John already had a pot of coffee going by the time I reached his house. He poured me a cup and we sat down together at the breakfast bar. I loved John’s house and I felt totally comfortable there. We had spent not a few mornings together during our early years of friendship at that very table top after a night of crashing, and I enjoyed the sense of easy familiarity.

‘Do we have a real problem or is this simply Brat-Week?’ John asked mildly, drinking slowly from his cup.

‘I was hoping you would know. What did Danny tell you?’

John grimaced. ‘A lot of nonsense, if you ask me. Insecurity mostly. I think he was afraid Keith would get ahead of him at work, and that would make him inadequate or lesser or look stupid …‘ He opened his eyes wide and shrugged. ‘Jealousy too, I guess. Your brat, apparently, has done the unforgivable by becoming the boss’s new blue-eyed boy, besides making all the office ladies swoon over him and the guys treat him like he is a one of the guys. And damn it, the flashy sports car didn’t help any either!’

We grinned at one another. ‘I see.’

Secretly I was pleased. I couldn’t help it. I was pleased and proud of what John had said about Keith. Still I had to ask.

‘I get it. Did … er… and did Keith do anything to warrant Danny feeling that way?’

John shook his head and sighed heavily. ‘To be honest Dusty, I don’t see any of this being Keith’s fault. Danny was pretty frank about it by the time I got him to talk. Keith was just doing his job. What he didn’t know about the work, he asked. He didn’t show off, or put up a front or anything. Danny just … went into overdrive … he admits he was being unfair and a regular ass. Its ok, he can’t hear us!’ John gave a wicked grin. ‘Yep, he’s feeling pretty bad about it by now.’

‘Poor chap!’ I said sympathetically. I had grown to be quite fond of Danny.

‘And what did Keith have to say about all of this?’ John asked.

It was my turn to let out a sigh. ‘He says he wants to quit.’

‘Humphhh! And why am I not surprised? Typical.’

I flipped my hand against his arm. ‘Shut up! OK, where is your poor brat? What have you done with him? Did you torture it out of him?’

John grinned even more. ‘He’s upstairs, hopefully in bed, where I sent him. He’s already feeing sorry and small and embarrassed about all of it, and terrified when I told him you were coming over, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t beat him up any more. I want him in one piece please!’

‘Schmuck!’ I muttered under my breath, and headed towards the stairs.

I found Danny under a pile of blankets, which he had obviously pulled over his head when he heard me approaching. I sat down next to him on the bed and forcefully peeled the sheets back.

‘Come out of there, Danny.’ I said in a firm voice.

After a moment, an eye peeped out and the red head appeared. ‘Hi Dusty?’

‘Hi Danny.’ I looked him straight in the eye, and he burst into tears.

* * *