Jasmine helped her father in the garage. They had both woken up at the crack of dawn, the sun already shining. They were putting all the boxes that didn’t need to be unpacked just yet in there. Considering they had moved from a smaller house it was amazing how much stuff they had brought with them.

‘Can Flick come over when you go away next weekend?’

‘She’s always welcome here, I hope she knows that.’

‘I suppose Tim will be around as well?’ she said, almost spitting his name.

‘I don’t know what you’ve got against him. Has he said anything to upset you?’

‘No, he hasn’t said anything. It’s not that. Don’t you think he’s weird?’

‘People say I’m weird, Jasmine, doesn’t make me a bad guy. No one besides you has a bad word to say about him. He’s done a lot of good things for people for no payment. He’s ex-military so I know we can trust him. This is no different to us helping the people when we go abroad. Charity begins at home, Jasmine.’

Jasmine handed her father another box to put on the shelf. She knew when her parents got it into their minds to help someone there was no deterring them. She just resented not being consulted on something that would impact her life just as much as theirs.

‘Why isn’t he doing this then if he’s so brilliant? I thought he was staying to help around the house.’

‘He’s not going to be our personal slave, Jasmine. You can’t spare twenty minutes away from the television to stack a couple of boxes?’

‘He’s just always there, you know? He’s not very approachable either.’

‘Sometimes when people are afraid or shy, they can appear a bit awkward. He’s been through a lot and it’s our duty to help him. You’re just projecting when you say things like that. I think you’re feeling guilty for being unfriendly. You’re being a bit selfish and unreasonable and I’m not sure I like this side of you. We didn’t bring you up like that. I’d suggest you make more of an effort because he’s staying and you need to get used to it.’

‘Fine.’

She knew better than to push the point with her father. He was a small man but he could be fierce when he wanted to.

‘Pass me the fishing rods and you can go back to whatever you were doing before I disturbed you. I’ve got to get off to work anyway.’