Jamie stood at the end of the driveway on his skateboard and Phillip's voice announced, "March 1986 and Jamie King is --"
"Hey, doofus, it's still February," Jamie said in annoyance.
"Hey, doofus, the annual competition's in March," Phillip's voice called out, "and, at the rate you're going, you won't even qualify for the finals. Now are you gonna go or what?"
"I'm going," Jamie glared at his brother, "just back up more, I need more room."
"Ahem," Phillip cleared his throat as the camera moved back, "March 1986 and Jamie King is up for his final round. Quiet in the stands, please."
Jamie took off, jumped, and spun with the board but didn't manage the landing and fell on the ground.
"Jamie!" Amanda
exclaimed in concern.
"I was okay, Mom,"
Jamie muttered, embarrassed that the moment was caught on tape. "Shoulda cut this part," he muttered again.
"Yes, ladies and gentleman, that was Jamie King showing you how the jump should not be landed."
"Shut up, dogbreath!" Jamie grumbled as he pushed up his sleeve and checked out his elbow. When he looked up, he pointed straight ahead, "Didn't she just clean them?"
The camera was quickly turned to the patio where Amanda angrily tossed two small rugs over the line and began beating them. Jamie ducked out of sight behind the gazebo wall while the camera stayed focused on Amanda.
"Three more days!" she complained aloud. "Three more days with him! And I thought it would be fun to be his superior for five days?! What was I thinking? The only way he'll get better in three days is if I don't kill him first," she rambled as she slapped the rugs some more.
"Amanda, I wasn't
that bad," Lee said crankily, "I told you I didn't need anyone to baby me."
"Baby you? Why you
just -- Phillip!" Amanda squeaked. "What were you thinking taping me from the bushes like, like some…"
"Like a spy?"
suggested Jamie.
Lee grinned and
whispered in her ear, "I wonder who he picked that up from."
"We weren't in the
bushes, Mom," Phillip answered defensively, "we were barely out of sight. You'd have seen us if you'd looked."
"Phillip, that is not
the point," Amanda insisted.
"Amanda, darling, that rug didn't do anything to you," Dotty said as she joined Amanda on the patio.
"Why are men such lousy patients?" Amanda asked
without looking away from her task of beating the rug more.
"I am not a
lousy patient," Lee insisted again and ignored the glare Amanda gave him.
"Genetics," Dotty answered as she took down one of the rugs. "Now, are you talking about men in general or men in specific?"
"In general, Mother," Amanda huffed as she took another swing at the remaining rug.
Dotty looked doubtful, "Oh, because I'd hate to
think you were this mad at Mr. Simpson after he's just gotten out of the
hospital. Especially after you said how
nice he is."
"You said I was
nice?" Lee teased.
"I was very tired,"
Amanda squirmed, "I'd been up all night waiting for you to wake up from your
concussion and spent the next day running after you making sure you didn't
collapse."
"Shhh," Dotty
admonished, "I'm enjoying this."
"Mother," Amanda groaned.
"Of course," Dotty continued rambling, "I wouldn't know one way or the other how nice he really is since you've never seen fit to introduce us. Somehow, you always manage to switch the subject whenever I bring him up."
"Mother…" Amanda grabbed the rug from the line and gave her mother a quick kiss. "I've got to go," she said as she rushed inside.
Dotty shook her head, "She did it again." Dotty went inside and called out after her
daughter, "Try to be gentler with Mr. Simpson than you were with those rugs,
dear."
"And was she?"
Dotty asked Lee in amusement. "Gentler, I mean."
Lee's and Amanda's
cheeks turned pink, and he answered, "Just remind me never to get sick again."
"Just remind me
never to accept a job as your superior. You never listen and are totally impo--" Amanda was interrupted by a
kiss from Lee. She pulled back as soon
as she heard the groans from her sons. "Teenagers," she apologized to Lee and gave him a quick chaste kiss
before turning back to the TV.
***** ***** *****
The kitchen door opened to the dark outside.
Jamie crept outside along the edge of the camera's view.
Phillip's voice whispered, "September 1986. There are strange noises coming from outside the King home. Two agents have been sent to investigate."
"Shhh, I think it's coming from over there," Jamie pointed towards a corner of the backyard. Switching on his flashlight, the boys followed the beam towards the bushes that divided their property from their neighbor's property.
The camera zoomed in on the bushes and Phillip said, "It's in there and it's alive!" Jamie rolled his eyes and reached into the bushes. "Did you get him this time?"
"If you think it's so easy," Jamie retorted, "give me the camera and you get him."
"You're bigger than he is. Just reach in and pull him out," Phillip said as Jamie dragged a small black bushy dog from the bushes.
"Man, I wish the Fergusons would keep him in their
yard. I'm tired of fishing him out of
our bushes all the time," Jamie complained
"The Fergusons
really do have a dog?" Lee asked in wonder.
"What, did you
think I just made him up as an excuse?" Amanda quietly teased.
"Phillip, Jamie, your dad's about to leave!" Amanda's voice called from behind them.
"Coming, Mom!" Phillip answered as Jamie sent the dog on its way into the other yard.
"Hey, Mom seem weird to you?" Jamie asked as they walked back to the house.
"Nah, not any more than usual, why?"
"Phillip!" Amanda
exclaimed.
Phillip turned
around and shrugged, "All parents are weird. It's the natural order of things."
"I don't know," Jamie said as he stopped by the door, "I just thought she just seemed really anxious to get out of here. I mean, she's been in trouble and hasn't been home for days and it's like she couldn't wait for Dad to leave."
"You're imagining things."
"I don't think so," Jamie answered thoughtfully. "She's changed, Phillip. Maybe I never noticed before because I was younger but she's changed in the last couple of years. And now, this trouble she was in with federal agents after her and her boss…I mean, I know it was all just a big misunderstanding but it's…I thought when Dad came back things might be…"
"Back to the way it was before? Come on, Jamie, they're divorced. They're not gonna get back together."
"I know but…She's just different now. It's like she doesn't have time for us anymore."
"Jamie," Amanda
said softly.
Jamie turned
around, "It's okay, Mom. I understand
now."
"That's ridiculous. She always has time for us."
"She missed my open house," Jamie looked down. "Can you shut that thing off already?"
The screen went black.
Phillip paused the
tape and turned to his mother. "It
doesn't matter if you missed an open house or a play, Mom."
"That's right,
Mom," Jamie added quietly, "You were always there for us when it really
counted."
Amanda left the
couch, knelt on the floor, and pulled both her sons into a hug, "I am so proud
of you guys and I love you both sooo much."
Jamie squirmed,
"All right, all right, enough with the mushy stuff."
Amanda quickly
kissed them both on their cheeks and went back to Lee's side on the couch. Once she was settled again, Phillip resumed
play.
***** ***** *****
"Mush Alert!" Phillip's voice shouted as Lee and Amanda were caught on tape kissing under the mistletoe.
Dotty stood in the background and commented to her sister, "I was beginning to think they'd never find it."
Without breaking her embrace from Lee, nor taking her eyes off his, Amanda instructed, "Turn it off, Phillip," and promptly kissed Lee again before the screen faded to black.
***** ***** *****
In the lower right corner of the screen, the date of March 1, 1987 was displayed. The camera panned the busy airport gate. Jamie looked anxiously at the doorway when Dotty came up to the boys and said, "The passengers should be out any minute now."
"Look, there they are!" Phillip's voice shouted.
"Where?" Jamie asked looking around.
"There!" Phillip's finger pointed towards the arrivals. "Mom! Lee!"
The camera zoomed in on the couple who suddenly noticed their waiting party. Amanda happily waved and turned back to Lee who smiled and carefully led her through the crowd.
"Mom!" Jamie said as his mother caught him in a tight hug.
"Oh, I've missed you," Amanda said with tears in her eyes as she looked Jamie over. "My gosh, I think you've grown another couple of inches in the short time I was away."
"How was the flight?" Dotty asked Lee as she gave him a quick hug.
"Long," Lee said tiredly, "a bit turbulent and the food was lousy."
"And how is she?" Dotty asked, referring to Amanda who hugged Phillip and caused the camera to jerk up and down.
"She is fine," Amanda said as she turned to her mother for a hug, "and very anxious to get home."
"Well, then, let's get this show on the road," Dotty announced. "Boys, why don't you and Lee get the bags and we'll catch up with you."
"It was so good to
be home," Amanda murmured as the scene faded to black. Lee wrapped his arms around her tightly and
she squeezed his hands.
Balloons and signs decorated the family room. Amanda sat on the couch while noise could be heard from the kitchen. "I wish you'd let me help in there," she called out as she opened and read a 'welcome home' card.
"Absolutely not," Dotty insisted as she stuffed a pillow behind Amanda's back. "The doctor said you should still take it easy and you've already had a long day."
"Phillip, at least turn off the camera. You've been filming me from the moment I got off the plane."
"But, Mom…" Phillip began as the camera continued to focus on Amanda. In the background, Lee and Jamie could be seen moving around in the kitchen.
"Phillip, I look a mess."
"No you don't, Mom," Jamie said quietly as he entered the family room, "you look beautiful."
Amanda smiled tenderly at her son, "Thank you, sweetheart, but I think you're a bit biased."
"Nonsense," Dotty insisted as she brushed her daughter's cheek, "You're absolutely beautiful."
"That's no better," Amanda smiled. "You're my mother."
Dotty sighed, "All right then. Lee, could you come in here for a moment? We need an objective opinion."
The camera turned to Lee who entered wearing an apron. "Dinner's almost ready. What's going on in here?"
"How does she look?" Dotty asked.
Lee looked over Amanda and suddenly frowned, "She looks tired." Looking to Amanda, he suggested, "Maybe you should go upstairs for a while and lie down." Amanda turned triumphantly to her mother who glared at Lee. "What?" he innocently asked Dotty.
"Nothing," Amanda smiled, "and I'm fine. Just a little hungry."
"Another five minutes," Lee said, still confused. "Come on, Jamie, let's finish up the salad," he added as Jamie joined him and they re-entered the kitchen.
"Well, that doesn't count," Dotty murmured as she watched Lee leave the room.
"Why not? You wanted an objective opinion," Amanda said as she watched Lee in the kitchen. Turning to the camera she added, "Now, Phillip, turn off the camera."
Dotty waved her hand, " I forgot, he's in love with you and he's lost all objectivity when it comes to you."
"She's right about
that," Lee whispered in Amanda's ear.
Amanda rolled her eyes, "Mooother."
The screen faded to black.
***** ***** *****
