Chip Off the Old Block

Mandy couldn't believe it. There had only been a half day of school and she had taken Liam to the park for some fresh air, and there was Jay standing not twenty from them speaking with some man. Liam was still grounded, but it had been nearly a month and the kid needed to stretch his legs. He hadn't wanted to go, but she pushed him, saying she would take any heat if there was trouble. She had tried to text Jay to get his permission, but he hadn't answered her so she had decided to just go for it. But she certainly didn't expect to see her boss at the same park. She saw Liam and Jay make eye contact. Something about Jay was off, she figured it was a mixture of anger and disappointment at seeing Liam out and about and she figured she had better go talk to him and explain that she had made the kid go outside.

She got up from the bench where they had been sitting and began to walk towards Jay only to be intercepted by Liam, a wild look in his eyes. He kept mouthing something as he faced her, his feet taking him backwards as he stayed just in front of her, but she couldn't understand what he was trying to say as her lip reading skills were quite lacking.

"Leave it. Walk away," Liam shouted as they were nearly upon Jay surprising Mandy at its suddenness and volume. "So you went out a couple of times and then he ghosted you, not cool, not cool at all," he said turning to look at Jay. "You sir, have zero class, but my sister is a class act and you clearly have none. I told her not to come over or even acknowledge you, but I think she's pissed and now I have to protect you."

Mandy was confused, but when Jay didn't question what Liam was saying she figured she had better just stay quiet. Then it hit her what Liam had been mouthing to her, "he's undercover."

"You gonna protect me little man?" Jay asked with attitude, grateful his son had realized what was going on and jumped in. Now it was his turn to play along.

"I shouldn't." Liam spat back.

"Wow, Mike, you like 'em young don't you?" The man that Jay was speaking with chimed in. "But not bad taste."

"What can I say, I like what I like," Jay replied. "Why don't you two head back home. Actually, shouldn't you be in school kid?"

"Whatever," Liam said and grabbed Mandy by the hand and pulled her back towards the edge of the park where the bus stop was.

Once they were far enough way, she finally exhaled. "Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit." She turned and grabbed Liam by the collar of his coat and spoke right into his face. "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. He was undercover wasn't he?"

"Yeah. When we saw each other he shook his head just a little bit. Plus there would be no other reason he would be in the park in the middle of the day unless he was working an angle."

"So that guy he was talking to wasn't someone he worked with? A cop?"

"Nobody I recognized. I mean they both might stay in character because it's safer that way, but I imagine that guy was a bad guy."

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit." She repeated. "You—you were freaking amazing. Like you go undercover all the time. How did you even come up with what to say?"

Liam shrugged. "I don't know, I just did." He replied, realizing how easy it had been for him to come up with a story to get the drugs and to intervene and prevent a near disaster today. He was a chip off the old block and that understanding made him smile.

"I was just going to tell him that I was the one who made you come outside and to the park. I was afraid he was going to be mad. I just wanted him to know what was going on. I had no idea—I didn't even think."

"He might still be mad. But we won't find out for a while." Liam said as a bus headed their way. "This one's ours," he said after reading the digital number on the front.

Much of the ride back was quiet, but Liam could still tell that Mandy was in her own world, still stuck in the recent action. "I can't believe he does that all the time. How exhilarating, how terrifying." She could still hear him saying he liked what he liked. Oh if only, she thought to herself.

Liam felt Mandy next to him, her energy still twirling around her like one of those plastic pinwheels that would spin wildly in the wind. He stared out of the window, surprised to see so many people out in the middle of the day. He somehow thought that while he was in school that the streets would be empty, life at a standstill. But he guessed that the world never stopped, it moved to its own whims, desires and patterns. He could still see his dad and the fear in his eyes as he recognized Liam. At first the boy thought it was anger at being out of the apartment, but then he quickly realized it was more than that. He wasn't sure what to do, his initial plan was to sit still and see if his father would come over to him, but suddenly Mandy was in motion and he knew that she didn't understand. He recalled Mandy's crush on Jay and that was his inspiration for the brief conversation that had ensued.

Once back at the apartment Liam shed his coat and shuffled off to his room. "Do you think he'll ever let me watch you again?" She yelled out.

Liam walked back into the living room. "Probably. He likes you. You're dependable."

"Did he look mad? That we were in the park?" She finished.

"He looked fine, he had to stay in character."

"Oh God, he's never going to let me watch you ever again. I almost blew it for him."

"But you didn't. You didn't question it, when I started talking. You did good."

"He'll be so proud of you. You were amazing. Absolutely amazing. You are so much like him. Smart, quick thinking, cool under pressure. I can see why you scored those drugs with no question. Wow. My heart is still hammering in my chest. Has he texted you?"

Liam shrugged. "He doesn't take his own phone undercover."

"Makes sense. I'm shaking. Are you shaking?"

"No," Liam said going the refrigerator and grabbing a beer. "Here drink this," he said extending it to Mandy.

"No. I can't."

"You're twenty-one."

"And I'm watching you and I already pushed it with taking you outside. I feel like a just fell into a rabbit hole."

"A what?" Liam asked as he put the beer back in the fridge.

"Rabbit hole. Haven't you ever heard that expression?"

Liam shrugged. "Maybe."

"It comes from this book," she said pulling it from her backpack which was on the floor by her feet. It was a paperback with a golden haired girl on the front cover sitting next to a white rabbit. "This was my favorite book when I was a kid. Kind of how you like Charlotte's Web."

"Is she friends with the rabbit?" Liam asked.

"She chases the rabbit and falls down the hole and meets all kinds of strange creatures."

"Like scary creatures?"

"No, well some are a bit scary and others are just weird and then there's the red queen that wants to chop everyone's head off."

"Cool," Liam said looking at the book. "What kind of creatures?"

"A cat that is sometimes invisible but you can still see his smile and a caterpillar that smokes and a mad hatter."

"What's a mad hatter?"

"You're a good reader and clearly have the ability to enjoy decent literature. Here, take this book and read it. I think you can do it. Then when you hear about someone falling down a rabbit hole you'll know exactly what they're talking about." She said as she handed the book to Liam.

"And I can read about the caterpillar and the invisible cat."

"Yes you can. Take it, it's all yours."

"To keep?" Liam asked.

"Sure. It's just a paperback. I can always get another one if I want to. But you have to promise me you'll read it. It really is quite an adventure."

Liam nodded, his head already in the depths of the first page. "The rabbit has a watch," Liam called out, clearly immersed.

Mandy was a bundle of nerves as Liam continued to read silently. "Has he texted you yet?" She asked.

"I don't know, you have my phone remember? I'm not allowed to have it."

"Oh, that's right. I have it right here on the table," she said picking it up and checking it. "Nothing."

"He knows I can't have my phone. He'd text you first." Liam pointed out.

"Yeah, true. Where's my phone?" She asked as she shoved her books and papers aside."

"On the other side of your laptop," Liam said as he glanced her way. "Just relax. It will be okay."

"I just don't want him mad at me."

"He won't be."

"You sure?"

"No. Not really." Liam said turning a page.

After another hour of hand wringing and mental anguish, Jay came through the door. "Are you two okay?" He asked. "I tried to get here sooner but didn't have a chance. I would have texted but my phone was dead."

"We're fine," Liam said without looking up from his book.

"I'm sorry Jay. It's just that Liam got out of school early and we had all day, and he's been grounded for a month and I just figured since the weather wasn't too bad that we could just take a bus ride to the park and stay for a bit for some fresh air and then ride back. I was the one that suggested it, pushed it. Liam said we shouldn't go because he was still grounded and then we saw you and I thought we were going to be in trouble and I was going to tell you that it was me and what was happening, but Liam jumped in front of me and was trying to tell me and then he just took charge and saved me from outing you and he really was amazing and I almost ruined your cover. I just couldn't believe that you were there and undercover, it was scary, but cool. Scary cool." Mandy rambled while Jay tried to keep up.

"It's fine. But are you okay?" He asked again.

"She's been a little amped up," Liam said.

"I can tell. But you're both okay, I'm okay. In fact that little display actually got me in deeper with this guy, the pervert that he is."

"Mandy's over eighteen," Liam said.

"Excuse me?" Jay said, his eyes wide.

"Just saying she's not a teenager. Hey, I'm hungry. We missed lunch."

"Well, let's see what we got." Jay said as he began to rummage in the refrigerator and freezer. "Mandy, how about you stay for some dinner then I'll drive you home."

"Yeah, I think she needs to be debriefed." Liam suggested.

"I don't want to impose," Mandy said finding her voice again.

"No imposition. Let's see, we have chickenless nuggets and tur'ky stew with noodles. Do you eat meat, because I do and none of this is looking like it's going to satisfy me."

"She's a vegetarian, but let's go out to eat," Liam said tossing the book aside and rushing into the kitchen causing Jay to back up and step on one of Liam's toys. "Hey, your stepping on my G.I. Joe." Liam yelled.

"Well maybe Mr. Joe shouldn't be taking a nap on the kitchen floor."

"He's Sergeant Joe," Liam corrected.

"I see, well go put Sergeant Joe away," Jay said pulling his foot up and off of the large action figure," and wash your hands." As Liam disappeared he turned to Mandy. "Does anybody eat meat anymore?"

Mandy shrugged. "Less and less. Wave of the future I guess."

"Well, I know a few places that will work since I'm raising a little veggie-head. His mother was a vegetarian," Jay said almost wistfully. "Please join us, my treat."

Mandy's heart was almost pounding as fast and hard as it was after the incident in the park. "Sure," she managed to reply.

"Great. I'll drop you back at the dorms afterwards."

Jay picked a nearby Italian restaurant that had offerings of pasta for the vegetable crowd while still giving him the options that he was looking for. They found a round table and sat down, Mandy feeling a jolt when Jay sat down right next to her.

"Order whatever you like," he instructed.

"I want ice cream and soda," Liam announced.

"Sure dude," Jay said looking at the menu.

"For real?" Liam asked excitedly.

"No," Jay replied shaking his head.

"Can I have soda?"

"No. But you can have flavored ice tea."

After ordering, spaghetti for Liam, cheese ravioli for Mandy and a chicken dish for Jay they quietly sipped their drinks. Liam was up on his knees in his seat while he unwrapped his straw at one end and blew into it, sending the paper wrapper floating towards his father, just like Adam had recently taught him. Jay grabbed it and wadded it up and set it next to his plate.

"So, how are you? Really?" Jay asked as he turned towards Mandy.

"Okay. I think. My heart still isn't quite back to normal." But she left out the part that some of it was due to her massive crush on Jay who was just inches away and appeared to be clueless about his involvement in her emotional state.

"I just hope you aren't mad at me for taking Liam to the park. I did try and text you but I shouldn't have done it without your permission."

"I'm not mad. I know he's been grounded for nearly a month and is getting antsy, which is part of the point. But a quick trip to the park was fine."

"Yeah, she told me no playground. Just hang out for a half hour or so, people watch and then back home. But we didn't think that you would be one of the people we would be watching," Liam said sticking his straw into his drink and stirring it.

"I must admit I was pretty shocked when I saw you sitting there. I had to look twice. Did you see me shake my head at you?"

"Yeah, just a tiny bit though, a tiny shake. But I got what you were saying. I was hoping that Mandy hadn't seen you but then she did." Liam said as he then sucked up some tea into his straw and then put his finger over the top to plug it and let it drain back into his glass causing Jay to glare at him and once again slightly shake his head.

"I told Liam I had planned to walk over and explain why we were there and that I was the one who had pushed the trip. I didn't want Liam to get into trouble. Then suddenly, he jumped in front of me and his eyes were really wide and he kept whispering something to me but I couldn't understand it, then he started talking to you and I was so confused, but something told me to keep my mouth shut."

"You did great," Jay assured. "Keeping your mouth shut was perfect. Often in strange situations people talk too much. You just staying quiet and going along was the best thing you could have done."

Liam continued play with his straw causing Jay to reach over and take it away.

"Liam was the one who did great. I can't believe he thought up that whole story so fast and then was brave enough to say it." Mandy continued. "You were so smooth in catching on to the disruption. But I guess you do that a lot. But, Liam, he just knew what to do," she continued as Liam picked up his napkin and draped it over his head. "He's just like you," she finished as she turned and noticed the boys new adornment. "Well, mostly."

Jay looked at his son and slid over a chair so that he was next to Liam and then pulled the boy over into his lap. As he pulled the napkin off his son's head he smiled at Mandy. "Hey kid, how about acting like the ten year old boy that I'm raising instead of wild two year old."

"I'm bored," Liam complained as he wiggled around.

Jay was almost tempted to give the kid his phone, but it only had a small charge left from when he had plugged it in during the ride home. Besides Liam was still grounded and it was clear that the no electronics ban was wearing the kid down. And he never wanted to be the parent to plug his kid into a device just to make life easier.

Mandy's words hung in the air around him, about how well Liam had done in a difficult and unexpected situation. How he had instantly reacted and knew what to do and say without hesitation. As great and needed as it was, Jay feared this would only feed Liam's ego as to going undercover or into difficult conditions. Despite Mandy telling him that Liam had acted calm and that it seemed to be no big deal to the boy, he could feel his son's nervous energy as he held him. He could see it, sense it, touch it. The crisis was over, Liam did great, he had been calm, cool, collected, but clearly not unaffected by the event.

Mandy looked across the table, at first upset with Liam for making Jay move to parent him but now seeing the two together, father and son, allowed her to relax and smile for the first time since the park. Jay was a good cop, a great man and an even better father. "Here Liam," she said pulling out a notebook and some colored pens from her backpack, "you can draw until our dinner comes."

Liam gladly took the distraction, but either Jay didn't let him go or Liam made no move to depart as the boy began to doodle from his current perch.

Mandy stared at Jay as he watched the drawings began to take shape; a bench, a playground, a bus, a badge. It was today, convoluted, but today. 'I like what I like'. The phrase, despite being part of the game, stuck in her head as she let it play it over and over on a loop. She pretended it was real.

Soundtrack:

Thunderstruck by 3 cello's

Shatter me by Lindsey Sterling