**The Troubles of Adolescence**
Diana and Arthur divorced because they disagreed on how to raise their child. Each blamed the other in their own way.
«Arthur never took responsibility for anything, so from the moment Alfie was born, I had to handle everything myself,» Diana would explain.
«My wife never knew how to relaxeverything had to be under control. She piled on unnecessary tasks and made herself miserable,» her ex-husband would say.
Alfie was fourteen now, living with his mother, seeing his father once a weekweekends and Wednesdays after football practice. Though Diana and Arthur had split nearly eleven years ago, neither had remarried. Arthur lived alone in his late mothers flatshe had passed seven years earlier after a long illness.
When Alfie spent weekends with his father, especially this past year, Diana felt some relief. But it was a restless sort of peaceshe still worried. She couldnt shake the thought that Arthur was hopelessly irresponsible.
«Jokes and funthats all hes good for. Amusement has always been his forte. But building something lasting? Impossible. We were fine just the two of us, but once Alfie came along, everything changed.»
Arthur hadnt lifted a finger when Alfie was smallno help with chores, no caregiving. Diana had embraced motherhood quickly, but Arthur never quite stepped into fatherhood. Resentments piled up, small grievances growing until they split. That was Dianas version. Arthur saw it differently.
«We misunderstood each other from the start. I used to imagine how wonderful fatherhood would beshowing my child the world, teaching him things. But Diana turned it into a battlefield of rules and fear, always terrified of illnesses, of dangers. I grew afraid to even hold my own son. And if I did anything for him, it was never right. Eventually, I stopped trying.»
«Diana, we should divorce,» she had said one day. To his own surprise, Arthur felt only relief.
So they parted quietly, agreeing Arthur would still see Alfie.
*Whats the point arguing with a woman who wont listen? Shes always right.*
Years passed. Arthur never remarriedonce was enough. Professionally, though, he thrivedironically, thanks to his love of games. He designed them now, earning a comfortable living.
One evening, after clearing the dinner dishes, Diana walked past the bathroom and frowned.
«Alfie left the light on again. Scatterbrained, just like his father.» She pushed open his door, ignoring the «Keep Out» sign.
As always, Alfie was glued to his computer screen, oblivious.
«Turning off a light isnt hard, Alfie. Youre not a child anymore.»
«Fine,» he muttered.
«Half an hour more, then homework. Youve got exams tomorrow.»
But when she checked later, he was still playing. She marched over.
«Enough. Books. Now.»
Alfie rolled his eyes, snatched up his history textbook.
As she peeled potatoes for the next days soup, she sighed.
*How much longer will this phase last? A year and a half ago, he changed overnightimpossible to manage. But all teens go through it though if this keeps up, Ill lose my mind.*
On Saturday, Arthur arrived to pick Alfie up. The boy bolted from his room.
«Dad! Finally!»
«Did you pack your schoolbooks?» Diana asked sharply.
«Oh, Mum, not this again!» He grabbed his bag and followed Arthur out, waving dismissively.
«Diana called after them, «Help him with maths, Arthur! His grades are awfuland history too! And dont just feed him pizza!» But the door had already shut.
In the car, father and son exchanged grins.
«So, whats the plan?» Arthur asked.
«Movies, then the park?» Alfie smirked. «But firstpizza!»
They both laughed.
Now that Alfie was older, Arthur had found a way to bond with himfriendship didnt just happen. It took shared time, understanding, easy conversations without lecturesthings teenage boys bristled at.
«Hows school?»
«Fine, Dad. Ive got it.»
«Of course you do. But if youre stuck, well sort it.»
«Its just my history teachershes got it in for me. The only decent ones the PE instructor…»
After they left, Diana thought, *Of course hes thrilled. Arthur only reappeared once the hard part was over. He gets to be the fun one while I deal with schoolwork, chores, discipline. No wonder Alfie adores him.*
«Brilliant weekend. Run along home,» Arthur said, dropping Alfie off Sunday evening.
«Thanks, Dadyoure the best!»
The next week, Diana attended parents evening, dreading it. The teacher slid Alfies report across the tablea few Bs, an A in PE, the rest Cs and Ds.
*Oh, hes done for now,* she fumed, barely hearing the teachers words.
«Alfies at risk of failing history and maths. Hes bright, just lazyand distracted by games in class.»
She walked home in a haze of anger.
*No more laptop until those grades improvebut how? Its the end of term.*
She stormed into his room, snapped the laptop shut mid-chat, and carried it out.
«No games until summer. Fix your grades. Have you no shame?»
«Oh, Mum, stop overreacting,» Alfie said, parroting his fathers words.
She yelled until the door slammedAlfie had bolted. She grabbed the phone.
«Arthur, Alfies run offprobably to you. Hes talked about living with you before!»
«Calm down. Well sort it.»
«Dad, I want to stay with you,» Alfie said when Arthur opened the door.
«Id love that, son. But your mum wont agreenot yet.»
«Please dont make me go back. Ill fix my grades.»
«Stay here. Ill talk to her.»
To his surprise, Diana barely resisted. She was quiet, defeated. He persuaded her easily.
The next morning, Arthur shook Alfie awake.
«Up you getschool time.» But minutes later, the boy was still asleep.
They rushed breakfast, Arthur packed sandwiches, and they sped off.
«Bed at ten tonightagreed?»
A week passedeasy, happy. They ordered pizza, played games. Then one morning, Alfie didnt go to school.
«Teachers ill, Dad,» he said. It happened again. And again.
Diana was called in.
«Alfies skipping class. Hes failed history and maths.»
She exploded, ringing Arthur.
«Like father, like son! Im taking him homenow!»
Storming into Arthurs flat, she barely made sense.
«Youour sonI just came from school»
Alfie fled before the shouting started.
«Your son hasnt been attending. Hes failed two subjectsresits in July.»
As Arthur calmed her, his own trust in Alfie cracked.
Then Dianas mother called.
«Alfies with me. Says he cant live with you anymore. Let him stay here awhile.»
«Hes safeat Mums,» Diana said weakly.
«Dont cry,» Arthur said, squeezing her shoulder. «We need a plan. My mum couldnt handle me either at his age. He knows shell spoil him. Orders wont workwe have to unite. Whens your holiday?»
They went away togethertents, backpacks, textbooks in tow. Diana drilled history; Arthur, maths. It was, against all odds, wonderful.
Later, waiting outside the school on resit day, they held their breath. Then Alfie burst out, waving his papers.
«Passed! Im free!»
«Well done,» they chorused.
«Nowthe best ice cream in town!» Arthur declared, hitting the accelerator.
At the café, watching them joke, Diana felt no anger, no bitterness. Without Arthur, none of this wouldve worked. For the first time in years, her heart was light.
Arthur caught her gaze.
«See? We did it. Together, we can handle anything.»
She knew theyd never go back to how things were. But now, at least, they understood each other.
