It's a Different Kind of Blue
Point Place, WI
(a month and two days later)
5:00PM
Eric tried not to dwell too much that something still wasn't right regarding Jacen.
Eric decided it was only fair to ground him for just one month since 90% of this was
his fault to begin with. He sat at the dinner table but rarely talked to his father unless
spoken to, he did his chores without a word, kept up with his school work, and even
sat in the living room to watch TV but not sitting on the same sofa as his Dad. His
groundation period was over and he told Jacen that he could trust him to be alone in
the house and not have Mrs. Wilson from across the street come over. He was
treating Eric like an uncomfortable stranger. Jackie said in her wisdom to "just give
him time." Even if he did have the money Eric was not about to buy a new suit for
the occasion so he settled on his gray suit with of course a tie in Vikings green.
Jacen asked if Mindy could come over and watch TV and after all that happened
Eric just had to trust him that he wouldn't want to play a pre-teen version of "doctor"
with his childhood sweetheart. Mindy Swanson, god help Eric, she had red hair and
acted very mature for her age. She had strawberry blonde hair and green eyes with
hazel flecks in them. All he saw was a Donna-lite. The girl who was going to when it
was all said and done reject his son.
"Hi, Mr. Forman."
Eric waved at her mother who stayed in her silver blue 2000 Toyota.
"Hi, Mindy, come in."
"May I go in Jacen's room?"
If she was anything like Donna she wasn't going to want sex until she was about fifty-
five.
"Sure." Eric looked at his watch, "Jackie, you were supposed to be here like twenty
minutes ago."
He went back to his bedroom to finish getting dressed.
Jacen told Mindy to close the door as he took out his little blue suitcase from his
closet.
"Jacen, I thought you were only joking?"
"Did I sound like I was joking?"
"But you can't."
"Yes, I can. I took the emergency money this morning when I knew HE was
preoccupied with the reunion."
"Jacen…"
"You are either in or out, Mindy."
"Your father is a nice guy."
"My father is an asshole."
Mindy sighed, "Okay, I'll come with you, but only to make sure you get there. I still
think it is wrong though."
"Great. No one asked for your opinion."
Jackie rang the doorbell as Eric put his watch on.
"Jackie! You are late!"
"Sorry, Eric. My cell phone battery went out on me and my flight was delayed by a
few minutes."
She was wearing a strapless dark blue dress and while she was in the taxi on her
way to Eric's she had a white silk orchid in her hair.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
"No," he put his hand in the air, "You look beautiful."
"You look very handsome. Let me fix your tie."
"Jacen is in his room with Mindy. Do you think they'll be okay when we're gone?"
"Of course, Eric. Let's go in and embarrass them while you say goodbye."
"I like your style, Miss Burkhart."
"Your handsome when you smile."
"Thanks. So, when I don't smile I'm downright ugly?"
"Shut up, you know what I meant."
"Jackie, do you think Jacen and Mindy will really be okay while we are gone?"
"You worry like your mother! Trust me Eric, they'll be fine."
5:50PM
Mindy looked out the window to see Eric and Jackie drive away in the rental
shiny black Cadillac that Eric surprised Jackie with for the reunion.
"Are you going to at least write your dad a note?"
"Why would I do that? I called a cab earlier told them to meet us at the car wash two
blocks away so we better leave now."
"Jacen, I don't think you are being fair to your father."
"Like I said before Mindy you are either in or you are out."
"Okay."
The Holiday Hotel
6:05PM
The Holiday Hotel changed since Eric used to be a waiter there back in his
misguided youth. It changed ownership a few times and was more of a mid ranged
price hotel like the Hyatt or Hilton. Jackie put a green white "Hi my name is" sticker
on Eric's suit.
"How come you didn't put a sticker on, Jackie?"
"A) This isn't my high school reunion and B) It'll ruin the look of the dress, Eric."
"Do you think I should call Jacen to make sure he's all right?"
"For the millionth time no. Just relax. I'm going to save a table for us and you are
going to get something cute to drink with an umbrella in it."
"Yes, ma'am."
Don't everybody make a beeline to say "hello" to me all at once. Fucking idiots.
Eric got Jackie a banana daiquiri and himself a beer. Of course no one was going
to say hi to him. He wasn't popular then and he wasn't popular now. Sure a few
people nodded "hello" just to be like the fake polite adults that they aren't.
"I think those paper streamers are tacky." Jackie said when Eric came back with
the drinks.
"I'm sure you would have decorated it much better."
"Damn right, Eric."
"But at least they are green and white school colors."
"Hey, it's ERIC!"
"Fez!"
Eric got up to hug his overly scented and tightly trousered friend.
"Fez, do you remember the pretty lady sitting next to me?"
"Why, hello Jackie!"
"Hi, Fez."
He kissed her on the neck.
"I feel the pounding dance music in my pants! Let's dance."
The track was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA.
Fez gently pulled her out of her chair.
"Looks like there's no getting out it. Have fun, Jackie."
I'll just sit here like a lump and watch your purse.
Good Times.
301 Bellamy Court
"Jacen, this place looks scary."
And that was coming from not-scared-of-anything-Mindy-I-Want-To-Be-An-
Literature-Teacher-In-London-England-Swanson.
The house was gray and had shingles falling off and onto the porch. The screen
door had a gash through it and inside a dog was barking non-stop.
Jacen was about to open the door.
"It's only because he doesn't pay alimony."
"Ring the doorbell."
"The TV is too loud. The door is open let's just walk in."
"You looked like you were having a good time dancing with Fez, Jackie."
"Yeah. He gave me his hotel room card, but I had to tell him I'm seeing someone
and he still gave me the card." She put it in her purse as a keepsake.
"Where is he now?"
"Looking for Big Rhonda."
"Poor Fez never did find a woman to love. He should join Eric Forman's Lonely
Heart's Club Band."
"You should try these cheesy dipping things they're good."
Eric looked up, "Shit—"
"They just walked in didn't they?"
"Yes."
The barking gray and black terrier with the matted hair went up to them. Neither
one of them was afraid of dogs but he looked like he hadn't eaten in days.
"Jacen, let's leave."
"No. You can wait on the porch if you want. I'm going to walk around."
The only way to describe Sally Hemmings, ex-wife of Eric Forman and mother to
Jacen Eric was time worn. A woman whose life passed her by because of her
choices and her lack of willpower to better her life as it was easier to blame other
people for the outcome instead of looking into a mirror for the solution.
She looked into mirror as she was sitting on her bed trying to put her cheap and
scratchy pantyhose on that were from the three for a dollar drug store pack.
"Who are you?"
Eric held Jackie's hand.
"What does he look like?" she asked sipping her daiquiri
"Like Hyde only older…"
"Is Donna fat?"
"Fuck. No, she's beautiful."
Jackie looked to see Hyde wearing a black suit, a real suit, not a hand me down
from his poor relatives or a salvation store castoffs but a designer black suit with a
bolo tie. Donna was wearing a long green dress with a scalloped neckline and with
her hair swept up she looked like an emerald goddess.
"God help me, I want to touch her."
"Need I remind you Eric of the one million bad things she did to you?"
"No," he put his head down. "But she sure looks pretty."
"Do we go up to them and be polite?" Jackie munched on another appetizer.
"Not until I get a second beer."
And maybe a third.
"Mom, it's me Jacen."
She stood up in her half-slip with the tear along the back and went to her dresser
drawers.
"Your son. Don't you remember me?"
She took out her out of date orange neon dress from the eighties that was in a
wrinkled ball.
"Of course, I remember you. You're the son of a bitch that ruined my life."
He looked at her mute.
"I should have kept you for the child support. Maybe, I could've lived in a better
neighborhood. I think I deserved that from letting that bastard put his dick into me as
if I wanted you. You were a mistake. You were not wanted. You were never
wanted. I wanted to go out and do stuff instead of playing Mommy to suburban brat. I
was this close to being a nurse's aid and you fucking ruined it! I had a good job in
the bank until HE came in. Do you know who I'm talking about?"
She smeared on her harsh pink lipstick
"Your father Eric Forman, another bastard from my past. Why are you here? Did he
kick you out of the house? Well, my dear sweet walking abortion you are not staying
here. I'll never get out of debt with a mistake like you walking around my house."
"Dad, didn't kick me out of the house. I came here on my own I wanted to see you."
"Oh, so you can get your little merit badge? Get it though your stupid little head that
you were not wanted. Even your father didn't want you. Now get out of my house
before my date comes here seeing you with your ugly face. I hate you. Remember
this you are an ugly child who comes from ugliness and I hope that your life is always
filled with misfortune and pain. NOW GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! I NEVER
WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!"
An hour later:
"Eric, I think you have had enough to drink."
"Jackie, if I have to look at them and everybody huddled around them as if they are
royalty, I need a buzz."
"Well, I'm going to go get you a coffee. Why don't you munch on something?"
Eric ate a few pretzels but the only thing that seemed to go with beer was more beer.
"Hello, Eric."
He looked up and saw Donna standing before him. The last time he saw her it was
1979 when it all went downhill.
He laughed. "You have got to be kidding me. How many copies did Stupid High
School Promises sell? OOH beware of Eric Forman types."
"I told you not to go over there, Donna. He hasn't changed."
Jackie almost dropped the coffee on the floor when she saw who was standing
around their table.
Eric stood up.
"That's not fair, Steven." Jackie said
"Who told you to pipe up, Jackie?"
"I promised you something."
They were upper middle class phonies who forgot where they came from. They
would only love the people that blindly adored them but not the people that used to
love them without question and accepted their faults.
"Go ahead, Eric."
"First let me say this is for Jackie and not the cunt I was engaged to."
Everyone gasped as if they were seventeen years old again as Eric Forman
punched musician Steven Hyde in the mouth as he fell on his ass where
a punch bowl slid off the edge of the table and doused him in the red liquid.
"Come on, Jackie let's leave this popsicle stand."
30 Minutes Later
Eric and Jackie tried to have a good time on the way back to his place. They
ordered fast food in their finest getting looks from all the patrons and they sang disco
songs in the car. It took a long time and maybe it wasn't closure as the way Webster
defines it, but for two people, especially the man, who needed it; it was closure just
the same. They parked the car and noticed every light in the house was on and the
TV was blaring so loud they could hear it from half a block away.
"Oh, like I really need this tonight," Eric kicked the beer cans that were all over the
porch along with his son's open suitcase.
"Eric, keep your cool." Jackie said as she threw the fast food bags in the metal
trashcan that was on the porch.
"Jacen, you have ten seconds to tell me what is going on here!" Eric yelled so he
could hear him from where ever he was hiding.
Mindy was watching the TV on the station that showed the test pattern
zoned out after only two beers. How was he going explain that to her uptight priss of
a mother?
"He's g-gone." Mindy said before she passed out.
"What do mean g-gone?" He kneeled down and tried to wake her up by gently
slapping her face.
"You need to take her home. I'll go looking for Jacen." Jackie said calmly.
"I f-f-ound m-m-o-r-r-r-e be-er." Jacen came in from the back way.
Eric took the six-pack out of his hands and threw it on the couch.
"YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE, JACEN! I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU!"
"Eric come on, let's get Mindy in the car. I'll stay here."
"I AM TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU!"
"I-I-I'm—g-g-oin-g t-o---b-be s—s-ick."
"GOOD!"
"Jesus Christ, Jackie, what do I do to deserve this?"
"I don't know, Eric, come on, let's get Mindy in the car and drive slow so she doesn't
wake up and blow chunks all over your car."
"In my old car that'd be an improvement."
Jackie tried to laugh, but the laughter was gone.
10 Minutes Later
Jackie went to check on Jacen who was still in the bathroom. She knocked on the
door.
"Jacen, are you all right?"
He held onto the walls so he could open the door.
"M-m-y D-a-d-d-y," he started to cry as he fell into her arms as if she were a pillow to
dream on, "M—m-y D-a-d-dy….H—H-a-t-e—M—m-e."
Then the crying turned to sobs.
"Baby, Eric doesn't hate you."
"M-o-m s-s-said…."
Mom said? No he didn't. Jackie hoped to god that Jacen didn't go on a jaunt to see
this woman and then she remembered his suitcase by the door.
"M-m-i---st-ta—k—e."
She gently rocked him as she kissed his head and hugged him tight. Did this
woman call her own son a mistake? She never had a child of her own and would
love a baby with all of her heart if she were blessed with one and this woman called
this sweet boy a mistake and god only knows what else that made him get drunk at
twelve years old.
"Jacen, did you see your Mother tonight?"
"Y—y-eah."
"Oh baby. You are not a mistake."
"I-I'm-m g—going---"
He didn't have to finish the sentence for Jackie to let go so he could make it to the
toilet to puke up his guts some more.
"I'm going to see if I can find you some ginger ale, sweetie."
"Eric…"
"You should have seen the look Mrs. Swanson gave me like she was going to sue
me or something. I wanted to tell her to get in line as I'm wondering if Hyde will---
Now if you excuse me, I'm NOT done yelling at Jacen! If I have to yell at him all
night…I WILL!"
"NO ERIC!" She slapped him across the face and then she cupped hands over her
mouth surprised that she hit her best friend.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Eric, so sorry. But you can yell at me later….right now your
boy NEEDS you. The reason he got drunk is because he paid well I think he was
hoping for more than a visit…he saw his Mother tonight."
Eric felt as though he was slapped in the face. Oh no. Jackie explained what Jacen
told her as he kissed her on the cheek and said,
"I deserved that slap, thank you. I'll be right back." He took the cup of ginger ale with
him.
Jackie knew Eric would not be back so she left a note explaining that she had a
plane to catch and that if he needed her he could call or visit anytime with a PS
thanking him for punching Steven.
"Son," Jacen was not in the bathroom. Eric turned up his nose at the smell of his
sons vomit and he pressed the button the wall that dispensed air freshener but it
didn't help. "Jacen," he wasn't in his room. Eric slid off his shoes by his bedroom
door and saw his son sprawled out on his bed. He put the plastic tumbler of ginger
ale on his dresser.
"Oh, Jacen," he took his sneakers off and placed them on the floor and he
positioned his legs and covered him with a light top sheet. "My sweet boy." Eric
went to his side of the bed and placed his arm over his son's body.
"Daddy's here," he yawned, "and I love you very much."
He didn't even think about the reunion and seeing his ex-fiancee and ex-best friend.
Only one person was ever going to matter.
It was a different kind of blue.