Dallas, Texas

"…you said we would always be open and honest with each other and I could come to you with anything, and since grandma and granddaddy were at your house last night I was hoping maybe you would tell me what's going on. I want to help you know, but I can't when nobody tells me anything. I'm sure Bobby hears the same things I do, but he treats me like a child sometimes, he wouldn't even acknowledge the weird atmosphere at breakfast when I asked him about it when he was driving me to school this morning. He said he hadn't noticed anything and I shouldn't concern myself with adult things now because there will be plenty of years in the future when I can't avoid adult realities. I think that's stupid, just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm deaf or blind, so I don't know how he expects me to ignore the things I hear and see, and besides, who said wanting to know what goes on in the family is just something for adults to be concerned about? I'm a Ewing just as much as he is and I think I have a right to be treated just like any other Ewing. It's not fair for Bobby, or granddaddy, or even grandma to say it's not my business; I live at Southfork, I hear and see everything, it affects me, it is my business. I deserve to know and I want to know".

Pushing John Ross back and forth on the swing in the park and listening to Lucy's complaints, Sue Ellen had to exercise great self-control to stop herself from laughing at the mental comparison she was making between JR, Jock, and Lucy. She knew her niece wouldn't appreciate her not taking things as seriously as she felt they were and she really didn't want to hurt her feelings even more than they already were. Just because she was maintaining a composed façade though, didn't mean she didn't find the situation entertaining, even if it was sad and understandably frustrating. Lucy was a Ewing, there was no doubt about that; she liked to be in control and when she didn't get her way, she didn't just accept it, she pouted, complained, and demanded she be brought into the inner circle, just like Jock and JR did. In reality, a petulant child wasn't endearing, especially when the reason she was sulking was in relation to something that was understandable from an adult perspective, however for Sue Ellen there was something amusing about the way Lucy expressed her frustration, she was so clearly her grandfather's granddaughter and her uncle's niece. From Lucy's perspective though, it was a serious topic, and as a person who had been through more than enough therapy to know the importance of having one's opinion acknowledged and listened to, Sue Ellen knew it was best to actually listen and respond empathetically to her niece rather than argue, or simply nod and focus on her amused thoughts.

"Oh Lucy, it's not how you think it is. I don't think Bobby is trying to treat you like a child, and I promise, I'm not either, it's just some things are private and it's not up to one person to make it public. The reason your grandma and granddaddy came over last night is between them and JR, and while yes, you deserve to live in a home where you can spend time without worrying about the state of the family and where you are regarded as an equal, you also have to think about what others deserve, namely, privacy. Think of it this way, would you be happy with me if I told Miss Ellie, Jock, Bobby, or JR all about what you and I talk about together? I don't think you would, because you come to me to talk in private about your private thoughts and feelings. With that being said, there are some things that are told privately that need to be shared with another person in order to do the right thing, like when I spoke with Miss Ellie to arrange for you to see Doctor Lacey. That was because I cared, and I know you care now too, but what's going on now really isn't something you need to be concerned about, you just have to understand that".

"What happened last night was simply that your grandma and granddaddy needed to talk to JR privately, and as you picked up on, it didn't go as planned. I can't tell you why that is, it's not my information to share, but it's also not Bobby's information to share, mostly because he wasn't there and he isn't involved. I also say this not as an adult, but as a member of the Ewing family, it's not something you have to worry about, they're not arguing about you and nobody wants to place the burden of those disagreements on your shoulders, it's not your responsibility. Your grandma and granddaddy have disagreed on things before and they will do so again many times in the future, it's all part of being human, but their disagreements don't mean they love each other any less or there are going to be any huge changes in the family. It's just like when you're upset with somebody, for that little while it seems like the biggest, most dramatic thing in the world, but eventually something happens and everything comes back into perspective again, and then you return to a more balanced level of emotion".

"I know you care, I love that you care, and I am very proud of the things you do when you care, but this just isn't a situation you can involve yourself in and fix. You did this family a very big favour while JR and I were away in Colorado; you told your granddaddy some home truths about his relationship with John Ross, and you worked very practically to demonstrate how his actions could change things. I don't know if I ever thanked you for that, so I will now, I am very grateful to you for caring about John Ross and his place in the Ewing family. You have to believe Bobby and me now though, the things that are going on between JR, Jock, and Miss Ellie are very complex and no one but them can truly comprehend the enormity of the situation, and no one but them has the power to change the situation. I am JR's wife and even I can only really fill a supporting role; you as Jock and Ellie's granddaughter and JR's niece just aren't equipped to deal with what's going on. It has nothing to do with you being a child, though your age does factor into it; it's to do with experience mostly. I'm sorry I can't explain more than that, but like I said before, it's private. Does any of that make sense to you?"

Stepping back to allow the swing John Ross was in to slow down naturally, Sue Ellen turned to Lucy and looked her in the eye as she finished speaking. She hoped her niece would understand what she was trying to say, she was trying to be as honest as she could be, but it was tough; Lucy could be stubborn, just like the rest of the Ewings, and to a stubborn person an explanation sometimes just wasn't enough to sway an opinion.

To be continued…