Tom Bradford had woken up in the middle of the night again. He had done this several times since his wife died, and each time the dreams that woke him were about her. She was still alive, still with him and his kids. Then at the end of the dream something would happen; he never remembered what it was because he always woke up at that part.
He glances at the clock. ~Great. Six in the morning already. Soon the kids will be up and around fighting for the bathroom. I wonder if one of them will help Tommy.~ Tommy had broken his leg during a football game yesterday and would be out of school for awhile. Also a tutor from the school would be coming over in the afternoon. ~My poor son. He or she will probably be old, crotchety, and strict.~ Tom starts getting ready for the day.
Meanwhile in the hallway. Elizabeth is banging on the bathroom door. "Nancy, hurry up!! You've been in there twenty minutes already!!"
"Oh pipe down already!! Perfection takes time!!" Nancy shouts through the bathroom door.
"Oh really, so I guess you'll be in there for eternity!!" Elizabeth yells back.
Nancy finishes and comes out. She then looks at Liz and shakes her head. "Children," she says with a tinge of sarcasm and heads back to her room.
Elizabeth makes a face at her retreating figure and goes into the bathroom. At that point other siblings make a run to the door to be the next person to get inside the bathroom. Arguing and chaos ensues.
At 7 a.m., Abby's alarm rings. She hits the snooze button. ~Five more minutes. Then I promise, I promise I'll get up.~ She'd stayed up late the night before studying, then rewarded herself by staying up even later reading an inane bestseller. The alarm goes off again and she considers calling in sick, but if she did that every time she'd read herself to sleep, she'd never go to work.
Reluctantly she gets out of bed, stretches, showers. Breakfast is coffee and a yogurt, eaten standing over the sink. ~I'm getting as bad as a single guy.~
Before she gets dressed she checks her schedule. A meeting at the high school at 9. Miriam the problem reader at 11. Kenny the dyslexic at 1:30. At 4, a new kid. She gets the file from her bag--Tommy Bradford, broke his leg playing football, out of school for five weeks. Mediocre grades, an underachiever according to the notes she's been given. She checks the address, making sure she knows how to get there--a good part of town. Abby wonders why the boy's parents let him get away with less than his best. Indulgent, maybe? Well, she'll find out this afternoon. That's the best part of being a travelling tutor, Abby muses, the ability to step into people's lives, make a difference, and then move on. After this Bradford kid--oh, no, tonight's that blind date. She shakes her head, thoroughly sick of people telling her "It's been nine years. You need to get out. You need a man." What she needs is some peace and quiet. She needs to do her work, study, define her own social parameters. What she does not need is a blind date, not another one. Any man who's over thirty and still not married…~Why do I do it? The triumph of social pressures over experience. Maybe I should call in sick.~
Abby washes out her cup and spoon, dresses, stuffs work into her book-bag and starts her day.
Tommy awakes to the sound of the family running around trying to get ready for their day. All Tommy wants to do was sleep and escape from the world around him, escape from the events of the past year: his broken leg, school, but mostly to forget about his mother. If he was only older he could be out on his own. Tommy opens his eyes and sees that Nicholas is still asleep.
Nicholas, wake up."
Nicholas groans and goes back to sleep.
"Nicholas....wake up!"
What!!" Nicholas says.
"You are going to be late for school, so get up," Tommy says. ~If he would get out of here I could go back to sleep.~
"All right," Nicholas says.
Nancy knocks and then opens the door. "Hey Tommy, do you need anything before I go to school?" she asks him.
"Yeah, some peace and quiet," Tommy says with the cover over his eyes.
"Ok, Nicholas hurry up and finished getting ready so Tommy can get some sleep. Tommy, if you change your mind holler." Nancy says as she leaves the room.
"Tommy? Doesn't your new tutor come today?" Nicholas asks.
"Don't remind me...she's probably an old hag" Tommy replies.
"See ya later," Nicholas says and leaves the room.
Tommy soon goes back to sleep not before wishing he could call this whole tutor thing off.
Abby plods through her meeting, races from student to student, and at five minutes to four pulls up in front of a big house on Oak Street. She takes a good look at the place she'll be spending time in the next few weeks. ~Definitely indulgent parents. Look at the size of this place.~ She grabs her bag from the passenger seat, walks up to the door and rings the bell.
Mary is rushing around trying to get ready to meet Doug. They are to meet and look for an apartment. They had been dating for several months now and were madly in love and wanted see if they were compatible before getting married. Mary is heading out the door when she hears the door bell. "Oh hi there, what can I do for you," Mary asks, wondering why a stranger is at their door.
"I'm looking for Tommy Bradford. I'm Mrs. Abbot, his new tutor," Abby introduces herself, warily watches the chaos she sees through the doorway.
"Oh hi, I'm Mary Bradford. I was just heading out the door to go look for an apartment. Just go on up the stairs and someone will point you to Tommy's room," Mary says.
~OK. I'm supposed to be able to teach in a madhouse?~ Abby thinks.
Currently by the telephone:
"Elizabeth get off the phone already. You're not the only one with a social life you know," Nancy says.
"Hold on a minute, Patty." She covers the receiver. "If you would stop interrupting me I can finish the conversation." She returns to talking with no intention of getting off the phone.
"Elizabeth!!" Nancy shouts at her.
Abby tries to get the girls' attention. "Could one of you tell me where I could find Tommy?" she asks in a voice loud enough to be heard over their shouting.
Nancy turns around and glances at her. "Oh you must be his tutor. Elizabeth will take you up as soon as she gets off the phone." Turns around and glares at her younger sister.
"Nancy, this is very important."
"Well I'm expecting a phone call from Rick."
"Rick can wait!!"
Abby looks at her watch. Four o'clock. Five minutes at this house and still no nearer her student. She waits impatiently for the long haired girl--Elizabeth?--to get off the phone, and eyes the staircase. ~Maybe I should just invade. After all, the boy is waiting for me. I hope. If what I've seen so far is typical, who knows?~
Nicholas comes down the stairs and sees a very pretty lady standing there. "Hi," he says.
~The two girls fighting over the phone, the one who let me in, Tommy, and this cute little boy--five kids???~ "Hi," Mrs. Abbot smiles. "I'm Tommy's new tutor. Do you know where Tommy is?"
"Yeah, he's in my room." Nicholas replies.
"Could you show me where that is?" Mrs. Abbot asks.
As they enter Tommy's room, Joannie and Susan are in there with Tommy.
"Tommy, this lady is looking for you."
"Oh, hi," Tommy says with almost a groan.
~Two more sisters? Seven? In this day and age?~ "Hi. I'm Mrs. Abbot, your tutor."
"Hi, I'm Tommy," ~well, she's not old~ Tommy thinks to himself, "and this is Susan and Joannie, and you have met Nicholas."
"And I met three more of your sisters downstairs. There's seven of you?"
"Actually there are eight. David is the oldest and moved out a year ago," Tommy tells her.
~Eight children. Is this a family or an institution?~ "Sounds lively."
"We're a family, all right. We've been competing with the Osmonds for years," Susan replies laughing. "Wait til you've been around this house for a few days. Then you'll really see how 'lively' this family is."
"Sounds a little frightening," Abby says, only half-kidding. ~I wonder if that was a promise or a threat.~ "I'm sure I'll find out just how lively you all can be. But in the meantime, see, Tommy and I have to start cracking the books."
Susan and Joannie get up to leave the room "Don't study too hard, Tommy," Susan replies.
"I'll do my best," Tommy replies.
"Oh, you'd better," Mrs. Abbot mutters under her breath.
"You say something Mrs. Abbott?" Tommy asks.
"Just that we'd better get started," Abby smiles. ~Better watch this one. Underachiever or not, he's sharp.~
"Do we have to? My leg hurts." Tommy says.
Abby smiles. "Yes, we have to. See, otherwise, there's not much point in my being here, right? I mean, by the time your legs stops hurting you'll be back in school."
Tommy concedes to the fact he isn't going to get out of this. "So where do I begin?"
"Since it's our first day, I'll go easy on you," Mrs. Abbot says, reaching into her bag and pulling out a file. "Here's a list of all the subjects we'll be working on--I'll let you pick what we do today." She hands him the paper.
"Well, if I have to choose I guess I will pick Wildlife Biology," Tommy says.
~He would~ Abby thinks. ~He couldn't pick English or math.~ "All right, then. Just tell me where your books are and I'll get them for you."
"There, over there by the window." Tommy says.
Abby gets the books and begins working with Tommy on the class work he's missing.
Right as Abby is about to leave, Tom walks in.
"Hi. You must be Mrs. Abbot." ~Hmm she doesn't look old and crotchety at all.~ "I'm Tommy's father," Tom greets her.
~Ah. The indulgent father. One parent down, one to go.~ "Yes, I am," Abby says, shaking Mr. Bradford's hand. "Nice to meet you. I've met just about all the rest of your family already."
"It's nice to meet you too, how's the session going?" he asks her.
Mrs. Abbot nods towards Tommy, advising discretion until they've left his room. "I'll see you tomorrow, then, OK?" she tells her student.
Tommy looks at his leg and replies, "I'll be here."
Mrs. Abbot shakes her head and laughs. "Tomorrow, then." She leaves the room with Tommy's father following.
"Tommy seems like a bright boy," she answers Mr. Bradford's earlier question, "but from what I could see so far, I don't think he really uses it."
"I can explain that, but can it wait til tomorrow. I want to talk to him and I have things to do. I'm sorry, but can we talk tomorrow?"
"Of course. Actually, I have to go, too. I'll be here tomorrow--every weekday, as long as Tommy's here," Mrs. Abbot answers.
"Thanks, Mrs. Abbot," Tom says while observing her smile.
"It's no problem," Mrs. Abbot says while making a quick decision. "In fact," she pulls a notepad out of her bag and scribbles something. "If you ever want to talk about how Tommy's doing without this whole house overhearing, feel free to give me a call. If I'm not home, the machine will get it and I'll call you back."
Tom takes the paper. "Thank you, I'll do that. Do you already have our phone number? You know in case you need to call."
"I've got it," Mrs. Abbot assures him. "That much, at least, was in Tommy's file." She looks at her watch. "We'll talk tomorrow, then."
Tom nods. "Yes we'll talk tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Abbot."
"Same here." Mrs. Abbot hitches her bag up on her shoulder, goes downstairs and out the door.
Tom watches her leave and then returns to Tommy. "So how was the session?" He asks. Tommy throws a dart at the dartboard. "I guess that answers my question. She seems like a very nice lady."
"Sure, if you like dictators," Tommy replies.
Tom laughs, shakes his head, and then plays darts with Tommy.
When Abby gets home, she checks her message machine. Two calls about work--she jots down the numbers and will call back tomorrow. Her parents. In the middle of the week? Worried, she calls Pasadena.
"Mom? What's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing, dear. No need to get upset."
"You never call in the middle of the week," Abby says.
"Oh, well," Katherine brushes it off. "I had an argument with your father. He is so stubborn sometimes. So I just wanted to hear a friendly voice. But then your father brought home flowers as apology, so there's nothing wrong."
"That's good."
"How was your day?" Abby's mother asks.
"OK. Same as usual. I've got a new student. I'm not sure how I'm going to work with him; his house is like a zoo. I don't think I've seen that many kids in one place outside of a boarding school."
Katherine laughs.
"Mom, I'd love to talk, but I just got home, and I have a date tonight."
"A date? Sandra Sue, that's wonderful!"
"It's just a blind date, Mom."
"Well, you need to get out. You're young, Sandra Sue. You don't need to bury yourself in your work just yet."
An old argument, one Abby hasn't time for right now. "I'll remember that, Mom."
"So who is he?"
Abby knows exactly what her mother means by that question, can hear her father's words and priorities lurking behind her mother's speech. "No one." The set-up, then the punch. "Just a lawyer."
Katherine laughs. "Sounds familiar. Have a good time. If you like him, tell me all about him."
"I will, Mom. Love you."
"I love you, too, dear."
They hang up and Abby prepares, reluctantly, for her date.
At eight o'clock her bell rings and Abby answers the door. ~Not bad~ she says, looking at her date. ~At least I won't have to kill Lisa for setting this up.~ She grabs her purse and steps outside.
"I'm Andrew Merriam--Lisa's told me so much about you. But she didn't tell me you were beautiful."
Abby rolls her eyes. ~It's going to be a long night.~ "I'm Sandra Sue Abbot, but please--call me Abby. Everyone does."
"That's what Lisa said." He takes Abby by the elbow and escorts her to his car, very courteous, very gentlemanly.
They go to a nice restaurant and try to make conversation. Andrew denigrates the idea of teaching and talks, endlessly, of the "groundbreaking" book he's writing about corporate law. Then he talks about his firm, the judges he's pled in front of, his impressive client base, the law books in which his work has been cited. Abby valiantly tries not to fall asleep through all this.
It's only as he's driving her home that he manages to ask anything about her. "Lisa tells me you've been married before."
"Yes. My husband was killed in Vietnam."
"I'm sorry. I was in law school at the time."
In the dark of the car, Abby makes a face. But what does she expect? Seems like most of the men she meets dodged the draft, and the others haven't made it back to reality yet.
He parks the car and walks Abby to her door. "I had a really nice time tonight," he tells her.
~That makes one of us.~ She unlocks her door. "It was nice. Good night."
"What, no good night kiss?"
"I don't kiss on first dates."
"Then pretend it's our second," Andrew says and presses her up against the doorway, kissing her.
Abby pushes him away. "I said, no."
"Come on. We're both mature adults. We're not high school kids." He uses one hand to open Abby's front door, keeping the other around her waist.
"No, we're not," Abby agrees. She ducks out of his loose embrace and into her apartment.
He follows her in. "The war's been over a long time, Abby. Don't you get lonely?"
She looks at Andrew. "Not that lonely."
"Oh, come on. I just wanted to give you a friendly kiss. It's not like I asked to stay the night."
Neither knows that the other is also thinking ~not yet, anyway,~ though Abby has a good idea of it.
"How about a handshake?" Abby suggests.
"How about that kiss?" Andrew counters.
"How about you leave now?"
"Now I know why you're still alone after all these years," he answers, meaning to hurt.
"Yes," she responds coolly. "I don't settle for the first man to come along. Goodnight, Andrew."
"A woman with fire. I like that."
"You don't take no for an answer, do you?"
"Nope. I'll call you tomorrow," he promises.
"I won't be in."
"I'll leave a message."
~I'll erase the tape.~ "Good night."
Andrew tries one last time to steal a kiss before Abby manages to close the door between them. She leans against the door, sighing in frustration. ~That's it. I'm moving to a convent.~
The next morning, Abby stops by the district offices for a meeting. In the hallway, Lisa bumps into her. "OK," Lisa says, "you want to explain about last night?"
"Funny," Abby answers, "I was going to ask you the same thing."
"Come on. Andrew Merriam is good looking, smart, and he has a great job."
"He's pompous, a bore, and a letch."
"Well, that's better than what he said about you."
"I don't want to hear it," Abby says.
"He called you a frigid…"
Abby covers her friend's mouth. "I can figure out what he called me. I said I don't care."
"I've set you up with I don't know how many guys…"
"Seventeen over the past four years," Abby helpfully supplies. "As of last night."
"And not a single one of them has been good enough for you. What do you want in a man, anyway? Prince Charming?"
"Maybe I don't want a man at all," Abby answers.
"So what do you want?" Lisa asks. "I don't think a woman. A goldfish, maybe? You're too old for these games."
"Why is everyone so concerned with my age? You, my mother... Look. When I want to have a relationship, I'll go out and find my own man, OK? See, I like my life the way it is, you know, my work, studying--I don't have time for a man, all right?"
"There's always time for a man. OK, so maybe Andrew didn't work out, but there's a guy in the music program who I think you'll really like…"
Abby rolls her eyes and walks away from Lisa before she does more than just contemplate grievous bodily harm.
That day, at the college the girls go to:
Nancy walks past a crowd
in the cafeteria to get a cup of coffee and overhears the conversation they're
having.
"I don't know who she thinks she is anyway. She's nothing but a Barbie doll trying to act smart when she doesn't have half a brain anyway," one of the girls says.
"I know it. I don't even know why she's here. She's not cut out for this place. She's probably only here because her sisters go here. And she thinks she's better than everyone. Nancy Bradford is such a snob."
Nancy boils over with anger and considers going over there and tearing their heads off but decides against it. Violence is never the answer is what she heard all her life from her parents, David, and Mary. ~I wish mom were here right now she'd know what to do about it.~ She goes and sits at Joannie and Susan's table, far away from the gossiping girls.
"You know this place is just like high school in some ways," Nancy complains to her sisters.
"Why, what happened?" Joannie asks.
"Most of the people here only see me as dumb blonde." Nancy complains. "It's just like high school."
"Oh, Nance. Maybe you just haven't met the right people yet." Susan replies.
"Well actually I did meet this one guy. His name's Rick, but he doesn't go to college. It's just that I can't even walk down the hallway without hearing someone whispering about me. I try to ignore it but it's getting pretty difficult," Nancy tells her sisters.
Nancy goes through more of the same for the rest of the day with people making fun of her behind her back. She leaves early and goes home. She sees Abby's MG out front. ~I guess it's tutoring time.~ She goes inside. ~Oh well at least I have that date with Rick tonight; at least he doesn't think I'm some good for nothing Barbie doll.~ She goes upstairs and tosses her books on her bed. She then starts to head downstairs for something to drink when she runs into Tommy's tutor.
"How's Tommy doing?" she asks Abby.
"Well, we've hardly started," Mrs. Abbot answers, "but he's willing to learn, which is good. I don't think I got your name yesterday--you were arguing with -- Elizabeth, right? The one with the long hair?"
"Yes, that was me. I'm Nancy," she replies. "I'm sorry you had to walk in on that but things usually are not calm in this house."
Mrs. Abbot laughs. "I've noticed."
"So Tommy's not giving you a hard time? He's usually worse than I am when it comes to studying."
"Not yet," Mrs. Abbot says, smiling. "Should I take that as a warning?"
"Yes, you should. Hey, where did you get that car out front?" Nancy asks her.
"Gwendolyn?" Mrs. Abbot asks. "I brought her with me from Pasadena. Pretty neat, isn't she?"
"Yeah she is," Nancy says. "I've never seen anything like her."
"It's a British car. My one indulgence."
"Cool," Nancy says. "Hey I was just going down to the kitchen to get something to drink. Do you want anything?"
"Actually, that's why I stepped out of Tommy's room," Abby admits. "To get something for both of us to drink, and to get some paper--Tommy seems to have conveniently run out. Think your father would a pad of paper in his study?"
"Are you kidding? Dad could open up his own supply store." Nancy jokes as they head downstairs.
When they get downstairs, Abby leaves Nancy to go to the kitchen while she knocks on the study door frame. "Mr. Bradford? I was wondering if I could take some paper upstairs for Tommy to use."
Tom blinks and then glances at Abby. "What? Oh paper. Yes I have plenty. How's it going with Tommy anyway?" He asks as he rushes to get her a pad of paper. ~She is so beautiful, but she probably has a man that she loves already. There's no way she's single.~
"Oh, pretty well, but Nancy's warned me not to expect it to stay that way," Abby says. ~I haven't seen a wife around. But no way a man is raising all these kids on his own...~
"Yeah Tommy's always had a hard time in school, but lately..." Tom's face clouds over.
"Lately?" Abby prompts, needing to know as much as she can about her student.
"Yes." They go to the sun porch to discuss it further and Tom tells her how Tommy's grades have slipped ever since he started high school because his mother had died recently and they were very close.
"That had to be rough on him," Abby says sympathetically. "And on you--it can't be easy raising all these kids by yourself. Maybe it isn't such a bad thing that I didn't get the chance to have children before my husband died."
"Your husband died? I'm sorry." Tom says with sympathy.
Abby waves off the sympathy. "It was a long time ago. Vietnam."
Tom doesn't know how to reply to this so he changes the subject. "If you and Tommy are finished would you like me to walk you to your car or would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Tommy?" ~Uh-oh~ "No, Tommy and I aren't finished. I was supposed to be bringing him something to drink and some paper. I'll bet he's hoping I forgot all about him. ~Which I did.~ "But staying for dinner sounds nice."
"Good." Tom smiles. "I'll have the kids set an extra place for you," Tom says before Abby returns to Tommy.
Abby stops in the kitchen on her way up to get the drinks she promised Tommy. ~Why am I smiling? He's old enough to be--he's older than you. And he's just lost his wife. And you're not in the market for a relationship--remember last night? And besides, he's your student's father. And you don't know anything about him, aside from his name, address, and marital status. Well, aside from the fact that he seems to have nice kids and he's able to keep them somewhat under control, which is amazing.~ Even though she tries to tell herself to wipe the smile off her face, when she opens the door to Tommy's room, it's still firmly in place.
"You look happy," Tommy says. "Let me guess, you decided to let me have the rest of the day off."
"Actually, I was thinking pop quiz," Mrs. Abbot jokes.
"Sure...Coke or Pepsi?" Tommy replies.
"Cute," Abby says. "Actually, I was thinking more like this." She pulls over her bag, takes out Tommy's file, and puts a piece of paper, an English quiz, in front of him. "I may not be a Boy Scout, but I come prepared."
"Did anyone tell you that you are tough?" Tommy says.
"Lots of people," Abby laughs. "They just don't usually say it that politely."
Tommy takes the test hands it back to Mrs. Abbott. "Well, how did I do?"
Abby looks over what Tommy's written. "Well, we have some work to do..."
"English isn't exactly my best subject," Tommy says.
"That's OK," Abby smiles. "Because it was mine, so we'll get you up to speed."
"Hurrah" Tommy says sarcastically.
"Look, I know it's not Human Anatomy or anything, but English does have its charms, and its uses."
"Now you sound like my father." Tommy says.
"As amazing as it sounds, your father might be right about a thing or two," Mrs. Abbot points out. "After all, it's his writing skills that are responsible for all this," she gestures around to encompass the house.
"Yeah but he expects English skills to be in the Bradford gene pool." Tommy explains.
"Yeah, I can see how that would put a lot of pressure on you," Abby admits. "But, see, it's a skill that can be learned, like--" she looks around the room, "like playing the guitar. Not everyone can turn pro, but everyone can at least pick up enough to get by."
"What if it just doesn't interest you?" Tommy asks.
Mrs. Abbot thinks about this. "Did you ever really give it a try, or did you decide that since you couldn't do it as easily as some other people, it wasn't worth the effort?"
Tommy confesses, "Probably the latter."
"Well, then, see the only one you've been cheating is yourself, right? You might like it, if you didn't pressure yourself about it."
"That's easy for you to say. You don't have the great Tom Bradford breathing down your neck," Tommy replies.
"No, I can't say that I do," Abby laughs, but wonders at the tension in Tommy's voice. "But I know a thing or two about fathers who set their expectations too high."
"You do?" Tommy asks.
"Definitely," Abby says. "Let's see--what is it he says? 'You're not applying yourself.' 'What kind of career is that?' 'You could do so much more if you only tried.' Sound familiar?"
"Are you sure we aren't related?" Tommy jokes.
"Trust me. You do not want to be related to Harry Mitchell," Abby says. "I don't think we're related. I think all fathers are related."
Tommy laughs.
Mrs. Abbot takes a look at her watch. "Well, that's enough for today. What's the routine here--does someone help you downstairs for dinner, or do they bring it up to you?"
"Depends on who is home at the time to help me down." Tommy says.
"Well, before you decide to come down tonight, I should warn you that your father invited me to stay for dinner, so you might be the prime topic of conversation."
~Great, now I have to eat with her too~ "That's nice; I guess I'll see you at dinner."
~Could you look a little less enthused?~ Mrs. Abbot thinks. "I'll see you then," she says, and gathers her books.
"See ya later," Tommy says.
Abby goes downstairs and knocks on the doorframe of Mr. Bradford's study. "Hi. Tommy and I are done for the day--can I help any with dinner?"
"Actually the girls have it under control. But you can join me for a drink, Mrs...." He stops himself. "You know maybe it's time that we started calling each other by our first names. You can call me Tom."
"Most everyone calls me Abby," she says, bracing herself for the inevitable "Abby Abbot?" comment.
"Abby Abbot?" Tom inquires. "That's different."
Abby launches into her usual explanation. "Actually, Abby is from Abbot. It's better than Sandra Sue, right?" she laughs.
"Actually I like both names," Tom says. "But Abby is easier to say." He smiles.
"It certainly makes it easier to sort my mail. Anything addressed to Abigail is obviously junk." She looks around the living room, amazed that a single father with so many kids can keep things together as he obviously is.
"What's on your mind?" Tom asks.
Abby shakes her head. "Just wondering how you manage it--eight kids, a job, this house."
"Well some of the older kids help out a lot but it still hasn't been easy," Tom replies.
"I can't imagine it would be," Abby says. "You know, you're not at all like I imagined."
"Well what did you imagine?" Tom asks.
"I usually read the Bee, not the Register, but I have read your column a few times, though I didn't make the connection between you and Tommy until this afternoon," Abby admits. "It's probably not fair judging you on your writing, but you project this image of an ivory tower liberal sitting slightly above all the mess of local politics. Not," she waves her hand out to the chaos of the Bradford household, "not this."
Tom laughs. "Yeah around here I'm just Dad, and lately mom too," he says.
"So you used to be a paragon of liberal values before domesticity got you?" Abby teases. "Sounds like your kids have short memories, then."
"No, no, no." Tom says. "There are some things I will never and never had been liberal about."
Abby leans forward, interested, trying to fit all the pieces of the picture together. "Such as?"
"I don't allow boys upstairs when I'm not home. Even then the door better not be locked. No drugs under any circumstances. If my children wish to partake in smoking any kinds of plants or taking any narcotics they will not do it under this roof. They will not do it when they live on their own. When I die, if they try it then I will haunt them."
~Now I understand why Mary moved in with her boyfriend.~ "And what about girls upstairs?" she challenges Tom.
"The same rules apply," Tom tells her.
"You know, sometimes being too strict just sends them out looking for their freedom," Abby says.
"And without rules in a family this size anarchy would reign," he counters.
"But rules have to change with the times," Abby insists, "or they become fossilized and the natives revolt."
"I don't make my sons get haircuts. I let them play the music they like."
Abby leans back, smiles, shakes her head. "When you talk about restrictions, the girls come first. And when you talk about privilege, it's the boys."
"That's outrageous. I do not," Tom protests.
Abby's smile turns into a grin. "Yes, you do. When I asked what you're not liberal about, you said you wouldn't let your girls be alone upstairs with boys. But when you tried to show me how liberal you really are, you told me you'd let your boys grow their hair long. Sounds like there's a lot more you're not liberal about than you'll admit to."
"Well it's hard getting used to how the world is changing. When I was their age girls were different. They needed protecting. Except for my sister. She wouldn't stand for it."
"Well, neither will women nowadays," Abby says. "And if you're as obvious about it with your daughters as you were just now...Gotta give you credit, though--you certainly write a good liberal line. 'Needed protection'," she laughs.
"Well they sure acted that way back then," Tom defends himself.
"And you never figured out that that's all it was, an act?" Abby asks. "I mean, I hope you didn't raise your daughters to need protecting; it certainly doesn't look it, from what I've seen. And I don't think your parents' generation were so much worse parents than you are."
"Well I tried but they won't stand for it most of the time," Tom replies. "But old habits die hard."
"Tom Bradford, the last of the great liberal columnists, exposed as a conservative at heart," Abby teases. "I may never get over the shock."
Tom laughs and offers her a refill.
Abby accepts and sips her drink, trying to figure out what to say next. ~He's just the father of one of your students. Get a grip. Yeah, but I never get friendly with the families of my students. Bad idea to. So why do I feel like this is a first date? You know, you could talk about--what?--the godawful carpet in here? Tommy? No, I don't want to talk about work... Wish those girls would hurry up with dinner, or I'm likely to make a fool of myself.~
At that point Elizabeth enters. "Hey Dad, Mrs. Abbot. Dinner is ready."
Later, while everyone is eating dinner.
Tom
goes to get Abby some more coffee and pours it in her cup. "Would you like
anything else?" he asks.
~Eating dinner with this family has been more fun than the last five dates I went on, combined. Not a good thing.~ "Um, no, no thanks," Abby says. "In fact, I probably should be going. See, I have this proposal I have to work on..."
"Can I see you out?" Tom offers.
Abby considers this briefly. "Sure."
Tom walks her to the door and has an impulse to kiss her, but stops himself. ~It's too soon, it's way too soon. I'd be betraying Joan and I'm sure she wouldn't be so happy about it either.~ "Well, goodnight," he finally manages.
"Goodnight," Abby begins walking to her car and the door shuts behind her. For a few minutes she just sits there, in the car, watching the house. ~I could have sworn he was about to--nah, you're imagining things.~
She drives home, throws her bag on the couch and checks her machine. The meeting about the reading proposal has been rescheduled for Tuesday. Kenny the dyslexic picked up chicken pox, so his lessons are canceled for the next week. Jamie Sutton from the music program--got her number from Lisa. Abby erases the tape, not willing to deal with men this evening.
Later that night on Nancy's date.Nancy just glares at him. All during the date all he had been doing is trying to get her in the backseat and now this. This was only their first date. What was his malfunction? "Why would I want to live with you?"
"Well, your sister moved in with her boyfriend. What's good for big sister is also good for little sister right?" He makes a move to kiss her and she pushes him away. "What's your problem?" he asks, becoming angry.
"My problem?! What's your problem?! Mary and Doug have known each other for a long time and are in love they just want to make sure that living together works out before they get married. Not that it's any of your business!!"
"Well we've known each other for awhile."
"Oh no we haven't." They continue to argue about it and he starts getting rough with her so she gets out of the car and slams the door on him. He groans in pain as she yells at him some more and walks away. He calls her a few unsavory names and drives away.
After Nancy has calmed down some she calls home and just gets a busy signal. She also calls David's house but no one is home. Then she tries Mary and Doug's house but gets another busy signal. Therefore, she decides to walk home. On the way there she stops by the cemetery and sits by her mothers grave.
"What's wrong with me, Mom?" Nancy asks through her tears. "Why can't I find a decent boyfriend like Mary has? Or have a lot of friends at school like Susan and Joannie do?" ~Why did you have to leave?~ Nancy stays there for awhile talking and hoping that somehow her dead mother can hear her. She winds up crying herself to sleep.
A few hours later at home. Tom is staring at the clock and pacing the floors when he finally decides to call Rick's house. Which awakens Rick.
"It's three in the morning. What do you want?" he says, not very happy about being woken up.
"My daughter home for one!! Put her on the phone!!" Tom hollers.
"She's not here. We got in a fight and she walked away. I didn't feel very much like offering her a ride," Rick says, still angry.
"Didn't feel like offering her a ride?! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for a woman to walk home by herself this late at night!?" Tom rages.
"Trust me. If she runs into unsavory people she won't be the one in danger," Rick says.
"If anything happens to her...Oh never mind." Tom hangs up on him and frantically calls the police who refuse to look for her until she's been gone twenty four hours. He considers calling David, Mary, and Doug.
~No, they would've called me if she showed up there.~ Tom winds up calling them anyway to ask them to help search for her. He then wakes Joannie and Susan and has them listen for the phone in case Nancy calls.
One hour later he decides to check the cemetery. Nancy had been going there a lot lately, more than he has, he's ashamed to admit. He lets out a huge sigh of relief when he finds her asleep near her mother's grave. He kneels next to her and gently shakes her. "Nancy come on wake up it's time to go home," he says.
She awakens with a start and relaxes when she realizes it's just her father. He helps her up and then they get in the car and head home. She's silent on the drive home. When they arrive Tom cuts off the engine and turns to her. "Do you want to give me a good reason why I shouldn't ground you right now?"
She glances at him with tears in her eyes and just turns away. "Right now I don't care if you do or not. What do I have to do outside of school and home anyway?" She gets out of the car, slams the door, goes inside, and runs upstairs to her room and shuts the door.
Tom stays in the car for a few moments longer. ~What is going on? This isn't like her.~ Tom continues to ponder the situation and finally goes inside. The other searchers call to check in and Tom tells them that he's found her and thanks them for looking. He also sends Joannie and Susan back to bed. Soon he goes there himself after checking on all his children, who are all fast asleep by now, including Nancy.
The next morning at breakfast.
"You mean he
didn't even ground her?" Elizabeth asks Susan. "That's not fair. If I did that
I'd never hear the end of it."
"I can't believe it either. I wonder what went on last night," Susan replies
"From what I heard Rick left her stranded," David says as he gets some coffee. "And she fell asleep at the cemetery."
"Why didn't she just call home for a ride?" Elizabeth ponders.
Nancy walks in. "Because she kept getting a busy signal. Is Dad up yet?" She gets a cup of coffee and sits down.
"No, but it's not fair that you're not grounded." Elizabeth complains.
"Elizabeth can it, all right? You don't know a thing about what happened last night. And whether or not Dad grounds me is none of your business."
"Well then why were you at the cemetery last night?" Elizabeth asks.
"I wanted to visit Mom," she says quietly. There's an uncomfortable silence which slightly angers her. "Oh I forgot no one likes to talk about Mom around here. Let's all just pretend like she never existed." She leaves for school.
Tom walks in having heard every word.
"She's really starting to get on my nerves," Elizabeth complains.
"Elizabeth that's enough. She doesn't mean to be
short with you she just misses your mom, and she's hurting, so how about a
little understanding?" Tom says as he gets his coffee and something to eat. "And
has anyone brought Tommy his breakfast yet?"
"No not yet," David says.
Tom makes his son a plate and goes upstairs. Tommy is
awake and staring at
the ceiling. "How are you feeling big guy?" Tom asks as
he sets the plate down.
"OK, I guess" Tommy says trying to convince his father and himself.
"You guess huh? Do you want to talk about it?" Tom asks him.
"What's the point?" Tommy says. "I am still going to be 15, have a broken leg and Mom is gone; so why talk about it?"
"Because you might feel better afterwards," Tom tells him.
"This has just been a rotten year, that's all," Tommy says. "Well, you know what I am talking about."
"Yes, son, I know exactly what you're talking about and believe me I miss your mom too," Tom confesses.
"It just makes me think what's the point of it all, why even try?" Tommy ponders.
"I'll tell you what helps me and maybe it'll help you." Tom goes on to explain about how holding on to a memory of his mother might and how it'll help him.
"I guess I could give it a shot" Tommy says.
"Good," Tom says as he hugs his son. "I have to go into work for a little while today, but if you need me, call."
"OK, see ya later," Tommy replies.
"See ya, and don't put too much strain on your leg when you're practicing with the crutches," Tom says as he leaves for work.
Moments later:
Nancy didn't really go to
school, she headed over to Mary and Doug's place instead. She knocks on the
door.
Mary goes to answer the door, "Well, it's good to see you...But what are you doing here instead of school?"
"Mary, can we talk?" Nancy asks.
"Sure, but then you go to school. Okay? What wrong?" Mary asks.
They go inside and sit down. "The thing is I don't want to go back there. Everyone hates me, and Rick.... Mary he was such a jerk." She tells her everything he said to her last night. "And if I so much as mention mom at home everyone acts like it's taboo to talk about her."
"Well as far as Rick goes, he is a jerk and you can do better. But when it comes to mom, everyone is still hurting. It's hard for some people to talk about something that hurts them. I know what you mean about wanting to talk about her. If you want to talk about Mom, talk to me. I would love to talk about her. It helps to keep her memory alive," Mary says.
Nancy smiles. "Thanks Mary." They talk about Joan for awhile. A couple of hours later: "What about school? I've tried making friends but it isn't working. And the classes bore me. Should I give it another shot so Dad doesn't hit the roof or just forget the whole thing and give modeling another try?"
"Nancy, that's up to you. You're the one that has to live with your decision and with Dad's reaction. I'd like to see you give it another try, but that's up to you," Mary says.
Nancy sighs. "I'll probably go back and give it another shot, but not today. I think I'll go home and keep an eye on Tommy and stuff."
"Okay, tell Tommy 'hi' for me and everyone else too. You know it's strange, but I miss being at home with all the noise and all. I even miss fighting over the bathroom," Mary laughs.
Nancy laughs also. "I will." She hugs Mary. "Thanks for hearing me out."
"Anytime, and I enjoyed the company," Mary hugs her back.
"Hmm, well if you're bored you can come with me."
"I'd love to go with you, but Doug and I have plans. He had a class this morning, but he'll be here soon. We both took the rest of the day off to spend some time together," Mary explains.
"Ahh I see. Well, you two have fun, and I'll see you later ok," Nancy says as she heads out the door.
"We will," Mary says with a grin then adds, "Come back when you can."
"I will." She says as she heads home when she gets there everyone else is gone for the day. She checks in on Tommy.
"I thought you'd still be zonked out. Do you need anything?" she asks him.
"Yeah, can we talk?" Tommy asks. "I heard about what happened last night."
Nancy sits down being careful not to aggravate his leg. "Yeah we can talk. I guess that was pretty stupid of me to try to walk home in the middle of the night."
"Well, we all do dumb things at times, I am just glad you are OK. I understand you went to Mom's grave last night?" Tommy says.
"Thanks," she smiles. "Yeah I go there a lot to talk to her and stuff, and when things really get to me."
"Yeah, I do too, but haven't been able to go since I broke my dumb leg," Tommy confesses.
"Hey maybe I can borrow David's van when you're well enough to brave the stairs and we can go there together," Nancy suggests.
"That would be great," Tommy says. "You know, its a good thing I have this broken leg, or Rick would have two broken legs."
Nancy hugs him. "That's sweet of you, but stay away from him please, violence never solved anything."
"No, but it would make me feel better," Tommy says.
Nancy laughs. "Yeah, me too."
"Hey Nance, would you mind getting me a sandwich?"
"I wouldn't mind at all. What kind do you want?"
"Well, Nicholas probably finished off the peanut butter, so baloney is OK," Tommy replies.
"Ok, coming up." Nancy goes to make it and brings it back to him.
That afternoon, when Mrs. Abbot walks into Tommy's bedroom, she can see that he's depressed. She puts aside her bag of schoolwork. "Want to talk about it?" she offers.
"You wouldn't understand," Tommy answers.
"Don't be so sure about that," Mrs. Abbot cautions him. "You know, yesterday your father told me that some of your problems in school were because of your mother dying."
~Oh great, why did he have to go tell her for~ "Why should I care anything about school anymore, if the one person I really counted on isn't there?" Tommy explains.
"Because she wouldn't have wanted you to stop living," Mrs. Abbot tells him. "Look, I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now, but life does go on. Even if you don't feel like it for a long while."
"Look, I know you are trying to help but you just don't know what it is like," Tommy says in frustration.
"Actually, yeah, I do." Mrs. Abbot plays nervously with her hands. "Not my mom, but I know what it is to lose the person you count on most. Like I said, don't assume."
"Who?" Tommy asks.
"My husband. I know you won't believe this, but I wasn't all that much older than you, so you can see that I survived."
"Your husband? How?" Tommy asks. "That is, if I am not being too nosy."
~Yeah, you are, but...~ "Vietnam. He was shot down, and he died in a POW camp. Like I said, a long time ago. You learn to go on. And so will you, Tommy. I promise."
"I am sorry," Tommy says.
Mrs. Abbot shrugs. "Yeah, well...See, I only told you so you could see that I do understand, and if you want to talk about it..."
"It has just been rough, more so since school started and then I had to go and be stupid and break my leg," Tommy explains.
"Gives you lots of time to brood, doesn't it?' Mrs. Abbot says.
"I suppose so," Tommy replies.
"Sometimes it helps if instead of brooding you talk about them," Mrs. Abbot says, as much to herself as to Tommy, including not only Tommy's mother, but Frank Abbot.
"What can I say except for the fact even if she had eight of us, she had a way of making each one of us feel like we were the most important; if that makes any sense," Tommy says.
~Eight kids. That woman was either a saint or a masochist.~ "Yeah, it does make sense. She sounds like she was really special," Mrs. Abbot prompts him to go on.
"She was. What about your husband? What was he like?" Tommy asks.
"He was very..." Mrs. Abbot searches for the words--"very alive. You know, the kind of guy who doesn't do anything halfway? He was on the college football team, got good grades, was the model Marine. I think my dad even had convinced him to study law after his tour of duty was over. And he hunted, and fished."
"Sounds like he was a cool guy," Tommy says and then concedes, "I guess you do understand."
Mrs. Abbot shrugs. The club of mourners isn't one she'd have chosen to join. "But maybe it was a little easier for me. I mean, it seemed like everyone was losing someone during the war, but you went into a new school and no one understood what you've been going through, right?"
"Yeah, it feels like you're walking outside of yourself just going through the motions and it seems everybody's biggest problem in life is getting a date next weekend."
She laughs. "Yeah, and it all seems pretty silly. You know, they tell you that in time you forget, and that's wrong, you don't, but in time, well, life takes over, and all those little things that don't seem so important at first start creeping up on you until you find yourself thinking about school or some new record or even that date next weekend."
"Well, I guess for now I'll just have to take your word for it," Tommy says.
"Guess you will," Mrs. Abbot agrees. "But remember that you can always come and talk to me, OK? Sometimes it's good to talk to someone who understands but isn't family."
"I'd like that...thanks" Tommy says and then adds "and I would like to somewhat apologize for all the bad things I was thinking about you when you first showed up."
"Somewhat, huh?" Mrs. Abbot laughs. "You know, I think what you thought of me may be more than I want to know. Besides, I'll bet it wasn't anything anyone else getting a traveling tutor doesn't think--'cranky, strict old bat...'."
"Well, I am embarrassed to say now but yeah," Tommy replies.
"You know, if there's one thing I'm going to teach you, I mean besides the actual subject matter, it's going to be not to jump to conclusions. You don't always get the cranky old bat--sometimes it's the cranky young bat."
Tommy laughs. ~Is she kidding or being serious?~ he thinks to himself.
"You ought to laugh more--it looks good on you," Mrs. Abbot says, then switches to 'cranky young bat mode.' "Did you get a chance to look over those math problems I left you?"
"I did 3/4 of them earlier," Tommy replies and hands them to her.
Mrs. Abbot looks them over. "This is great. You really don't give yourself enough credit. But over here, see..." she begins to go over the examples with Tommy, praising what he got right and explaining what he got wrong.
"I see what you mean." Tommy replies.
"Ah, now you've said the magic words," Mrs. Abbot smiles. "Keep telling me that, Tommy, and you'll have me eating out of the palm of your hand. Nothing a teacher likes to hear better than 'I see what you mean'."
"Well don't get to use to it," Tommy replies.
"Afraid of becoming teacher's pet, huh?" Mrs. Abbot laughs.
"Sorry, I am not the type," Tommy laughs.
Episode One--Part Two