Passageway

Chapter 15

Phillip sat nervously in the den with Mike and asked, "Are you a counselor for the court? Is that why you're here?

Mike shook his head and answered, "No, Phillip. My job is as a mediator, which means I talk to all the parties involved and to try to get them to agree on what's best for a situation. I kind of do what your dad does by going to different countries to try to get better conditions for the people."

Phillip shrugged and replied, "So here you wanna try helping Jamie and I with Grandma?"

Mike nodded and queried, "Do you guys know why they asked me to come?"

Phillip sighed responding, "I don't wanna get anyone in trouble here-"

Mike shook his head and remarked, "No, don't worry. As I told your grandmother, there's no right or wrong statement to make here. I'm just here to basically listen and to try getting everyone on the same page so that this problem goes away. So, go ahead."

Phillip commented, "Okay. Well, Jamie and I heard Dad and Grandma arguing about us with Grandma saying that maybe we should stay with her from now on because of his job and also because of Mom and Lee's job that she just found out about that's also dangerous. How can being filmmakers be dangerous?"

Mike covered by responding, "Well, sometimes there have been accidents while on location shootings. Equipment could go on fire or any animal that wanders into their area could be trouble."

Phillip stated, "Yeah, that makes sense. When the Trailblazers go on campouts, we sometimes see bears but we know to stay out of their way, usually."

Mike queried, "Trailblazers?"

Phillip nodded and responded, "Yeah. The scout group that Mom helped out with for the last few years. Jamie and I don't do it anymore because we got too old for it."

Mike then asked, "Do you like it here with your grandma and mom?"

Phillip nodded and replied, "Sure. When they're getting along. Lately, though..."

Mike nodded and answered, "Yeah, it can be tough when families disagree and the kids get caught in the middle. Like when your folks split up."

Phillip asked, "Are you in charge of sending us somewhere after you talk to us? Are we gonna have to go to court?"

Mike sighed and shook his head remarking, "No, Son. All I'm here to do is listen to everyone separately and offer my opinion afterwards. Your dad's a lawyer, so he can call who he needs to if you do have to go to court. But I'm here to try to make the situation easier so you all don't have to do that. Do you understand?"

Phillip swallowed and nodded commenting, "I-I sure don't want Mom and Lee to split up. We didn't like it when Mom and Dad did. It's hard. We don't see him as often as we want, you know?"

Last but not least was Jamie. Mike queried, "You guys have had it rough since your folks split up, huh?"

Jamie shrugged and stated, "It's been okay. We love Mom and Grandma but we miss Dad. And it's different with Lee. I mean at first he and I didn't get along and that's on me but he cares about us and does stuff with us, but now he and Mom aren't together. We don't know why Grandma's mad at them and wants us with her. I mean, we already live with her. Can't they all just get along?"

Mike sighed as he looked at the young boy. Here he thought trying to create peaceful existences with different countries was hard. Divorce within families was even worse! He was lucky his own parents were still together after all these years.

He responded to Jamie nodding, "It would be great if kids like you could run peace treaties in the world. You'd be great at it. Anything else you want to talk about, Jamie?"

Jamie nodded and commented getting up from the den couch. "Yeah, let me get Phillip."

A few moments later Phillip joined them and closed the den door again.

Mike asked, "What's up, Phillip?"

Phillip sat in the chair in front of Mike and replied, "Well, Jamie and I have been talking and we know what we want to do. We want to put a deal on the table."

Mike gave both boys a peculiar look and asked slowly, "Uh, how old are you guys again?"

They both laughed and Phillip answered, "We're serious, Mike. But you have to broker it for us 'cause we're just kids and adults don't always listen to kids. Mom and Dad say they do but sometimes they go around what we want and we wind up doing what they want anyway. How is that fair?"

Mike smiled and thought, These two are smarter than the adults in this house give them credit for!

He shrugged and replied, "Okay. I'll do what I can, Fellas. What's your deal?"

TBC