Imagine

Chapter 32

John had taken Julian home........................

"Okay, I'll see ye tomorrow kid."

"Right. After school?"

"Yeh. Remember, pick me up at three. No later or I'll beat you."

"Ey, you can't do that. Just remember that. I could beat you."

"That's citizen abuse!"

John laughed. "Nah. I would never hit my firstborn. Behave young man. I don't want you rebelling."

"Too late for that."

"I know.

"Should've told me a few years ago. Maybe I wouldn't have...........whoops................I meant would have listened to you."

"Ey. You wouldn't have. We all know that. You would have acted like any old teenager wanting to get his way."

"No way! Not me! I would never!"

"Yeh. I believe that 100%. I'm serious Jules. I know yer not 5 anymore but you need to behave."

"Dad, I'm 17. I won't behave whether you like it or not."

"Alright. Just have fun. Don't disappoint yer mum."

"I don't think I ever disappointed her."

"Good. If I find out you did, yer in trouble."

John had reached over and gave Julian a hug.

"What was that for?" Julian asked.

"Because anything could happen from now to the time I pick you up tomorrow."

"But nothing will happen."

"Never say that. It could happen and you know it."

"Dad...............when are you going to get off that fear?"

"Never. Life is too short."

"I know. But nothing's going to happen."

"You can't be too sure about that."

"Tomorrow, we'll continue to work on getting you outside."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Yer doing it anyways."

John gave a disappointed face.

"But I really don't want to."

"I don't care. Next time you see Paul, he'll be impressed. Don't you think?"

"I don't want to impress him. He doesn't need to be impressed. I've never impressed him, nor do I want to."

"Yer being stubborn."

"Good. Don't act like me."

"Who? Me? I would never."

"That makes me think that ye'll start acting stubborn."

"No way. I'm a good kid. Remember?"

"A good kid that rebels."

"Only against you."

"Ey! I thought you rebelled against yer muther too."

"Eh. Sometimes. Not as much as I would to you though."

"That's an insult."

"I know." Julian laughed. "That's why I said that."

John growled playfully. "Okay. You made yer point. leave the car before I push you out."

"You would never. Like you said, you won't lay a hand on me."

John pretended to think about that for a moment. "I'll make an exception."

"No way! Fine. I'm out of here. Why do you treat me like this?"

"Uh................because yer my son."

"Not a good excuse."

"Now who's stalling?"

"Certainly not me."

"Lies. All lies."

"Alright. I'm gone. Don't miss me too much." Julian said, getting out of the car. He stood by the open door as he and John continued to talk.

"I would never miss you."

"I figured."

"I'm kidding. Of course I'll miss you."

"Cry me a river."

"Not that much. I don't miss you that much."

"I love ye dad. Don't do anything stupid."

"When have I ever done anything stupid?"

"When you were younger."

"How do you know??!!"

"Mum and Paul told me."

"When has Paul come to visit you?"

"Hmm. He has a lot. We have a close relationship. You do know that right?"

"I do now. I'm jealous now."

"Eh. Ye'll be fine. He comes over every once in a while. Well, did before you moved here."

"So, he doesn't anymore?"

"He still does. But I haven't really seen him this month except when you were looking for a place to live."

"Oh. Well, good. That means I can have you all to meself."

"Says who?"

"Says me!"