The Jigsaw Jungle
Page 14
PHONE TRANSCRIPT
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 3:15 p.m.
Luis: Hey.
Claudia: Hi.
Luis: Just checking on you. You doing okay?
Claudia: I guess. [PAUSE] Can I ask you a personal question?
Luis: Shoot.
Claudia: Do you like girls? I mean, like girls. I know we’re not even thirteen yet, but . . .
Luis: I like girls.
Claudia: You sure?
Luis: Yeah.
Claudia: And you read the letter. Would you ever write to a boy like—
Luis: No!
Claudia: Oh.
Luis: Would you write to a girl that way?
Claudia: I don’t think I would. I mean, Kate’s my best friend and we’re super close, but . . . no. [PAUSE] Do you think my dad is gay?
Luis: So what if he is? Even in the little town where my dad and I live, there’s a girl in my class with two dads.
Claudia: Was she adopted?
Luis: I think.
Claudia: So that’s all she’s ever known.
Luis: And there’s a boy a grade below me. Both his moms always come to all his basketball games. One of his moms was married before. To a man. I guess I never really thought about his dad before. Or what happened to him. But my point is, no one really cares anymore!
Claudia: I care! And I bet my mom will too.
Luis: Why do you care?
Claudia: Because . . . because my dad is someone different from who I thought he was. I mean, he’s the same, but he’s different too . . . and it’s just so confusing!
Luis: I’m so sorry, Claudia. I wish there was something I could do.
Claudia: Do you think my parents are going to get divorced?
Luis: I don’t know. But honestly, things have been better for me since my parents split up. They finally stopped arguing!
Claudia: But my parents didn’t argue. Even when Dad disappeared, I thought he’d come home and they’d work out their issues. I thought everything was okay. When everything seems one way—and then suddenly it all changes—what do you do?
[LONG PAUSE]
Luis: I think you just have to trust that you can handle it.
Claudia: But what if I can’t?
Luis: I’m not saying it isn’t hard. And I’m not saying I know what you should do. But . . . it’s like all those puzzles.
Claudia: What do you mean?
Luis: Look at how many times you thought you had come to a dead end. And you figured it out! Every time. You never gave up.
Claudia: Oh. You’re right.
Luis: ’Course I am. I’m always right.
Claudia: [GIGGLES]
[NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND]
Claudia: Papa’s calling. I gotta go. It’s time to pick up my mom.
Luis: Good luck.
Claudia: Thanks, Luis.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
INT. RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT—DAY
Papa is filming on his phone. The arrival screen flickers: American 2119, Boston, 5:32 PM, on time.
The camera tilts down to reveal Claudia, standing as close as she can to the rope that marks the end of the secure zone. She’s showered since the digging, and is now wearing a sundress and sandals. Her hair is down, not in its usual ponytail, and she keeps twisting a lock of it around her index finger. She stares at the people exiting security, scanning the crowd for a familiar face.
All at once, her mouth opens a little and she bounces on her toes. Then she waves like crazy!
Papa turns the camera to see Mom walking toward them. She’s wearing a suit with old white tennis shoes. She has a computer bag in one hand and a big purse with heels sticking out the top in the other. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and she looks tired—until she sees her daughter, and then all the fatigue drains away and she smiles.
Mom drops her bags and runs toward Claudia. They hug each other like a three-year-old and her mother after the first day of preschool.
When they pull apart, Claudia takes a deep breath. She says something, but the phone doesn’t catch her words. Claudia hands her mother the envelope.
The screen goes black.
NOTE TO READER
I’D LIKE TO tell you how I felt as I waited for my mother to get off her plane, I really would, but I can’t seem to figure out how to squish all those feelings into words I could type onto this page.
I remember I felt cold, and there was a little rock in my right sandal. I’d put the letter back in its envelope and rubbed my finger back and forth over the open flap until I gave myself a paper cut.
I don’t remember what words I used when I handed it to her. I do remember sitting in baggage claim, watching the suitcases and backpacks, strollers and duffel bags go around and around on the luggage carousel as she read it.
We stopped at a diner for burgers on the way home. It was very quiet. We passed the letter back and forth until there was ketchup and mustard and grease smudged along its edges.
Then my phone dinged. Guess who it was . . .
TEXT MESSAGE
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 6:45 p.m.
DAD
Did you find the letter?
Yes
We have a lot to talk about
Yeah
Where are you?
Staying with an old friend, Amanda
In Reading, PA
I’ll be home next week
We can talk then
OK
Did Mom get back?
Yes
Love to you both
NOTE TO READER
IN CASE YOU’RE wondering, it was actually Mom typing those responses to Dad. She, Papa, and I were gathered around the little screen of my phone like it was the Super Bowl halftime show and the electricity had just gone out.
I think it was the “Love to you both” comment that made Mom the angriest.
In any case, after that, Mom threw down the phone and was like, “Oh, no! Enough of this being patient. Enough of his games. It’s my timeline now. I’m not waiting until next week to see if he happens to follow through on his promise to come home.
“We’re going to drive up there and find him. Have a conversation. In person! Not via text. Not on the phone. After fifteen years of marriage, he owes me that!”
Papa and I just stared at her for a minute. Dad wasn’t the only one who had changed. It had only been two weeks, but Mom seemed tougher. Stronger. I felt like I suddenly didn’t know her either.
I thought about what Luis had said about trusting that you could handle change. It seemed like this new Mom could. And I was a little bit afraid and a little bit impressed.
Papa muttered something about not having the address, but Mom dismissed his concerns with a wave. “We have a name, a city, and Google. It’s like he wants us to find him! Think you can handle it, Claudia?”
I nodded. It seemed Mom trusted me too. And I wasn’t going to let her down.
TIME CAPSULE
GEORGE WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Dear Parents of 7th Grade Students at George Washington Junior High:
All 7th grade science classes will be taking a field trip to the Air and Space Museum on Friday, September 26, 1986. Buses will leave the school promptly at 9:00 a.m. and return by 1:30 p.m.
The groups for Mrs. Johnson’s class are as follows:
Group 1
Latonya Gayles, Carla Gray, Amanda Vanderweele, Tracey Harper
Group 2
Paul Craven, Tony Palmer, Sean McQueen, James Fitch
Group 3
Jeff Dalton, Brian Tuckerman, Dwight Griffin, Jason Lewis
Group 4
; Steve Dunlow, Keith Poretz, Jerome McDonald, Thomas Sharpe
Group 5
Karen Rivers, Suzanne Evans, Elizabeth Ferguson, Anne White
Group 6
Sara Wyatt, Brandon Cooper, Darrell Carter, Crystal Holmes
NOTE TO READER
AS LUCK WOULD have it, Amanda had an unusual last name. So with her city, it only took me a minute to find her. She even had her own website!
HOME ABOUT CONTACT
Amanda Vanderweele-Blume
Mom Blogger Extraordinaire
Loving Mom to Five Beautiful Children, Amber, 10, Sage, 8, Ash, 5, Ginger, 3, and the baby, Rose, who is almost one. My husband’s a long-haul trucker and we live on a horse farm in rural Pennsylvania where I am an active part of the homeschooling community.
I’m a proud member of the Women Empowerment Website Ring. Let’s speak up and speak out about the things that are important to us!!
If you have something to say, send me a message online. I’d love to chat.
NOTE TO READER
I CAN’T REMEMBER THE last time Mom and I had worked on a project together. Maybe it was when I was in the fourth grade and I had to do a poster for science and I started crying because the bar graphs weren’t even. Mom got a level and a ruler from the garage and stayed up half the night with me until everything was perfect.
The night we read Dad’s letter, we sat huddled together in our pajamas on the bed in Papa’s guest room, the papers from the time capsule spread around us. Mom had a cup of coffee, determined, despite her jet lag, not to fall asleep until we had a plan.
ONLINE CHAT TRANSCRIPT
Message to Amanda Vanderweele | Friday, July 17, 2015, 9:00 p.m.
9:01 PM
Anonymous (Claudia): Hi, this is Steve Dunlow, maybe you remember me from school? Anyway, I’m organizing our reunion and am trying to find an Amanda Vanderweele who went to George Washington Junior High. Any chance you’re her?
9:08 PM
Amanda: Steve?! Of course I remember you!!!
Amanda: You were on the football team
Amanda: Remember the drive in?!
“Ewww, they made out!” I say.
“Give me the computer,” Mom says.
9:09 PM
Anonymous (Mom): I sure do
Anonymous (Mom): How could I forget that?!
9:10 PM
Amanda: Giggle giggle
Amanda: It’s great to hear from you
Anonymous (Mom): It’s great to hear from you too!
Mom hands the computer back to me. “Just say what we planned, Claudia.”
I start typing.
9:11 PM
Anonymous (Claudia): So listen. I’m trying to check all the addresses I have on file to make sure nobody misses an invite.
Amanda: You’re sending paper?
Anonymous (Claudia): Yeah
Amanda: Very classy.
Anonymous (Claudia): Thanks. Anyway, I have you down as being in Reading, PA, but I can’t read the street address.
Amanda: Oh, Crystal Holmes organized the reunion last time. And she always had the worst handwriting!
Anonymous (Claudia): So you live on . . . is it King Street?
Amanda: Ha! Not even close.
Amanda: It’s 6784 Red Riding Court, Reading, PA. Zip is 19603
“And just like that, she gives a total stranger her address.” I shake my head.
Mom smiles. “And I thought I needed to warn you about Internet safety.”
9:13 PM
Anonymous (Claudia): Thanks! I’ll make sure I put a “save-the-date” card in the mail tomorrow.
Amanda: Super. OMG, I’m so excited!
Amanda: It’s so ironic, because I was actually just thinking about junior high! Do you remember Jeff Dalton?
I put the computer down. “She mentioned Dad!” I look at Mom. “What do we do?”
“Give it to me.”
9:14 PM
Anonymous (Mom): Not really
Amanda: Sure you do! Jeff. He broke his wrist at Jason’s party in 7th grade
Anonymous (Mom): Oh yeah.
Amanda: Anyway, we’ve stayed in touch over the years, mainly just Christmas and birthdays. But he’s been visiting me for the past couple of weeks. He’s a teacher and doesn’t work in the summer. My husband travels a lot and sometimes I get kinda lonely. It’s been great to see him again.
Anonymous (Mom): Nice
Amanda: Do you need to confirm his address too? Cause I can go get him.
Anonymous (Mom): Oh no, his address is nice and clear.
Amanda: Cool. Well, I’ll look forward to hearing from you again soon!
Anonymous (Mom): Bye!
Mom puts down the computer.
“We did it!” I say.
She nods.
“You’re sneaky!”
Mom grins, but she’s shaking like she was caught in a snowstorm and can’t get warm.
“I can’t believe it,” she says. “We found your father.”
PHONE TRANSCRIPT
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 9:40 p.m.
Kate: What?! You found him?
Claudia: Yeah. Mom, Papa, and I are going to drive up and talk to him in the morning.
Kate: Does he know you’re coming?
Claudia: No. Mom thought it would be better as a surprise. I think she’s afraid he might try to run again.
Kate: Wow! Hope it goes well.
Claudia: Me too! How are you? Did your mom have the baby yet?
Kate: No.
Claudia: It’s been like eight hours! How long does it take?!
Kate: We’re still at the hospital. Her blood pressure is really high. She might need a C-section.
Claudia: Oh. Is she okay?
Kate: Yeah.
Claudia: Are you okay?
Kate: I think so. I’m just . . . a little worried. Women die during labor sometimes.
Claudia: Not often. Not if they’re in the hospital.
Kate: I know, I know. It’s just . . . I hate being here alone.
Claudia: You’re not alone. Isn’t your dad there?
Kate: Yeah, but I can’t talk to him.
Claudia: Yes, you can.
Kate: Nah.
Claudia: I’m going to talk to mine.
Kate: Well, yours is a lot easier to talk to.
Claudia: Kate, he’s two states away!
Kate: He cares about you. He spends time with you.
Claudia: Cares about me?! He ran away! Your dad is still there!
Kate: Claudia!
Claudia: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t yell. I’m just worried too.
Kate: Of course you are. [SIGHS] Mom’s sleeping now. They just gave her an epidural. Said it will still be a while. I guess I could ask my dad to get a snack in the cafeteria.
Claudia: Yes!
Kate: I don’t know what to say to him.
Claudia: Me either. Guess we’ll just have to hope we figure it out.
Kate: You were right about one thing.
Claudia: What’s that?
Kate: I’m glad I’m here. Instead of sitting at home alone.
Claudia: That was all Luis, not me.
Kate: Hmm. This Luis. He’s a smart guy?
Claudia: Yes, he is.
Kate: Well, I hope to meet him someday. He sounds like he’s become a good friend.
Claudia: He has. Not better than you, but . . .
Kate: “There’s enough love to go around.” That’s what my mom keeps saying.
Claudia: [LAUGHING] Maybe it’s true.
Kate: We’ll see.
Claudia: I better go. Good luck!
Kate: You too.
EMAIL
From: Holiday Inn
Date: Friday, July 17, 2015 9:43 PM EST
To: Jennifer Dalton
Subject: Holiday Inn Reservation, Reading, PA
Online Reservation:
Guest Name: Jennifer Dalton
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 1
Room(s) Booked: 1
Room Type: Two Queen Beds, NONSM, Breakfast included
Check in: 3:00 PM 7/18/15
Check out: 12:00 NOON 7/19/15
We look forward to your visit!
EMAIL
From: Jenny Dalton
Date: Friday, July 17, 2015 9:55 PM EST
To: Julie Beckett
Subject: Clear my schedule
Hi Julie,
Please clear my schedule for next week. I’m not going to be returning to the office on Monday as planned. I’m taking a few days off to deal with a personal matter.
Please send any urgent concerns to this email. Thanks.
Jenny
PHONE TRANSCRIPT
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 10:07 p.m.
Luis: When do you leave?
Claudia: In the morning.
Luis: Wish I could come.
Claudia: Me too.
Luis: Take my camera.
Claudia: What?
Luis: You might want to record something.
Claudia: No, it’s okay. If I want, I can just tape stuff on my phone.
Luis: Let’s be honest, Claudia, the audio quality on your phone is horrible.
Claudia: Yeah, it is.
Luis: So you should take my camera.
Claudia: But . . .
Luis: I’ll bring it back over now. With a few blank memory cards. And the tripod too. You know how to use it.
Claudia: But it’s your most favorite possession!