Page 120 of The Side Road
‘It is.’ Oliver opened his beer. ‘Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? Why don’t you like yourself?’
‘I don’t know.’ Miles took a swig from his beer. ‘Why are you so fucking nice? How did that happen?’
Oliver smiled. ‘A better question might be, what are you afraid of?’
‘That’s easy. Everything?’
‘Then what are you most afraid of?’ Oliver sipped his beer.
Miles hesitated. ‘Being laughed at.’
Oliver chuckled. He couldn’t help it. ‘Sorry.’ He wiped the smile off his face. ‘Not the answer I was expecting. Okay, I don’t do this very often these days, but I used to do it all the time. Faced with a difficult situation, pretend you’re ten.’
‘Ten?’
‘Five or ten. Whatever works for you. On the outside, I might look like a world champion MotoGP rider, but inside I’m a ten-year-old boy.’
‘Are you taking the piss?’
‘No. It’s called giving yourself a break. When you have a really shitty day, sit back and look at what ten-year-old Miles has achieved. Not what thirty-five-year-old Miles has fucked up? I’m just saying it worked for me.’
‘But I’m not ten,’ Miles said.
‘Pretend you are. Look, you can be the man in charge who gets things done. But sometimes, there’s also the ten-year-old. Children are easier to look after. They’re more likeable. What have you got to lose?’
A knock on the door drew their attention. As it opened, a burst of icy wind swept into the garage and Ben followed it inside.
‘Afternoon, gents.’ Ben moved to the heater and warmed his hands over the electric bars.
‘This is Miles,’ Oliver said. ‘I can’t say we’re friends. He was an arsehole at school. But he’s having a crisis, so I’m being nice to him. He has a lot of unacknowledged pain.’
‘I was an arsehole at school,’ Ben said. ‘I’ve almost forgiven myself.’
‘Beer?’ Oliver offered.
‘I wish I could, but I have a roast in the oven. ‘I’m just here to collect Jack. How’s the rehearsal going?’
Oliver hesitated. ‘Jack’s not…I thought they were at yours.’
Ben shook his head. ‘Jack told me he was coming here.’
‘Tash told me…’
Ben’s house,a two-story Federation mansion, boasted multiple gables, decorative timber features, and a wide veranda perfect for outdoor entertaining. The gardens looked manicured. The standard rose bushes that lined the entrance were blooming.
‘Nice place,’ Oliver said. ‘Flipping furniture pays off.’
‘My wife works for Macquarie Bank. She gets a bonus. I’m a lucky man.’ Ben escorted Oliver into the hallway. ‘Last door on the right. But let me go in first. When we get inside, it’s best not to talk unless a question is directed straight at you.’
‘Right.’
‘And keep your gaze focused on her. She doesn’t like it when you look at her stuff.’
‘Because?’
‘It’s an invasion of privacy. Mind you, talking to her is an invasion of privacy. Also, stay calm. The temptation is to get angry and demand answers, but trust me, that never works.’
When they reached the door, Ben paused. ‘She’s sixteen, so prepare yourself.’
