Truth Aftermath

Chapter 13

Later that afternoon, Jamie had come home from school and entering the house, saw his mother in the family room reading, and greeting her with a hug, asked, " Hi, Mom. Is Phillip sick? I heard he went home early today."

Amanda sighed and stated, "Yes, Honey. He had a little stomach issue...Um, do you have any homework to do?"

Jamie nodded, answering, "Just some History. Why?"

Amanda remarked, "Well, why don't you get a granola bar and some milk, and then go into the den and work on it, please? Because I need to talk to you about today, and I'd like you to have it done before that, alright?"

Jamie shrugged lightly commenting, "Okay."

As Jamie got his books and snack and headed into the den, the phone rang, and Amanda rose from the couch to go to the kitchen counter to answer it, and picking up the receiver, replied, "Hello?"

It was Joe. "Hi, Amanda. I just landed here in Estoccia, and they said there was a message from you that I should call. Anything wrong?"

Amanda looking towards the den, noted that the door was slightly ajar, and responded, "J-Just a minute, please, Joe..."

Putting down the receiver, she went to the den, and peeking into the room, she asked Jamie, "How's it coming?"

Jamie was chewing his granola bar, and swallowing his bite, answered, "The homework's on the War Of 1812. The teacher said there may be a pop quiz on it tomorrow. I hate when they do that!"

Amanda grinned and going over to kiss the top of his head, remarked, "Well, you just do the best you can, and I'm sure you'll do fine, Sweetie. Now, I'm going to shut the door, because I'm on the phone, okay? But you keep at it, huh?"

As Jamie nodded, Amanda left the den, and shutting the door, got back on the phone with Joe, answering, "Hi...Sorry about that. Uh, late this morning, I got a call from Mrs. Dennis at the school..."

Joe asked concernedly, "Oh, what about?"

Amanda responded slowly, "Well, I need to know if you noticed Phillip's clothes while you were staying here...if they smelled of smoke or anything-"

Joe commented, "No, just the usual dirt, I guess...Wait! There was one week where he came home in different clothes then the ones he went to school in. He said there was something going on in the Science lab that week, and that he didn't want to mess up what he had on, so he borrowed a friend's clothes. He said the teacher told them that the chemicals could mess up anyone's clothes if they weren't careful."

Amanda replied thoughtfully, "I see. And you believed him? I mean, what about the friend's clothes he borrowed. Wouldn't they have been messed up, too?"

Joe queried, "What are you getting at? He's my son. Of course I believed him."

Amanda answered, "I know, and ordinarily, the boys don't lie to us, but today, Mrs. Dennis called to tell me that Phillip was in the nurse's office with a stomach issue...You see, he and some friends had been caught smoking, and-"

Joe, stunned, commented, " What?! Let me talk to him, Amanda. I'll set him straight! What was he thinking anyway?"

Amanda stated quickly, "J-Joe, it's alright! I talked to him already, and he's been grounded for the next two weeks...Joe, he's been upset lately, due to the shooting, and he says you weren't exactly... there for he and Jamie a lot of the time-"

Joe was bewildered and responded, "I was so there! Okay, I had some business stuff to deal with, but I didn't leave them alone-"

Amanda commented softly, "I-I know, but those boys were scared when they heard about me being shot...Phillip explained that he felt he had to take care of Jamie, because you weren't really...aware of their feelings-"

Joe said gravely, "C'mon! I knew they were scared, but so was I, Babe, and I did ask if they wanted to talk about it after I explained the situation about you, but Phillip said he was fine, and he'd look after Jamie for me...I figured they were okay! I-I'm sorry, Amanda...Is-Is he alright now?"

Amanda swallowed, stating, "Y-Yes, and he promised he wouldn't smoke anymore...It made him so sick..."

Joe cleared his throat querying, "Okay, well...Can I talk to him, please? I just wanna know that he and I are okay, you know?"

Amanda remarked softly, "Yeah, let me go tell him you're on the phone...Hold on..."

-SMK-

Amanda headed upstairs to the boys' room and found Phillip doing his homework, and asked, "Honey, your dad's on the phone, and he wants to talk to you, okay?"

Phillip put down his pencil and sighed asking, "You told him, right?"

Amanda commented, "Yes, Sweetheart, but only because he didn't know about today. Honey, your dad really does love both you and Jamie, and I think that if you explain why you felt the way you did, that he'd understand."

Phillip answered quietly, "So, you guys don't hate me for what I did?"

Amanda commented softly, "Come over here, Sweetheart...," and when he came to her, she cupped his face, answering with a gulp, "Phillip Thomas King...Nothing you or your brother do could ever make us hate you! We love you as much as we did the days you both were born! Honey, you only made a mistake! You apologized, and you're taking your punishment, alright? Now, go into my room, and talk to your father...As long as you want to...C'mon, he's waiting."

Phillip hugged Amanda remarking tearfully, "I love you, Mom!"

Amanda kissed his cheek and answered, "I love you too, Baby! Go on now."

When Amanda watched him go, she headed back downstairs and found Jamie, who was waiting for her in the kitchen and responded, "All done, Mom...So, what did you wanna talk to me about?"

Just then, Dotty came in from the back yard and answered frustratedly, "I swear, the Ferguson's dog is at it again!"

Amanda asked, "What happened, Mother?"

Dotty sighed remarking, "You know those geraniums I planted near the gazebo last week?"

Amanda nodded responding, "Yes, what about them?"

Dotty tersely answered, "I went just now to check on them, and found that animal digging up that area, and then doing "his business" there! I'm calling the Fergusons right now, and-"

Jamie questioned his mother, "Business? What...Ohh, gross!"

But Amanda stated quickly, "Oh, wait! Mother, Phillip's talking to Joe right now, and he might be a while, so why don't you wait until later, okay?"

Then concentrating on Jamie, Amanda asked, "Honey, could you please go put some gloves on, and get a garbage bag, and clean up that area for Grandma and then throw the mess away? Thank you."

Jamie, shaking his head as he went to check for gloves under the kitchen sink, complained, "Boy! He's not even our dog, Mom! Why does he like it over here so much?"

Amanda chuckled replying, "I dunno, Sweetheart, but I'll bet he'll stop coming over when Grandma talks to the Fergusons-"

Then looking at Dotty answering, "Calmly and quietly, right?"

Dotty was about to respond, but noting Amanda's head tilt towards Jamie, put on a calm smile, answering, "Of course, Darling. I'll be ever so charming to them...Hmpf!"

As Jamie went out the back door then, Dotty remarked, "Oh, by the way. You never told me if Lee's coming for dinner tonight or not?"

Looking at the time, Amanda nodded commenting, "Yes, he is, but I asked him to wait until I talked to Jamie first about it. I'm sure it'll be alright with him, though."

Dotty shrugged responding, "Okay, Dear. I'll get the pot roast heated up from the other night. Will that be alright?"

Amanda smiled answering, "That'll be just fine, Mother. Thank you."

And as Amanda went back to the couch to wait for Jamie, she wondered how Phillip's talk was going with Joe...

TBC