Cars And sons
Chapter 7
It was mid afternoon as the nurse, Julie, was wheeling Phillip out to the curb from the University Hospital exit.
Amanda had pulled the car up, and then she and Dotty helped Phillip into the back seat, and buckling him up carefully, Amanda asked, "You doing all right, Sweetheart?"
Phillip sighed and nodded, and with a gulp, stated,"Only hurts a little when I breathe, but I'm okay, Mom, thanks...Where's Lee?"
When Dotty was about to answer, Amanda interjected quickly, "He had an errand to run, but said he'll see you at home later."
Julie gave Amanda the at-home care instruction sheet, and replied, "Call if you have any questions, alright?"
Amanda nodded and stated, "Thank you, Julie. I will."
Then patting Phillip's hand at the back window, she said, "Take care, Phillip."
Phillip answered, "Thanks, Julie...Bye."
Then Jamie got in the back, next to Phillip, and buckled up while Dotty and Amanda got in the front seat of the Jeep, and they were off.
Amanda asked the boys, "Well, who's hungry for lunch? I know I am."
Jamie piped up, "I saw a chicken place not too far from the hospital-"
Dotty nodded answering, "I did, too. Raising Cane's or something?"
Amanda answered, "Okay...Phillip? Would you like that?"
Phillip replied, "I guess, but we can we eat in the car? I'm still kinda sore with my ribs, you know?"
Amanda, looking back through the rear view mirror at Phillip, smiled and commented, "I understand, Sweetie. I'll go to the drive thru, alright?"
So, as they went to the drive thru, Amanda ordered Raising Cane's lunch special, which was Chicken Tenders with honey mustard, coleslaw and drinks, and then parked away from the other cars nearby, and Jamie asked, "How come we're eating here, Mom?"
Phillip sighed remarking, "Because she can't drive and eat, Doofus-"
Amanda shook her head at Phillip, saying in a ramble, "Honey, don't call your brother Doofus, alright? And Jamie, Phillip's still in some pain, so getting in and out of the car right now is difficult for him, but knowing we still have a bit of a drive ahead of us to get home, I knew we'd be starved by the time we did get there, so here we are..."
Amanda and Dotty sorted the portions out for the boys, and then got their share, eating silently for a time.
Dotty asked Amanda softly as the boys were eating, "So, do you think Lee took my advice about- ?"
Amanda taking a bite of coleslaw, shrugged, and finishing her bite with a swallow, answered firmly, "I don't know, Mother. But you really upset him earlier, and when you upset him, you upset me too, and I just don't want to discuss this any more, okay?"
Dotty, cut to the quick, responded sharply, "Fine...We won't!"
Then turning her attention to the boys, Dotty asked, clearing her throat, "How are you doing, Fellas? Want any more?"
Phillip shook his head replying, "No, thanks, Grandma, but I need to go to the men's room."
Jamie nodded commenting, "Me, too..."
Amanda remarked, putting all their trash in the bag, "Okay, let's all go clean up, and then get going, huh?"
So, as Jamie opened his door, getting out of the car, Dotty and Amanda helped Phillip out as well, but when Amanda started to go with Phillip, he stopped her, answering, "It's-It's okay, Mom...Jamie will be with me...We'll be out soon, okay?"
Amanda getting the bag of trash from lunch, nodded responding as she handed it to Jamie, "Right. Just be careful, alright? Oh, Jamie? Please take this and throw it away in there, okay?"
The boys nodded, as he and Jamie headed inside to the Mens room, while their mother and grandmother went to the Ladies room...
-SMK-
Luckily, the Men's room was empty when Phillip and Jamie went in, so Jamie asked, throwing the bag away, "Do you need me to help with the pants at all?"
Phillip said, "Give me a minute..."
Phillip went to the stall, with Jamie following, and sighed, feeling self conscious for a moment, and answered, "Yeah, can you just raise the seat here? I think I can get my pants down by myself, though..."
Jamie did, and Phillip then said, gesturing, " Thanks...You go ahead and use the other one. I'll be okay."
But as Jamie was using the other stall, he heard a groan and then, "Damn!", and then quiet crying ensued!
Finishing quickly, Jamie came out from the other stall nearby and washed his hands, then asked him outside the stall, "Ph-Phillip? Do you want me to get Mom?"
Sniffing and gulping, Phillip stated frustratedly, "No! But I don't have a choice, really! Would you ask her to come in, and to bring one of the pain pills, please?"
Jamie stated, "Okay, I'll hurry!"
So Jamie, leaving the Mens room and going outside, saw Amanda and Dotty back in the car, and going to the driver's side, said, "Mom? Phillip needs some help, and a pain pill."
Amanda nodded, and stated calmly, "Okay, Sweetie. You stay here with Grandma, and we'll be out soon, huh?"
So, Amanda taking the meds, headed back into the restaurant, and as Jamie got in the back seat, and buckled up, he answered, "Grandma, Phillip was crying. Is he gonna be okay?"
Dotty sighed and nodded replying, "Yes, Honey, but any injury takes a while to heal, and as your mother already told you, he's going to be in pain for some time. But I'm glad you tried to help him in there, at least."
Jamie shrugged commenting, "Yeah, well, you get why Phillip didn't want Mom in there at first, right?"
Dotty smiled at her grandson and nodding, said gently, "Oh, of course, Sweetheart. You two are too big for us to be holding your hands any more, hmm?"
Jamie faltered, and then reaching to touch her shoulder, said, "N-No, Grandma! We still love you guys, but it's just...different now."
Dotty, grabbing his hand, kissed the top of it replying, "Well, we're very glad you still love us, even though we sometimes drive you crazy, and vice versa, hmm?"
Jamie half smiled, and after a moment, then asked tentatively, "Grandma? Why are you and Lee mad at each other? Is it because of Phillip?"
Dotty gasped, and queried, "How could you possibly think that, Darling? Of course not! Now tell me what made you come up with that, hmm?"
Jamie shrugged and swallowing, stated quietly, "Well, all you guys seem to do lately is argue. E-Even you and Mom are doing it...And Phillip even asked me-"
Jamie stopped himself, and Dotty queried, "Asked you what, Dear?"
Jamie swallowed hard and commented slowly, "Well, when we were at the hospital this morning in Phillip's room, and Mom had us all leave so he could sleep, he got me alone, and asked me what Lee's problem was and why he was so quiet then-I told him he was just tired, but I think it hurt Phillip's feelings-like Lee didn't like him any more or something...Because of the car getting messed up, and-"
Dotty, out of the corner of her eye, then spotted Phillip and Amanda coming towards the car, and shaking her head, answered quickly, "Listen, we've had a lot going on lately, but I promise you, Sweetheart, that we all still love each other, and that's not going to change, alright? But later on tonight, I will talk to your mother and Lee about the situation, so please don't worry, Honey."
Dotty then got out to help Amanda with getting Phillip back into the car, and buckling him up asked gently, "Are you okay, Love?"
Phillip nodded, and slowly yawned, saying, "Y-Yeah, Grandma...Pill helps..."
Dotty and Amanda smiled at one another, as Amanda stated to Phillip stroking his cheek, "That's right, Sweetie. You just rest, and we'll be home before you know it, okay?"
Phillip mumbled, closing his eyes, " 'Kay, Mom..."
So, as the family was making their way home that afternoon, Lee was in Dr. Tenner's office, not exactly knowing where to begin.
Dr. Tenner stated, gesturing towards the couch, "Please, Mr. Stetson. Have a seat...Lie down if you'd like to-"
But Lee shook his head scoffing, "No, thanks! What is it about "quacks" wanting people to lie down?"
Dr. Tenner asked blankly, then pointing to himself, "Quacks"? Ohh, you mean doctors like me, don't you?"
Embarrassed suddenly, Lee cleared his throat, and putting up a hand, remarked, "I-I apologize. I don't know you, so it's unfair to make that judgement-"
Dr. Tenner shrugged commenting, "I've been called worse by many a former patient. Anyway, you're just being honest, and that's what therapy is. We have to start somewhere so we can begin to open the lines of communication...Now, what brings you here today?"
Lee sighed as he sat down, thinking, Great! Do I spill my guts, or just tell him something he might believe so I can get the hell out of here?!
Then he thought of Amanda, who had continued to stick by him through pretty much everything since the day they met nearly six years ago, whether he liked it or not!
She was made of some pretty strong stuff to be able to tolerate me all this time, he thought wistfully. The least I could do for her, is give this thing a try, right?
Then clearing his throat, Lee stated, "First off, Doc, call me Lee. Second, I'm not really comfortable in this area, but I promised my wife I'd think about it-"
Dr. Tenner gestured to Lee answering, "But you not only thought about it, Lee, you're here. How do you explain that?"
Lee chuckled commenting, "Well, you're familiar with my mother in-law, Dotty West? She and my wife, Amanda, are top-notch persuaders, getting people to do things they wouldn't ordinarily do."
Dr. Tenner smiled and stated, "Kicking and screaming the whole way, I'll bet."
Lee shook his head commenting, "Ohh, Doc, you don't know the half of it."
Deeply sighing then, he continued, "Well, I'm here now because a couple of days ago, my stepson Phillip got into a car accident, and..."
TBC
