Mercenary at heart - стр. 7
Michael: ‘Dad, why do we have to go to that zoo? I don't want to go there. Can I stay home?’
George helped his son up, looked at him and squatted down to be at the same height as his son.
George: ‘Michael, this is, after all, just a group trip together. You'll visit another city, they'll give you a tour, and you'll see the zoo. You've never been there. How do you know it won't be interesting? Maybe you'll like it!’
Michael: ‘Are you coming with me, too? I know the other kids' parents will be there.’
George: ‘Unfortunately, I won't be able to. I have another flight to catch in a couple of hours. But I'll be mentally with you. Okay? And I'll see you again tomorrow already.’
Michael lowered his head and stared at the floor. George touched his fingers to his son's chin and gently lifted his head up so that he was looking into his eyes.
George: ‘Look, we'll definitely go out somewhere, the three of us: you, me and Mum. Like an amusement park. We'll ride the slides till we're nauseous. Would you like that? It's just that I really can't get off work right now. You know?’
Michael smiled, nodded animatedly, and hugged his father tightly. He hugged him back. Then he stood up to his full height, took his son's hand and opened the front door to the street.
George: ‘Okay, let's go, the bus leaves school in 30 minutes. Don't forget your rucksack…’
747, September. It was a warm sunny day. Michael and Fred were sitting on a bench in one of Ounvilshen's parks. Michael was dangling his legs back and forth as the bench was still a little high for him. He was leaning on the bench with one hand, and in the other he was holding a cream ice cream cone in a waffle cone, drips from which slowly dripped down his fingers and fell onto his clothes and onto the bench. Fred was reading the newspaper, cross-legged.
Michael: ‘We've been waiting for him for half an hour…I don't think he's coming any more. We'll go without him as usual…’
Fred broke away from reading the newspaper and looked at the boy, putting it aside.
Fred: ‘Please don't be angry with your father. I know you wish he would spend more time with you besides dinners. But, believe me, some people don't even see their fathers that way. He's trying really hard, Michael. For you and for Mum.’
Michael sighed: ‘Yeah I understand. It's just that we've been planning this trip to the moon park for so long, postponed it many times, and now I'm here and he's not here again…’
Fred: ‘It's not “didn't make it”, it's “couldn't make it”. These are different phrases. In the first, the person didn't come of his own free will because he just didn't want to. And in the second, the person didn't come due to circumstances beyond their control.’