Tangled Up

"Harry, do you have a girlfriend?" He asked after approaching him.

"What?" A young adult mumbled as his eyes widened after hearing the question.

"You heard me, didn't you? "He said as he looked at him.

Lifting his eyes to the sky, he said "Dad, I...., I think it might rain today."

"That is true, but you haven't answered me," Alexander said making eye contact with his son.

"Yeah, that's right," Harry said staring at the pool in a distance.

Harry, your response please?" Alexander asked as he waited for Harry's answer impatiently.

"About?" Harry asked, raising his bushy black eyebrows beating around the bush.

"The girlfriend question," insisted Alexander.

"Oh, about that, I now get you, dad, that is a good one, wow," He said as he turned his eyes looking over his shoulder to the garden filled with flowers.

"Harry, are you making an effort to avoid my question?" Alexander questioned.

"Dad, why do you say that?" asked Harry.

"You did it again," Alexander said.

"Do what?" Harry asked.

"Harry, Answer the girlfriend thing already."

"Dad, I'm still somehow immature for that kinda stuff," Harry said.

"Hey, stop fooling me, everyone knows that you are eighteen now," Alexander said, " don't tell me that..."

"That I fear girls, of course not."

"I didn't say that you feared girls Harry, those are your words, " Alexander said.

"No, they aren't, they are yours."

"Why would you say that Harry?" asked Alexander.

"I said those words because I just anticipated that they were the same words you were going to speak," replied Harry pacing back and forth.

"Breaking news here on the Banks news Channel, Harry Banks the son of the richest business tycoon Mr Alexander Banks is afraid of girls and as a result, he doesn't have a girlfriend." Alexander kiddingly said taking on the role of a news reporter.

"What! Alexander, don't tell me that..," Harry is what I heard true?" asked Martin, for he gave attention to the breaking news, he said as he moved towards them.

"Uncle Martin, it isn't, " Harry said.

Martin is not only Alexander's best friend but also the Banks family friend, Harry addresses him as uncle occasionally, since they are close, and Alexander loves and trusts him like his own brother.

"Hey Martin, don't believe him because he already admitted it to me," Alexander said ( Harry's dad)

"Wow, so it's true?" asked Martin.

"Yes it's true Martin, he is just like you, " Alexander said.o

"Wait dad, wait, don't tell me that uncle Martin too didn't...., " Harry said as he found it interesting.

"That's it," Alexander said hitting his palm on the round table.

"What! Uncle Martin, is it true?" Harry asked as he smirked.

Taking a seat on his right hand he said, "Yes, yes I won't deny it, it is true."

"Oh my God, so, Uncle Martin, what went wrong?" Harry asked sitting back and ready to listen.

"The problem that I had was one, " Martin said as he cleaned his eyeglasses.

"And what was that?" asked Harry because he was curious.

Martin stared at Alexander and at the same time his eyeglasses as he cleaned them, he did this multiple times.

"Go on Martin, answer him already, will you?" Alexander asked.

"Okay, I was shy and even though I was the best in the whole class, you know, in the classwork thing, in biology, mathematics blah blah, I wasn't good or the best in the go get a girlfriend thing, he said,

"Alexander, why are you giving me that look?"

"I think there is something that you have to rectify, Martin," Alexander said.

"I don't think there is anything that needs to be rectified, Ale-xa-nder,"

"The lie," Alexander said.

"Oh, the lie, and what lie could that be?"

Martin said as he glanced at his fingers," oh, I recall now, Harry, Alexander was always number one and I was the second in the classwork thing, in those days."

"Thank you, '' Alexander said, "speaking of being number one in class, Harry here is also as gifted as me, so if it is shyness or fear then he got it from his mother and if it is brightness, then he got it from me.

"Really?" asked Harry.

"Nope, I think someone here is trying to cover up something," Martin said as he moved toward Alexander.

"Covering up what?" asked Harry Banks.

"Will you or should I?" Martin asked.

"I also feared girls," Alexander confessed," but not that much."

"But you still feared them, right? Questioned Harry.

"Yeah, I did, " Alexander answered back.

"What! You did, how come you never told me about it, Alexander?" asked Lydia, Harry's stepmother.

"Hey, you are back?" asked Alexander.

"Yeah, here I am, just as I left," she replied.

"Hey Martin, how are you, how are your wife and Jeremy?" asked Lydia.

"I'm fine, they are all fine and you?" asked Martin.

"I'm good, I don't have any problems because my sweetie over here takes good care of me," Lydia said as she gazed at him and held his hand.

"Hey, uncle Martin, it looks like we have some love birds here," Harry said.

"That's true, give me a high five," Martin said.

"You two gentlemen are really funny, Alexander I'm going inside now because I interrupted your conversation, so continue," Lydia said as she left.

"So pa, are you happy?" asked Harry as he smiled.

Harry Banks is always delighted when his dad is happy, so his dad's happiness makes a difference to him because he is the only one he is left with.

"Yes Harry, after a long time, I can now say that I'm glad and I want you to always remember that even though I got married again, I still love your mum very much even though she is no longer with us," Alexander said.

"I understand that dad, as for me I want you to remember that I love you so much and that I will always agree to any decision that makes you happy," Harry said.

"You already did Harry, by letting me remarry, a hug please."

"Okay," replied Harry as he came forward to grasp his father a little closer.

Being touched to the heart, Martin said, "Seeing the both of you in this situation makes me miss my family, so Alexander and Harry I'm taking off, good day."

Alexander placed his hands on his hips and shouted, "I thought that you were going to join us for the evening tea before leaving."

"Sorry Alexander, not today because I'm exhausted, I have to rest because today has been a long day for me," Martin said.

"Alright then, don't forget to fasten your seat belt and say hi to all," Alexander said as he smiled.

"Thanks for the reminder I will do just as you've said."

"Uncle Martin, don't rest forever, okay?" shouted Harry.

"Alright," he said.

"Father, Harry, how are you?" asked Stanley (Harry's stepbrother)

"Oh Stan, I'm fine," replied Alexander (his stepfather)

"And I'm fine too, how is it going?" asked Harry Banks.

"Planet earth is still rotating, the clock from the time it was invented to present is still moving clockwise, and the London bridge still exists; it is not falling, so everything is fine," replied Stanley.

"Not forgetting the Statue of Liberty, " Harry said.

"Yeah, that is America's," Stanley said.

"Hey I noticed that you were not home for a couple of hours," Alexander said (his stepfather)

"That's true, I'm sorry for leaving without notifying you or anyone, but I had gone out to hang out with some of my buddies," Stanley said.

"Oh, I see," Alexander said.

"I'll go inside now if you don't mind because I have to say hi to mom," Stanley said moving towards the door.

"Alright, we will be showing up inside shortly, it is just that I'm still having a serious discussion with Harry, you know, girlfriends," Alexander said.

"Oh, that's wonderful, I also think that he should get a girlfriend even though he is a bit shy or possibly afraid of girls," Stanley said.

"Stanley White," shouted Harry.

"Father, Harry, I'll go now, so, go on with your conversation," Stanley said.

"Dad, if you don't mind, can you tell me how you and my mom met? " asked Harry Banks.

"Sure, no problem, I met her in college, you know I was the best in school, so she would come to me for assistance in some schoolwork, and gradually we came to be good friends, we would hang out together on weekends, things like that, and later I fall in love with her," replied Alexander.

"That's all, " asked Harry.

"Yeah, nothing more, is there anything else you would like to know?"

"No, just that I find some scenes missing, you know according to the movies," Harry said.

" Scenes, what kind?"

"Scenes like, how you knew she loved you, her parents; how did they treat you, things like that."

"A crush," Alexander said.

" What!"

"Both of us already had a crush on each other so..," Alexander said.

"Oh, it was easy for you guys to get to know each other," Harry said.

"You can say that but her parents, especially her father was nuts,"

Harry's POV

When I was in the sitting room, I heard a doorbell, it meant that someone was on the door, i

"Who could it be this morning," I wondered.

As I moved toward the door, I saw uncle Martin, today he is a bit early, he never comes home this early.

"Uncle Martin, you are early today," I said after opening the door for him.

"Yeah, that's right," he said, "what's up?"

"Nothing is up, what's down?" I said.

"That isn't funny Harry," he said. "Your father."

"Upstairs."

"Call him down for me, please, I have been trying to call him for a long time now, but it looks like his phone was and is still napping too," Martin said.

"That is funny, Uncle, I loved it, I hope his phone had some really good dreams," I said as I went upstairs to call dad.

"And snoring," shouted Uncle Martin.

"Dad, Da....d," I shouted as I knocked on his door.

"Yes, Harry what's up."

"Uncle Martin is downstairs, I guess he wants to talk to you, he needs you, Dad," I said as I waited for him to show up.

"Alright, I'll be there in a second," he said.

After a few seconds, he came downstairs.

"Mr Banks I'm sorry for coming here this early, I came because we have a serious problem at the company," Martin said.

"What kind of problem?" dad asked as he was stunned.

"One of the Banks warehouses got burnt, unfortunately, we don't have any clues on what could have caused the fire," Martin said.

"What!," my father couldn't believe that something like this had taken place.

"Alexander, I was also shocked when I heard of it," Martin said.

"How much is the loss?" dad asked

"20 million euros," he said after going through some company reports.

"What a loss! We have to cover that up," he said as he brainstormed.

"Alexander, I know we have to cover it up, but from where should we get the funds?"

"From the company's accounts or the Bank," said my dad.

"Dad, I'm sorry for interfering in your discussion but how about you sell some of the Banks properties to cover up the losses, because there are some properties that are of no use to us right now, instead of having debts," he stared at me and I said, "it was just a suggestion."

"Yeah, you are 100 per cent right, Martin we will do just that, and when you think of it we have never made such a loss, just profits, so we will cover it up with our properties, and when you think of it some of these properties came from the company itself," he said.

"Alexander, I'm sorry for being nosey but I don't think that that is a good idea, isn't there any other way?" asked Lydia, my stepmother.

"Yup, Alexander, she is right, isn't there another way other than selling off your properties?"

"Like....," dad asked as he waited for their suggestions.

"Decrease all the employee's salaries, or.... Fire some of them for the meantime," suggested Lydia.

"I don't think that... that is a good idea because these employees have families to take care of and additionally, some of them have been working for us for a long time now, still others have already made plans for their paychecks," said my dad.

"I agree with you," Martin said.

"Lydia thanks for the idea anyway, ah....Martin, let's go through the properties that I think we should put on sale," said my dad, as he led Martin to his home office.

"Harry, this was your suggestion, so... won't you join us, since we may need more assistance," said my dad.

Seriously! I shouted with excitement.

"Of course, come on now," dad said as he unlocked the door.

The clock kept on moving clockwise and so was my watch, all I would hear was a tik to sound and finally, everything was done, I might have given my dad a suggestion to put some of our properties on sale, but I hadn't thought earlier about what these properties meant to my dad, he had many memories with my mom in those properties, but now he had to let go of them, I knew one thing for sure, that even though these physical properties are being sold, we had something that we could never sell and that was my mom's memories, we would always have them in our minds and hearts.

"Martin, thanks for the help, it means a lot," said my dad.

"You are welcome," said uncle Martin.

"Martin, I want to say thank you, for everything, throughout all the past years, you have proved to be not only a good friend but also a brother to me, even though we aren't related by blood, you have been there for me just like a brother," said my dad.

And that's why I call you uncle, Mr Martin, I said.

"Martin, I want you to promise me that you will always take care of Harry for me, I know that he is grown-up now but I am very sure that he still needs to be guided," said my dad.

"Copied that, Alexander, you know that you can always count on me, but..... why do you say such things right now?, I'm asking this because we are both still here alive and kicking," Martin said as he drank his water from his bottle.

"Nothing, I just said so," replied my dad," and....Harry, I have a proposal for you, it's good that Martin is also here or should I say, my brother."

"Harry, I want you to work in my company," he said.

What! I exclaimed.

"Martin, don't you think he should----,

"Work in the company? Yeah, I think it's a reasonable idea," Martin said.

"I can't, it is unthinkable as of now," I said.

"What's that!" my dad let out, " Pardon me, Harry."

"I can't work in your company and you know why I can't dad," I said.

"Nope, I don't," my dad said as he wouldn't get it.

"My studies dad," I said.

"Oh... yeah, that is true," said my dad as he shook his head, " but you can work in my company after your studies or should I say graduation, right?"

"I guess so," I replied.

"Harry is that a yes," asked uncle, Martin.

"Yep, I will work in the Bank's Imports Company," I said, "But on one condition."

"Let it out," said my dad as he was ready to listen.

"Dad, if I'm to work in your company then I don't want greater positions like General manager, Director..., and so forth," I said.

"But you are my son, a..... I want only the best for you, I want to see you as the director or more," said my dad.

"Dad, I'm sorry but you shouldn't give me such kind of positions just because I'm your son," I said as I approached him.

"Harry....," he said.

"Dad, that is my only condition," I said.

"Harry is right my love," Lydia said as she stood on the stairs, moving towards us she said, " you shouldn't be blinded by love, just because he is your son doesn't mean that he should get things on a silver plate, no, he has to work for them, he should even be glad that he didn't grow up on the streets, right Harry?"

"Lydia, no, I and his mother already struggled for him, we built all these things just for him, Martin you recall how I and his mother worked so hard just to set up all these things, you recall all the difficulties we had to go through, don't you?" my dad asked as he was getting angry. Anger curled hot and unstoppable in his gut, like a blazing hell that wanted to burn him from the inside out.

"Alexander, I can still recall everything," Martin said.

"I'm sorry dad if I upset you," I said as I felt bad.

I don't like seeing my dad in this kind of situation and besides, I promised my mother when I was 10 that I will always give attention to my dad.

"No, you didn't upset me, your mother here just did," said my dad as he lifted his hand and pointed his finger at her. Never had I ever seen him as mad as he was.

" Alexander, tell me, what did I say that was not right, tell me now, that Harry here shouldn't get everything he wants on a silver plate, is that it Alexander," she shouted.

"Lydia, enough, that is enough," my dad shouted.

"Harry already told you what he wants, he wants a lower position, why can't you understand your son?" she said.

"Lydia this conversation isn't going anywhere we should end it, and right now, I will make one thing clear to all of you, as long as I'm alive, my son can't suffer, he can't encounter what I encountered, no, and for your information, he is Harry Banks, the son of Alexander Banks," shouted my dad.

"Dad I accept, I will take any position you give me in the company, not because I'm that interested in it but because I want to make you happy and proud of me," I said, " plus, I don't want to see you this upset again, so assure me that you won't get upset again."

"Harry, I'm sorry but I can't assure you anything," he said, "Martin, let's go," my dad said as he left the mansion in fury.

"Mother, what happened here?" asked Stanley.

"Nothing much," she said, " just a simple argument ."

"Was it because of him?" Stanley asked as he stared at me.

What's wrong with him, I didn't cause the quarrel between them.

"Just let it be Stan," said my Stepmother.

"Hey brother, what are you sayin?" I shouted.

"You shut up. For your information I'm not your brother," he shouted.

"Stanley, you are my brother and nothing can change that."

"Step plus brother. I'm your stepbrother. We don't share the same blood, Harry Banks, I'm Stanley White and you're Harry Banks. There is a difference between us, just like there is a difference between day and night, oil and water and black and white," he shouted.

But---

"No... buts," he said, "Stepbrother, keep that in your mind."

"Stan, let's talk about it, let us settle our differences right now," I said.

"Hey telling me to settle our differences is like telling the dog to stop chasing the cat and at the same time telling the cat to stop chasing the mice, do you think that it is possible Mr Harry Banks," he said.

"Stan, don't address me with a Mister, I'm not a Mister, I'm your brother, mother help me out," I said.

"I've had enough of you Harry Banks," he shouted.

"Stan----,"

"Don't utter a single word and should father get to know about this, then you are doomed, it is between you and me, no one else will intervene," he said.

"Stanley, that is enough let's go upstairs or else," said my stepmother.

"Or else what mother, what can Harry possibly do to me? All he knows is showing off, " dad I want you to be proud of me, daddy I love you, dad I would do anything you ask me to" and God knows what he did today," Stanley shouted as he went upstairs.

"Stanley, it isn't like that, believe me, you got it all wrong" I said but he couldn't pay attention to me.

If only he would listen to my explanation just this once, I did all I did because I promised my mother to do so. That's what I'm trying to do even up to now. Living up to my promise. When did he start thinking of me that way, yes I might be a tycoon's son but I don't show off.