Arthur straightened his tie, wondering to himself how he was going to get out of this particular predicament. In the background, he could vaguely hear the shrill voice of his mum – going on and on about something or other that he could care less about. His dad sat by her side, piping in ever few seconds to add his opinion on the matter at hand.

"Arthur... Arthur! Are you listening to me?" his mum asked, nearly shouting at him.

Shaken from his thoughts, Arthur replied, "Oh... yes. Umm... Yes, mum. Please... go on."

"Sit up straight when your mum is talking to you, lad," Arthur’s dad scolded, as Arthur nervously fidgeted about.

"Sorry, dad," he replied, again, nervously adjusting the collar of his shirt.

"As I was saying, Arthur dear... you look way too thin. I’m sure your father would agree with me on this."

"Yes, that you do, boy. A might too thin."

"You can’t possibly be eating enough, Arthur dear. I knew that moving so far away from your parents was a bad idea. And just look at your clothes! My, my! They look as though they haven’t seen an iron in ages! I dare say I’d never allow a son of mine out of the house in such a pitiful state! I’m sure your father will agree with me... you need us to take care of you, dear... you’re only still a boy... you need your mum and dad."

"Yes, yes, son. As your father I must insist that you leave this hole-in-the-wall of a town and come home with us at once."

Arthur cleared his throat, waiting for the opportunity to get a word in. His parents had been against his moving to The Glen from the beginning, but reluctantly gave in once he told them he had acquired a steady job and a place to live. Unfortunately, they had been having second thoughts and now that they had arrived for a visit, they seemed none too happy with Arthur’s choice in accommodations, as well as his current place of employment.

"Arthur... Arthur! Did you just hear what I said?!" his mum screamed again.

"Answer your mum when she asks you a question, lad," his dad piped in.

Arthur opened his mouth to say something, then his mum got her second wind and started in again, "I just don’t know what your father and I are going to do with you! Such a daydreamer, you are! Now, let’s go up to your room and collect your things. We’re leaving this dreadful place at once and taking you back home with us where you belong!"

"Yes, mum. Of course, mum. Right away, mum," Arthur told her, glumly, as he trudged up the flight of stairs to his room at the boarding house.

"And don’t drag your feet like that, Arthur! You’d think you were raised in a barn the way you skulk around like that!" he mum scolded him again.

"Yes, Arthur, do what your mum says... that’s a good lad," his dad said, as they followed along behind him.

As they reached the door to his room, Arthur stopped and turned around to face his parents. His forehead as well as the palms of his hands were sweaty and his mouth had gone dry. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out, so he just stood there in the hallway staring at them.

"What is it, lad?" his father asked.

"Spit it out, dear," his mum said.

No matter how much he tried, Arthur just couldn’t work up the nerve to say what was on his mind.

"Arthur?" came a voice from behind him. "Here you are, Mate. I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Why didn’t you show up for work?"

"Arthur, who is this... man?" his mum asked, looking him up and down. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and wearing a pair of dirty work boots. She noticed his hands weren't so very clean looking, either - what appeared to be dirt or oil was under each of his nails.

Arthur smiled, breathed a sigh of relief. "Mum, dad, this is Colin O’Brien – my boss. Colin, these are my parents."

"Yes, and we’re taking him home, so you’ll have to find someone else to replace him down at your... garage." With that last word, Arthur’s mum made a horrible face.

Colin cocked an eyebrow at her and chuckled. "Arthur, is this true? You moving back home with your parents then?"

Arthur gulped. "Umm..."

"Of course he is, and what concern is it to you."

Colin chuckled again, looked over at Colin. The lad looked quite nervous and embarrassed as well. "Arthur, this what you want, Mate?" he asked, ignoring his parents’ snooty glares.

Arthur straightened up, stuck out his chin and replied, "No, actually no, it’s not what I want at all." Turning to his mum and dad, he said, "Mum, dad, I’m sorry, but I’m an adult now, and I have a job and a home here in The Glen, and friends and I plan on staying right here."

Colin smiled, patted him on the back.

"But Arthur!" his mum protested.

"You heard the lad," Colin told them. "Time to cut the cord. He’s not going anywhere, so now, if you will excuse us, I have a quite a load of work for him to do back at the garage. Arthur, shall we go then?"

""Yes... umm... yes, Colin. Mum, dad, you may stay here for the rest of your visit if you like... otherwise, I’ll be seeing you off now."

"Well!" his mum said, then grabbed his dad by the arm and pulled him off down the stairs and out of the boarding house, calling back over her shoulder, "I’ll remember this Arthur. Don’t be calling on us when you need a good meal or a warm place to sleep." And with that, they were gone.

"Thanks, Colin," Arthur said, shaking his friend’s hand. "I owe you one."

"No worries, Mate," Colin replied, grinning. "Now, let’s get going. There’s a shit-load of work to do down at the garage."