“What happened in here?” Cash’s half-brother, Thula, asked when he looked around the tavern. Tables and chairs were turned over and broken bottles littered the already dirty floor.

“Some guy named Big Vic started a fight over a matchstick or something,” Cash said, attempting to clean up the mess. “And anyway, you’re not supposed to be in here.”

Thula was only thirteen so Magz and Roy forbade him from coming to the tavern, even though it was technically just down the road. Cash was almost eighteen, so their father had no qualms about Cash coming in.

“Not like there’s anyone here,” Thula answered. “And I came to help. Looks like Hurricane Thor came early.”

“Hey,” Cash rebuked. “Don’t joke about that.”

Hurricane Thor was a horrible approaching storm that was the talk of the town. Cash didn’t need any reminders of its imminence. He was superstitious and believed that it really would bring something awful.

“Haibo, I’m just teasing,” Thula laughed, and settled down to help with the cleaning up.

A while later, the sound of the tavern door opening made Thula jump behind the counter. Roy walked in.

“Wow! Die plek lyk genuine,” he said. “Better than before.”

The brothers had cleaned up the place as best they could. It was their father’s pride and joy, after all. Cash remembered the family history his father always told them: the tavern had been passed down from generation to generation in their line of sons. And one day, Roy would pass it down to Cash. Thula would also be involved, but Cash would inherit it fully.

“One day, this will all be yours, my laaitie,” Roy said proudly, indicating the whole room.

Cash smiled, but his insides were twisting. He didn’t want this, and he was certain he never would. hated the tavern – drunk men spending their time and money on an experience they would never even remember the next day. Cash had a kind face, scrawny arms and a soft heart. Exactly the opposite of everything he needed to fulfil his father’s dreams for him.

“Hey, hey,” Roy said suddenly. “Don’t think I never see you there, Thula.”

Thula hung his head as he crept out of his hiding place.

“As punishment, wash the car,” Roy said sternly. “Don’t forget to clean the cubby. Things be living there that I haven’t even heard of.”

“But–” Thula started.

“No ‘buts’,” Roy scolded. “And don’t let me catch you here again.”

When Thula was gone, Roy turned to Cash and said, “Truth is, Magz has been tuning me to wash the car for over a week now. I won’t tell the ol lady if you don’t.”

Cash laughed. He loved his father with all his heart and was afraid to let him down. That’s why Cash could never tell him that he hated the tavern.

***

Tell us: Should Cash tell his dad he doesn’t want to inherit the tavern?