Dad's Day Out part 1
Well, Bo and Matthew had not gotten off to such a great start.
Actually it sucked. Nora and Sam agreed that it would be best
to have Matthew have his first civilized meeting with the man
who would be known (hopefully) as his Dad, in a non-threatening
atmosphere. Bo suggested they meet at Asa’s stables and they
could have like a picnic and ride the horses and, well, Bo figured
by the end of the day, he’d be carrying his son around on
his shoulders and have his arm around his soon to be wife and…well
Matthew had other ideas…
Asa: So…what time is my grandson arriving?
Bo: Pa…we have to take it slow…we can’t all bombard him at once…
Asa: Well, hell, Matty’s more accustom to me than you! I’ve seen him and talked to him and he doesn’t flip me the bird!
Bo: Pa…you know he was doing that to Hesser…anyway, I want this to be perfect…let’s see, hot dogs, chips, root beer, ice cream…Nora says their all his favorites…damn Pa…he is my kid!
Asa: I know son…this is something I’ve wanted for you since Nora first found out she was expecting…if that darn Rappadevil hadn’t stuck his two cents in…
Bo: You know, I owe Sam…
Asa: You owe him a few nights in the slammer for takin’ advantage of your wife…
Bo: I owe him my gratitude for taking care of my son…they should be getting here any time now… Nora was going to wait for Sam to pick them up…
Asa: Oh no! No, no, no…I ain’t having that demon at my home! No sir!
Bo: Pa…the pediatrician told us that Nora and I AND Sam have to be the principal people in Matthew’s life that help him work through this transition…and everyone else has to be encouraging and supportive and so on…
Asa: All he has to do is walk outta my grandson’s life and let his real parents take care of him!
Asa lights his cigar and walks away.
Bo: There’s no talking to you!
In the distance, Bo sees Sam’s SUV pulling in past
the main gate, making its way toward the stables. Bo gets a lump
in his throat and busies himself with checking the picnic over
again.
The SUV stops, Bo stands inside the stable watching Nora unload
Matthew from the vehicle. He gets a tear in his eye. This was
the first time he saw his son awake and in person. All the other
times it’s been on videos or he’s had to sneak into
Matt’s room long after he’s asleep, just before he leaves
to go to back to Asa’s. He and Nora thought it would be better
if Bo stayed there for now…so as to ward off any more close
calls, like the time they were in the throws of passion, the day
Hesser was arrested, and Matthew almost walked in. Luckily Rachel
heard him in the hall and steered him clear. Bo smiled as he thought
of that night.
Nora looked incredible…she always did though, the sun playing
off the natural highlights in her hair, making it look even fierier
than ever, jeans and a simple rose colored sweater. Matthew was
a ball of pure energy bouncing out of the truck and running across
the clay to get a closer look at the new born colt that was running
through the pasture, trying to keep up with its mother. Nora quickly
walked over to Matthew, who was now making his way up the wooden
fence to get a better look…Bo smiled as Nora put an arm around
the precocious pre-schooler…this was his family…
Nora: Matthew, be careful baby…I don’t want you falling in there!
Matthew: Daddy will save me! Right Daddy?
Sam: (standing with his hands in his pockets, looking quite dejected) Yeah champ…Daddy will save you…
Bo: (quietly, inside the stable) You know I will son…
Nora: Yes…but Mister Asa wouldn’t like it…
Matthew: Do I have to call him Mister Asa?
Nora: Well...what do you want to call him?
Matthew: He looks like he is somebody’s Grandpa…can I call him Grandpa?
Nora: Well…I guess that would be ok.
Nora looks over at Sam who is leaning against the truck. He shrugs an approval. Meanwhile in the stable Bo smiles and thinks to himself
Bo: This will be a piece of cake! He already wants to call Pa “Grandpa”!
Matthew: Mommy! Look at the pony! He’s so small next to the big one!
Nora: That’s the big one’s baby…it’s called a colt. The big one is called a mare. It’s the mommy horse.
Matthew run over to Sam and puts an arm around his leg. Nora has walked toward the stable.
Matthew: Where’s the daddy horse? (asking Sam) Daddy! Look! (pointing at the colt) that’s a baby named Colt!
Sam: It sure is Tiger.
Matthew: Daddy! Where’s the daddy horse?
Sam: I’m not sure…you’d probably have to ask Asaaaaaa…Grandpa Asa.( Sam couldn’t believe he had said it)
Bo: (in the barn, to himself) I can’t wait til he’s calling me daddy…
Nora: (sneaking up behind Bo and wrapping her arms around him) I can’t wait either…
He turns in her arms til they are facing each other…
Bo: He’s incredible! I can’t wait to play ball with him and teach him to ride and fish and hunt and…
Nora: Slow down! We’ve got to get past the first obstacle…him liking you.
Bo: Nora, this is killing me…I haven’t even spoken to him, held him, anything and I love him so much! I want to spoil him rotten, take him to car rallies, vacations to the cabin everything! This is my chance to make up for everything I cheated Drew out of…it’s all here (pointing to his heart) waiting to give. And I can’t even call his name, for fear of him reacting against me.
Nora: Sweetheart, I know…but this won’t last forever…we’ll be a happy family. We just have to go slow right now.
Bo: (looking out of the stable as Sam is pushing Matthew on a tire swing) It’s really great the way Sam is agreeing to all of this…
Nora: He loves Matthew. He asked if after this is all said and done, if we’d allow him to visit Matthew and Matthew to be able to call him uncle….
Bo: Uncle Sam? (chuckling) That’s fine…I know how hard this is for him. To find out his ex-wife did all of this…and actually has caused Sam to lose also…
Nora: I know…he and I talked about that last night
Bo: (raising an eyebrow) Oh really? Having late night conversations with another man???
Nora: Well, yes…but I save everything else for you…
She leans in, running her hand through his hair and giving him a long kiss.
Bo: Well, um…as long as we understand each other…say, you know if today goes the way I expect it to…I’ll be in bed tonight with the most gorgeous red head this planet has ever known…
Nora: Play your cards right and maybe we could sneak up to that loft up there (pointing towards the tack loft and kissing him)
Sam: (calling to warn Bo) Nora!!! Where are you? (pause and clearing his throat) your son wants to see the stables!
Nora: (finishing their kiss and shoving him in an empty stall) Hide!
Matthew: Mommy!! I found a picnic! Behind that little house!
Hot dogs and ice cream!!!
Can we eat?? Can we? I’m starved!!
Nora: Um…honey I…want…
Matthew: Come on Mommy!!!
Matthew grabs Nora and Sam by the hand and tries pulling them, they all walk towards the picnic. Bo walks out of the stable and cautiously makes his way towards the small shed where the picnic is set up. He positions himself close enough to hear them, but still out of Matthew’s sight. Nora can see him though. In her mind she is trying desperately to think of a way to bring Bo into the picnic and start the healing between father and son.
Nora: (handing Matthew a hot dog) So Matthew…how are you enjoying Grandpa Asa’s stables?
Matthew: (swallowing the hot dog) Oh Mommy! I wish me and daddy and you could come here every day!!! I wish I could live here! Cuz…this place is so big and Grandpa Asa is only one guy…so he has lots of rooms for me!
Nora: Well, sweetie…there are more people that live here with Grandpa Asa…
Sam: That’s right champ. There’s Renee. She’s Grandpa Asa’s (Sam really has to fight to get those words to come out in a non-condescending tone!) wife.
Matthew: He’s married? So Renee can be my Grandma Renee!
From behind the barn Bo is just beaming.
Nora: Yes…I think that would be all right…and then sometimes Grandpa Asa’s son stays here…
Matthew: A son! Oh Mommy! Where is he? (looking around) will he play with me? Will he like me? Where is he?
Sam: Slow down Tiger! Your Mom and I want to explain something to you…and I know at first it will seem, (pausing to think of a four year old way to put it) not good, but you have to believe your Mom and me. We love you Matthew (his eyes water up) and we only want what is best for you.
Matthew: Where’s my new friend, Daddy?
Sam: Matthew, Grandpa Asa’s son is a man…
Matthew: That’s why you said son! If he was a girl you should have said daughter!
Sam: (chuckling through his tears) You are your mother’s son. Matthew, along time ago (takes Matthew on his lap) when you were first born, there were a lot of people that loved you, that still love you. And all these people had a meeting to decide what would be the correct way to bring you up…
Matthew: bring me up where Daddy?
Sam: Well, bring you up…like where you should live and who should buy your clothes and feed you…
Matthew: Silly daddy! The mommy and daddy do that for the kids!
Nora: Sweetie, you’re a special little boy. You have more people that love you and want to take care of you than other little boys. You have me and…well, Matthew things are complicated for grown ups and sometimes they do things that little kids can’t understand, but Mommy would never do anything to hurt you…so I want you to trust Mommy and I want you to meet somebody…(motion for Bo to come out from behind the shed) Matthew, this is Bo…he is Grandpa Asa’s son…he is your biological father…he is your daddy
Matthew’s eyes get as big as saucers and a look of terror washes over him, he starts to climb deeper into Sam’s lap.
Bo: (in a very hushed tone) Hiya Matthew. I hope you are enjoying today at the stables and your picnic, I made it for you, special…I hope we can be friends…(Bo extends his hand to Matthew)
Matthew: NO!!!!(slapping Bo’s hand away) You are the bad man! (panicking) You hurt my Mommy! You are…you are…Rachel says you are soooo bad! …Rachel says I have to spit when I see you (he spits at the ground) you…you…I hate you! Bad man! Bad man! BAD MAN!!!!!
With that he flips Bo off and runs to Sam’s truck in terror.
Sam: (getting up and throwing his napkin down) Well…that went splendidly! (chasing after Matthew) Hold on Tiger! Matthew! Wait!
Nora stands up next to Bo as they watch Sam catch up to Matthew, pick him up and carry him to the truck. After getting Matthew calmed a bit and into the truck, he looks at Nora and Bo and shrugs his shoulders
Nora: I am so sorry Bo…(touching his arm) I know how much today meant to you…we’ll try again…I love you…I’ll call you later.
Bo: I just wanted today to be perfect. I’ll come over after he’s asleep to say good night.
Nora: Umm...I don’t want to be cruel, but maybe call first…you know the pediatrician said that this might traumatize him, if it doesn’t go well…
They look at each other
Bo & Nora: (together) it didn’t go well.
Bo: You’re right. Tell Sam I said thanks…I owe him a lot…you better go…I love you.
Nora: I love you too (kisses him good- bye) It’ll be ok…we’ll get through this…I have faith.
Bo watches as Nora walks to the truck and climbs in. He watches as the truck drives his family away, and realizes his dream just got knocked back another day.
Bo: Damn it! (kicking up some dirt) damn it anyway!
He sits down on the ground and finishes off the hot dogs and root beer.
To be continued
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