My dad’s car was cold. Especially cold compared to the bed I’d normally have still been in at six in the morning. He began rolling a cigarette as soon as we pulled away, I went to grab the steering wheel to keep us going straight but he put his hand up to stop me. Instead we continued down the road while he steered with his knees. If it was cold before, it was positively freezing when he wound down his window and lit it. As the smoke billowed around the inside of the car it made me crave a cigarette. I couldn’t have one though, at this point he didn’t know I smoked.
“First day at work this Lu, means you’re finally growing up.”
“Suppose so Dad.”
“No suppose about it!” my dad said curtly. “Once you’ve got a job and bills you’re an adult. Even if you can’t legally buy a beer yet.”
“I’ll have to get some bills next then wont I?” I quipped.
“You’ve got bills Lu. Your mum’s going to be taking £20 a week housekeeping from you isn’t she?”
“Oh yeah I forgot about that,” I replied. “Still leaves me with £80 a week though.”
“You’ll be able to save some of that to put towards getting that bike on the road then.”
I laughed, “If there’s any left over after the weekends Dad.”
My eyes were tired, far too tired for what lay ahead.
“What’s the bosses name again?” I asked.
“Pete,” my dad said. “There’s only Pete and Keith there.”
“How will I know the difference?”
“Keith’s the young one, in his thirties.”
“Thirty isn’t young.”
“Do me a favour and don’t say that when we get there.”
“OK. Sorry Dad.”
The journey from Kirk-Leigh to Sandbury was just under forty minutes. We didn’t say a lot the rest of the way, except for when my dad pulled into the car park outside the unit and parked next to a brand new silver Mercedes, apparently belonging to the boss. I made sure not to open my door into it when I got out, I bet just one of his mirrors would have cost as much as the old Renault Laguna my dad was driving at the time.