a lot without Jason deciding it was time to pull his finger out, was Daniel’s honest response, but he suspected that was not what Mrs Leigh wanted to hear. As far as he could see, she was part of the problem – the worst kind of helicopter parent, constantly on Jason’s case.
Daniel felt some sneaking kind of sympathy for Jason, who clearly had had enough of the education system and had done appallingly in his mocks. Miraculously, despite having taken very little interest in the application process, he actually had two offers from universities. Daniel suspected that although Jason was more than capable of getting the required grades, he wouldn’t actually bother to try.
‘So how did you feel the mocks went, Jason?’ he asked, trying to ignore Mrs Leigh, who clearly had the bit between her teeth.
There was a mumbled ‘Dunno,’ and Jason slumped into his chair even more, followed by a ‘Jason, don’t be rude!’ from his mother.
Daniel waved her concerns away. He didn’t think Jason was intending to be rude, he was just a seventeen-year-old who couldn’t see the point in any of this.
‘Come on, Jason,’ said Daniel, ‘this isn’t about me or your mum. This is your future we’re talking about. None of us can do your exams for you.’
Jason shrugged again. ‘I just don’t see the problem. It’s not as if speaking French and Spanish is going to get me a decent job.’
‘But Jason,’ said his mother, ‘you love Spanish and French.’
‘No, Mum,’ Jason said, looking tired, ‘you love that I’m good at Spanish and French.’
He slumped some more, so Daniel tried another tactic.
‘OK, Jason, so what would you rather be doing? You can always go back and take different subjects next year if you like.’
A shrug. And nothing.
‘Come on, Jason, there must be something you’re interested in.’
‘Gaming,’ said Jason. ‘I’d like to work on computer games.’
‘That’s not a career,’ said Mrs Leigh in frustration. ‘I don’t think you’ll get a degree in computer games.’
‘You’d be surprised,’ said Daniel. He leaned forward, turned back to Jason. ‘So why didn’t you take computer sciences instead?’
‘Mum said I should do languages.’ Jason sneaked a stroppy look at his mum.
‘Those bloody computer games!’ said Mrs Leigh. ‘You spend far too much time on them.’
‘But I like them,’ said Jason, ‘and I’m good at them. I don’t need to go to uni to get a job in the gaming industry.’
‘But you could be the first person in the family to go to university!’ wailed his mum. ‘Honestly, Mr King, I’m sure your children don’t behave like this.’
‘I think all children behave like this, sometimes,’ said Daniel, thinking of Sam locking himself in the garage to play his drums for hours, spending as little time on his studies as Jason appeared to on his. Sam’s mocks hadn’t gone too well either. And Beth’s fury about it had evoked a shrug and a, ‘They’re only mocks,’ response. To Daniel’s dismay it had led to a massive row, and Beth and Sam hadn’t talked for a couple of days. Daniel was worried about Sam’s future too, but sometimes he thought Beth came down too hard on him and made it worse.
‘So that’s where you see your career, Jason?’ said Daniel.
‘Definitely,’ said Jason, brightening up. He began to talk knowledgeably and at length about the games that interested him and the world of computers till Daniel’s head was dizzy.
‘I could earn shedloads of money and not end up in debt,’ he finished. ‘Why should I even bother with uni?’
‘Jason!’ His mother was apoplectic, Daniel could see a vein bulging on her forehead. ‘But what security will you have? You have to go to uni, you have to.’
Daniel began to feel a little sorry for her, he knew just how hard it was being a parent at times. Particularly of a recalcitrant teen. He could imagine him and Beth having a similar conversation with Sam’s head teacher.
‘You might not need a degree to work in the gaming industry, Jason,’ he said, ‘but you’re a clever lad, and having qualifications never hurt anyone. You’ve only got a few months left with us, why not at least try to achieve what you’re capable of? There are kids in this school who would kill to have your opportunities. You shouldn’t waste them.’
‘I suppose.’
‘Mr King’s right, Jason,’ said his mother more gently. ‘It’s worth a try, isn’t it?’
Jason nodded imperceptibly, staring down at the table.
‘So what do you think?’ said Daniel. ‘Is it worth pushing yourself the extra mile for the next few months? It can’t hurt, can it?’
‘I guess not,’ said Jason.
‘So you’ll give it a go?’ Daniel said encouragingly.
Jason shrugged.
‘It’s up to you,’ said Daniel, ‘but, if you are going to take this seriously, you will need to attend the catch-up sessions your teachers are running. They give up their valuable time to help, Jason. I have to say, I think the least you could do is give it a try.’
Jason had the grace to look a little shamefaced at this.
‘Listen to Mr King,’ said Mrs Leigh, softening her tone a little. ‘I never had the chances you did. Don’t throw them away.’
‘And it’s not obligatory to go to uni this year,’ said Daniel. ‘You could take a year out, re-evaluate what you want to do. Why not go and see Mr Price in careers? He might have some suggestions for you.’
To his relief, this seemed to go down well, so by the time their conversation had drawn to a close, both Jason and his mum were smiling. Who knew, Jason might even surprise them all.
Daniel ushered them out and sat back down at his desk with a sigh. Jason Leigh was so very like Sam, who also thought school was pointless and was currently displaying no ambition whatsoever. Daniel hadn’t a clue how to get through to him. Whatever he said fell on deaf ears. Daniel was reluctant to be as overbearing as his own father had been, and had seen so many pushy parents over the years that he’d always taken a rather hands-off approach with his own children. Maybe, as Beth kept telling him, that had been a mistake.
‘Physician, heal thyself,’ he said, and got back to work, wondering how he was ever going to cross the chasm that existed between him and his son.
Lou
