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| Elijah McMurran | John Crowley | Eric McMurran | Julius Larson | Middler Blaydow | Jessica McMurran |
Elijah: Hanging out at John's. Dorky haircut.
J.N.: Nice haircut.
Elijah: Pouts.
J.N.: It'll grow back.
Elijah: Then Aunt Bridget'll cut it again. What about my clothes? Wearing a plain black t-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and his ever present left arm sleeve. Marit says I should wear something cooler, but this is pretty much what you wear and you're cool.
J.N.: Might want to try your own thing. Not everyone can do the "understated" look.
Elijah: Well, then Aunt Bridget said I should war bright colors 'cause of my skin tone or my hair color or something, but I'm in mourning for a year. Eating one of Julius' old Popsicles.
J.N.: That can make a difference.
Elijah: Now Marit's trying to hook me up with girls.
J.N.: I could see how that could be bothersome.
Elijah: You're joking, aren't you? They're all girls I don't like. I mean, they're pretty and all, but… I dunno. They were all drunk and throwing up by the end of the party.
J.N.: I just agreed that I can see why that would be annoying. Unless you prefer to hook up with them?
Elijah: Sighs. Nooo… Looks uncomfortable. I keep having nightmares, too.
J.N.: Of what?
Elijah: Well, in one of them, Middler ate my mom.
J.N.: Cheek twitches. That so?
Elijah: Yeah.
J.N.: Uh, any others?
Elijah: I dunno. I keep having one where everything's dark, like I'm blindfolded or something. Nothing's really happening, but I just have this sense of apprehension and it just gets really suffocating, but I can't wake up, like I'm paralyzed and can't move. After awhile, it goes away and I can wake up.
J.N.: Nods. I can see how that would be frightening.
Elijah: Do you ever have nightmares?
J.N.: A lot?
Elijah: Really? What about?
J.N.: It's dark and there are two Dans and my lung and his lung talk to each other. And my lung is a jerk and his is annoying.
Elijah: …That's weird.
J.N.: Yep.
Elijah: Is that all?
J.N.: There are others, but that one stands out.
Elijah: Have you visited my mom at all?
J.N.: Not yet. Honestly, I think she wants me to make sure you're situated before I go anywhere.
Elijah: I just wanted you to give her something.
J.N.: I can do that.
Elijah : Gives him a package with a card on it that says, "Happy Mother's Day!"
J.N.: Oh yeah, Mother's Day.
Elijah: Smiles. Thanks. Anytime it's good for you, though. I know you probably want to hang out with your mom on Mother's Day.
J.N.: I'll get it to her on time.
Elijah: Smiles. You should make cookies for your mom!
J.N.: Not a good cook. Might be a good idea.
Elijah: I can help you! Your mom seems really nice. How come you don't like TV? Aunt Bridget watches it all the time.
J.N.: Never got used to it as a kid. Nothing but crap is on anyway.
Elijah: It's kinda boring when stuff isn't blowing up. She just watches people kissing and having affairs and cruise ships sinking and stuff.
J.N.: That's lovely.
Elijah: Hey, we can go running together sometime, right?
J.N.: Sure.
Elijah: I probably couldn't keep up with you.
J.N.: I wouldn't be so sure.
Elijah: Your legs are longer than mine. Does Ernest ever run with you?
J.N.: Not really.
Elijah: He's pretty buff, though.
J.N.: He goes to the gym.
Elijah: Cocks his head to the side. Oh, like a training arena?
J.N.: Or he does steroids. All I have is his word on it.
Elijah: What's steroids?
J.N.: Ask your teacher. My guess would be gym, though. He doesn't seem to have aggression problems.
Elijah: Like lifting weights? I don't do that much. You need to have muscle and strength to wield the blade, but it's better to be lithe and agile with a long sword. Ernest would probably do better with a broadsword. That's mostly just swinging and strength, but not a whole lot of skill.
J.N.: Stares. I guess so.
Elijah: What? Stared at. Blinks.
J.N.: I don't think he's ever considered a career as a sword master.
Elijah: Oh, well, no. You cut up meat, though, right? Maybe you'd be good with a broadsword?
J.N.: Maybe a cleaver. Do you have a VCR at Eric's?
Elijah: Brows knit. What's that?
J.N.: Points at the device that is atop his TV.
Elijah: Ohhh. That thing you played the TV show about the secret agent and there weren't any commercials. Marit said you could see them in theaters and we were gonna go sometime, but then he wanted to bring girls along to "make out", so I'm not so excited about it anymore.
J.N.: Hm. Yeah, it's like that. Without the girls trying to suck face.
Elijah: I don't even know how to "make out." But why do you wanna know if I have a VCR?
J.N.: Have some movies you may like to see.
Elijah: Smiles. Cool ones? Like with the secret agent guy?
J.N.: Some of them are.
Elijah: I'd like to see them.
J.N.: You can take my VCR, too.
Elijah: I can't take that. It must be really valuable.
J.N.: Not really. It's outdated.
Elijah: Don't you need it?
J.N.: Not really. I don't watch movies much anymore.
Elijah: How come?
J.N.: Seen them all. They're kinda old.
Elijah: Well, okay. I'll try not to break it or anything. Clumsy.
J.N.: Alright. Goes to his room and gets his big box of tapes. Comes back with it. He can't even fit his lanky arms round it. Here.
Elijah: Picks up a random dusty tape and looks at the cover.
Tape: The Guy with the Secret Kung Fu.
Elijah: Coool.
Other Tape: Zorro.
Elijah: Jumps and drops the tape as his back pocket starts to make noise.
J.N.: Twitches. Picks the tape back up and puts it into the box.
Elijah: S-Sorry! Takes the cell phone out of his pocket. Has a, "what do I do" expression on his face as Eric forgot to tell him how to use it.
J.N.: Open it and press the green button.
Elijah: Opens it. Searches and pushes the green button. Holds it up to his ear carefully. Hello?
Eric: Elijah? Are you still at John's house?
Elijah: Yes Sir.
Eric: Do you need a ride home?
Elijah: Um, I guess so. If it wouldn't trouble you too much.
Eric: Well, you have school tomorrow…
Elijah: I know. I'm sorry, I lost track of time.
Eric: It's alright. I'll be there in a bit. See you soon. Bye.
Elijah: Byeee… Presses the green button again and closes the cell phone. My uncle Eric says he's gonna pick me up soon. Sorry I dropped your tape.
J.N.: That's alright.
Elijah: I… probably shouldn't borrow them. My uncle Eric always says, "Feel free to talk to me about anything!" But, I dunno…
J.N.: What do you mean?
Elijah: He looks too much like my dad and it makes me uncomfortable and kinda… sad.
J.N.: I see… So, feel free to talk to me about stuff then. If it occurs.
Elijah: Smiles at him. I'm really glad you're my friend.
J.N.: …No problem, Elijah.
Elijah: That horrifying look of love and trust and devotion.
Door: Knock upon it.
J.N.: Your ride is here.
Elijah: Oh!
J.N.: Please leave. This is awkward.
Elijah: Bye Mr. John. Thanks for having me. Bows. I'll come over Saturday and help you make cookies. Answers the door. Thanks for coming to get me, Uncle Eric.
J.N.: Bye Elijah.
Eric: Strange look on his face. Nods to John and walks back to the car with Elijah.
Julius: Has only become increasingly unhappier since he left John's.
Middler: Somebody's lonely!
Julius: Sighs. Morose.
Middler: Was gonna visit Julius anyhow and bring the monster bunny, too!
Julius: Doesn't seem to notice as Middler enters.
Middler: Julius? Are you busy?
Julius: Unhappily. Please let me be, Middler…
Middler: …Oh… uh… alright then. Dejected. I'll come by another time… Leaves.
Julius: … Puts his head down on his desk.
Middler: Maybe Jessica wants company!
Jessica: Actually… Exercising? Working off that baby fat!
Middler: Pokes his head past the door. Hello Jessica! Exuberantly.
Jessica: After she finishes gulping water. H-Hello Middler.
Middler: How are you?
Jessica: Beat… You?
Middler: I'm alright. Worried about Julius, though.
Jessica: Blinks. I haven't seen much of him, come to think of it or else he's been talking less than usual.
Middler: Just curious, but why are you beat?
Jessica: Sighs. Exercising… I'm getting fat.
Middler: Oh, no you weren't. But it's good to exercise anyway.
Jessica: Half-smile at Middler since she knows he wouldn't say anything bad about her, even if she was as big as a whale.
Middler: I didn't mean to interrupt you if you were still working out!
Jessica: Nah, I'm done for today. I hate exercising. Tell me why you're worried about Julius.
Middler: He just seems… sad. I tried to visit him just a bit ago and he was slouched over his desk and asked to be left alone.
Jessica: Well… I guess he feels a bit sense of loss… about Daniel. They were best friends… and he also wants another child. I think he might have somehow… entwined the two in his mind? Like he won't feel relieved of the loss unless he has another child? Shrugs.
Middler: I take it Gwen doesn't want a child?
Jessica: Apparently not… and I don't think Julius should force her to have one if she doesn't want one. It's her body.
Middler: Nods. I agree. It's a shame that they can't agree, though.
Jessica: Mm, well… Sighs. I don't know what to say about Julius… or how to make him feel better, really. He has loving friends and family, but he just seems to ignore it all.
Middler: All we can do is be here for him.
Jessica: But he doesn't act like we are. Like the world's turned against him or something.
Middler: It may feel that way for him. I don't know.
Jessica: He needs to go with Gwen and Demi and go visit his parents or something.
Middler: That's a good idea!
Jessica: Blinks. Really?
Middler: Seems like the best people who could help is family.
Jessica: Smiles. That's right! But… who should tell him to go?
Middler: We could.
Jessica: Nods. Let's!
Middler: Sets Natey on the ground. Stay here for a second, Natey.
Jessica: Goes with him to Julius' room.
Julius: Face down on the desk still. Trying very hard not to go to sleep.
Middler: Knock, knock, knockin' on Jule's door.
Julius: Looks up. Come in…
Middler: Opens the door so Jessica may enter first.
Jessica: Walks in. Hello Julius.
Julius: Frowns. Hello… It's late and I should be going to bed. Stands.
Middler: Have you thought about your mother recently?
Julius: Stares since he hadn't seen Middler. Um, what?
Middler: Peeks his head over Jessica's shoulder. Maybe you would feel better if you were with family?
Julius: My mother's just going to brow beat me about being in the mafia and Daniel dying because of it.
Middler: …She's going to hit you?
Julius: She's going to tell me off. Yell at me.
Middler: We're just concerned…
Julius: Keep your pity to yourself.
Middler: Julius, you know I don't pity you…
Jessica: You don't deserve his pity. You're acting like a spoiled child.
Julius: Sighs and says nothing.
Jessica: Realizes she probably wasn't supposed to snap at him. Well, you're focusing on things you don't have when you don't see that you have friends like Middler and me and… a… loving… wife and son and parents that probably miss you and your mother only does that because she's worried about you.
Middler: Nods in agreement with her words.
Julius: Frowns and says nothing.
Jessica: So go visit them!
Julius: I have work to do.
Middler: But you just visited John's when you had work to do! It couldn't hurt anyone.
Jessica: It's not like you're getting much work done being mopey anyway.
Julius: Frowns. I guess… If it'll get you out of my hair. If you'll excuse me now.
Middler: You're excused!
Julius: Walks away to bed.
Jessica: Sighs. I wish I was as calm as you, Middler.