Ella and Anton were cycling home from collecting the lichen data the next Saturday. “Please can we get breakfast? Granny T is off to the meeting about the train boycott. There’ll be nothing at home and I’m weak with hunger.”

Anton knew Ella meant for them to stop at Ko Gae. “Only if Dana’s car is not in the parking lot. I just cannot see that woman right now.”

“Deal.”

When they got to the restaurant, Anton checked the entire lot to make sure Dana wasn’t there. Back at Ella he said, “Okay let’s go. All clear.”

A new waitress served them. They both ordered the mega-breakfast. As they waited, Ella took out her sketch pad to show him some sketches she’d made of foliose lichen. 

“You know, you really know how to get the feeling of a particular species of lichen into your sketches. This could so easily just look like some lettuce leaves, but it is clear it is lichen. You know when I do a book about my research, I want you to do the illustrations,” Anton said, overly excited about the sketch. 

“I would love that,” Ella said. 

“How cool would it be to have a book with both of our names on the cover?”

“Best thing ever!” Ella raised her hand for a high five and Anton slapped it. 

“So, what are you two so worked up about?” 

They both looked up and there was Dana. She immediately noticed their change in behaviour. “You’re looking at me like I eat babies. What did I do?”

“Nothing,” Ella quickly said in the hope that Dana would go away before Anton got too upset. “You just frightened us. We didn’t know anyone was there.”

Dana patted Anton’s shoulder. “Sorry, Ant. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Don’t call me that! My name is Anton! And don’t touch me!” 

People in the restaurant looked their way. 

“It’s fine, Anton,” Ella whispered. “Leave it. She didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Dana said. 

Anton said nothing … and then he couldn’t. It had been seven days of emotions all piled up inside, like a volcano that was blocked and couldn’t erupt. Suddenly that big boulder blocking the entrance shifted and the lava burst out – all over the table, the checked tiled floor, all over his father’s mistress. 

“Leave us alone! Leave my father alone! Who do you think you are, destroying our family? I saw you! I saw you kissing my father! I know!” He pounded his chest. “I know!”

Ella pulled him to his feet. She dragged him out of the restaurant. Outside, she quickly unlocked the bikes and pushed his at him. 

“Get on. You’re fine. Everything’s fine. Get on the bike.” 

Anton mechanically climbed on the bicycle even though his eyes were blurry with tears and his arms were shaking. 

“I’ll make us cereal at the flat,” Ella said.

Anton looked back at the restaurant and Dana was standing in the parking lot, her hands by her side, crying. 

At the flat, they were surprised to find Ella’s grandmother at home. She was just about to go out with Fritz when she saw Anton. 

“What happened?” she said. She took Anton by the hand and led him into the kitchen. She sat him in one of the hard, straight-backed, wooden chairs and got him a glass of water. “Drink.”

She watched him until he’d drunk the entire glass. “Okay. Tell me.”

Ella started to explain, but Granny T held up her hand. “Let him talk.”

Anton started to explain about seeing his father and Dana. About how he’d not known what to do. How his mother didn’t seem to care about the marriage anymore. And about his rude, loud outburst at Ko Gae.

“I feel terrible. I made a spectacle of myself. And I’m not sure Dana is who I’m even angry with,” Anton said. “I even have a rash.”

“First, forgive yourself right now. You’re human and you’re a kid. You were given a heavy bag to carry and it was unfair.” She looked at Ella. “Do something useful. Make your friend some breakfast. And not cereal.”

She turned back to Anton. “Now, your parent’s marriage is their business. But your father made a mistake making it yours. I’m sure he’ll be knowing about that soon enough. What I’ve learned along the way, is people need to feel what they’re feeling. You need to feel what you’re feeling. You’re angry. You’re scared. It’s okay. Those are your feelings. When your father asks you, tell him. Tell him what you’re feeling about everything. He’s going to have his own feelings. Your mother is too; so’s Claire. Let people feel. Then, you got love. On the other side of those feelings, you’ll find a way. One way or another, you’ll find a way. If it’s tough for a bit, you got Ella and you got me.”

Anton smiled at Granny T. She took a cloth handkerchief out of the pocket of her trousers and wiped his face dry. 

“Now, me and Fritz need to go check the news in the neighbourhood. You and Ella eat your breakfast, while I get ready.”

Ella managed boiled eggs and toast. She even cut an orange in quarters. She set it on the table just as the door out of the flat closed. 

Tell us what you think: Is it important to really ‘feel’ and acknowledge your feeling?