Father story part two 

My dad would take me with him on plastering or plumbing jobs on a Saturday when he had me. He'd moved in with a friend and sure enough they were having drinking parties all the time. This went on until I was into my teens, then I reduced the times I visited my dad and instead would walk him to work sometimes on a night as he went across the village. I was doing this to make up for seeing him less. 
It was my feeling sorry for him that also made me ask for cheese sandwiches for tea every time  so it was cheap for him. I also only ever asked for a book for christmas every year which annoyed my Mum as she would say "what if I only bought you a book, what would think if I did that, yet it's ok for your dad"
I understood but looked at my dad as down on his luck. 
My Dad met and married a woman at work who had been married before and had two sons of her own. It felt awkward that I would enter their home to see my dad. So I would visit less as it felt like I was intruding. I would tell myself that once I was out from my mum's house that my father would start a relationship with me that you would expect of a father and son. It was great to be of an age finally when I could have a pint with my dad in the pub and I did that a lot. Upon having three pints I would get reflective and ask his close friends about when he had to move out of our home to hopefully get a tale of a strong love that had been savaged by the divorce. I was told "your Dad has done some stupid things but if I were you I would give him a clean slate and judge him by his actions from now on"
It was only a matter of a month until I met my dad on my 18th birthday and I expected some kind of proud moment for my dad and his son. What I got for my 18th birthday was no card and a pint of lager. I walked home upset. I searched and chased this man for his love and never found evidence of it but I would convince myself it was for one reason or another and let my dad off the hook.
This continued for years after until the next thing happened.

Continued tomorrow.