Tarnished Armor
Part 113

The park.

Junior, Jamie and Amanda are playing on the monkey bars. Jake sits with Colby.

Jake: Be careful, now! I don’t want to have to explain scraping you off the ground to your mothers!

Amanda swings over to Junior.

Amanda: What’s his problem?

Junior: He thinks he’s funny, but he’s not.

Brooke comes into the park.

Brooke: Hi, Jake! How’s fatherhood treating you?

Jake: It’s great. She’s the best.

Brooke: Glad to hear it.

Brooke turns towards the monkey bars.

Brooke: Jamie, listen, we have to get going home. Jack’s got dinner on the grill, and he’ll burn it if we’re late.

Jamie: Aw, Mom!

Brooke: What’s the matter? Don’t you want to spend a little time with your mother? Am I really that awful?

Jamie: Nah! You’re not too bad.

Brooke: Not too bad?

Brooke laughs.

Jamie turns to Junior and Amanda.

Jamie: Gotta go. I’ll see you later, Junior. Bye, Amanda.

Brooke and Jaime begin to leave the park.

Amanda leans over and whispers to Junior.

Amanda: Isn’t that your dad at the secret bench?

Junior looks towards the bench.

Junior: Hey! You’re right!

Amanda: Wanna go say hello?

Junior: I don’t know. He seems to want to be alone a lot.

Gillian begins to make her way into the park, carrying a basketball.

Brooke: Hello, Gillian. Out for some fresh air?

Gillian: Yes, I just needed to erase my brain and so I thought, “why not go to the park?”

Brooke: Have fun!

Jamie leans over to Brooke as they leave the park.

Jamie: Erase her brain?

Brooke: I’ll explain later.

Jamie and Brooke leave.

Jake looks up and sees Gillian.

Jake: Gillian! How’re you doing? Practicing your jump shot?

Gillian: Actually, I was looking for you.

Jake: Really? Well, that’s always a nice surprise.

Gillian looks at Colby.

Gillian: She’s so sweet. Is this a special father-daughter time? I don’t want to get in the way.

Jake: You’re not in the way at all! Right, Colby?

Jake pitches his voice upwards.

Jake (in a high voice): Right, Daddy!

Gillian laughs.

Amanda leans over to Junior again.

Amanda: Is that funny too?

Junior: It’s supposed to be.

Gillian: So, Jake... I guess you’re too busy to kill some hoops right now, huh?

Jake: Well, I kinda --

Junior: I can keep an eye on Colby!

Jake looks up at Junior.

Jake: Thanks, sport, but I don’t think so.

Junior: Why not? I mean, you’ll be close by, and I’ve taken care of her before.

Jake leans over to Gillian.

Jake: He likes to feel “in charge.”

Amanda rolls her eyes.

Junior: I can do it.

Gillian: Oh, let him take care of Colby! I think it’s cute how he wants to be with his cousin.

Junior: She’s my sister.

Jake exchanges a look with Gillian. Then he looks at Junior.

Jake: You sure you can handle this? It’s a big responsibility.

Amanda (muttering): What a chump!

Junior: Sure!

Jake: Well, okay. But stay right here, where I can see you.

Junior goes over and takes Colby from Jake.

Jake: Bye-bye, Colby! Daddy will be right back.

Jake leaves with Gillian, throwing one backwards glance Junior’s way.

Junior turns to Amanda.

Junior: Can you keep a secret?

Amanda: Does cheese go on fries?

Junior: Come on.

Junior and Amanda leave the monkey bar area.


******


The park. The secret bench.

Adam sits, lost in thought.

Amanda and Junior come up the path. Junior is carrying Colby. Adam sees them and stands.

Amanda: I’ll be the look-out.

Junior: Cool. Hi, Dad.

Adam: Junior, what are you doing?

Junior: I’m letting you visit Colby.

Colby reaches towards Adam.

Junior: See? She misses you.

Adam doesn’t move. Colby begins to cry.

Adam slowly goes over and takes Colby. He pats her back. She begins to calm down.

Adam: This isn’t right, Junior. ’m not supposed to see Colby.

Colby grabs Adam’s nose.

Adam: Yes, you’ve got my nose.

Colby laughs.

Junior: Look at how happy she is. Do you think she’s this happy with Jake?

Adam: That’s not the point.

Colby: Bah!

Adam looks at Colby in astonishment.

Colby smiles.

Adam: Are you trying to tell me something?

Colby coos.

Adam touches the top of Colby’s head.

Adam: Sweetheart, I can’t be with you right now. But you’ve got the best big brother in the world. He’ll take care of you. I promise.

Amanda: They’re coming back! They’re looking around!

Junior and Adam look towards Jake and Gillian.

Adam hands Colby to Junior.

Adam: Thank you, son. I know you meant well, but I need to stay away from Colby right now. You’ll make sure she’s all right, won’t you?

Junior: I’m just a kid, Dad.

Adam: You’re a better man than I’ll ever be.

Adam leaves the park.

Amanda: We’ve got to book it down there now.

Junior stares after Adam.

Junior: Okay.

Junior and Amanda make their way down the path.

 
Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Twelve
Part One Hundred and Fourteen