7:25PM

Eric was supposed to be doing work on his laptop computer but in-between

rounds of a Star Wars trivia game he was reading an article on young girls

today versus their mothers generation. A Gap by Donna Pinciotti.

they did in my generation. It really is a disappointment to see them

on college campuses taking off their shirts and mock trend lesbianism

for the heterosexual male video audience instead of being true to

themselves.

He skipped to the credits at the bottom of the website

upstate New York with her husband musician Steven Hyde and their

two teenage daughters.

"Dad…I don't feel good." Said nine year old Jacen Forman

Eric quickly closed all the browser windows and he was winning the trivia

competition.

"What's the matter son?" He felt his head, there was no fever

"I have a tummy ache."

Eric got up and led his son to the sofa.

"Here you lie down and I'll get you some medicine."

Eric realized when he fumbled with the childproof lock on the children's

tablets that he never came to his mother for stuff like this, he came

to him. It's not that Sally was a bad mother. She was a bad wife. Eric

never wanted to mix the two. She was good with Jacen. She

was just the person he settled for because he was terrified of dying alone.

Now he wanted out of his stale marriage but was afraid of losing his son.

"Here you go, Jacen, and drink the orange juice."

"Yuck." He wiped his mouth with his arm

"But it'll make you feel better. And so will a nice bowl of ice cream."

"Daddy wants ice cream too."

"No doubt about it…do you want to watch---?"

Jacen knew what was coming. It was bad enough he was straddled with the

character name, which wouldn't be so bad if Jacen was spelled J-a-s-o-n

the conventional way or the fancy way J-a-y-s-o-n, but all the teachers in

school always had a comment about it. "I never saw Jacen spelled that

way." Except for his science teacher Mr. Cunningham who knew all about

Jacen and Jaina Solo from the Star Wars books. He loved his father very

much but didn't care much about the galaxy that was far, far away.

"No! Not a Star Wars movie!"

"How about Spider-Man? I think that's still in the DVD player."

"Anything but Star Wars."

Eric came in with two bowls of vanilla ice cream as he put Jacen's stretched

out legs across his own.

"Dad,"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for the ice cream."

"You're welcome, son."

NYC

12:30AM

It was twelve thirty in the morning when Jackie was finally able to

throw her shoes against the wall and peel off her shimmery black stockings.

She hated doing musical dinner theatre for a bunch of all-you-can-eat

patrons. Her cell phone was buried in her purse and she decided to forgo

the shower and sit on the hardback wheeled chair in the hotel and turn on the

computer.

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: PING. Eric, I know you are up.

JediEric60: Hi, Jackie. I had to finish a report for work.

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: How's Jacen?

She was the boy's godmother.

JediEric60: He had a little stomach ache tonight, but after taking his

medicine, eating ice-cream, and watching Spider-Man. He felt better. And

after I tucked him into bed, I decided to watch TV before doing my grown

up work. How are you, Jackie?

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: Give Jacen a hug and a kiss from his

Godmother. All right. Sometimes, I wonder why I got into musical

theatre, I had a better time when I was doing modeling. Eric, never mind.

JediEric60: What is it?

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: I was going to stick my nose where it doesn't

belong.

JediEric60: LOL It's never stopped you before.

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: How long—I know you said you are staying in

your loveless marriage for the sake of your son, but how LONG can you

torment yourself like this?

JediEric60: Until he's eighteen. That's only nine more years.

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: You deserve better, Eric, if you are worried

about affording a top lawyer, I WILL---

JediEric60: Jackie, as I told you before, I appreciate it, I really do. But

I cannot be selfish. I have to think of Jacen's best interests. His happiness

matters.

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: But how can he be happy? Kids are smart. He

can tell that your marriage isn't right.

JediEric60: Jackie, I know you mean well, and I love you for it. I have

to print my report and go to bed on the sofa. I have a nine o'clock meeting

tomorrow.

JackieBurkhartIsPretty: :Hugs: Talk to you soon, Eric. :Hugs: