‘Pretty much. I used to go and visit my dad wherever he was working in the school holidays and he always spent that time out on the water. He was a pretty shit dad with most things, and during term time I rarely heard from him, but those one or two weeks a year when I’d stay with him always seemed to make up for it.’

‘Is he happy that you’re going to follow in his footsteps?’

He pushed himself back a little, treading water, moving backwards as I waded in deeper.

‘I don’t know. It’s always hard to tell with him. He told me that if I needed any contacts getting a job after I qualified, then he’d help. But whether he was pleased?’ He blew out his lips.

I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to not have a parent who was rooting for you.

‘I’m sorry, that must be really hard.’

He shrugged like he had the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

‘It’s like we’ve got the opposite problem. Your parents want you to join in the family biz.’

‘I know, they’d have kittens if I ever did.’

‘Do you think you will?’

‘I hope not. I’d picked English lit to do at uni because I thought it left my options open for possibilities. And now I’m sort of glad as spending time with the kids in the kids’ club is making me wonder about teaching.’

‘I think you’d be great at it.’

‘I just don’t know how my parents would take it.’ The water started to hit my chest. It was so cold.

‘They started the company because that was their dream. I know I’ve only met them a couple of times, but I get the impression they’d want you to follow your own dream.’

‘Isn’t it scary though, all this? Making decisions that are going to affect the rest of our lives?’

‘If there’s one thing that my dad’s taught me, it’s that nothing has to be for the rest of your life. If you try something and it doesn’t work, you can always find a plan B or go somewhere else, try something new.’

‘Is it really that simple?’

‘I think sometimes people overcomplicate it. But why would you spend time doing something if it makes you feel miserable? I don’t think I’d take it to the extremes that he has, but I don’t think that things are as set in stone as you think they are.’