Disclaimer: I don't own Joan of Arcadia, the town, or it's characters. I'm
just a college student.
Chapter 6: Tears and Smiles
By the end of the day, almost every member of the Girardi family was faced with a new situation. For the most part, these new situations were good; for the most part . . .
"She let me sit by her, Joan," Luke kept repeating over and over again on the ride home from school. Joan laughed kindly and told him she had heard, "Grace TOLD you?" his voice peaking in excitement.
"She said you're stalking her," Joan said, matter of factly, "now this shouldn't even be a question, but ARE YOU? I mean, I saw you trailing her after lunch . . ."
"Can't a guy walk down the hall of his school anymore without people wondering what's going on?" his hand gestures suggested that he was innocent, but the color in his cheeks proved he was guilty.
"I said let her know you're there if she wants to talk, Luke. I didn't say be there all the time in case she wants to talk,"
"You know what, Joan? Nothing you say can bring me down! I'm way too excited and your feeble advice is unwelcome,"
"Sorry," she said taking her hands off the steering wheel to put them up in defense, "Did you see Mom at all today?" changing the subject.
"Yeah, she looked worried," he replied, his eyes narrowing, "You don't think anything's happened to Dad again, do you?"
A rush of worry shot through Joan. It hadn't been long since her father was taken hostage and nearly died. In fact, it was the first day she drove she and Luke home from school. A vision of him crouched down in the road flashed before her eyes, as if it were replaying all over again. She knew it wasn't happening . . . it was dark then, but light now . . . yet it all seemed so real. A tear streamed down her right cheek and she briefly blinked to catch the rest of them before they fell. Normally, Joan was concerned with what song was playing on the radio, but today she turned it off. Pulling over, she turned the engine off, finally being able to fully breakdown without having to worry about getting into an accident. Luke was utterly confused,
"Joan? What's going on?" his voice showed concern.
"What if something HAS happened to Dad again?" her words were muffled in her tears. Luke felt responsible. While the thought of their father being in danger again and their mom not telling them right away scared him, he felt he had to be strong and comfort his older sister.
"Hey," he said putting a hand on her should kindly, "I didn't mean to make you cry," Luke wasn't a cruel person, but it was rare that Joan saw the emotional side of him. He seemed so scientific, like he was completely under control. Hearing the tone in her brother's voice switch from systematic and controlled to concerned and worried was enough to make her tears flow more quickly and strongly,
"Why are you crying more? I'm just trying to help, I . . . Joan? Um, you seem a little sensitive . . . is everything normal or are you going through womanly things or what's going on? Excuse my ignorance, but . . ."
Joan smiled at this and wiped away her tears, "No, I'm not going through "womanly things," is that how you put it? I'm just worried about Dad. Hearing you try to comfort me made me happy, that's all,"
"You don't normally cry when you're happy . . ." he said confused,
"It takes something pretty special or rare to make it happen," she said looking at him, "Thank you, Luke," He smiled, but was still uncertain if that was a compliment or not.
"Are you okay to drive?" he asked her, seeing her puff eyes and wilted, soaking strands of hair pressed against her cheeks.
"Yeah, just give me a minute," she said using a tissue to clean herself up a little. "And about the Grace thing," she said restarting the engine, "I think you and Grace have a chance. You just have to work on communication,"
"I know . . ." he finally admitted, "but you still can't bring me down!" he said excitedly and looked out the window.
Nothing had happened to Will Girardi, nothing had happened to Helen or anyone else in their family . . . but Helen was still worried; Luke was right. Her concern centered on Adam Rove, his grades, his life, and how disinterested certain faculty members were with him. By the end of the day, she had come up with a plan to help him, make him aware. It involved her daughter, and when Joan walked in the door, she saw the worry lines etched into her mother's face. She swallowed strongly, feeling a lump in her throat form and prepared for the worst; for her mother's face only bore such an expression when the most horrible of things had happened,
"What is it, Mom?" she asked sitting down on the couch and pulling her mother's arm to sit next to her, "Is it Dad?"
"No," she said shaking her head, "It's not your father," she exhaled deeply and Joan inhaled in relief. "It's about Adam,"
Kevin wheeled by them quickly, singing a song neither his mother or sister had ever heard. It was quite possible no one had heard it; he'd only thought it up moments before. It sounded happy and free, making Joan and Helen's eyebrows raise in unison, their lips curl into smiles. He was dressed better than usual and they weren't sure, but they could've sworn he was doused in cologne.
"Someone have a date?" Joan asked smiling. Kevin hadn't dated much since the accident and it had been awhile since they'd seen that familiar smile he had just before going to pick up a girl. It was welcomed by them with open arms.
"Yeah, just going out to dinner, with Rebecca . . ." he began whistling again and put his coat on.
"Rebecca as in your boss?" Helen asked confused, "are you sure that's wise, honey?"
"I don't know," he said honestly, grabbing his keys, "I'll let you know when I get home," and he was out the door. Joan's smile soon faded as she remembered the conversation she was having with her mother.
"What about Adam? Did something happen on the way home?"
"No, he's not hurt or anything, don't worry," she said seeing the worry reflecting in her only daughter's eyes. "He's just having some problems with school and his grades,"
"Well the way you were looking I thought someone had died," Joan said angrily, "You NEVER get that look unless its something bad, Mom . . ." her voice echoed with resentment. She felt her mother had deceived her.
"It is a big deal, honey. Adam needs to keep his grades up. If he doesn't get some tutoring or mentoring or some sort of help he's at risk of failing,"
"Failing as in repeating failing?" she asked nervously, she was beginning to understand her mother's concern.
"There's a chance," she said sadly, "Now, I don't know what's going on with you and Adam, Joan, but I get the idea that thing's have changed,"
"We're seeing what's going on," she said seriously, "I care for him so much, Mom. He makes me feel happy and content,"
"Do you think there's a chance you may be able to help him with his schooling?" she asked, unsure of what her daughter's response would be. Joan didn't think this was such a good plan. What if he was insulted that his girlfriend had to help him with his homework all the time?
"I don't know if I'm the right person," she said biting her lip,
"Just think about it, that's all I'm asking," she said. "No one at school seems to care. Someone has to, I guess God just wanted it to be me," and she left the room. Joan closed her eyes. God. When would he show up again? Would he have some sort of task for Joan that involved Adam? Could this be what He meant when he said she'd understand in time what would happen with Adam?
Chapter 6: Tears and Smiles
By the end of the day, almost every member of the Girardi family was faced with a new situation. For the most part, these new situations were good; for the most part . . .
"She let me sit by her, Joan," Luke kept repeating over and over again on the ride home from school. Joan laughed kindly and told him she had heard, "Grace TOLD you?" his voice peaking in excitement.
"She said you're stalking her," Joan said, matter of factly, "now this shouldn't even be a question, but ARE YOU? I mean, I saw you trailing her after lunch . . ."
"Can't a guy walk down the hall of his school anymore without people wondering what's going on?" his hand gestures suggested that he was innocent, but the color in his cheeks proved he was guilty.
"I said let her know you're there if she wants to talk, Luke. I didn't say be there all the time in case she wants to talk,"
"You know what, Joan? Nothing you say can bring me down! I'm way too excited and your feeble advice is unwelcome,"
"Sorry," she said taking her hands off the steering wheel to put them up in defense, "Did you see Mom at all today?" changing the subject.
"Yeah, she looked worried," he replied, his eyes narrowing, "You don't think anything's happened to Dad again, do you?"
A rush of worry shot through Joan. It hadn't been long since her father was taken hostage and nearly died. In fact, it was the first day she drove she and Luke home from school. A vision of him crouched down in the road flashed before her eyes, as if it were replaying all over again. She knew it wasn't happening . . . it was dark then, but light now . . . yet it all seemed so real. A tear streamed down her right cheek and she briefly blinked to catch the rest of them before they fell. Normally, Joan was concerned with what song was playing on the radio, but today she turned it off. Pulling over, she turned the engine off, finally being able to fully breakdown without having to worry about getting into an accident. Luke was utterly confused,
"Joan? What's going on?" his voice showed concern.
"What if something HAS happened to Dad again?" her words were muffled in her tears. Luke felt responsible. While the thought of their father being in danger again and their mom not telling them right away scared him, he felt he had to be strong and comfort his older sister.
"Hey," he said putting a hand on her should kindly, "I didn't mean to make you cry," Luke wasn't a cruel person, but it was rare that Joan saw the emotional side of him. He seemed so scientific, like he was completely under control. Hearing the tone in her brother's voice switch from systematic and controlled to concerned and worried was enough to make her tears flow more quickly and strongly,
"Why are you crying more? I'm just trying to help, I . . . Joan? Um, you seem a little sensitive . . . is everything normal or are you going through womanly things or what's going on? Excuse my ignorance, but . . ."
Joan smiled at this and wiped away her tears, "No, I'm not going through "womanly things," is that how you put it? I'm just worried about Dad. Hearing you try to comfort me made me happy, that's all,"
"You don't normally cry when you're happy . . ." he said confused,
"It takes something pretty special or rare to make it happen," she said looking at him, "Thank you, Luke," He smiled, but was still uncertain if that was a compliment or not.
"Are you okay to drive?" he asked her, seeing her puff eyes and wilted, soaking strands of hair pressed against her cheeks.
"Yeah, just give me a minute," she said using a tissue to clean herself up a little. "And about the Grace thing," she said restarting the engine, "I think you and Grace have a chance. You just have to work on communication,"
"I know . . ." he finally admitted, "but you still can't bring me down!" he said excitedly and looked out the window.
Nothing had happened to Will Girardi, nothing had happened to Helen or anyone else in their family . . . but Helen was still worried; Luke was right. Her concern centered on Adam Rove, his grades, his life, and how disinterested certain faculty members were with him. By the end of the day, she had come up with a plan to help him, make him aware. It involved her daughter, and when Joan walked in the door, she saw the worry lines etched into her mother's face. She swallowed strongly, feeling a lump in her throat form and prepared for the worst; for her mother's face only bore such an expression when the most horrible of things had happened,
"What is it, Mom?" she asked sitting down on the couch and pulling her mother's arm to sit next to her, "Is it Dad?"
"No," she said shaking her head, "It's not your father," she exhaled deeply and Joan inhaled in relief. "It's about Adam,"
Kevin wheeled by them quickly, singing a song neither his mother or sister had ever heard. It was quite possible no one had heard it; he'd only thought it up moments before. It sounded happy and free, making Joan and Helen's eyebrows raise in unison, their lips curl into smiles. He was dressed better than usual and they weren't sure, but they could've sworn he was doused in cologne.
"Someone have a date?" Joan asked smiling. Kevin hadn't dated much since the accident and it had been awhile since they'd seen that familiar smile he had just before going to pick up a girl. It was welcomed by them with open arms.
"Yeah, just going out to dinner, with Rebecca . . ." he began whistling again and put his coat on.
"Rebecca as in your boss?" Helen asked confused, "are you sure that's wise, honey?"
"I don't know," he said honestly, grabbing his keys, "I'll let you know when I get home," and he was out the door. Joan's smile soon faded as she remembered the conversation she was having with her mother.
"What about Adam? Did something happen on the way home?"
"No, he's not hurt or anything, don't worry," she said seeing the worry reflecting in her only daughter's eyes. "He's just having some problems with school and his grades,"
"Well the way you were looking I thought someone had died," Joan said angrily, "You NEVER get that look unless its something bad, Mom . . ." her voice echoed with resentment. She felt her mother had deceived her.
"It is a big deal, honey. Adam needs to keep his grades up. If he doesn't get some tutoring or mentoring or some sort of help he's at risk of failing,"
"Failing as in repeating failing?" she asked nervously, she was beginning to understand her mother's concern.
"There's a chance," she said sadly, "Now, I don't know what's going on with you and Adam, Joan, but I get the idea that thing's have changed,"
"We're seeing what's going on," she said seriously, "I care for him so much, Mom. He makes me feel happy and content,"
"Do you think there's a chance you may be able to help him with his schooling?" she asked, unsure of what her daughter's response would be. Joan didn't think this was such a good plan. What if he was insulted that his girlfriend had to help him with his homework all the time?
"I don't know if I'm the right person," she said biting her lip,
"Just think about it, that's all I'm asking," she said. "No one at school seems to care. Someone has to, I guess God just wanted it to be me," and she left the room. Joan closed her eyes. God. When would he show up again? Would he have some sort of task for Joan that involved Adam? Could this be what He meant when he said she'd understand in time what would happen with Adam?