The day had finally arrived. Munich beckoned with a whole lot of uncertainty. A foreign country, no friends or relatives to meet him off the plane, the obvious language barrier, no job and just a few bob to keep him going until he could find gainful employment. Roy lay back on his pillow pondering these uncertainties when he heard his father climb the stairs to his attic room.
“Are you getting up at all today” his father asked sarcastically from the top of the stairs.
He normally didn’t come any further except when excess alcohol had been taken. The shouting would start at the base of the stairs and continue into the room with the odd slap delivered, depending on the severity of Roy’s overindulgence the previous night. The skylight often remained open, releasing the smell of stale drink into the night air. On occasion the rain entered, leaving the carpet and a section of the duvet soaked at the end of the bed.
“I’m awake, give me five minutes” answered Roy to the smiling head that had just popped through the opening in the floor.
The Farewell (Extract)
