Empathy No. 008
RODERICK: You're not mad at me, are you?
ELEANOR: Oh Roderick, I've never been mad at you. Where would you even get an idea like that?
RODERICK: I don't know. You said you needed to talk about something important, that's usually bad.
ELEANOR: It's nothing bad, it's just...I know you were planning to go to the library sale today, and you still can, but we have an errand to take care of first.
RODERICK: An errand? That's not a big deal. What do I need to do?
ELEANOR: We just need to take maybe an hour and get you some new clothes for the wedding.
RODERICK: Oh.
ELEANOR: It's next week, you know.
RODERICK: Yeah, I know.
ELEANOR: You haven't said or asked anything about it.
RODERICK: What's to ask?
ELEANOR: Roderick, I've never known you to be comfortable with not knowing something. And I've been so busy lately, I just haven't taken any time to talk to you about...you know, the itinerary.
RODERICK: I figured I'd just do whatever people told me to do.
ELEANOR: Roderick...
RODERICK: What? I'm fine, really.
ELEANOR: Okay. It's just going to be a small ceremony, mostly family. Your aunt Kristen's going to be there, and she'll take care of everything - you won't have to do anything but show up.
RODERICK: I understand.
ELEANOR: Now, we're going to stay with Lloyd and the kids the night before the wedding, so you can bring some things with you. We'll move in everything else after that, so you'll just bring what you need and they'll help us get the rest after. Do you have any questions?
RODERICK: No.
ELEANOR: Honey, no one expects that this is going to be easy for you.
RODERICK: It'll be fine.
ELEANOR: Please talk to me about this. I can tell you're nervous. Can you tell me why? You're afraid you won't have your space?
RODERICK: That's part of it. I don't know, it's...they're not going to like me.
ELEANOR: Why would you say that?
RODERICK: Because no one does. You remember what the 4th was like.
ELEANOR: Sweetheart, you were just nervous with all the new people. Everyone understood that.
RODERICK: They always say they understand.
ELEANOR: You know, this might be a real chance for you to learn something new. You've never been good with people, and now, in this new house, you'll have to figure it out. I know you can do it, you've done everything you've ever set your mind to.
RODERICK: I guess.
ELEANOR: A lot of Lloyd's friends and family are going to be at the wedding, and they're going to want to meet you - he talks about you all the time. So this can be your first real test, so to speak. Just stay relaxed and make conversation. No one's going to judge you, I promise.
RODERICK: I can do that.
ELEANOR: Of course you can. Now, let's go clothes shopping, I promise it will be painless, and then I can find a few extra dollars for the sale and whatever else you want to do. Okay?