Passageway

Chapter 10

Lee and Amanda arrived at the house at 6:30 and greeted Joe and Dotty.

Amanda asked, "Where are the boys, Mother?"

Dotty replied, "Upstairs. Joe explained to me about the mediator and I think it will be good for all of us to get everything out finally. Now about the boys, I feel-"

Amanda hugged her and remarked gently, "I know you love them very much Mother and that you're worried about all this but it will work out, all right? Have they eaten dinner?"

Joe responded shaking his head, "They said they weren't hungry."

Amanda looked at him and then at Lee and commented, "Let's go see them now."

Amanda led Joe and Lee upstairs to the boys bedroom where they found them lying on the floor looking at books.

Amanda stated, "Hi, Guys. Gimme a hug, huh? Haven't seen you in a while."

They gave her hugs and Phillip asked, "Who's coming over? Grandma said someone was coming over to talk to us. Why?"

Amanda and Joe glanced at one another and Joe replied, "Not just you two Pal, but all of us."

Lee queried, "Do you know what a mediator is?"

The boys shook their heads and Jamie asked, "Is it like someone for Career Day?"

Amanda shook her head and smiled responding, "No. Uh, do you remember when your dad and I got the divorce and then we went to a family counselor?"

The boys slowly nodded and Jamie then got up stating to Phillip, "I knew it."

He left the room and Phillip went to follow him. The three adults were baffled and Amanda responded, "Hey Fellas, we're not done yet. Come back-"

Phillip replied holding up a hand stating, "It's okay, Mom. He just wants to ask me something. We'll be back."

Amanda saw they went to her room closing the door and shook her head at Joe and Lee responding to them, "They never keep secrets from me."

Lee shrugged and stated, "Well, they're teens now. Don't tell me you never kept anything from Dotty?"

Amanda shrugged silently and Lee looked at Joe and they shook their heads. She was as honest as the day was long. Except for keeping quiet about her career and Lee, that is.

In Amanda's bedroom Phillip stated to Jamie, "Look, if we tell them what we heard they'll be mad at us-"

Jamie asked, "But why is Grandma mad at them? And why did she tell Dad that it'd be better if we were with her from now on? We already are in a way."

Phillip sighed and responded, "I say if this person comes to talk to us, we tell him what we want and maybe they'll listen to us instead of fighting."

Jamie queried, "You think so?"

Phillip nodded replying, "Anything's better than the yelling lately. Why do you think I'd rather be at Billy Barton's house right now?"

Jamie quipped stating, "Because Suzanne's out of town with her parents-"

Phillip punched his arm grimacing at his younger brother remarking, "You're such a dweeb!"

Then they heard Joe knock on the door as he responded, "Hey. What's going on in there? C'mon out, Fellas. Now."

The boys came out and Phillip sighed commenting, "It's okay, Dad. Can we go eat?"

Amanda and Lee met them out in the hall and Amanda asked, "Thought you weren't hungry, Guys?"

Jamie shrugged and answered, "Not for liver and onions maybe but for Grandma's pot roast, sure!"

As the boys ran down to pester Dotty for food, the three adults stood there puzzled and Amanda queried, "Those aren't the same two we saw that practically had their chins on the floor a while ago. Wonder what got into them?"

Joe shrugged and stated, "I dunno but if this works out, I'll be happy, won't you?"

Amanda nodded looking at both men and replied, "Definitely."

As they came down Dotty remarked to them, "Everything's ready if you want to join us?"

So everyone sat down to enjoy a cordial dinner and discuss the boys school day while they waited for Mike to arrive.

The boys talked about everything except what was really on their minds lately. They loved their parents and grandmother and Lee and didn't want to upset anyone and get into trouble so they agreed to save it for the mediator...

TBC