Page 100 of B is for Beg

“You do know how quickly Hamish normally goes through PAs, don’t you?” Gabe asks.

“I’ve heard some rumours.”

“They’re all true.”

“Pish,” Hamish mutters.

I’m not sure what that means. Maybe it’s a Scottish stand-in for swearing.

“You know each other?” Lexi asks.

“Aye, we go way back,” Hamish says.

“How?”

“Oh… well… we met at a…” Hamish begins, stuttering over his words.

“A lunch,” Gabe says. “Where you go to meet new people.”

“Can I go to one?”

“They’re for grown-ups,” Calvin replies.

“Why?”

Calvin, Gabe, and Hamish all look at each other. It’s pretty funny seeing them lost for words. From the way Archie is smirking, he’s amused too.

“You wouldn’t want to go to one,” I say, avoiding her question. “All the grown-ups do is talk about work and money.”

“Boring.” Lexi stuffs a roast potato into her mouth. “I don’t want to be a grown-up.”

“Why not?” Gabe asks.

“Because grown-ups never seem as happy as kids.”

“The secret is to get a job that makes you happy,” Hamish says.

“Like writing?”

“Or photography,” Calvin says.

Lexi tilts her head and stares at Corey. “Why don’t you have a job that makes you happy?”

He gapes at her. “I do.”

Lexi’s expression becomes stern.

“It’s hard work,” Corey admits. “But it does make me happy.”

“You’re a teacher?” Calvin asks.

“Yes. It’s my qualifying year.”

“How did you meet Uncle Archie and Uncle Blake?” Lexi asks, hijacking the conversation again.

No one answers right away, leaving Lexi staring between us.

“At a party,” Hamish says cautiously.