Chapter 12
A few weeks after meeting Mincy, Mathew was still suffering the effects of unemployment. The benefit he was receiving barely enough to support the family. He began to receive notices from the bank about repayments and it was only a matter of time before they would be homeless.
He was brought up in an age where there was a lesser emphasis on formal education and so had no other skills which he could utilise in other areas of the job market. That lesson had prompted him to ensure his step brother Vincent was always on top of his studies.
Vincent, or ‘Vinny’ as he was dubbed by his family, was a straight A student all through his academic life. Despite all the financial difficulties and uncertainties surrounding his domestic situation, Mathew ensured his younger brother was protected from those distractions and stayed focussed on school. This strategy seemed to pay off for Mathew, as Vinny was to go to university the following year to study Economics at the London School of Economics.
On one Friday morning, Mathew picked up the post from the letterbox and went through the myriad of bills and notices in what became a depressing, daily ritual. One letter, which had huge red writing on it, had the words ‘FINAL NOTICE’ plastered across the face of the envelope. Mathew opened the letter, from his bank, stating that he has one final opportunity to pay the delinquent mortgage repayments or face losing his house in 2 weeks time. Mathew tossed it aside.
The next envelope he reached for seemed out of place. It looked as though his home address was penned by a 10 year old child. He opened it up to find enclosed a letter and a photograph. He stared at the photograph. He saw his old friend Mincy in some shorts standing next to a Ferrari in what appeared to a beach resort in Spain. On the back of the photo were written the words “wish you were here”.
Mathew then picked up the letter which said “alrit guvner, we got her last week and luving it. Proper capers with some lovely senoreetas and martinis by the beech. Back home next week. Wish you could join us. Luv mincy xxx”. The letter brought a smile to Mathew’s face.
That Sunday, Mathew went to the church and begged for some divine assistance. It was only because of his faith, that he was able to maintain the strength to raise the family himself for so long. Now he needed his God more than ever and it was only right, in Mathew’s head that he delivers.
He came home that later that day to find his house had been burgled with all of the families most valued possessions taken by the thieves. This event marked a turning point and caused an elemental shift in the psyche of Mathew Michaels.
