you what Ben, like I said the other day, your mum’s a lovely person, so nice and she always acts so young and modern like.”
“Hmm you’re right Chas she is a cracker mate, she isn’t that old you know, she got pregnant with me when she was 18. She’s only 36 now, lot younger than most of the student’s mum’s.”
“Wow, that is young, jeez 36, my mum’s 43 I think, might be 44 now.”
“Fuck, don’t you even know your mum’s age, I know every single thing about Clair, every little detail.”
“Does she mind you calling her Clair?”
“No not at all, I use her first name all the time when we’re alone, or with close friends.”
“I wish I could be as relaxed as that with my mum and dad.”
“No not with dad as well, he’s fucking tight, he’d go nuts if I called her Clair in front of him, I called him Jack one evening he didn’t half give me a funny look over his glasses, all sort of school master like.”
“Come on anyway Chas, drink up, I feel like getting a bit merry and cutting loose for a change.”
“Hmm me too mate, let’s get blasted, fuck the College work.”
“Better ring your mum Chas; tell her you’re here and staying the night before we get too fucked up in the head.”
“Oh do you reckon I can stay all night then Ben, won’t your mum mind? I mean we haven’t asked her yet.”
“Clair, Charlie, it’s Clair, not my mum, we want you to call her Clair and be open and friendly, not all formal like. Clair’s your friend now, real friend I hope; she’ll only give you another bollocking for being too formal.”
“Wow Ben, I just have a problem getting used to it like, the liberated thing you know.”