Beginning

                                    

                                          


                          


                          
'Carlo' a man wrote in a section headed 'forename' on a form. 
                          
Before he could continue, two noisy children approached him.
                          
"Hakka" the little boy moaned as he tugged at the man's sleeve.
                          
"Daddy, con Hakka, Daddy" the man apparently corrected as he pointed the pen towards the little boy. He looked around at the other people sat in the busy waiting room; one couple viewed him with displeased, matching glares. He then whispered something in the child's ear.
                          
Once the secret exchange ended, the child appeared to think, before he continued "Daddy, Lua,  take..."
                          
"Shhh" the little girl interrupted as she scowled at the slightly taller boy.
                          
"You both go play nicely" the man ordered, thought for a moment before continuing "I have a, important, game and, need help" the man said whilst he apparently struggled to form a sentence.
                          
The little girl shock her head with enthusiasm, whilst the boy looked on inquisitively.
                          
"Will you help?" the man asked.
                          
Both children nodded, at differing speeds before the man continued.
                          
"Get pens" he said as he pointed towards the pen in his hand "form there" he said as he pointed towards the reception desk. 
                          
T he girl appeared excited as she turned and glided towards the desk, whilst the boy looked cautiously the reception desk, then back to his dad before rushing to join the girl. Whilst the boy stood behind a queuing adult, the girl moved forward, going on to take the pens as if she were stealing; tip-toeing alongside the few people in front of the reception before she made a grab for a couple of pens on the high up counter.  The two children returned.
                          
"Very good, now" the man removed their pens then pointed towards a table housing leaflets "go and choose a letter each" he ordered. 
                          
As the girl rushed off whilst the boy opted for a brisk walk, the man smiled at the two, though he caught a glimpse of an older man who seemed less than pleased at the presence of the children as he offered them a lingering scowl. He looked around at the other people in the wide seating area, there was indeed a bit of focus on the children and himself from fed up looking people; one woman  gently shaking her head at him.
                          
The youngsters returned to the man. 
                          
He chose to focus on them.
                          
"Now" he started "remember 'the circular game'; you draw circles around every letter A".
                          
"Na, boring" the little girl stated with a pout.
                          
"But I give you surprise, when you win?" he asked her.
                          
The young girl's expression levelled out as she appeared to give his words some thought, she then turned to the young boy and taunted "I beat Chari", which earned her a return scowl.
                          
"OK, ready... Go" the man yelled, though in a hushed tone.
                          
With urgency, the children took to the floor and began their tasks.
                          
"Later, I go in other room, you both stay OK" quietly told the children, who didn't appear to respond.
                          


                          


                          


                          
	Some time later, the man handed a form to the receptionist.
                          
On his returned to his seat, he picked up a newspaper lying on an empty chair; it was named "24 Hour Tell". 
                          
With a harsh thud, his backside hit the chair and he adjusted himself to gain comfort.
                          
 He looked towards the paper; front page featured a close up photograph of heavily clothed woman sat on the ground looking in despair with an open mouth as if pleading.
                          
 The man exhaled through his nose and visibly clenched his lips as he opened up the paper; inside was a close up picture of a crowd facing police in riot gear, spreading across both paged with a thin rectangle of text at the bottom. 
                          
The man hastily turned the page; the next page featured a topless young blond woman with pigtails wearing a tutu, biting her lips and squinting her eyes.
                          
"Carlo Con...stanze..urti...ze?" a woman stood by reception struggled.
                          
"Yes" the man said as if startled before as he flung the paper to a neighbouring seat, springing to his feet and making a dash to followed the retreating woman.
                          
"Did I say it right" she asked warmly as she turned a little to face him behind her.
                          
"Oh... Yes, very well" he answered with a nod.
                          
"Aw good" she sighed "You never want to get a name wrong" she laughed.
                          
"No, you very good" he reassured.
                          
The woman approached a door towards the end of the long hallway and stopped and knocked.
                          
"Come in" a woman on the other sided shouted.
                          


                          


                          
	
                          
*
                          
	Some time later, Carlo came through a doorway which lead him back to the waiting room.
                          
"Excuse me" a lady behind glass at reception, stood above her seat enquired just as he was passing. She repeated sternly "Excuse me!".
                          
Carlo, upon realising she was calling out to him, turned towards her; upon making eye contact, he then pointed towards himself for confirmation.
                          
"Yes you" she confirmed "are those your kids?" she asked as she gestured her open hand towards the little boy and girl laying on their bellies engrossed in their activity.
                          
"My children" he confirmed as he pointed towards them and nodded.
                          
"This aint a cresh mate, take them with you next time"