Chapter 135
"You'll feel even better after you've slept." Howard fills the kettle and puts it on, taking two mugs from the cupboard. "Which you're going to do as soon as you're finished your breakfast." I jolt my head up.
"What?"
"As soon as you've eaten, you're going back to bed." He makes my tea first, loading it with milk, sugar and some kind of powder, before he makes his own, black with one sugar. He pushes the drink towards me and I take a sip grudgingly, pulling a face at the taste.
"I'm not going back to bed."
"Yes you are."
"I'm not. I'm not tired. I'm fine."
"Be that as it may, you still need to go back to bed. After you've eaten."
"I'm fine, Howard. I don't need to eat, and I'm not tired."
"You do need to eat and, whether you're tired or not, you need to sleep."
"But what about work? You can't manage the shop on your own."
"I'm sure I'll manage. Come on. Try to eat a little bit more, and drink some more of your tea."
"What did you put in?" I ask, trying to ignore the instruction to eat. Howard notices, of course.
"Eat, Vince. Just some milk and sugar, you know."
"And? What was that powder?"
"I'll tell you when you've finished." He bargains, and I know it's the only way I'll find out. Pulling a face, I take a gulp of tea.