The sound of glasses thumping on the table was all there was to be heard. Three pair of eyes looked at Rob, who just stared at the men. Cigarettes lit up in the dark venue as the silence grew to an awkward momentum. He didn’t show, but Rob enjoyed these moments. He knew people were fantasizing, feeling sorry, amused, perhaps angry, but mostly just lost for words.

“I’m telling you. That’s what’s she said: ‘The night I slept with your mother is the night I realised you’re an asshole.’” Rob reassured. He had told the lads that the comment had hurt at first. That is losing her, the girlfriend, not the fact that his mother seemed to enjoy the physique of his girlfriend as much as he did. They always seemed to enjoy anything consumable in the same manner. Why was he to expect it be any different with girls then it was with wines.That counted for both his mother as his girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend as the title now was. Although he didn’t think of his mother as consumable, Rob understood why Elise, his now ex, found her an appealing bedpartner.

“The fuck, Rob!” Johnny said eventually. “The fucking slut! The girlfriend cunt I mean! Not your mother o’course.” The lads nodded, but Rob just stared at the empty glass, a slight grin on his face. Or was it? Then he continued.

“Is she though? I mean, hell yes, she is for sleeping with my mother behind my back. But can I blame her? Aside from my mum’s looks I mean?” Rob smiled as none of the lads replied, cause he knew his mum was fancied by them. Not that his mates could ever get close to her. They were nothing like Elise. They didn’t have the raw physical attraction like his girl had, nor the wit to engage in a meaningful conversation. They were good friends to the point were they’d need to smash some poor schlub’s face out of some money, but he wasn’t to worry about them hitting on Rob’s mum and they knew she was way out of their league, aside from the fact that it was an awful thing to do if they would have the chance. But then again, wasn’t it what this whole conversation was leading up to?

“What I mean to say is, can I be really surprised if people I know so well turn out to go behind my back? Isn’t that what modern times teach us, to be free and independent? To be loyal as it serves your cause, but when your american dream gets to flourish better elsewhere or is less convenient where you are at… then move on?”

Rob could always count on Johnny to respond right away. If only he’d get beer as often as he’d say things without thinking about it for a brief moment.

“Ofcourse not Rob. Loyalty is what binds us. We live and die for our family or for those we love!”

“Well said, Johnny.” Rob replied. “Well said and a textbook answer. But then I ask you what makes something truly a family for you? What makes it that you go that extra mile, instead of enjoying the pleasures until you can fetch something better? Like Elise, there’s clearly a difference in saying she loved me and actually showing the worth of those words. So what is it for you, what makes it that you could really give your love to a family instead of expressing hollow proclamations of your dedication?”