Family dinner, Friday night. Everyone’s busy, it’s an agreement, come in work clothes if you must.

Sat around the table is the father and mother, wealthy, dressed smartly. There is the eldest son, in his work clothes, dressed as an accountant. The eldest daughter is dressed as a lawyer. The youngest daughter is as a banker and so is the other daughter.

Today however, there is an unusual member.

Once the starters had been served, and eaten, the door thumped open, he walks in and sits down. The youngest son. Everyone’s eyes fall on his bootprints, muddy against the carpet. He slumps into a chair and laughs.

“You forgot my invite. But I seem to remember, we’re allowed to come straight from work, right? It’s just; the training drills were crazy today, my CO overran on time, didn’t have time to shower or change before I came over.”

Blank stares.