Log: Shay and Jeremiah Abrams
Who: Shay and her Dad
When: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Where: AWM grounds
What: Father - daughter talk.
Shay smiled up at her Dad as he draped his suit jacket over her shoulders. They’d just left Mass and were walking aimlessly around campus. Artie had gone to meet Rachel’s dads and it was the first time that Shay and her dad had time, just the two of them, since he’d arrived. “Thanks.” Shay said, pulling the jacket as best she could onto her shoulders. It was colder than Shay had anticipated. She thought her dress was cute but it wasn’t the warmest thing she owned. “What did you think of the service?”
“Very different from what we’re used to at home,” he remarked, though it was not the first time that Jeremiah Abrams had been to Catholic mass. “Could use better music too,” he grinned, “but I think the teachings are solid. Not the same as what we believe, but solid and worthwhile. The priest’s sermon was very interesting.”
“It is. A lot of things are different here. Then again some are just the same.” Shay pulled at the lapels of her dad’s jacket so that it was wrapped a bit more around her. Even though she’d grown it still swallowed her, just like his old seminary t-shirts that she used to wear to bed when she was younger. “I’ve had a few conversations with Father Daniel before. He’s nice when he’s not trying too hard.”
“Most clergy are,” Jeremiah rumbled, amused. His daughter was growing up so much right before his eyes. Hadn’t she just turned 13 last week? “I’m involved in an interfaith ministry group in the city. It’s a really great project linking not just Christian groups, but Jews, Hindu, Buddhists, all sorts of religions. He seems very young though.”
“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t now what he’s talking about, Daddy.” They were headed towards the parking lot behind the library and Shay thought they were going back to her dorm. But, instead of continuing her father turned left and headed up towards the path toward the administration building. Shay took a few quick steps to move back to Jeremiah’s side and then asked, “Where are we going?”
“Just walking,” he replied calmly, enjoying the cool fall weather. It was cooler than Georgia, “I wanted some time with my little girl,” Jeremiah explained, “You’re growing up so fast. Artie has a girlfriend....any boys you have your eye on?” he asked.
Shay rolled her eyes, exaggerated enough that he would know she was joking. It felt like she heard the from her father a lot. She was growing up too fast but he also wanted her to be an adult and have responsibilities. It was an interesting bridge she seemed to be crossing. She just wasn’t sure what was supposed to be on the other side. “No. I... have other things to focus on.”
It was hard raising a child, wanting them to grow up and at the same time wanting them to stay little forever. “Such as?” he prompted.
“You know,” Shay shrugged, “school and the Roses and sports and stuff.” She didn’t know if her dad was expecting a certain answer from her. It worried her a little that he might be and she hadn’t supplied the right one.
“Shay...” Jeremiah took a seat on a bench off the path and gestured for her to sit too, “I’ve known you your entire life. And you get this look on your face when you are trying to hide something...but you can tell me anything, you know that, right? I won’t love you any less.” She had the same look now that she had when she was three and had coloured on the walls.
No, I can’t. Shay thought to herself as she sat down next to him. She smoothed her dress and then crossed her legs as she considered her reply. She shrugged, “Do you think Artie is adjusting? I think he is but there are things he doesn’t tell me, of course.” It would be easy to convince her dad that was what was troubling her.
“He’s a growing boy, of course he doesn’t tell you everything,” Jeremiah replied, teasing slightly. He was glad they got along so well though. He had never expected a child like Artie, but he loved him. He loved all his children. “He’s doing well, Shay,” he assured her, “Really. I had some serious doubts about him coming here for many reasons, but he’s doing well in his classes, he’s a Thorne, which you know is no easy feat, he has a girlfriend, friends...I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s really coming into his own. You don’t need to worry about Artie.”
It was funny to hear her dad talk about Artie with such confidence. It seemed like every time he was around his son he acted as if he didn’t believe any of the things he’d just said. Shay hoped that in their time together they’d been able to talk and he’d been able to explain himself to Artie. “I’ll try. It’s hard, he’s my little brother.”
“You’re a good sister,” on that he never had to worry. Shay had always been a great sister to Artie, from the moment they had told her that she was getting another brother who was older than James and had been hurt in an accident. Shay had been six at the time, but she had loved Artie before she had even seen him, “And I don’t think we’ll ever stop worrying about him, but...it’s hard, you know? Seeing your kids grow up. Both of you are becoming such amazing people.”
“Stop it, Daddy.” Shay said looking down at her hands as she blushed at his words. “How is James? He doesn’t usually say much when I catch him on the phone.”
“Busy with football and loving not having to share the bathroom,” Jeremiah grinned at that. He loved Artie, but he could relate a lot more to his younger son. “He misses you though. He gets bored and lonely without you guys.”
Shay laughed, shaking her head. “Well then tell him not to sound like I’m bothering him when I try to talk to him.” She leaned into her dad, he easily supported her frame and barely moved as she rested her head against his arm. “I miss you guys too.” She did miss her family, despite their disagreements and anything else she loved her family.
“And yet you want to go to Europe for school,” he replied quietly. He wasn’t sure he liked his daughter being so far away from him, “It wasn’t easy seeing you off to boarding school and now you want to go to Europe? You can’t study your art stuff here? That would be more practical.”
“I mean I could.” Shay said sitting up since their discussion had become serious. She ignored how he casually referred to her future plans as ‘art stuff’. She didn’t think it would be the same if she’d plan to study medicine. “Of course I could. But, it would be cheaper in Europe. Well, of course getting me there would be more expensive but the actual tuition wouldn’t cost as much. I’m considering schools in state, it would be ridiculous of me not to, but I just,” she shrugged, “it’s kind of... really what I want.”
That the tuition would be less was appealing, “And the cost of living, Shay? Because once you go over there, you won’t be able to come home like you do now,” now she came home four times a year. “And we won’t be able to come visit as often either.”
“We could skype a lot, all the time.” Shay said after a moment. “I’ve saved some from work and maybe...maybe I’ll get two jobs this summer and I can find one now while I’m at school.” Shay bit her bottom lip, her dad had made a valid point. “Maybe... we can talk about it when I come home for winter break?”
“I’m not saying no, Shay,” Jeremiah answered, “I want you to follow your dreams and be happy. I’m just also trying to juggle the logistics of everything else too. Artie will be in college two years after you and James a year after him,” theoretically, all three of his children would be in college at the same time, “But if we can make it work, then you can do it.”
“If I can get in.” Shay said with a shrug. Sometimes it was easier to convince herself out of things than getting her hopes up and then they didn’t pan out. “I get it. It’s fair.”
Life wasn’t fair, but he was not about to tell Shay that. She knew. “You can get in, I know you, Shay. You’re smart, determined and very talented....and pretty. Why aren’t the boys all lusting after you?” he teased, grateful actually, that she wasn’t dating anyone. He did not trust teenage boys.
“Daddy,” Shay laughed, shaking her head. “You keep mentioning boys. Why do you have them on the mind.”
“Because you’re 16, Shay,” he laughed, but didn’t like her insinuation, even jokingly, “You should have them on your mind.”
Shay’s smiled faltered and she tried not to look away. She felt like that would be like an admittance of guilt. “I-I do. Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I? I just think other things... are, you know, more important right now.”
“Well...as important as those other things are...Boys are important too,” Jeremiah was glad that Shay didn’t seem to be interested in them really, but he knew his wife wanted to know what was going on with her lack of boyfriends. “Don’t focus all on school and your future and forget to have fun now...but not too much fun.”
“Right, yeah.” Shay said nodding. “I’ll... do that.”
“Everything all right?” he asked, catching the slight hesitancy in her voice. “You can tell me anything, Shay. Maybe I can help?”
Shay laughed looking away for a moment. “Unless you can find the boy you want me to be with I think I’m going to have to figure this one out on my own.”
When: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Where: AWM grounds
What: Father - daughter talk.
Shay smiled up at her Dad as he draped his suit jacket over her shoulders. They’d just left Mass and were walking aimlessly around campus. Artie had gone to meet Rachel’s dads and it was the first time that Shay and her dad had time, just the two of them, since he’d arrived. “Thanks.” Shay said, pulling the jacket as best she could onto her shoulders. It was colder than Shay had anticipated. She thought her dress was cute but it wasn’t the warmest thing she owned. “What did you think of the service?”
“Very different from what we’re used to at home,” he remarked, though it was not the first time that Jeremiah Abrams had been to Catholic mass. “Could use better music too,” he grinned, “but I think the teachings are solid. Not the same as what we believe, but solid and worthwhile. The priest’s sermon was very interesting.”
“It is. A lot of things are different here. Then again some are just the same.” Shay pulled at the lapels of her dad’s jacket so that it was wrapped a bit more around her. Even though she’d grown it still swallowed her, just like his old seminary t-shirts that she used to wear to bed when she was younger. “I’ve had a few conversations with Father Daniel before. He’s nice when he’s not trying too hard.”
“Most clergy are,” Jeremiah rumbled, amused. His daughter was growing up so much right before his eyes. Hadn’t she just turned 13 last week? “I’m involved in an interfaith ministry group in the city. It’s a really great project linking not just Christian groups, but Jews, Hindu, Buddhists, all sorts of religions. He seems very young though.”
“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t now what he’s talking about, Daddy.” They were headed towards the parking lot behind the library and Shay thought they were going back to her dorm. But, instead of continuing her father turned left and headed up towards the path toward the administration building. Shay took a few quick steps to move back to Jeremiah’s side and then asked, “Where are we going?”
“Just walking,” he replied calmly, enjoying the cool fall weather. It was cooler than Georgia, “I wanted some time with my little girl,” Jeremiah explained, “You’re growing up so fast. Artie has a girlfriend....any boys you have your eye on?” he asked.
Shay rolled her eyes, exaggerated enough that he would know she was joking. It felt like she heard the from her father a lot. She was growing up too fast but he also wanted her to be an adult and have responsibilities. It was an interesting bridge she seemed to be crossing. She just wasn’t sure what was supposed to be on the other side. “No. I... have other things to focus on.”
It was hard raising a child, wanting them to grow up and at the same time wanting them to stay little forever. “Such as?” he prompted.
“You know,” Shay shrugged, “school and the Roses and sports and stuff.” She didn’t know if her dad was expecting a certain answer from her. It worried her a little that he might be and she hadn’t supplied the right one.
“Shay...” Jeremiah took a seat on a bench off the path and gestured for her to sit too, “I’ve known you your entire life. And you get this look on your face when you are trying to hide something...but you can tell me anything, you know that, right? I won’t love you any less.” She had the same look now that she had when she was three and had coloured on the walls.
No, I can’t. Shay thought to herself as she sat down next to him. She smoothed her dress and then crossed her legs as she considered her reply. She shrugged, “Do you think Artie is adjusting? I think he is but there are things he doesn’t tell me, of course.” It would be easy to convince her dad that was what was troubling her.
“He’s a growing boy, of course he doesn’t tell you everything,” Jeremiah replied, teasing slightly. He was glad they got along so well though. He had never expected a child like Artie, but he loved him. He loved all his children. “He’s doing well, Shay,” he assured her, “Really. I had some serious doubts about him coming here for many reasons, but he’s doing well in his classes, he’s a Thorne, which you know is no easy feat, he has a girlfriend, friends...I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s really coming into his own. You don’t need to worry about Artie.”
It was funny to hear her dad talk about Artie with such confidence. It seemed like every time he was around his son he acted as if he didn’t believe any of the things he’d just said. Shay hoped that in their time together they’d been able to talk and he’d been able to explain himself to Artie. “I’ll try. It’s hard, he’s my little brother.”
“You’re a good sister,” on that he never had to worry. Shay had always been a great sister to Artie, from the moment they had told her that she was getting another brother who was older than James and had been hurt in an accident. Shay had been six at the time, but she had loved Artie before she had even seen him, “And I don’t think we’ll ever stop worrying about him, but...it’s hard, you know? Seeing your kids grow up. Both of you are becoming such amazing people.”
“Stop it, Daddy.” Shay said looking down at her hands as she blushed at his words. “How is James? He doesn’t usually say much when I catch him on the phone.”
“Busy with football and loving not having to share the bathroom,” Jeremiah grinned at that. He loved Artie, but he could relate a lot more to his younger son. “He misses you though. He gets bored and lonely without you guys.”
Shay laughed, shaking her head. “Well then tell him not to sound like I’m bothering him when I try to talk to him.” She leaned into her dad, he easily supported her frame and barely moved as she rested her head against his arm. “I miss you guys too.” She did miss her family, despite their disagreements and anything else she loved her family.
“And yet you want to go to Europe for school,” he replied quietly. He wasn’t sure he liked his daughter being so far away from him, “It wasn’t easy seeing you off to boarding school and now you want to go to Europe? You can’t study your art stuff here? That would be more practical.”
“I mean I could.” Shay said sitting up since their discussion had become serious. She ignored how he casually referred to her future plans as ‘art stuff’. She didn’t think it would be the same if she’d plan to study medicine. “Of course I could. But, it would be cheaper in Europe. Well, of course getting me there would be more expensive but the actual tuition wouldn’t cost as much. I’m considering schools in state, it would be ridiculous of me not to, but I just,” she shrugged, “it’s kind of... really what I want.”
That the tuition would be less was appealing, “And the cost of living, Shay? Because once you go over there, you won’t be able to come home like you do now,” now she came home four times a year. “And we won’t be able to come visit as often either.”
“We could skype a lot, all the time.” Shay said after a moment. “I’ve saved some from work and maybe...maybe I’ll get two jobs this summer and I can find one now while I’m at school.” Shay bit her bottom lip, her dad had made a valid point. “Maybe... we can talk about it when I come home for winter break?”
“I’m not saying no, Shay,” Jeremiah answered, “I want you to follow your dreams and be happy. I’m just also trying to juggle the logistics of everything else too. Artie will be in college two years after you and James a year after him,” theoretically, all three of his children would be in college at the same time, “But if we can make it work, then you can do it.”
“If I can get in.” Shay said with a shrug. Sometimes it was easier to convince herself out of things than getting her hopes up and then they didn’t pan out. “I get it. It’s fair.”
Life wasn’t fair, but he was not about to tell Shay that. She knew. “You can get in, I know you, Shay. You’re smart, determined and very talented....and pretty. Why aren’t the boys all lusting after you?” he teased, grateful actually, that she wasn’t dating anyone. He did not trust teenage boys.
“Daddy,” Shay laughed, shaking her head. “You keep mentioning boys. Why do you have them on the mind.”
“Because you’re 16, Shay,” he laughed, but didn’t like her insinuation, even jokingly, “You should have them on your mind.”
Shay’s smiled faltered and she tried not to look away. She felt like that would be like an admittance of guilt. “I-I do. Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I? I just think other things... are, you know, more important right now.”
“Well...as important as those other things are...Boys are important too,” Jeremiah was glad that Shay didn’t seem to be interested in them really, but he knew his wife wanted to know what was going on with her lack of boyfriends. “Don’t focus all on school and your future and forget to have fun now...but not too much fun.”
“Right, yeah.” Shay said nodding. “I’ll... do that.”
“Everything all right?” he asked, catching the slight hesitancy in her voice. “You can tell me anything, Shay. Maybe I can help?”
Shay laughed looking away for a moment. “Unless you can find the boy you want me to be with I think I’m going to have to figure this one out on my own.”