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.

Adam’s apple bobs. “I don’t know. I

needed, Benny. Everyone deserves a fair shot

*****

Twenty-Six Years Ago

me my

snatching whatever looks useful

up; the briefest of eye contacts. “It doesn’t matter.

Mitch? Where will

But she doesn’t answer…

already betrayed her

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 the barman, “Beer and a whiskey

and then, flushing, she looks away again, shoving stuff into

“Mitch, what's wrong?”

She mutters something incomprehensible.

bar next to him, but Frank ignores them. “Mitch? What is it? Have I done something

“Not been

he upset you?” It dawns that Angelo

beauty to one side and the urgently gesturing barman to the other, he picks up his beer. Leaning

knocks back the shot

nose. You’ve seen the rest, plenty of times. Do I look as if I’ve been

were

I don’t know.” Shaking, she hugs

have another and a brandy for Mitch.” Frank takes her at the shoulders. “Sit down. Calm down and tell me what’s

to a nearby seat, but she resists, instead heading for a far corner of the lounge. Angelo follows after a moment, puts the brandy

tilting it to her lips. “Drink it. Some at least. You’re

she drinks; just a sip, then another. Then