Back burner

Rufus had hated his dad with a passion. He was fully aware of the beatings inflicted upon his mum, and he'd had more than a few himself after his father's drunken nights out.

But dad had gone away. His mum didn't know or care where, but said she reckoned he'd shacked up with "another poor cow who's getting a regular beating!"

Hate and Rufus were two things that were normally explosive, but at the moment he was focused on getting back into a regular routine, out of sight and harm's way.

Dealing with his father went on the back burner.