He was meeting his dad today. It was weird he'd never had a dad before, all the other kids in his class did one boy even had two but Ste never had any. He had a lot of uncles but he only ever saw them once or twice before they went away never to be seen again. Some of the other kids in his class liked to tease him about it but they wouldn't be able to any more cause he's got a dad now.

His mum said that his dad didn't want him, that she had to beg him to meet Ste so he was going to be extra good so he'd want to come see him again. Maybe he'd take him to play football like other dads, if he was good enough.

He was dressed in his best clothes, well the only clothes he owned that didn't have holes so he was trying to stay away from the other boys at the park the ones playing football cause he wanted his dad to know that he wasn't messy, he always tidied up his mum was to tired and liked to lie on the couch and sleep so Ste liked to help her around the house. He could even make toast now.

He wondered if his dad would be impressed, None of the other kids in his class got to do that but he did cause he was a big boy now he was nearly 6 years old.

"Ste!" He heard his mum call across the park, he knew he better hurry up before she got mad.

He ran across the field to the bench where his mum was sitting earlier. Only instead of being alone like before she was sitting with a man who was watching Ste, He knew it had to be his dad and tried to run faster so he wouldn't be upset that he had kept him waiting.

"This is Danny." Pauline his mum introduced with a wave in Danny's direction.

"Yeah," Ste wheezed out, out of breath from running. "He's my dad."

That made his dad smile but he still looked sad. "Yeah that's right, I'm you're dad."

"I've never had a dad before."

"Well I've never had a son before."

"Cool." Ste shrugged thinking it would be cool to have a brother but act least now he didn't have to share his new dad with anyone.

"So Steven," His dad smiled. "How's school."

"He likes to be called Ste," His mum said not giving him time to answer. "And he's a right little brain box aren't you?"

His teacher didn't think that she thought he was dis something and kept trying to talk to his mum but she never bothered turning up. Still he knew better than to disagree with his mum so he just nodded.

"Is that right? Well I've bought you some books there in the car if you want we can read them together some other time?"

"Yeah." Ste said knowing he was going to disappoint his dad when he found out he couldn't actually read, he felt his stomach drop at what he would do when he realised he was lying.

"He's got enough books." His mum lied cause Ste couldn't remember ever seeing a book in his house. He borrowed one from the library once but his mum had ripped some of the pages out when he had asked her to read it to him so he wasn't allowed to borrow any more.

"Really what's your favourite?"

"I thought you wanted to play with him not give him the spanish inquisition?" His mum rolled her eyes.

"I just want to get to know my son."

"Well he needs some new trainers, if you feel like coughing up the cash."

Ste looked down at his feet, his trainers where falling to pieces but that wasn't all his fault they used to be the boy next doors but he'd grown out of them so Mrs Harris had given them to Ste.

"Yeah, Yeah of course!" His dad grabbed his wallet quickly. "How much do you need?"

"Well he needs new clothes for school, he's taking a growth spurt at the minute. Nothing fits anymore so say about £200" His mum replied making him smile. He was one of the smallest boys in his class and all of his school clothes were baggy on him but if he was growing maybe they'd fit him after the summer holidays.

"I only have about £120 on me."

"That'll do." His mum said grabbing the money. "Why don't you two go and play."

Ste smiled shyly at his dad not sure if it was something he'd want to do, his mother never wanted to play with him, he always got in the way.

"Would you like that?"

"Yeah." He mumbled.

"What do you want to do?" His dad said rising from the bench walking over to the park with him.

"Can we play football?" Ste asked.

"Oh I'm sorry," His had frowned. "I didn't bring a ball. I don't suppose you have one?"

Ste shook his head dejected.

"Well we'll just have to do that another day then wont we?"

"Yeah." He said over cheerfully, cause his dad wanted to see him again.

"How about I push you on the swings instead?"

They played in the park for what seemed forever before his mum shouted on him. Ste was sad that he had to go home and his dad looked sad as well but he promised that they would do it again soon and Ste believed him.

He watched out his bedroom window for ages after hoping that his dad would come and see him but he never did his mum said that he didn't want to see him any more that he didn't want a son like Ste. It upset him but he was probably right, Ste was useless his mum was always saying so. He didn't even want a dad, not really.