Page 49 of Ex in the City
‘You’ve got a great voice, bud,’ Dylan compliments him. ‘Honestly, one of the best. You should have a lead part.’
Joey’s eyes widen with horror.
‘What does your mum think?’ Dylan asks him.
Joey just shrugs. My heart breaks for him, it must be tricky, having such a confident sister, and being talented yourself but so unsure about it.
Dylan moves to sit on the floor, crossing his legs and patting the space next to him, inviting Joey to join him.
‘Do you want to hear a story, about when I was younger?’ Dylan asks.
Joey nods, his curiosity piqued.
‘So, I have a brother called Mikey, who started classical guitar lessons when he was, like, six – really young,’ Dylan begins. ‘He was really good, even from a young age, and he only got better as he got older. My mum and dad thought he was brilliant, so they wanted to do everything they could to help him. And it made me feel like they spent all of their time and their resources on him, and that they weren’t really bothered about me.’
It’s funny how, even when you know everything worked out for the best, it can still break your heart to see the sad look on a person’s face when they talk about their past.
He’s playing it down, because he is telling the story to a young teen, but Dylan’s parents really did push him aside for perfect Mikey. And it’s not that Mikey wasn’t talented, or didn’t deserve it, but Dylan deserved some attention too, not being left to his own devices, inevitably getting himself in trouble, starting to drink and smoke at an early age – I often wonder if that’s where his problems with drinking originated, using it to escape when he was a teen.
‘So I did what kids do,’ Dylan continues. ‘I acted up, I was disruptive at school, because if I couldn’t be the really good kid, then maybe I could excel at being the really bad one – I don’t recommend that, by the way.’
Joey laughs.
‘Anyway, one night, when I wasn’t much older than you, we went out for my auntie’s birthday, to the pub,’ he continues his story. ‘I was bored, there were no fit girls there, and I wasn’t allowed a dr…’ Dylan’s voice trails off briefly, as he rethinks endorsing underage drinking.
‘Basically, there was nothing fun to do,’ he says instead. ‘But then the DJ started taking karaoke requests. You know the song fromThe Lion King, the Elton John one?’
Dylan sings a little bit of ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and Joey nods in recognition.
‘Yeah, I sang that,’ Dylan continues. I give him a reassuring smile to show my support. ‘I don’t, er, I don’t think anyone knew I could sing. My mum was sobbing, my old man looked like he was going to cry too. I had the room, every single person, all eyes on me. I didn’t even know I wanted to be a singer until that night, and then I couldn’t imagine ever doing anything else.’
Joey listens intently, captivated by Dylan’s story, obviously seeing similarities with his own life. I know it was hard for Dylan, growing up in his brother’s shadow, which is probably why he was so willing to be the frontman of the band, singing, leaving the writing and playing to Mikey, letting him take the credit.
‘The reason I’m telling you this,’ Dylan concludes, ‘is because I know how hard it is when you have a sibling who finds it easier to step forward.’
Joey’s shoulders slump again.
‘My sister doesn’t even like me,’ he tells us. ‘She doesn’t think I’m cool – no one does. It’s my birthday today, and I’m having a party tonight, and she says she won’t come because no one else is going to come, because I’m a loser.’
I notice Dylan’s facial features tighten.
‘That’s not very nice,’ he remarks, shaking his head.
Miss Pallett joins us.
‘Teenage girls,’ she says with a sigh. ‘I’m trying to get her to be nicer.’
‘Miss Pallett, you have two talented kids, it turns out,’ Dylan says, lightening the mood.
‘Please, call me Jessica,’ she insists, an unmistakable hint of flirtation in her voice.
Oh, boy, here we go again.
‘And we’re hoping some people will turn up to the party, aren’t we, Joey?’ Jessica says, rubbing her son’s shoulder.
‘Can I come?’ Dylan asks like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
Joey’s eyes widen. So do Jessica’s, to be honest.
