PETER WYATT

As everybody knows when you’re a fireman you have to stay fit. You
can’t be turning up to a fire panting and straining as you climb up
the ladder. I used to do me regular exercises at home, but got sick
of the girls taking the piss and making snidey comments. So I started
going to a gym.

CALVIN BETTERIDGE

I told Peter I had a tip on the 3.15 at Chepstow. His eyes go all
glassy and he gives this look of terror like I was offering him
crack. I thought any minute he was going to howl NNNNNNNNN000000000.
I said to him –“Take it easy will yer - it’s a harmless flutter - take it or leave
it, get a grip.” He told me his Dad messed up his family’s life through his gambling. I thought fair enough - I won’t offer you any more racing tips.

PETER WYATT

I was paranoid that I'd end up like my Dad. But right before my eyes
it was all happening. The distance between me and my wife and my own
kid turning against me.

I got used to seeing Michelle all sour-faced scowling at me, but
seeing the exact same expression on Abby my daughter was a real shock
to the system. Had Michelle poisoned my daughter against me? I wanted
to be the best parent in the world. Where did I go wrong?

MICHELLE WYATT

I don't blame Peter for this, but he related far more to Carl than he
ever did with Abby. He took time to talk to him - explain things to
him. Take him to places. It's only natural I guess that as a father
you feel closer to your son than your daughter.

PETER WYATT

I showed Abby the cover of the Abbey Road album and told her we'd
named her after it. I thought she'd be interested, maybe listen to
the album - instead she just goes - “Yeah right whatever.” 

Every time I asked Abby to do something and even tried to make
conversation with her, Abby would pull a face or make a loud tut. It
broke my heart.

CALVIN BETTERIDGE

Again Peter was blaming himself for something every family man goes
through. Every man has trouble with their teenage daughter, that’s
just how it is. In fact you’d be weird if you didn’t.

JERRY ZMUDA

I'd visit Peter at home once in a while and Abby had shot up real
quick. I'm not really comfortable around kids, but I'm even worse
around teenagers. I found it alarming that Abby knew nothing about
the sort of music we liked, and wasn't even remotely interested. Carl
was sweet kid though.

PETER WYATT

The biggest blow came with Abby’s birthday party. I helped with all
the preparations, hiring the hall, the entertainment, sending out the
invites, and then Michelle dropped the bombshell.

MICHELLE WYATT

Abby asked if Peter didn’t come along. It wasn’t anything personal,
it was just a girlies party, and she didn’t want him “showing her
up.”


PETER WYATT

Why didn't she want her own father at her birthday party? She
wouldn't even explain it to me, and neither would Michelle. It's was
just “like - you know that's how it is.” Learn to speak will yer?


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