**The Teenage Years**
Because they had such different views on raising a child, Diana and Thomas divorced. Each blamed the other in their own way.
*»Thomas never took responsibility for anything, so I had to handle everything myself from the day Jake was born,»* Diana would explain.
*»My wife never knew how to relaxalways micromanaging, doing a mountain of unnecessary things. No wonder she was always miserable,»* her ex-husband would say.
Jake was fourteen now, living with his mum and seeing his dad once a weekweekends and Wednesdays after football practice. Though Diana and Thomas had split nearly eleven years ago, neither had remarried. Thomas lived alone in his late mothers flat; she had passed seven years ago after a long illness.
When Jake stayed with his dad, especially this past year, Diana could finally catch her breath. But true rest was impossibleshe still worried. To her, Thomas would never be dependable.
*»Joking around, having funthats his thing. But building anything serious? Impossible. When it was just the two of us, everything was fine. But having a child changed everything,»* she told her mother and best friend.
With baby Jake, Thomas barely lifted a fingerno help, no care, always dodging chores. Diana embraced motherhood instantly, but Thomas never quite stepped into fatherhood. Resentments piled up, small grievances growing until they finally split.
That was Dianas version. Thomas had his own side.
*»We just didnt understand each other. I always imagined how amazing itd be to have a kidshowing him the world, teaching him things. But Diana turned parenthood into a nightmare of rules and worries. Always terrified of germs, convinced something would harm Jake. I started feeling afraid just to hold him. Whenever I tried to help, she made me feel useless. So I stopped trying,»* he confided to friends, the wound still freshhis failure as a father.
*»Thomas, we need to divorce,»* Diana announced one day. To his own surprise, he felt relief.
So they parted quietly, agreeing Thomas would still see Jake.
*»Whats the point arguing with someone who wont listen? Shes always right. How do you reason with that?»* he thought.
Eleven years later, Thomas hadnt remarriedonce was enough. Professionally, though, he thrived. Oddly, his success came from *fun*he designed video games, and business was booming.
Diana tidied the kitchen after dinner and headed to Jakes room.
*»Left the bathroom light on again. So carelessjust like his father,»* she thought irritably, ignoring the *»Do Not Enter»* sign on his door. Inside, the usual scene: Jake glued to his computer, not even glancing up.
*»Jake, flipping a switch isnt hard. Youre not a childI shouldnt have to do everything for you.»*
*»Yeah, yeah,»* he muttered.
*»Half an hour more, then homework. You *do* remember tomorrows test?»*
Later, she returned to find him still gaming. She snapped at him to switch off and study. Jake rolled his eyes, hissed under his breath, and grabbed his history textbook.
As she prepped soup for tomorrow, peeling potatoes, she wondered:
*»How much longer will this teenage phase last? A year ago, he changed overnightcompletely uncontrollable. All kids go through it, but if this drags on, Ill lose my mind.»*
On Saturday, Thomas arrived to pick up Jake. The boy bolted from his room.
*»Dad! Finally!»* Thomas loved their weekends too.
*»Did you pack your schoolbooks?»* Diana pressed.
*»Oh my God, Mum, not again!»* Jake snatched his heavy rucksack and stormed out, waving her off.
Thomas caught Dianas parting shot:
*»Help him with mathshes struggling. And dont just feed him pizza!»* The door slammed.
In the car, father and son grinned.
*»So, whats the plan?»* Thomas asked.
*»Cinema, then the park?»* Jake smirked. *»And pizza first!»* They both laughed.
Now that Jake was older, Thomas had found a way to connect. Friendship didnt just happenit took shared time, common interests, easy chats without lectures.
*»Hows school?»*
*»Fine, Dad. Ive got it.»*
*»Course you do. But if youre stuck, well figure it out together.»*
*»Honestly, its just my history teachershes got it in for me. PEs the only decent class…»*
When they left, Diana thought bitterly:
*»Of course hes thrilled. Thomas only reconnected when Jake got easier. Typical. I handle the hard bitsschool, chores, cookingwhile he plays the fun uncle. No wonder Jake adores him.»*
*»Brilliant weekend. Go on, head inside,»* Thomas said, dropping Jake home Sunday evening.
*»Dad, that was epic! Cheers!»* Jake beamed.
Monday brought a parents evening. Dianas stomach twisted as the teacher slid Jakes report across the tablea few Bs, an A in PE, the rest Cs and Ds.
*»Hes bright but lazy. And he games in class…»*
Dianas heart sank. She stormed home, furious.
*»No more laptop till his grades improvebut how? The years almost over!»*
She marched into Jakes room, snapped his laptop shut mid-chat, and carried it out.
*»No games till summer. Fix these gradeshow are you not ashamed?»*
*»Mum, relax. You always overreact,»* Jake mutteredhis fathers words.
She ranted until the door slammed. Jake had bolted. She grabbed her phone, sobbing.
*»Thomas, Jakes run offprobably to you. Hes talked about living with you before!»*
*»Calm down. Well sort it.»*
At Thomass flat, Jake pleaded:
*»Dad, I want to stay with you.»*
*»I want that too. But your mum wont allow itnot yet.»*
*»Please dont make me go back. Ill fix my grades, I swear.»*
*»Alright, stay here. Ill talk to her.»*
To his shock, Diana barely resisted. She seemed broken. He convinced her.
The next morning, Thomas shook Jake awake.
*»Up, mate. Breakfast, then school.»*
But when he checked back, Jake was still asleep. They scarfed toast, Thomas packed sandwiches, and they raced off.
*»Bed by ten tonight,»* Thomas said. Jake nodded.
A week passed happilypizza, laughs. Then Jake started skipping school.
*»Teachers sick,»* hed say. It happened repeatedly.
Diana got a call.
*»Jakes missing classes. Hes failing history and maths.»*
She exploded, ringing Thomas.
*»Like father, like son! Im taking him backnow!»*
At Thomass flat, she trembled.
*»Youweour son… Hes not been to school! Hes failing!»*
Jake fled again. Thomas calmed Diana, though he was guttedhed trusted Jake.
Later, Dianas mum called.
*»Jakes here. Says he cant live with you anymore. Let him stay awhile.»*
*»Hes safe,»* Diana exhaled.
Thomas squeezed her shoulder.
*»Dont cry. We need a plan. Hes playing Grandmahe knows shell cave. Bans wont work. Whens your holiday?»*
They went campingtents, rucksacks, textbooks in tow. Diana drilled Jake in history; Thomas tackled maths. It worked.
Outside school on exam day, they held their breath.
*»He did it!»* Diana cried as Jake burst out, waving his results.
*»Passed! Im free!»*
*»Well done,»* they chorused. Thomas grinned. *»Now for the best ice cream in town.»*
At the café, watching them joke, Diana felt no anger. Just lightness. Thomas caught her eye.
*»See? We did it. Together, well handle anything.»*
She knew the past was gone. But now, they finally understood each other.
