Matt Dix

‘Don’t want us cramping your style, eh?’ chuckled Dad.

I didn’t bother to reply. We were nearly at the cinema. I could feel my stomach leap every time I thought about meeting Claire. Which sounds as if I was dead excited about it, but actually I felt pretty sick.

Dad turned up the volume on the car stereo. I groaned. Another favourite Queen track, this time ‘You’re my best friend.’ I know them all, though not by choice.

Dad sang along, looking at me in the mirror as if he was doing it on purpose just to annoy me. Mum joined in with her usual harmonies on the chorus, and they even looked at each other and giggled. It’s ‘our song’ Mum says, whatever that means. Why can’t they just be normal like other people’s parents? Why do my mum and dad have to be so…I can hardly bring myself to say it…in love all the time? They never argue or slag each other off. It’s like they’re the ones who have just met on a date, and it feels really awkward to be around them when they’re so cuddly and kissy with each other all the time.