Table talk

Matt puts his hand on your leg and gives it a brief squeeze "So, how's the food?

You look at him with a sincere smile "It's... it's lovely. Truley lovely. Thank you all so much for having me here."

Matt's smile grows wider and he get's back to eating.

"So, Emily, Matt tells me that you want to work in occupational therapy once you've completed your degree?" Paul says between mouthfulls.

"Yes, that's right. It's something I've always thought I'd be good at. I've always liked finding ways to get the most out of my body for my swimming competitions. It's given me a good underatanding of all sorts of things related o sports performance, but I also think I could help.. just regular people, you know, help them recover from injuries, repetitive strains from poor posture their office jobs, lifestyle advice, that kind of thing. I find it hard to explain, but I think I'd like that kind of work" you reply to him.

"That's great. Yeah. there's plenty of work out there for physical therapists. There's many a desk bound, hunch backed office monkey at my workplace. They could deffinatly use your help." He replies with a snort.

Lydia joins in to the conversation, at last she speaks, "I don't think that line of work pays particularly well. Hardly worth getting a degree to then go and be a glorified work place masseuse, in my opinion."

"Well, everyone's got to start somewhere, love. Nothing wrong with having a vocation that helps people." Paul defends you.

"I know, I know. But, you know what it's like out there. Without a well paid job life loses it's joy so easily. I just think that a young woman should set her sights much higher than that." Lydia sighs, then continues "It's a shame Constance moved so far away for uni, she was so....".

"Mum..." Matt cuts her off.

"Come on, Lydia" Paul also adds.

OK, I'll bite. "Who's Constance?" You ask, looking at Lydia, ignoring Matt and Paul's interjections.

Matt Answers before his mum can speak "She was... my last girlfriend. We broke up just before uni started because she was moving away to study in London. Sorry, I haven't told you about her yet."

You feel like you've just been punched in the gut. "Oh... ok" you manage to say, trying to play it cool.

Lydia continues "She was such a nice young lady, from a really nice family. And so ambitious! Yes, you could just tell she was going to really make something of her life. She was determined to find a career in finace in the City of London after her studies. And she will as well, I'm sure of it. Her family have some connections there. I just can't say, for the life of me, why you couldn't have tried a bit harder to keep her Matt, I really can't." Oh, so this Constance broke up with Matt? That's even better.

You look at Matt and he can tell you're upset, even if you are trying to hide it. "Sorry Emily, I should have told you. I just didn't think it was important. And I don't care about Constance anyway, not now I've met you".

You smile at him but you don't feel particulary reassured. Why didn't you tell me you fool. I would have understood. But to find out like this just feels... wrong. Am I just a pretty distraction for you? You really want to talk to him alone, but you would have to wait.

Paul looks a little concerned and decides to try to cheer you up. "Well, if you were to ask me. I think that young Emily here is quite an upgrade on Constance. If I had to pick one for a girlfiend it would be Emily every time." He smiles at you. Lydia rolls her eyes. "Money and status aren't everything you know. There's some things that money just can't get you." His eyes seem to follow the line of your athletic waist, of their own accord. "Anyway, Emily.." he continues, "tell us about your swimming. Matt says that you are really serious about it."

"Yeah, I am. I train most days. Either in the pool or in the gym, or just running. And I compete pretty regulary. I'm never going to be an olympian or anything but I do pretty decent at competition, especially taking into account that I kind of do it mostly off my own back. School used to help a bit, you know, coaching, taking me all over to compete, even had a litle grant of money for a few years. But now I just have to find ways to do it myself. I should probably just pack it in really because I can't get to the next level like this. I'd need funding, and more time to dedicate to it. But I just can't seem to let go and just become a hobbyist. It's tough".

Matts face is beaming. He obviously knows that this would impress his parents. Awww he must really want them to accept me. Paul does look impressed, even Lydia has a slightly surprised look on her face.

"Wow, that's impressive Emily. I could tell you were a spunky little thing when Matt first brought you here...," Matt, looks slightly embarrassed for his dad's choice of words. Cringe. Paul continues "...I mean that takes a lot of spirit to do all that off your own back. Do you get any support from your parents?"

Here we go. No point hiding it "No.....not really. No, I don't. I don't have a dad. No idea who he even is. And my mum has been an alcoholic for my entire life. It's me who has to support her really. She doesn't approve of me swimming. Or studying. She just wants me to get some regular work and help her pay the bills. We really struggle."

Matt looks nervous that you've volunteered so much information. Paul looks genuinly upset. Lydia has the slightest hint of a smirk on her face. She is looking at Paul with a look that says: I told you so.

I don't think me and you will every be friends, Lydia.

"I'm sorry to hear that Emily. That must be... very difficult for you. But the fact that you are such an impressive young woman in spite of all that just goes to show how strong you are. You truly are an impressive girl. And I'll be glad if we can support you going forward a little, if you'd let us, while you are Matt's girlfriend."

........Hold it together...Don't cry!

"Thanks." You manage to say, feeling your eyes well up. "You are too kind."

"So when is your next race?" Paul asks, trying to lighten the mood.

"...er, well there is a competition I could go to next week actually. I think it's on Wednesday. But I can't get to it, it's too far away. I have to get to quite a few competitions throughout the season. If I plcae 1st, 2nd or 3rd I get points towards qualifying to a sort of grand final. I'm in the Midlands 1st League this season and I've had a pretty good start. But I can never get to every competion so I doubt I will qualify."

"Where is the race on Wednesday?" Paul asks again.

"Its in Lincoln I think."

"That's not too far."

"It is when you travel by bus and you don't have money for the fare" you snap, a bit impatiently. Paul is slighly taken aback. Shit, he's just being nice. He doesn't understand, that's all, and how could he with all of this wealth? "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that. I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm really tired.

"No need to appologise, not at all. But if you want to go to that competition on Wednesday, I'd be happy to take you? I can take the day off. It would be no problem for me to drive you there?" Paul says. He looks to Lydia as if asking her approval.

"Really? Are you sure?" you ask, not knowing quite what to say. "That would be... thank you, Paul. That would be so helpful."

"It would be my pleasure. Don't worry about it." Paul takes some more wine and you do the same.

"I'd come too, but I've got a full day of lectures! Matt adds. "But thanks dad." He beams. "I told you she was special."

I don't think your mum would agree with you there.