Some twenty minutes after his parents arrival Ryley sat staring into space pretending to listen as his mother explained the goings on and interests of the time he had ‘been away’ as she was now calling it.

John Ryley cleared his throat causing his son to blink and glance at him. Carefully Ryley gave his father a critical appraisal as he went from head to foot. Part of his eyebrows twitched in a slight frown but when his father looked at him he looked away again.

Blythe Ryley looked between her son and husband and sighed slightly moving her bag out of her way she sipped her cup of tea and gave them a moment. Ryley took the lapse in conversation to arch his eyebrows and say. “So what…you plan to ignore me now is that the idea?”

John Ryley sipped his coffee and carefully put it back on the table. “I’m not ignoring you Alexxander. Nice ship I assume this is preferable for your career to work as a..,what do they call it these days? A section head? A department head. I assume you’re killing time till your next court-martial?” He crossed his arms.

Ryley rolled his eyes, “Oh here we go…” he started, but was cut off.

“Enough.” His mother said causing both men to look at her. “ No more squabbling, I didn’t come this far to hear you both argue, put it to rest for today please.”

Both men glared at each other a moment then looked at the woman as she went onto explain how a close family friend’s daughter had twins.

Ryley
MD