THE TOUGH FATHER-IN-LAW

Dad, do you mind if we crash at yours for a couple of months? Tom asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice.
Dont mind, his father, George, replied bluntly.

Toms parents had split about ten years ago. His mum remarried two years later, but George stayed put, living alone in a threebed flat in Manchester. Hes a hardnosed sort, almost unbearable at times, and the women who drifted into his life never stayed long. Still, he never abandoned his son he paid the child support, bought what Tom needed and got involved in his upbringing, in a strict, nononsense, fatherly way, without any mushy affection.

Tom got on his own early. After finishing his Alevels he went straight into work and moved out of his mums house, renting a room in a student hall. A few years on, he married Emily, a girl hed known since school. They were saving for a deposit on a mortgage, but the landlord of their room announced he was selling the place, so they had to wait for the sale to finish. Tom thought maybe he could ask George for a roof over his head for a while George lived alone in a threebed flat, after all. When the idea was dropped, Tom was about to give up, but George added, Youre welcome to stay. Just keep it quiet.
Thanks, Tom breathed out, relief flooding him.

George is a man of few words, loves silence and isnt one for showing emotions, so his quietplease didnt surprise Tom. Emily, who was five months pregnant, understood the need for calm and went along with the rule. She didnt realise, though, that quiet meant only they had to be silent the house itself had to stay as still as a museum.

George rose at five each morning, clacking around in his slippers, doing his routine: bathroom, kitchen, back to the bathroom, then the kitchen again. The house rang with his footsteps clack, clack, clack then a crash, Bloody hell! and the clatter continued. He didnt mind that other people were still asleep; after all, it was his flat, and anyone who didnt like the racket could simply move out.

Besides the morning clatter, George tried to micromanage Tom and Emilys life. No TV after nine, the noise bothered him. No frying, the smell irritated him. Keep the lights and water down, hed remind them; he wasnt exactly rolling in cash.

All this went on for a week until Emily ended up in hospital. She was stunned when, two days later, a sternlooking George showed up with a bag of fruit.
Your little one needs vitamins, he said, handing her the bag.
Thanks, George, Emily replied.
Right, Im off. Listen to the doctor.

Emily smiled and said goodbye. After she was discharged, George kept his fiveoclock schedule, but he tried to be a bit quieter. He even attempted to show a dash of care calling her for breakfast in his gruff tone or silently grabbing a rag to mop the floor himself, knowing she needed as much rest as possible.

They finally bought a flat three months later. George insisted they finish the renovations before moving in. Emily gave birth right in the middle of the works, so she and baby Lily had to move back into Georges flat for a spell. Georges own mother and his relatives visited a couple of times after the birth, but George always put on a face that seemed indifferent to guests. He did, however, light up when he looked at his granddaughter. A rare smile would break across his stern features, and he swore hed protect her from any danger the world might throw at her.

Every morning hed take Lily out of the cot, giving Emily a chance to catch up on sleep after sleepless nights. He even learned how to change nappies. When the day came for them to move into their own place, George, wiping away a hardwon tear, said in his usual blunt manner,
Youre still young, cant manage a flat with a baby on your own. Stay here for a while longer. Not forever, just until Lily gets married.

Tom and Emily looked at each other in disbelief. George, turning away, added, Its just oldman sentimentality, dont get teary. Lets get Lily in and start packing. Youll still have time to move, you daft lot.

Tom and Emily thought George was waiting for them to finally move out, but his strange, gruff kindness kept them there. They decided to stay after all, its nice having a granddad around. George, now cooing over Lily, felt a happiness hed never known before, knowing the little girl was the most precious person in his life.