It's Monday morning, Bruce packs up the kids lunch in their food flask while Layla and Nora eat breakfast. Eva rushes downstairs already dressed for work,her fashion designer hand bag resting on her shoulders, She grabs her car keys from the counter and prepares to head off.
EVA: Take care my darlings,mummy loves you!
"Bye mom" the girls both reply
BRUCE: (Rushes over to Eva and leans closer to whisper) Hey it's your turn to drop the kids off at school today
EVA: ugh..next time wash up before leaning so close to someone would you?
BRUCE: Wel I'm sorry for that, I was too busy making breakfast and preparing the kids for school
EVA: And I'M too busy providing for this family
BRUCE: (sighs) Eva, you're neglecting your children
EVA: How dare you ..(she scowled)
Eva pauses seeing her daughter's staring at her from the dining room
EVA: I'm late for a very important meeting right now,so stop spilling nonsense(she said lowering her tone)Take the girls to school and be sure I'll give a well deserved reply to that absurd comment you made later (she leaves slamming the door)
Bruce is distressed but still manages to turn around and smile
BRUCE: Alright girls,hurry up now,or we're gonna be late for school
LAYLA: You're taking us again?
BRUCE: Yup
NORA: Yayy!
BRUCE: (chuckles) let me just go wash up real quick okay?
NORA: Okay!
'Bruce hurries to the bathroom to brush his teeth before Layla came to him with a worried look on her face
LAYLA: Dad, did you and mom fight again?
BRUCE: heh, It's a bit too early to start fighting don't you think?
LAYLA: But I heard her yell
BRUCE: no no, She was just in a hurry for an important meeting, everything's fine, don't worry okay?
LAYLA: mm okay.
BRUCE: good,Now if you'll excuse me, daddy wants to brush his teeth
LAYLA: oh,but let me do it for you!
BRUCE:.oh so you think you can wash up for me better than I can?
LAYLA: Uh yeah, I watch 'Perfect Hygiene' shows more than anyone in this house (She said with a proud smirk)
BRUCE: Oh but how could I forget?, Take the wheel my little expert
Layla helps her father have a fun time cleaning up , The kids finish up their breakfast and Bruce takes them to school. After dropping them off he goes back home to take a shower,has breakfast and leaves for work as well.
Bruce walks into his mechanic shop, the cracks on the walls and peeled off paimt is evidence that the place is old...Two workers are at the shop.
'Brett, a 25yr old guy, the son of Mr Connor who was close friends with Bruce's father,Mr Conner is 72yrs old. Brett sits by the corner fiddling with some screws while Mr Connor lays down staring at the ceiling completely lost in thought.
BRUCE: Good morning
BRETT: Morning Mr Lane
MR CONNOR: Oh Bruce, Morning.
BRUCE: I thought you guys would be working on the client's car today
MR CONNER: (sighs)
BRUCE: Well we thought so too, but he's a no show
BRUCE: Orr maybe he's just a little late to being his car in
BRETT: Orr Maybe he'd rather go fix it up at Dave's repair shop downtown
BRUCE: mmm,Well I guess I'll go call up some contacts in the customer book,and then maybe we could
MR CONNER: Bruce...
BRUCE: Yeah?
MR CONNOR: May I speak with you outside please (He asked gesturing towards the door,Bruce agrees and they go outside to talk)
MR CONNOR: Listen Bruce, you know I was very close to your father,We both contributed a whole lot to build this shop
BRUCE: Yes I know, and he loved it so much
MR CONNOR: Yes he did, Your father was an amazing person and very popular, that's why he had so many customers....but his passing took a toll on everyone.
BRUCE: (sighs)
MR CONNOR: It's been 12yrs now, and business is not doing well,the years are passing by and our situation seems to be getting somewhat worse
BRUCE: I know,I know but, I can't just give up
MR CONNOR: I didn't ask you to give up but, you could make this place into something else, a fresh start!
BRUCE: No,I can't just tear this place down,This is my father's legacy
MR CONNER: Bruce...Im 72yrs old, I'm not getting any younger, and my son?..Brett is just 25, he's still very young, he's supposed to be out there,exploring and building his future, But we chose to stay here because you're just like family to us,and we believed that together we could be able to bring this place back up to it's feet,but nothing's working!, and sometimes....you just gotta know when to call in quits.
BRUCE: ....Mr Conner,I am eternally grateful for every bit of support you and Brett has given me during the years and you both are free to go and...live your lives, but... I'm sorry,I can't quit on this shop,neither will I rennovate it into something else,I can and I WILL uphold my father's legacy
MR CONNER: Well then, I wish you best of luck, feel free to call in if you ever need anything.
BRUCE: Thank you so much for everything Mr Connor,I mean it.
MR CONNER: It was my Absolute pleasure.
Mr Connor signals Brett and he comes over to say his goodbye,before they both left, With a somber expression on his face,Bruce heads inside his workshop,after a couple gloomy minutes Bruce purposefully walks over to his desk,opens the drawer and brings out the 'Customer Book' (which defines itself).
He goes through the list for over two hours (taking breaks in-between) before he finally stumbled on 'Mr Jones' number.
Mr Jones is the father of Peter Jones, commonly known as P.J. who attended the same highschool with Bruce, but after Peter went off to college overseas,they haven't seen each other ever since. Bruce reluctantly dials the number and spoke to Mr Jones who was able to give him P. J.'s number.
Bruce wastes no time in calling him and after exchanging pleasantries,they both decide to meet up after P.J informed Bruce he was in town.
Several hours passed and Bruce has just a single customer who wanted to change his tire, then by 2pm Bruce rushes off to the outskirts of D.C. to meet his long time Friend.
Meanwhile at 'Dellwood Elementary'
It's snacks time and Layla munches in her snacks with her friends in the hallways when they noticed a boy getting picked up by his big teen brother.
TEEN: Crying in school again, Jacob, really? (The boy said in an attempt to whisper)
JACOB: I thought I was alone,I didn't know someone saw me (The little boy replied sadly with watery eyes
TEEN: I've told you you're a man, Men don't cry remember? (He said as he stopped to wipe off his little brother's tears)
JACOB: But I really miss mom (he whimpers)
TEEN: I miss her too but you don't see me embarrassing myself, really Jacob,Quit it!,or people are gonna start laughing at you,Is that what you want? (he warned)
"Layla please don't get involved" Layla's friend pleaded,but half way through her sentence, Layla had already began stomping towards the two brothers
"(Sighs) How am I even friends with this girl" she Wondered to herself as Layla walked up to both boys furiously
LAYLA: Why are you shaming him for Crying!?, that's not right! (she yelled)
TEEN: huh,what are you talking about?
LAYLA: Jacob it's alright to cry,I cry sometimes too
TEEN: Yeah but you're a girl, don't compare yourself to him, he's a boy
LAYLA: Exactly, he's a BOY!,Not an android, crying is normal!, we all have feelings after all (Layla protested drawing a Teacher's attention)
TEEN: Wh..where did you even come from?,Jacob, is this your girlfriend or something?
JACOB: I think she's from the fifth grade (he guessed
TEACHER: (walks over) What's going on here?
TEEN: Sir this girl just walked over out of nowhere and started ranting!, giving a speech about freedom to cry or something
The Teacher immediately understood the situation and settled the matter,and both brothers leave peacefully
TEACHER: Now Back to class Layla,Snacks time is over
LAYLA: Yes Mr Howard.
Layla replied as she humbly obeyed, going back to class with her friend, as she leaves, Mr Howard watches her in wonder
"Poor girl,she probably sees her father now everytime she sees a male cry" ,A Janitor stopped to say as she passed by
MR HOWARD: What do you mean?
JANITOR: You saying you don't know what goes on in the Lanes home?
MR HOWARD: (Shrugs) Those are just rumors
JANITOR: More like facts!, I've seen it myself
MR HOWARD: Well what she's doing now is just causing trouble
JANITOR: What she's doing is fighting for a cause,And I say,Ride on!,her father is getting emotionally abused on a daily basis.
MR HOWARD:So what?, she's fighting for her father?(laughs)
JANITOR: Not just her father, (Chuckles) You laugh now but it's not gonna be so funny when it's your turn. My brother went through the same thing and he's 6 feet under now
MR HOWARD: Oh my God,are you being serious
JANITOR: Do I look like I'm making a joke?,Abuse can hit anyone, it's definitely not picky,Just ask Mr Oscar, he's been on that boat heh.
MR HOWARD: what!, The headmaster?,Was he also abused by his wife?
JANITOR: I'm gonna leave before they say I talk too much (she said as she strolled away leaving the Teacher befuddled )
MR HOWARD: I don't even know why I bother (he muttered to himself as he walked back to his class).
Next: Episode 2 ~The Reunion