Page 44 - James Caan - The Real Deal

The Real Deal

experience, so I said, ‘I’m really good at maths, ask me anything.
Go on, give me a sum.’
She quite liked my cheek and my determination, so she asked
me something simple like seventeen times three, which I did
instantly. Then she reached for her calculator and asked me
something harder, which I also got right.
‘Give me another one.’
But she didn’t need to, I had got the job and so she showed me
round the offices and introduced me to my new colleagues. The
best bit was being shown the staff canteen, which was more like a
restaurant. I didn’t even know that companies had canteens and I
was stunned to find out that the food was subsidised. I could get
a really good meal in a really nice, warm place for 30p! It was a
godsend, because all the partying was taking its toll on my
finances. I got paid every Friday, and there were many weeks when
I’d get to a Thursday – or even a Wednesday – and I would have
nothing but cornflakes until pay day. Eventually I had to write
myself out a budget – so much on rent, so much on bills, this much
for my Tube pass, and then live off what was left.
It had been several months since I’d spoken to my parents. I was
still in contact with my brothers and sisters, so they knew I was all
right, but there was no way I was going home until I could prove to
my dad he was wrong and that I could stand on my own two feet.
Then one day my brother called me and said, ‘Nazim, there’sa
family wedding and you’ve got to come. Mum and Dad will be
very embarrassed if you don’t show up. You’ve got to be there.’
I knew what these weddings were like, and if I didn’t show up
I knew the focus would be on my absence and not on the bride
and groom. So I had to go. I borrowed some money from a friend
and went and bought a new suit so that I could turn up looking
smart and, crucially, looking as if I’d made it. I also bought a
beautiful shirt and tie and I thought I looked really smart. I
thought I looked successful.

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