Tyler's Battle

Chapter 20 - Tyler's Got a Dad

The group arrived back at Ashdene Ridge in highs spirits after a fun afternoon of bowling. They entered the house like a whirlwind all chatting and laughing . Coats were thrown on the coat stand shoes kicked under the stairs. Whilst the others dispersed into the living room and kitchen, Jody headed straight for Tyler's room. She knocked at the door. Tyler had been curled on his bed, he sat up and dried his eyes on his sleeves.

Come in

Hey Ty, how was the funeral?

Tyler shrugged

If you don't want to talk about it that's ok but you know im always here if you need me

Thanks

Bowling wasn't that great really, you didn't miss anything much. Alex thrashed everyone, Candi-rose broke a nail so she wouldn't play and some grumpy people in the next lane kept tutting because we were too noisy, how can you be too noisy at a bowling alley, I don't ....

I've got a dad blurted out Tyler

What?

I've got a dad. Cousin Irene told me

Right, yeah well we've all got dads, we just don't see them and you don't even know who yours is

I do now. I just don't understand why my mum never told me about him. All this time iv grown up thinking I don't have a dad. Thinking he was just some guy mum met at a party. Thinking he didn't know I exist. And now I found out that it was all a lie. That he knew all about me. 

Maybe your mum was trying to protect you and did what she thought was best.

How can it be best to lie to me and to deny me the opportunity to know my dad, maybe even meet him.
I don't know ty. All I know is that she really loved you and cared about you. Not like my mum.
You think so?
Yeah I do. Remember when you thought you might be moving in with your mum and we fell out.
Yeah.
I wasn't just scared of losing you. I was jealous. Jealous because you could go home to a mum that loved you. A mum that wanted to take you on outings, decorate your room, throw you a party, make up for lost time. When has my mum ever done anything like that for me?
I suppose. But why stop me from knowing about my dad
I don't know but I do know there is nothing to stop you getting to know your dad now.
Huh. It will take social services ages to track him down and then they will want to run loads of checks on him and then if I'm really lucky I can have a supervised visit with social workers watching and poking their noses in whenever they feel like it.
Well why don't we track him down ourselves and by pass social services and all their nonsense?
You really think we can track him down on our own?
Can't hurt to try responded Jody grinning