Testing, testing
Part 3
Joannie is in the kitchen, eating a snack.
"Hey sis, miracles do happen." Nancy tells her as she gets a snack.
"You got an A on a test?" Joannie asks.
Nancy laughs. "Oh that was wrong, but a good one. Tommy will you do
the honors?"
Tommy tells her what he told David.
"I'm sorry, Tommy."
Tommy shrugs. "Abby says its treatable."
"No, not that. I'm sorry we were always so mean to you when it came to school
and grades. We didn't realize."
"Don't worry about it, everything is cool."
"Good. If you need any help, you know I'm here."
He nods. "I better go see if Abby found out anything, have you seen her?"
"Last I saw she was upstairs."
"Thanks. Oh David is doing the show."
"Why?"
"He finally came to his senses." Nancy says.
"Did he, or is doing it out of guilt?"
"You'll have to ask him. He's outside checking his oil."
"I'm supposed to go to him?"
Nancy shrugs. "That's up to you. You can always wait for him to come
to you."
"Then I will. He was the jerk, let him apologize."
A little while later David comes in and washes his hands. "Hi Joannie."
"Hello, David."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to come around."
"Who guilted you into it?"
"No one guilted me. They just helped me see that I was wrong."
"Right."
"Believe what you want to believe."
"I'm right."
He shakes his head. "You never were any good at accepting apologies.
You got that from me."
"I can do anything you can do. Better."
He smiles at her comment and then sobers. "I really am sorry Joannie,
I had my priorities screwed up."
"You're darn right you did."
"Do you forgive me?"
"Let's wait until we see how you do."
"Ok." He nods in agreement.
"So what are you just standing around for?"
He shrugs and leaves the room.
"Go practice!" Joannie yells after him.
"Ok!!" He says.
Joannie shakes her head and goes back to her snack.
Tommy goes upstairs and knocks on Abby's door.
"Come in."
"Hi."
"Hi. I talked to your school today."
"And?"
"They have very limited resources. You can either get pulled out of gym class
or stay after school twice a week."
"I choose to get out of gym."
"I figured you'd say that."
"Its not like I'll make the varsity team."
"It's not like you've ever shown any interest in trying."
"Abby, I'm not exactly built like Joe Namath."
"I'll let you in on a secret. I've met Joe Namath, and even he's not built
like Joe Namath."
Tommy smiles. "Good one."
"Look, it's your choice."
"Gym, besides I have band practice after school."
"Speaking of your music..."
"Oh yeah, we were going to practice."
"If you've got the time."
"I think I can swing it, I'll go get my guitar."
"Thanks."
Tommy gets his guitar and returns to her room.
They begin to practice.
Unbeknownst to them, Joannie hears the music and drifts upstairs to check
it out.
Elizabeth drifts out also. "Wow. who is that?"
"Abby and" Joannie peeks through the door, "Tommy. I didn't know he could
write such nice songs."
"That doesn't sound like one of Tommy's song." Liz states.
"I know. I think the boy is maturing."
"Abby has a great voice."
"It's OK."
"Joannie...." Liz chides.
Mary comes home and goes upstairs. "Who's that?" She asks her sisters.
"Tommy and Abby."
"Wow." Is all Mary can say.
"Oh hi Mary." Liz says.
"Hi Elizabeth."
Abby stops, apologizes to Tommy for forgetting a line, and starts again.
"OK, she's got a great voice," Joannie says, "but her memory..."
Elizabeth shakes her head and goes back to bed.
When Tommy and Abby are done, Joannie walks into the room applauding.
"I didn't know we had an audience." Tommy says.
"In this house you always have an audience. Nice song--I didn't know you
could write like that, Tommy."
"I didn't, Abby did."
"You did?" Joannie says to Abby.
"Yeah. When I was pregnant, I started to play around, write some lullabies,
but then...Well, I guess since it's appropriate to use for your charity show.
After all, they're kids without a mom, and I'm a mom without kids."
"That's not exactly true." Tommy says.
"I've never tried to be your mother," Abby says to Tommy and Joannie. "I
know no one could take her place, and I know you wouldn't want me to try.
But that's OK. I've sure got a lot of friends in this house."
Tommy nods. "I think you will be great at the show, right Joannie?"
"Yeah. This is going to be a great show."
Tommy rolls his eyes. "I better get to band practice."
"Wait--Tommy, do you think you'd have more time to practice with Abby for
the show?" Joannie asks.
"Huh? Why, she sounds great."
"Well, Abby did say she wrote lullabies--I was thinking, if the two of you
have the time to practice, you could do more than one song. You sound good
together."
Tommy looks at Abby ~Is this Joannie?~ "I don't mind."
"If you think it might help the kids," Abby agrees.
"Good. I'd better get going--I promised Susan I'd listen to her tuba solo."
After Joannie leaves. "What has gotten into her?" Tommy asks.
Abby shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe she just really likes the way you play.
You are good, you know."
"She's heard me a million of times and never said a word to me. I think it
was your singing, you are great."
"I don't know about great, but I am loud."
"You are great...If you were only 15 years younger. I'd invite you to join
the band."
"Oh, your father would love that."
Tommy laughs. "Yeah."
"And Ernie would freak. I thought your band was a no girls zone."
Tommy shrugs. "If the girl has talent."
"I'll let all the talented teenaged girls in town know that."
"Make sure they are pretty."
"Why? Some of the guys in your band aren't exactly eye candy."
"Ha Ha."
"Let's go downstairs. I'll buy you a snack for practicing with me."
"Thanks." They head downstairs. "So how did Gillette act when you told him?"
"Like he hated giving the tutors more hours," Abby says.
"Especially for a Bradford."
"I've met principals like this before. They hate giving hours for any kid--cuts
into their allocations. Around May they start looking for problems or they
lose their allocation for the next year. It's all politics, not your family
name, Tommy."
"Well we aren't exactly his favorite family."
"That's his problem, not yours."
"Thanks, I'm glad you are on my side."
"I'm glad you realize I am."
"Remind me of that when I start complaining." he jokes.
"Oh, I will. Believe me I will."
"I have no doubt."
"See? I told you you were smart."
Tommy smiles. "OK, I'm getting the message."
"Knew you would."
"So when do we get started?"
"I'll call in the morning and tell him to pull you out of your next gym class.
When's that?"
"Day after tomorrow."
"So I guess then."
"Ok."
"I guess we should tell your father what's going on."
"Can you tell him? I need to get to Ernie's."
"Sure."
"Thanks, I'll be home for dinner."
"You usually are," Abby smiles at him.
Tommy laughs and then leaves.
Mary corners David outside. "What are you singing for the show?" She
asks with Clipboard in hand.
"You'll find out during the show." He says.
"David I have to know." She insists.
He smiles and repeats what he just told her. "I'll see you later."
He says before driving away.
She sighs in frustration and goes inside. After getting frustrated by David's
evasive answer Mary seeks Joannie out to coordinate about the show.
Joannie is up in the attic.
"Joannie hey Joannie where are you?!" She sees the ladder to the attic
is down and decides to check there. "There you are."
"Yeah--come on up."
She makes it up to where Joannie is. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for old clothes."
"Why?"
"For my sketch."
"Got it, I have almost everyone's acts written down."
"Who are you missing?"
"David, he's confirmed that he's going to sing, but he won't let me know
what he's singing."
"He probably doesn't know yet himself."
"Maybe but he was acting like he did."
"You think I'm the only actor in the family?"
"No, you're just the only one smart enough to make a living out of it."
"Hopefully."
"Hey if I can make it through med school you can definitely get rich and
famous."
"And then I'll buy you a medical clinic. Fully stocked."
"And I won't charge you for medical care."
"You can throw in an autographed picture of me with every check up you give."
Mary laughs. "That will be something."
"It could really boost your business."
"That's for sure."
"Oh, hey, while you're writing down acts, put Abby and Tommy down for two
songs, not one."
"Ok, I never knew how good she was." She writes down two acts.
"Everyone's got to be good at something."
"Yep."
Joannie finds an old coat. "What do you think?"
"It's perfect."
"Now for a shirt."
"You can always wear that old blue blouse of Nancy's that's ugly enough."
Mary jokes.
"She wore it when she was 10. It wouldn't fit me."
"Hmm," she checks around and finds something. "How bout this?"
"OK."
"Anything else you need help with?"
"No. I've got it under control."
"Ok," Mary says and leaves the attic.
Abby goes to the study, looking for Tom.
"Hi." he says.
"Hi. Get any writing done?"
"No not really, what's up?'
"I spoke to Tommy's school. He's all set."
"How is he?"
"He seems to be taking it well."
"Resigned to it."
"That's a good first step."
"I hope he can manage the other steps."
"We'll just have to make sure he does."
Tom nods. "Oh, the column I wrote about you will be in tomorrow's edition."
"Maybe I'd better leave town for the day," Abby jokes.
"Why? You afraid of all the job offers that'll come in?"
"I should be so lucky."
"It'll happen." he says.
"Speaking of things happening, what did you say to Joannie? It worked a miracle."
"Huh? What are you talking about."
"She walked in while Tommy and I were practicing. She spoke civilly, said
she liked it, and asked us to do two songs at the benefit instead of one.
Whatever you said to her really must have worked."
"I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet."
"You're joking."
"Not a word."
"Then what's going on?"
Tom shrugs. "Maybe she's growing up."
"Now I know you're joking."
"It can happen you know."
"Theoretically."
"Just take it one step at a time, remember?"
"And beware the last one--it's a long way down."
"How can you have hope for Tommy and not Joannie?"
"Because I doubt overnight transformations."
"I'll talk to her."
"Thanks."
Tom gives Abby a kiss and goes in search of Joannie.
Joannie is just coming down the ladder.
"Find any hidden treasures?" Tom asks as he holds the ladder.
"More like this family's hidden shame."
"Huh?'
"Look at this stuff," Joannie says, showing what's brought down. "I'm surprised
the ceiling doesn't cave in from all the junk we have up there."
"Junk, that's not junk. It's memories."
"Oh, yeah? What memory is this?" Joannie says, handing him the coat.
Tom laughs. "Oh you found a costume from a party I went with your mother."
"What did you dress up as, a hobo?"
"Actually yes, Charlie Chaplin."
"A mustache?"
Tom nods "and a derby hat."
"Paste on or your own?"
"Your mother insisted I grow one."
"Have any pictures?"
"Why? Don't believe me?"
"No, I believe you. But I'd still like to see what you looked like in a mustache."
Tom pulls out the photo from his wallet. "We won first place."
Joannie looks at the picture and bursts out laughing.
Tom rolls his eyes and takes the picture back. "That's why you never saw
the picture til now."
"Why do you keep the picture and this coat, then?"
Tom shrugs. "Innocent days, I suppose."
"You were never innocent, Dad."
"No, but the times were." Tom tells her. "May I talk to you a moment?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"I just need a ear." ~I hope this works, please don't let it backfire.~
"Well, step into my office. Susan is still in school."
"Thanks." Tom sighs. "We stopped by Harry and Katherine's on the way home
and it wasn't very pleasant."
"They were rough on you?"
"Oh yeah." he says. "It isn't a pleasant experience feeling knowing no matter
what you do, you won't ever measure up." he hints.
"They shouldn't be so mean to you. Under all that bluster, you're really
a nice guy."
"So is Abby." Tom says. "I finally understand what you are doing to her is
exactly what Harry is doing to me."
"According to Harry, you can do nothing right. I never said that about Abby.
I even asked her to sing an extra song at the benefit."
"You did? But why?"
"Because she and Tommy sounded good together. The audience deserves the best
show we can give them."
"But you never said that before about Tommy's playing."
"I didn't say I liked his playing--I liked the way he and Abby sounded together."
"Oh ok. so they are good huh?"
"Very."
"Hmm...I Didn’t hear earlier."
"Huh?"
"It was a shame, I didn't get to hear them earlier."
"They're going to have to practice the new song. But I'll bet you hear Abby
singing all the time. Guess you're sick of it by now."
"Not at all, I love her singing voice. Especially when we are driving and
she starts humming to the music on the radio." he says almost beaming.
"I think I'm too young to hear this, Dad."
Tom laughs "Sorry."
"It's OK. So what are you going to do about Harry?"
Tom shrugs. "Any suggestions?"
"Maybe we could move to New York."
"Oh yeah, you'd like that." Tom says as he gets up to leave.
"Can't blame a girl for trying."
"No, you do that very well." he says. "Thanks for listening."
"Any time, Dad."
Tom leaves and goes to his room and lays down.
Abby is in the room, reading. "That bad?"
"No actually it went well."
"It did?"
"Well she doesn't say it right out loud, but it was you she liked singing
not Tommy's playing; or as she puts it you two together."
"Well, you did say that she respects talent."
"Well its a start, its more than what I've got with your father."
"You only have to deal with my father a few times a year. I see Joannie every
day."
"True..but I can't make her like you."
"I know," Abby sighs. "I guess I was silly, imagining we'd be one big happy
family all the time."
Tom takes her hand.
"You've given me a very complicated life, Tom Bradford."
"Sorry my dear."
"Are you really?"
"Of course I am, what kind of question is that?"
"Well, then that makes one of us."
"HUH?"
"Who's sorry, because I'm not."
"But you just said I made your life complicated."
"I love the chaos. Most of the time."
"Beats being alone?"
Abby nods.
"I know."
"Then why are you sorry?"
He shrugs. "I'm not."
"Good."
Tom kisses her.
Abby puts her arms around him. "Much better than being alone."
"Amen."
"I can make it better yet," Abby whispers in his ear.
Tom smiles. "Really?"
"Absolutely."
Tom gets up and locks the door.
"Actually, I was talking about feeding you," Abby laughs, "but this idea's
not bad, either."
"Oh...." he says.
"Your choice."
"Both?"
"At the same time?" Abby gasps, pretending to be shocked.
"I live on the edge." he jokes.
"And you'll be cleaning up the mess."
"Now why do you say that?"
"Because there's no hotel staff here to do it for us," Abby says. "Remember
our honeymoon? And the cruise?"
"Oh...I'll hire a maid."
"Oh, so it's a maid you want in the bedroom."
Tom is shocked. "Abby...."
"Yes?"
"I meant a maid to clean the mess up."
"Uh huh. The longer I know you, the stranger your fantasies get," Abby teases.
"Well you would look cute in one of those French maid outfits." Tom says
playing the game.
"Our anniversary is coming up--we could talk about that."
"Ok, where do you want to go, France?" he jokes.
"Who wants to waste all that time on a plane?"
"Quebec?"
"We could order take away from a nice French restaurant here in town and
just lock the door."
"You think the kids would leave us alone?"
"We're grown adults. We shouldn't always have to run away from home."
"You have a point, ok. then that's what we'll do."
"Have you come up with a plan?"
"For?'
"For getting them to leave us alone. You have a few years' head start on
me, remember?"
"Get them tickets to a concert?" he suggests.
"Is there anything around they'd like?"
"I don't know, I'll check it out."
"And I'll be working on finding a French maid's outfit," Abby teases.
Tom laughs.
Abby gives him a kiss.
"What time is it?"
Abby checks her watch. "Time for me to start getting ready for school."
Tom nods. "Ok, I'll wait up for you."
"You don't have to. I may be late."
"It's ok, I have work to do anyway."
"Don't work the whole time. You'll still supposed to be taking it easy."
"Yes ma'am.' He says then kisses her. "Take it easy yourself."
"Tonight's statistics and methodology. That's not easy."
"Ouch."
"I may end the night jumping into the river."
"Even if that's a joke, that's not funny." Tom states.
"Sorry."
"That's ok, better get going, I'd hate to ground you for being tardy."
"Right. I'll bet you would," Abby says, starting to get ready.
Tom laughs and leaves her to get ready.
Part 4