Ben hunched over in the cab of the lorry, eyes cast down, earphones firmly in place. He tugged his hoodie further over his face and ramped up his music, trying to drown out his stepdad, along with the roar of the engine.
‘Why can’t they all leave me alone?’ railed Ben. ‘I’m not useless, I can look after myself. I certainly don’t need a babysitter.’
He felt a fresh wave of disappointment wash over him and sank lower while Pete expertly steered the monster of a machine onto a quiet residential street.
Ben became aware that Pete had raised his voice and realised it might be a good idea to start paying attention. He swiftly removed his earphones.
‘As I said earlier, my mum’s a wonderful woman,’ continued Pete. ‘But she is from a different generation, so you’ll probably not have a great deal in common.’
Drawing up outside a semi-detached house, he concluded what had probably been a lengthy pep talk. ‘Please behave, Ben. Tidy up after yourself and offer to help.
