"You're forgetting her too?"
"Yes, I must admit, I think I am. I have pictures too, but never the chance to look at them, really."
"Don't you keep one with you?"
"No. Do you think I should?"
"Why don't you decide that for yourself?"
"Yes, I guess." He sighed.
Jack just sat there for awhile, not really doing anything, then got up. He decided it would be best to ask Sydney about how she was sleeping directly. He knocked hesitantly at her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Dad. May I come in?"
"Yes, it's open."
He stepped inside, and she put aside her books. "What is it, Dad? Do you have to leave early?" Sydney actually sounded worried.
He frowned. She was more upset about his leaving than he'd realized.
"No, I just wanted to ask you something. I was wondering if you've been sleeping better." Jack waited patiently for the answer. His daughter could lie very well, as he supposed most children could. But, she didn't like to, and he could always catch her at it.
"Yes, I've been fine. I suppose Edith thinks I still have nightmares, but I don't. Sometimes I just stay up late with the tv on. I know I shouldn't, but I like to stay up. Myabe she hears the sound and thinks it's me talking in my sleep. I don't know, I haven't talked to her about it in a long time. You don't have to worry about me, Dad. I'm not a little girl anymore. Not really."
She didn't wait for his reply, just went back to the homework that Edith had picked up for her. There was quite a lot, at which Sydney was surprised. She was determined to finish it all before dinner though as she wasn't going to feel like doing it later, and because she wanted to spend more time with her father. The only thing was, she wasn't sure if her father wanted to spend more time with her.
Jack left feeling as if he'd been brushed off. But at least he had his answer. Sydney had been telling the truth, he could see it in her eyes. He went bak to the living room and read the paper until Edith announced that dinner was ready. It took Sydney a few extra minutes to join them. When she took her seat, she told them all of her homework was finished. Even she sounded surprised. Then she ventured to ask her father if he would have time to play some sort of game with her before her bedtime. She felt a little silly asking, but they had already been out once that day, so she thought he'd like to stay in now.
She suggested Monopoly, because there was some strategy involved and because it could last for hours upon hours. He agreed to play. Sydney dragged the game out from the closet and a pile of dust. She never had anyone but Edith to play with and Edith tired of it quickly. She counted out the money and picked a token. Her father took one. She was the banker, and they rolled to see who would go first. As they played, Edith watched from her usual spot in the rocking chair.
They played for several hours, until almost an hour past Sydney's bedtime. Then, her father looked up from the board and announced it was time to get to bed. Sydney's head jerked up as if he'd announced something that was a complete surprise.
"Not yet, Daddy. Just a little longer. Please?"
"Not tonight. It's getting very late, you have class tomorrow. We can play some more when you get home."
She met his gaze with a doubtful expression. "Do you promise?" She asked in a small voice.
"Yes, I promise. We'll leave it here on the table, noone will touch it. Tomorrow we'll try to finish. Come on, now. To bed."
Sydney sighed, but got up, went to er room and changed clothes, then brushed her teeth and got into bed. To her surprise, her father was waiting there to tuck her in.
Sydney felt a little awkward, but smiled a little. "Hi, Dad. I didn't think you...."
"I know. I just wanted to try again to... to at least hug you good night. I know you were..... disappointed the other day. May I try?"
She looked at him doubtfully. "All right. If you'd like. You don't have to, Dad. I mean, since you don't like to."
This hug was little better than the last, but Sydney didn't mind. He turned off her light and closed the door behind him on his way out. Edith met him in the hallway.
"Did you put her to bed?"
"Yes."
"Good, glad to hear it. When are you leaving?"
"A day or two."
"Oh, I see. For how long?" He looked back at Sydney's door to make sure it was shut tight.
"A...while."
"How long is a while?"
"I don't know. If I had any idea, I'd tell you, but I really..."
"That's all right, Mr. Bristow. Sydney and I will manage." She smiled, to encourage him. "After all these years, you can call me Jack, you know. And if all the work is getting to be too much, I can hire someone else part time."
"Oh, no. It's fine. Sydney is attached to me, and the feeling is mutual. I can try to start using your first name, I might not be comfortable with that."
"I understand. I think it might be better if Sydney did stay home tomorrow. Considering that I don't know when I'll be back, and she's having such a.... difficult time. I can take her homework over myself in the morning."
Edith only nodded. She did understand, and knew Sydney would be happy. But inside her dark little room, she was crying herself to sleep. She knew her father would think she hadn't heard, and she didn't plan to tell him.
Sydney stayed home the next day, but almost wished she had gone to school because her father hardly noticed that she was upset with him. They did some things together. Some groceries were needed from the supermarket, and he went and got them with her so Edith wouldn't have to do it. They did a little shopping together even though Jack didn't really like it all that much. He noticed that Sydney was not in the same mood as the day before, but he didn't say anything.
Late in the afternoon, they finally sat back down to their Monopoly game. Sydney was now very sullen and quiet. Finally, Jack pushed the board aside and asked her what was wrong. She shot him an angry glance.
"I thought you'd never even notice enough to ask!"
"Sydney, do not start this with me. Just tell me what's the matter, all right?"
"I heard you last night," was all she said and was all she'd planned on saying.
"Sydney, you already knew that I didn't know how long I would be gone. I think you need to stop moping at enjoy the time we do have right now, all right?" He didn't wait for an answer and started to take his turn.
As Jack picked up his token, Sydney reached out and swept the board off of the table, sending paper money and plastic buildings flying. She then stood and started to leave the room, when her father jumped up as well and grabbed hold of her arm.
"Young lady, I've had quite enough of these tantrums! We have so little time together, I realize that too, you know! So can't you at least try to ENJOY it?? If you're going to continue acting like a two year old, then we won't spend anymore time together like this. You should be ashamed of yourself. Look at you, acting like such a child. Your mother would be disgusted."
That's what broke Sydney the most - the mention of her mother. She tried to pull away in order to run from him, but his grip held firm.
"You just sit down and be quiet! You're going to listen to me, for a change!" Sydney did as she was told, too surprised to say anything now.
"You act like I really enjoy being away from you so much. I have a job, and no choice but to do it. That doesn't mean I'm happy being away. You're angry at me because we have so little time to spend together, and you're growing up without me. Have you stopped to think for one second that it makes ME angry, too? But, if I didn't do my job, I wouldn't get paid. Without money, we would lose this house, and I'd have to fire Edith, too. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Sydney was trembling with sadness and fear now. "No," she whispered.
"Well then. I want you to pick up the pieces to the game, and think for a little bit what you have done and how immaturely you have acted. I shall tolerate no more of this nonsense. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she replied.
She stood and began gathering up the money and cards that had flown everywhere when her anger had gotten away from her. She knew that he wouldn't want to start a new game nor would he have time to finish it anyway, so she put it back under her bed to collect more dust. She knew it was going to be a long time before they would play again.
Sydney stayed in her room for a while, doing the little bit of homework they'd brought home. After she'd finished, she listened to be sure the television was on in the living room. Her father got to see so little television, it was one of his favorite things to do in the evening when he could. She crept slowly out to the couch and sat beside him. Almost without thinking, she rested her head on his arm.
"Daddy," she whispered, "if you could get a different job, and be home with me more, would you?"
"Yes, I must admit, I think I am. I have pictures too, but never the chance to look at them, really."
"Don't you keep one with you?"
"No. Do you think I should?"
"Why don't you decide that for yourself?"
"Yes, I guess." He sighed.
Jack just sat there for awhile, not really doing anything, then got up. He decided it would be best to ask Sydney about how she was sleeping directly. He knocked hesitantly at her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Dad. May I come in?"
"Yes, it's open."
He stepped inside, and she put aside her books. "What is it, Dad? Do you have to leave early?" Sydney actually sounded worried.
He frowned. She was more upset about his leaving than he'd realized.
"No, I just wanted to ask you something. I was wondering if you've been sleeping better." Jack waited patiently for the answer. His daughter could lie very well, as he supposed most children could. But, she didn't like to, and he could always catch her at it.
"Yes, I've been fine. I suppose Edith thinks I still have nightmares, but I don't. Sometimes I just stay up late with the tv on. I know I shouldn't, but I like to stay up. Myabe she hears the sound and thinks it's me talking in my sleep. I don't know, I haven't talked to her about it in a long time. You don't have to worry about me, Dad. I'm not a little girl anymore. Not really."
She didn't wait for his reply, just went back to the homework that Edith had picked up for her. There was quite a lot, at which Sydney was surprised. She was determined to finish it all before dinner though as she wasn't going to feel like doing it later, and because she wanted to spend more time with her father. The only thing was, she wasn't sure if her father wanted to spend more time with her.
Jack left feeling as if he'd been brushed off. But at least he had his answer. Sydney had been telling the truth, he could see it in her eyes. He went bak to the living room and read the paper until Edith announced that dinner was ready. It took Sydney a few extra minutes to join them. When she took her seat, she told them all of her homework was finished. Even she sounded surprised. Then she ventured to ask her father if he would have time to play some sort of game with her before her bedtime. She felt a little silly asking, but they had already been out once that day, so she thought he'd like to stay in now.
She suggested Monopoly, because there was some strategy involved and because it could last for hours upon hours. He agreed to play. Sydney dragged the game out from the closet and a pile of dust. She never had anyone but Edith to play with and Edith tired of it quickly. She counted out the money and picked a token. Her father took one. She was the banker, and they rolled to see who would go first. As they played, Edith watched from her usual spot in the rocking chair.
They played for several hours, until almost an hour past Sydney's bedtime. Then, her father looked up from the board and announced it was time to get to bed. Sydney's head jerked up as if he'd announced something that was a complete surprise.
"Not yet, Daddy. Just a little longer. Please?"
"Not tonight. It's getting very late, you have class tomorrow. We can play some more when you get home."
She met his gaze with a doubtful expression. "Do you promise?" She asked in a small voice.
"Yes, I promise. We'll leave it here on the table, noone will touch it. Tomorrow we'll try to finish. Come on, now. To bed."
Sydney sighed, but got up, went to er room and changed clothes, then brushed her teeth and got into bed. To her surprise, her father was waiting there to tuck her in.
Sydney felt a little awkward, but smiled a little. "Hi, Dad. I didn't think you...."
"I know. I just wanted to try again to... to at least hug you good night. I know you were..... disappointed the other day. May I try?"
She looked at him doubtfully. "All right. If you'd like. You don't have to, Dad. I mean, since you don't like to."
This hug was little better than the last, but Sydney didn't mind. He turned off her light and closed the door behind him on his way out. Edith met him in the hallway.
"Did you put her to bed?"
"Yes."
"Good, glad to hear it. When are you leaving?"
"A day or two."
"Oh, I see. For how long?" He looked back at Sydney's door to make sure it was shut tight.
"A...while."
"How long is a while?"
"I don't know. If I had any idea, I'd tell you, but I really..."
"That's all right, Mr. Bristow. Sydney and I will manage." She smiled, to encourage him. "After all these years, you can call me Jack, you know. And if all the work is getting to be too much, I can hire someone else part time."
"Oh, no. It's fine. Sydney is attached to me, and the feeling is mutual. I can try to start using your first name, I might not be comfortable with that."
"I understand. I think it might be better if Sydney did stay home tomorrow. Considering that I don't know when I'll be back, and she's having such a.... difficult time. I can take her homework over myself in the morning."
Edith only nodded. She did understand, and knew Sydney would be happy. But inside her dark little room, she was crying herself to sleep. She knew her father would think she hadn't heard, and she didn't plan to tell him.
Sydney stayed home the next day, but almost wished she had gone to school because her father hardly noticed that she was upset with him. They did some things together. Some groceries were needed from the supermarket, and he went and got them with her so Edith wouldn't have to do it. They did a little shopping together even though Jack didn't really like it all that much. He noticed that Sydney was not in the same mood as the day before, but he didn't say anything.
Late in the afternoon, they finally sat back down to their Monopoly game. Sydney was now very sullen and quiet. Finally, Jack pushed the board aside and asked her what was wrong. She shot him an angry glance.
"I thought you'd never even notice enough to ask!"
"Sydney, do not start this with me. Just tell me what's the matter, all right?"
"I heard you last night," was all she said and was all she'd planned on saying.
"Sydney, you already knew that I didn't know how long I would be gone. I think you need to stop moping at enjoy the time we do have right now, all right?" He didn't wait for an answer and started to take his turn.
As Jack picked up his token, Sydney reached out and swept the board off of the table, sending paper money and plastic buildings flying. She then stood and started to leave the room, when her father jumped up as well and grabbed hold of her arm.
"Young lady, I've had quite enough of these tantrums! We have so little time together, I realize that too, you know! So can't you at least try to ENJOY it?? If you're going to continue acting like a two year old, then we won't spend anymore time together like this. You should be ashamed of yourself. Look at you, acting like such a child. Your mother would be disgusted."
That's what broke Sydney the most - the mention of her mother. She tried to pull away in order to run from him, but his grip held firm.
"You just sit down and be quiet! You're going to listen to me, for a change!" Sydney did as she was told, too surprised to say anything now.
"You act like I really enjoy being away from you so much. I have a job, and no choice but to do it. That doesn't mean I'm happy being away. You're angry at me because we have so little time to spend together, and you're growing up without me. Have you stopped to think for one second that it makes ME angry, too? But, if I didn't do my job, I wouldn't get paid. Without money, we would lose this house, and I'd have to fire Edith, too. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Sydney was trembling with sadness and fear now. "No," she whispered.
"Well then. I want you to pick up the pieces to the game, and think for a little bit what you have done and how immaturely you have acted. I shall tolerate no more of this nonsense. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she replied.
She stood and began gathering up the money and cards that had flown everywhere when her anger had gotten away from her. She knew that he wouldn't want to start a new game nor would he have time to finish it anyway, so she put it back under her bed to collect more dust. She knew it was going to be a long time before they would play again.
Sydney stayed in her room for a while, doing the little bit of homework they'd brought home. After she'd finished, she listened to be sure the television was on in the living room. Her father got to see so little television, it was one of his favorite things to do in the evening when he could. She crept slowly out to the couch and sat beside him. Almost without thinking, she rested her head on his arm.
"Daddy," she whispered, "if you could get a different job, and be home with me more, would you?"