Empathy No. 157

04/12/03, Levitt living rm. 1:30 PM (approx)

ELEANOR: Roderick, you came out.

RODERICK: Yeah, I know I've been spending a lot of time in there. No real reason, I guess, just nothing much to do lately.

ELEANOR: That's okay, I didn't mean to give you grief. So I guess you have some spare time?

RODERICK: I have all day.

ELEANOR: Then come sit with me. You know, anyone else your age would be busy with end-of-year assignments.

RODERICK: I'm not too worried.

ELEANOR: Allison would have a fit if she heard that. She's a little...concerned about her final grades.

RODERICK: I think she's more concerned about Prom. She's been working on that more than homework.

ELEANOR: You and Lloyd have taken care of the arrangements for that, right?

RODERICK: Yeah, I'm good to go.

ELEANOR: Did you ask Carlie if she's going with you?

RODERICK: Yes, I asked her a long time ago.

ELEANOR: Because even if she's your girlfriend, she'll want to be asked.

RODERICK: Mom, I know.

ELEANOR: Okay, you've taken care of everything, like always.

RODERICK: Maybe not everything. Um...you never really told me what you thought of her.

ELEANOR: Boys your age don't normally care about things like that.

RODERICK: Well, it's important to her.

ELEANOR: You know, there's something I've been meaning to give to you - Brooke? Can you come down for a second?

BROOKE: What's up?

ELEANOR: You have that sketch. Can you bring it to us?

BROOKE: One minute.

ELEANOR: I made it for you, but...Brooke's been learning to draw portraits, and she wanted to use it to practice.

RODERICK: Is that what she does when she's in her room?

ELEANOR: Some of the time, yes.

BROOKE: Okay, I kept it as nice as I could. I can't get the eyes right, or the nose.

ELEANOR: I can help you with that a little later if you want. Could you give us a minute, though?

BROOKE: No prob.

ELEANOR: I bet you're worried that I'm going to say something bad?

RODERICK: You've never said anything bad to me.

ELEANOR: Sweetheart, I know you. You're anxious that I'll say something disapproving and you'll have to make a choice. And you don't like being in that situation. Well, that's not what I'm going to do. Do you remember when I borrowed that picture from you?

RODERICK: That's the sketch?

ELEANOR: Go on, take a look. I wanted to wait until I met her in person to put the finishing touches on it.

RODERICK: It's great, Mom.

ELEANOR: It's yours. You can keep it, or give it to her.

RODERICK: So I take it this means you like her?

ELEANOR: Roderick...you really need to hear a yes, don't you? Yes, Roderick, I do, but it's not because of anything she said last weekend. When you had that panic attack last year...when you were only willing to talk to her, I was concerned. But I think that if she wasn't in your life, things would have been a lot harder for you. It's just been hard for me to acknowledge that.

RODERICK: Mom, it's not like I'm trying to replace you.

ELEANOR: I know that, son.

RODERICK: You were all I had for a long time, and Carlie's parents are awful, and I wanted her to see this part of my life, and I wanted you to see the other part of my life. I don't know, maybe if I did that more, people would understand me a little more.

ELEANOR: I always forget how mature you are.

RODERICK: Only sometimes. I'm gonna go put this away so it doesn't get torn or anything. Thanks.

ELEANOR: No, thank you.