Shaggy Dog Story
The day after Cassie's funeral. Nancy comes home after her classes
let out and waits for Joannie. While she's waiting she gets Sam ready.
Joannie rushes into Nancy's room. "You ready?"
"I sure am."
"Then let's go."
"Ok." She leaves the house with Sam and Joannie.
They drive to Charles Street and pull up in front of a build that has seen
better days. "This is it," Joannie sighs.
"Sam I want you to greet every single one of them." Nancy tells him although
she doesn't really have to.
Sam barks and licks Nancy's hand.
Nancy kisses his forehead and pets him. Soon they're out of the car.
Joannie leads them inside and to the office. "You have got to say hello to
Father Trinelli."
"I know." Nancy says and says hello when they do see them.
"Any progress on our show?" Father Trinelli asks them.
"Uh huh." She tells him what her family members are going to do.
"That's wonderful!"
She smiles. "Oh, and Sam here wanted to know if he can play with the kids."
"It should be all right. Joannie, why don't you concentrate on entertaining
anyone who's scared of dogs?" he suggests.
"Will do."
"Thank you." Nancy says.
Joannie leads Nancy and Sam over to the kids. "Hi, kids!" she says in her
clown voice.
"Hi." Some of them say back, a few of them staring at Sam.
"This is Sam," Joannie tells them. "Sam, say hi to everyone."
Sam goes to greet all of them stopping by each child as he does so.
So everyone that wants to can pet him.
Nancy smiles at him. "He's such a good guy."
Joannie is about to answer when one kid starts screaming. "I think that's
my cue."
"I'd say it is." Nancy is and looks around to see if Sam is near the kid.
Joannie goes over to the girl and sends Sam on to the next.
"Don't like doggies." The little girl says.
Joannie puts a finger to her lips. "Don't tell him he's a dog. Poor Sam thinks
he's a person."
"He does?" She says a little in awe.
Joannie nods. "You should see him try to join us at the dinner table."
The little girl looks at him and watches him. "I guess he's not that scary."
"Would you like to touch him? His hair is really soft."
She nods.
"Hey, Sam, come here," Joannie calls.
Sam walks back over there and patiently waits for the little girl to brave
petting him. When she does finally pet him she smiles.
"He's real soft."
"And you're very brave."
She smiles at Joannie. "Thank you."
"Any time."
"Is it ok if I bring him with me each time I come here." Nancy asks Father
Trinelli.
"Anything the kids love is fine with me," he smiles.
"Good." She smiles back and after talking to him for a bit longer she joins
Joannie and Sam with the kids.
Joannie has launched into her clown routine, using Sam as her helper.
Nancy laughs along with the kids while watching.
After Joannie finishes her act she and Sam circulate again.
In the middle of it all Nancy thinks of Cassie and wonders if she would have
had fun there today.
Joannie makes her way back to Nancy.
"Just look at their faces, they're so happy right now." Nancy says.
"We did good today."
Nancy nods in agreement. "You and Sam work great together."
"No, you, Sam and I work great together."
Nancy smiles at her correction. "Now that I accept."
"Maybe we should do it again sometime."
"What day would be best?"
"Any day you're available."
"That would be any day of the week."
"Same time, same place, next week?"
"Works for me."
"Then it's a date."
"Yep."
"Let's let Father Trinelli in on the good news."
"Ok." They go over to him.
"You three were a real hit today' he tells them.
"Thank you, we'll be here next Wednesday too."
"That's wonderful. A real G-d send."
Nancy smiles.
"Then we'll see you next week."
"We'll definetly be here."
Joannie says her goodbyes and the three leave.
On the way home. Nancy checks her purse, doesn't find what she's looking
for, but refuses to panic. "Hey Joannie you wouldn't by any chance
have any candy stashed in your purse would you?"
"No. But we can get some," Joannie says and steers her to a candy store.
"Forgot your insulin?"
"Yes," she says in an embarrased tone.
"Nancy..." Joannie chides as she buys the candy.
"Well I never said I was perfect." She defends herself.
"Sure you did. We're the ones who disagree," Joannie teases.
Nancy laughs and eats the candy.
Joannie unwraps and eats her own candy.
After the candy has taken effect. "That was fun today."
"The kids thought so, too."
"I know that was the funnest part."
"Every time I'm there I think that that could have been us."
"Yeah I know, and if it was. They could have separated us."
"Probably would have."
"I wouldn't have been able to take that. Would've spent the rest of
my life looking for all of you."
"Well, we're lucky we still have Dad."
"That's for sure, and Abby."
"Yeah, right. Of course."
They arrive at the house.
"I'd better go get changed."
"Yeah." Nancy half smiles still kind of hurt that two of her favorite people
don't get along.
"thanks again for today," Joannie says, and the goes upstairs.
"No problem, I had fun." She says to her retreating figure and goes to the
kitchen.
Meanwhile, Abby is getting ready for her classes. She tries to open the drawer
of her vanity, but it's stuck. ~Great.~ Abby fiddles around with the drawer
and when that doesn't work, gets down on the floor to see what the problem
is. ~What is that?~ She pries the thin package stuck to the bottom of the
drawer off and blanches when she sees what is written on it.
Tom walks in trying to find a book. "Abby you haven't seen the book I've
been reading have you?" not noticing her look.
"Um, no. Tom?"
"Hmm?" he asks looking behind his nightstand.
"Do you have a minute?"
"For you always, whats up?"
"You might want to sit down," Abby advises.
"Uh oh, which kid now." he says sitting down.
"None. I found this taped to the bottom of my--of h--of the vanity drawer."
Abby hands him the parcel.
He reads whats on the package and goes pale.
Abby sits down next to him. "Do you want to be alone for this?"
"No, unless it makes you feel uncomfortable."
"No, I guess not."
Tom opens the package and finds a antique pocket watch he had pawned years
ago for a house payment. "Oh my." He tells her the story.
"I guess she was planning to surprise you with this."
"Yeah." he says putting it back in the box. "I'll see if my book is downstairs."
he replies leaving the box on the table.
Abby watches him leave, hurt and confused.
Tom rushes out of there not wanting to hurt Abby with his tears.
Abby goes back to getting ready. ~Know when I'm not wanted...~
Tom sits down on the staircase half way down, holding his head in his hands.
Mary comes home from her classes and sees him there. "Dad?" He doesn't
seem to hear her. "Dad?" She sits down beside him.
"Hmm? Oh hi Mary."
"Dad what's wrong?" She asks in a gentle tone.
"Nothing wrong really, just in shock."
"What happened?"
He tells her about the gift. "I didn't handle it well and I think I hurt
Abby in the process."
"Oh Dad." She hugs him.
Tom hugs her back. "Thank You." he says looking at his closed bedroom door.
"Would you excuse me."
"Of course."
Abby starts down the stairs, books and bag in hand. "Excuse me," she says
to Tom and Mary, who are blocking the stairway.
"Talk to her." She whispers to her Dad before moving out of the way.
"Abby wait, please?" Tom asks.
"I'm running late," she says.
"Please?" he begs with his eyes glistening.
Abby looks at her watch. "I have one minute."
Tom sighs. "One minute? You gave me that gift now so I would have to
deal with it alone while you were gone?"
"You ran out of our room because you needed or wanted anything from me?"
Abby says in disbelief.
"I didn't want you to see my tears." he admits.
"But everyone else could?" Abby asks, waving at their location.
"You are right." Tom says.
"You and Mary seemed to be having a good conversation before I interrupted,"
Abby adds.
"You weren't interrupting." he says. "Go to class, I'll wait up for you"
he says as he goes to the study.
Abby goes to Mary, who is still in the general vicinity. "Tell your father
I might be late."
Mary nods. "Abby if you need to talk later..."
"Your father is obviously the one who needs to talk to you," Abby says and
heads for the door.
"He also needs you."
"You're obviously mistaken," Abby says, looking at the closed study door.
"Abby he was going to go back to you before you came out."
Abby nods. "Yeah. Look, I have to go. I don't know when ~if~ I'll be home."
"I'll save you some dinner."
"Thanks," Abby says and hurries out.
Mary goes and knocks on the study door.
"Come in." he says hoping its his wife.
Mary walks in. "Abby will be home late."
"I kinda figured, I really messed up again."
"Dad we all do that once in awhile it's going to be all right."
"Sure it will." he hopes. "I better get started on my column."
"And I'd better get started on dinner." She leaves the room and continues
to worry about them both.
Tom puts a blank sheet a paper in his typewriter and let it sit. He then
cries.
Meanwhile Abby drives down the block, stops her car, and begins to cry.
Elizabeth sees her and approaches her car and knocks on the glass.
"Oh." Abby quickly wipes her eyes. "Hi."
"Hi, Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. You know me, always getting a little teary-eyed."
"Uh huh. Abby what's wrong?"
"Nothing, other than that I'm late for school. Ask your father--he seems
to want to tell everyone," Abby says and starts her engine.
"Abby, could you take me to the library on your way?" she asks making excuses.
Abby sighs. "Sure. Get in."
"Thanks." she says.
Abby drives away, trying to make it clear she isn't interested in conversation.
Elizabeth is blunt. "Did you and Dad have a fight?"
"No, not really. Look, I told you--ask your father."
"I'm asking you."
"It's not my story to tell."
Elizabeth shakes her head confused. "Never mind about the library, just drop
me off at the corner. I'll walk home."
"If that's what you want."
She nods.
"Fine." Abby pulls over. "And don't forget to ask your father. He seems really
anxious to let everyone know what's going on with him--everyone but me, that
is."
Elizabeth gets out and walks home. She finds Mary in the kitchen.
"What's going on between Dad and Abby?" Explaining the conversation she had
with Abby or the lack of one.
Mary tells her all she knows.
"Poor Dad. No wonder Abby was upset."
"Yeah really, I'm worried about them."
"Me too." she says. In the meantime Tom decides to nip this argument in the
bud. "Hi Elizabeth." he says. "Hi Dad" ,she responds.
"Mary could you drop me off at the college? I'll wait for Abby to get out
of class so we can talk."
"It would be my pleasure." Mary says.
"Thanks."
Mary goes to get the keys and then returns.
"Lets hope she'll allow me in her car.'
"She will." She says. "Elizabeth will you keep an eye on dinner."
Elizabeth nods.
Tom waits for Abby by her car.
Abby comes out of class, hanging back from the rest of the students.
Tom waves at her.
Abby starts to wave back, then lets her hand drop. She walks over to the
car, having no where else to go.
"Hi." he says. "I wonder if you can give a friend a lift."
"A friend?" Abby asks skeptically.
"Yes a very pigheaded foolish friend."
"Oh, you mean you. Sure, get in."
Tom sighs and shakes his head. "Thanks."
"How did you get here?" Abby asks as she starts the car.
"I asked Mary to drop me off."
"Why?"
"So I could talk to you and tell you I'm sorry."
"OK, then talk," Abby says as she pulls out of the parking space.
"Could we go someplace quiet please?"
"Well, that rules home out."
"How about the river?"
~Figures.~ "All right." Abby drives there.
Tom groans remembering. "Forget the river, lets go park where we used
to before we were married."
Abby smiles. "OK," she says and changes direction.
~Did one thing right tonight.~ he thinks.
Abby parks the car. "OK, so talk."
"Joan gave me that watch on our wedding day."
"She must have been furious when you pawned it."
"She was, but I had no other choice." he says. "It was either that or be
homeless."
"What about V or her parents? You couldn't borrow anything?"
Tom sighs. "And let her parents prove them right that I couldn't provide
for my family?"
"It was a choice between your pride and her feelings."
Tom nods. "She didn't speak to me for days."
"You were lucky it was that short."
"Then when I did have the money, it was too late. It had been sold. How she
ever found it....I'll never know."
"Never underestimate the power of a determined woman."
Tom nods. "Can you forgive me for running out like that?"
"Only if I can understand why."
"I was filled with guilt."
"About what? Missing Joan? I would have understood that."
"I know, but that watch reminded me how I failed her."
"If she thought that, she wouldn't have tracked the watch down."
"I just don't know anymore." he says rubbing his head.
"I'm sure she knew you aren't perfect," Abby begins.
Tom chuckles. "Probably she found that out the day after we got married."
"It took her that long?"
"Cute."
"Whatever else you might be, you are that."
Tom takes her hand. "I love you."
"I love you, too. I just wish you'd trust me a little more."
"I do trust you, it was never that."
"Then what was it?"
Tom shrugs. "I was just totally unprepared."
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I just gave it to you. You walk in looking for a book and I lay a bomb in
your lap."
"I should have been able to handle it better."
"But you weren't, and that's nothing we can change."
"So can we just go on from here? I'll put the watch in the vault and give
it to one of the boys later."
"Why not keep it? Unless you think that you'll be tempted to pawn it again."
"No, never again." he says. "I hope to keep it in the family."
"Then why not keep it with you?"
"OK, if it doesn't bother you. I will."
"I've never tried to pretend that either one of us has no history."
"I know, I just trying to spare your feelings."
"You ought to know better by now."
"I think I finally got it."
"Good."
Tom kisses her.
Abby is still a little hesitant.
"What's wrong?" Tom asks feeling her coolness.
"Just because I've forgiven you doesn't mean I wasn't hurt. Give me a little
time."
"OK." he says removing his arm from her shoulders.
Abby settles back into her seat and looks out the windshield.
"Remember the first time we came up here?" Tom asks.
"Before or after you realized that you were in too deep?"
Tom laughs. "I knew I was in too deep the first time I laid eyes on you,
but I didn't care."
"Oh, now you know that's not true. Admit it, you were terrified."
"Like a kid falling in love for the first time."
Abby laughs. "Are you claiming I made you reckless, irresponsible, and totally
unconcerned about your curfew?"
"Pretty much." he says.
"I'm a bad influence."
"But you made me happy and I hope I have made you happy."
"Generally."
"Just generally?"
"Tell me that I always, and I mean always, make you happy. Go on, I dare
you."
"For the most part yes you do."
"For the most part meaning generally, right?"
Tom concedes. "Yes."
"Only 'for the most part'?" Abby teases.
"90 %?" he jokes.
"I'll settle for anything over 50."
Tom laughs.
"You know, I was planning to take tonight off," Abby says.
"Off?" he asks
"From school," Abby clarifies. "You didn't think I was just going to hand
you some package from Joan and run off, did you?"
Tom feels the pangs of guilt once again. "I blew it again."
"Well, 'blew it' is a bit strong, but..."
"Abby, can we just go home and will you hold me tonight?" he asks softly.
Abby hesitates a moment. "How do you do that?"
"How do I do what?" he asks perplexed.
"Manage to always find the one thing you could say to make me forgive you
anything."
"Oh..." he says. "That wasn't my intention, I was asking honestly."
"Well, whatever -- it worked." Abby starts the engine. "Let's go home."
"Good idea."
Abby leans over, gives Tom's cheek a kiss, and then drives them home.
In the kitchen: "Hey," Nancy says to the family member that is already in
there.
"Hey." Tommy says.
"I hope it didn't hurt too much when I bit your head off yesterday." She
says by way of apology.
"Who me? Nah. I was just trying to help and it didn't come out right. I'm
sorry."
"It's all right I should have realized that. I just wasn't in the right frame
of mind."
"It's cool." Tommy states.
"Good." She smiles. "So when do we practice?"
"Tonight?"
"Works for me."
"Great."
"The kids had so much fun today." Nancy tells him.
"Cool."
"What's been happening around here?"
"I don't know, I just got home myself."
Mary comes back in to check on dinner. "Hey you two."
"Hey."
"Hi, where is everyone?" Tommy asks.
"Dad's somewhere with Abby. Everyone else is upstairs."
"Oh."
"Is short for Ohio? Or just Oh." David says as he walks in.
Tommy laughs. "What brings you by?"
"A free meal." David says. Mary and Nancy ignore him.
"I don't think humble pie is being served." he whispers to him.
"That's ok I wasn't looking for any."
"Then you came to the right place." he states.
David smiles and then says to his sisters. "My quarrel is with Joannie
not you two."
"You mess with one of us you mess with all of us." Mary says.
"Those poor kids." Nancy adds.
"Was it that bad?" Tommy asks.
Nancy nods. "But we managed to show them a good time."
"Cool."
While Mary is preparing dinner the phone rings she answers it and almost
hangs up when she hears the voice on the other end.
"No don't hang up." Phillip begs. "Look I know I was a jerk that night.
Can I please have another chance?"
"After what you did to me? I don't think so." She says and hangs up
still too peeved to think about forgiving him.
"Are you hungry?" Tom asks Abby as she pulls in the driveway.
"I could go for some dessert."
"Where?" he smiles.
"Your call."
"Upstairs?"
"You've got a one-track mind," Abby grins.
"Is that so bad?" he jokes.
"Not as long as that track leads to me."
"Only You."
"Then it's very good."
He helps her out of the car.
"What are you going to tell Mary?"
"She'll understand."
"Are you sure?"
"Maybe we better quickly eat."
"Or maybe you'd better just tell her we worked things out."
"That should be obvious shouldn't it?"
"Has the obvious ever stopped one of your kids from misconstruing things?"
"You have a point."
"Go talk to her."
"OK." he says walking into the house. "Mary?"
Mary's in the kitchen.
"Hi."
"Hi Dad, how did it go?"
"Very well, thanks to you." he smiles
"Huh?"
"You gave me a ride, remember?"
"Oh yeah, it was no problem Dad."
"Uh Mary, would you be upset if Abby and I skipped dinner tonight?"
"No, why would I be upset about that?"
"Because you went to all the trouble to making it."
"Things like that don't upset me Dad. Now if it would have been the entire
family...."
Tom gives her a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks honey, we'll be upstairs if anyone
needs us."
"Ok."
After dinner Nancy seeks Tommy out so they can practice.
Tommy is in the garage.
"I'm ready whenever you are." Nancy says when she finds him.
"I hope you aren't claustrophobic,"
"And why do you hope that?"
Tommy shows her the tiny box he built for the magic trick.
Nancy looks at it apprehensively. "Oh."
"Well?"
"Can we make it a little bigger?"
"It would defeat the purpose of the trick." He shows her the manual.
Nancy reads it. "Got it."
"Are you going to be ok? If not we can try something else."
"I'll be fine, so what do I do?"
Tommy shows her how to get in and the secret exit.
Nancy gets inside.
"You ok in there?"
"Uh huh."
"OK, Now I do my little speech and make you disappear."
Nancy remains silent
Tommy does this and she escapes out the back
She decides to play a trick on him and hide and not get back in the box.
When he says the words again and opens the box and finds it is empty.
"Uh Nancy?"
She remains silent and tries to keep from giggling.
He walks around the box and looks. "Nancy, this isn't funny.'
He hears her breathing and sees where she's hiding.
"Nancy...." he chides.
"What can't you take a joke?"
"Because, you had me worried I had done something wrong with the box."
"Oh, sorry about that."
"It's ok." he says. "At least we know it works."
"Yeah like a charm, you're pretty good at this."
"Thanks, so are you." he states.
"Thank you."
"So, do you think the kids will like it?"
Nancy nods. "Yes I do."
"Cool."
"So is practice over or is there more?"
"That was basically it."
"Oh ok, we should let Joannie know we have it down."
"Ok."
They go looking for Joannie, who is in her room, studying. Nancy knocks on
the door.
"Come in."
Nancy and Tommy walk in. "Our act is ready."
"That's great."
"Do you want to see it?"
"I'd love to."
"Come on." Nancy says leading her to where they were practicing.
Joannie follows and waits for the show.
Nancy waits for Tommy to direct her again.
He does the trick again.
Joannie claps. "That's great!"
"Thank you." Nancy smiles.
"Really?" Tommy asks.
"Yes. But..."
"But?"
"You need to jazz it up. A little music, some showmanship."
"OH 0k." he states.
Nancy glances at Tommy to see if he knows how to do this.
"You could tape something," Joannie suggests.
"Good idea."
"I agree." Nancy says. "And we need outfits."
"I'm broke." Tommy says.
"I can probably borrow some at school."
"I'll get them," Nancy says.
"Nothing geeky, ok?"
She gives him a 'you know me better than that' look.
"OK, thanks."
"No problem, do you have any preferences?"
"Whatever magicians wear,"
"Ok but you're coming with me to pick it out."
Tommy nods.
Upstairs, Elizabeth sees Abby coming up the stairs and turns the other way.
"Elizabeth?" Abby calls out.
"Yes?"
"Did you speak to your father when you got home?" Abby asks, not sure how
much she should involve Elizabeth in what is now moot.
"No, But Mary told me." Liz says. "I understand now why you were upset."
"And why I didn't want to tell you what was happening? It was really your
father's call, how much he wanted everyone to hear."
"Yeah, I'm sorry I got upset at you for not telling me."
"It's OK. I was being pretty cryptic."
"Do you think its the last one?"
"I suppose so. Tom said she wrote everything down, but it makes sense she
wouldn't leave him a list of his own gifts."
"Yeah. She was smart that way."
"Your father is probably tearing apart the bedroom right now, but after he
does, I think that'll be the last of it."
"Lets hope." she sighs.
"You won't be disappointed if there are no more?"
"Between you and me? No." she says. "All it does is make me sad, and there's
nothing I can do about it."
Abby puts an arm across Elizabeth's shoulders. "I can understand that."
"Thanks, if you'll excuse me, I have homework to do."
"Sure. I should see what shape my room is in, anyway."
"Good luck." she says.
Part 2