Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

The door opens and Benny shuffles in, looking around, goggle-eyed.

I’ve come to take for granted my office, with its comforts, its luxury and the vast panorama over the City. It’s a reminder to me not to forget my roots, seeing the reaction of someone who is so much a stranger to privilege and wealth.

“Come in, Benny. Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.” I turn to Charlotte. “Could you ask Francis to bring in coffee for three, please.” She nods, pops out and then back in again almost immediately. I point her to sit off to one side.

Gesturing Benny to the couches by the windows, I take the seat opposite for myself; a low table between us, a thin brown envelope lying on top. “Thank you for coming today.”

“Um, that’s fine.” He picks at a thumbnail. “Um… what am I here for exactly? Am I in some kind of trouble?” He sneaks a glance to Charlotte who grins and winks at him. I shoot her a glance and she subsides.

“No, not at all,” I say. “Quite the opposite. I’ve been talking to Sam…”

His forehead creases…

“… Sam Callaghan, the site foreman, about how you’ve been doing down there. He says you’re getting on pretty well and I wondered if you would like to make it permanent?”

His face lights up. “Mr Callaghan says I done good?”

“He does, yes. Would you like to stay on with us, Benny? The Company. We can always use talented hands.”

“Oh, yes. Absolutely. The job’s great.”

“Good.” I push the envelope towards him. “You can ask Charlotte here to read this to you, but roughly, we are offering you a permanent position with the Haswell Corporation in an apprentice training scheme with a view to you qualifying as a maintenance engineer.” Benny’s jaw drops but a delighted smile is forming.

I hold up a finger. “There are, however, conditions.” His face falls. “I don’t think you will find the conditions objectionable. In order to complete your apprentice training, it is necessary that you are literate to an adequate standard…”

Benny havers then looks to Charlotte, eyes full of appeal. “He means you need to learn how to read and write,” she says.

“Ah…” He hunches.

“To this end,” I say, “you will attend adult literacy classes, if necessary, at night school to attain the necessary standards. I suspect that Charlotte here will be happy to assist you…” Benny swings his gaze to my vigorously nodding mermaid.

bobs. “I don’t know.

deserves a fair shot at life. Yours is just coming

*****

Twenty-Six Years Ago

me my

snatching whatever looks useful and stuffing into a holdall.

doesn’t matter. You

Where will

But she doesn’t answer…

betrayed

She swivels to see Frank propped against the bar. He gives her that big, all-American smile of his. “I was beginning to think you and Larry had run off into the sunset together.” Turning to

eyes dart to his and then, flushing, she looks

“Mitch, what's wrong?”

She mutters something incomprehensible.

drinks down on the bar next to him, but Frank ignores them.

toxic look. “Not been talking

you?” It dawns that

urgently gesturing barman to the other, he picks up his beer. Leaning over his glass, he listens as Angelo mutters quietly, close by.

puts the beer down, knocks back

at me, Frank. Look at me. Here…” She holds up a slim white wrist, rolling back the sleeve of a blouse. “Look at my veins, my skin. Here…” She leans in close. Look at my eyes, my nose. You’ve seen the rest, plenty of times. Do I look as if I’ve been using? Do I behave like that? It’s crap.

says the police were after you, but…. Some guy giving you trouble? You got

Yes... I don’t know.” Shaking, she hugs herself,

brandy for Mitch.” Frank takes her at the shoulders. “Sit down. Calm down and tell me what’s the matter. I’m sure it’s something we can sort

of the lounge. Angelo follows after a moment,

side, but Frank lifts it, tilting it to her lips. “Drink it. Some at least. You’re no good to anyone in

heaving, she drinks; just a sip, then another. Then