Sparks
Point Place, WI
(a week later)
7:00AM
I love you…..I love you…..I love you.
Eric's closed eyes went back and forth sensually as he cuddled his pillow. He
almost had a heart attack when he opened up his eyes and saw his son standing in
front of him.
"Jacen…wh-at are you doing up at whatever time it is?"
"Were you dreaming of Paige?"
Eric couldn't deny it. It was written all over his face. Jacen was happy to see his
father in a much-deserved state of happiness that he couldn't help but rib him a little.
"No comment. Why are you up so early?"
"It's five after seven. I made you a present."
"What do you want son?"
"Nothing." He handed Eric a brown manila envelope.
Eric rubbed his eyes and sat up. "You're dressed early for a Saturday."
"Mindy, Tony, and I are collecting for the library used book sale. Open up the
envelope, Dad."
"What's the smile for?"
"I just want to see you happy."
Eric opened up the envelope to find that his son made a custom Do Not Disturb
Sign.
"Get it, Dad?"
"Jacen, I'm glad the money I spent on Photoshop went to great use."
"I've seen you make all kinds of Star Wars themed crap! Don't deny it."
"I won't. This is interesting son."
"That way I'll know if the bed is rocking not to come in…."
His son doubled over with laughter, causing Eric to laugh as well.
"Dad, no, tickling!"
"Too late!"
"No, you know I hate being tickled!"
"Too bad…are you wearing my cologne?"
"Mercy, mercy!"
"A do not disturb sign? You know most kids would crawl into a corner with covering
their ears and shouting "la la la la la" at the thought of their parents having sex. I
think you might need help son." Eric joked.
"You deserve to be happy Dad. I like Paige. She's very nice."
"I'm glad…since you're up you can make breakfast." Eric put his head back on the pillow.
"I already did."
"Jacen, you won't be getting a car for another two years you know that?"
"I know. I just wanted to do something nice. It's in the microwave."
"You're a good kid." Eric mumbled into the pillow before falling asleep again.
9PM
Eric was afraid to say it and he couldn't get Jackie on the phone or the IM to
discuss his feelings regarding his inability to say it. She emailed saying she and
Phillip were going on a vacation. Eric was certain he couldn't take a relationship
were the other person was always away on business. It didn't matter. It wouldn't
change the fact that they were always away. To be gone on business only to have
these short little sexual outbursts didn't seem very satisfying to him, but then again he
wasn't Jackie, and if that was the kind of relationship that she liked more power to
her he supposed. Eric and Paige were taking a moonlight stroll in the park as they
held hands.
"It's been a great week." Eric was able to admit that much.
"Yes, yes it has."
She picked up my phrase"Are you chilly?" he put his windbreaker around her shoulders
"Not really, but thank you for the gesture my sweet Eric."
"If we go back to the car you can thank me for some other sweet gestures, m'lady."
11:30PM
Eric was surprised to see Jacen asleep on the sofa and still dressed in his
clothes. He turned the TV off and took the blue afghan that was on the chair and
covered his son.
"D-dad is that you?"
"Yeah. I didn't mean to wake you Jacen. Go back to sleep."
"Dad," he yawned, "I have lots to say. Push the ottoman over and turn the night light
on."
"You do, do you?"
"Yes. Mindy and I had our first kiss today. It was awesome."
"That's great, Jacen." He was a mixture of happy and sad. Happy that his son got
his first kiss years before he did but sad that his little boy was going to be leaving the
nest in about five years.
"I know of sparks Dad. So, I was thinking since you won't let me go out unless it's a
group outing with a chaperone would you and Paige like to double with Mindy and
I?"
Eric smiled, "Okay. We'll see a movie and go out for pizza afterwards."
Eric couldn't believe he was agreeing to this, he never would have wanted Red and
Kitty on a date with him and Donna in a million years, but somehow this was very
different. He was more of a best guy friend to his son instead of someone his son
feared. Eric was grateful for that.
"But can we sit on opposite sides of the theatre?"
"Sure."
As long as they only kiss I'll be okay. My boy is thirteen, where did the time go?
"Someday Mindy and I are going to be married in a big ceremony."
Oh how Eric wanted that to be true if only for his son's sake. How many thirteen year
old boys thought about monogamous relationships and marriage. Who knows?
Maybe Jacen did know of sparks.
"I hope your dreams come true."
"They will. We had our first kiss and I told Mindy it was magic."
"How did she reply?"
"She said something like I was there for the magic."
"Did you tell Mindy of this big wedding?"
"NO! I have to be a gentleman and propose. I was thinking after the prom."
Oh you are setting yourself up for one big heartache son. God bless your
bleeding heart but Mindy is going to stomp all over it.
"It sounds like you got it all mapped out, Jacen."
"I do, Dad," he yawned, "I love her and I'm going to marry her someday."
Jacen fell asleep. Eric fixed the blanket and kissed him on the cheek. What a sweet
gentle soul his boy had. Eric felt proud that he just might have picked it up from him.
He didn't want his son to be hurt but he didn't want to stop him from thinking such
beautiful ethereal thoughts. He hoped Paige wouldn't mind doubling with his son
and the stupid high school promise known as Mindy.
Eric couldn't have it any other way.