The Shadow

Chapter 21 (Getting Better)

Dr Lennon sat down on his office chair. He pondered over McCartney's folder and read again the latest notes they had written down this day. He silently prayed that things would look up for their business.

In front of others Alfred seemed to be a person sure of himself, confident and positive. He knew this was all an image. And he knew that he was just another insecure person. His son unfortunately was like that too. He knew John better than most people believed. They were so much alike afterall.

There was a knock at the door which distracted him from his thoughts.

"Come in." he murmured but did not look up not even when he felt somebody standing above him.

"Hello to you too dad." the hoarse voise spoke up leaving Alfred with no uncertainty over who it might be. He looked up to see his son half smiling down at him.

"John boy." he stood up to hug his son as a greeting and sat back down on his chair, motioning John to sit as well.

"What are you doing here? You are not supposed to be back until later this month. Anything wrong?"

"Actually, there is."

"Come on then. Tell me son." his father pressed on.

"I don't think I can keep up with these sessions. Really, I don't think I'm ready. No yet." John sighed, "I think I missed long enough. I want to be back."

"And what do you expect me to do about it? You can't left unfinished business!"

"Well, send Stuart then!" John fumed.

"John, you know I won't force Stuart to finish what you took on. This is so childish of you."

"You know I won't go back there. You can't make me."

The older man gritted his teeth annoyed with his son's whims.

"I want to know John, why did you come back really?"

"It doesn't matter. I just want you to get me out of these seminars. I don't want to be back in London and this is it."

"What did you tell them?"

"That you needed me here for some emergency and that you would contact them as soon as possible."

"Why do you do this to me John? You are such a spoiled one."

"I'm your son. You should spoil me sometimes."

"There is no time for joking around John Whinston Lennon. If you don't want to continue this, that means I have to go instead. And as a result you need to tell me how things are going. A topic you avoided systematically the last days."

John shuddered. Yes, he was sure he didn't want to go back. And yes, he had prepared what he had to say to his father when he would see him. But even the most oragnised plans had their problems. He had not thought of what he would say about Paul's case. Surely, he had to be careful with his choice of words. He sighed heavily.

"I have projected each of our cases fully. We even discussed some of them..." he took a deep breath, "But there is one that I did not show at all and I was not planning on doing so," and there was the last straw, "and it is Paul's case, this one."

Silense. Silense was what followed John's last words. Alfred stared at his son's eyes, trying to find an answer in them on the question: Why are you doing this to me?

"Son, this is irresponsible." he replied calmly after a long moment.

"Not in the least. I think it is the most responsible thing I have ever done in my life."