Red folder. (RP for Lauren if she wants.)
(LJ is being weird and not showing spaces. It's not meant to be one big paragraph!! Sorry!!)
Jakarta was going to be hot and damp. Extremely hot and damp. Andy had been instructed on what would be appropriate to pack. He was not to overpack or under pack. He needed to bring light weight clothes but no sandals or shorts. To Andy this meant kaki pants and a pair of jeans or two. He also had some gym shorts to wear when they weren't in public. He almost envied Sela, as she would get to wear light breezey skirts and dresses if she choose; certainly more light weight and comfortable that what Andy could wear, not to mention he had to bring some long sleeve shirts because tattoos were inappropriate in certain situations they would find themselves in. Extra shoes and socks, underwear, a towel and washcloth, and basic toiletries finished off his suitcase.
His battery charger and a handful of triple As were packed with his tape recorder. His camera and laptop chargers were packed in his laptop case. A bunch of notebooks and steno pads were in his backpack. He put sunglasses, his ipod, two novels, 3 books of his poetry, and a windbreaker in there with them. The last thing to be packed was a red folder. He looked around their bedroom to decided what to bring in it, as it was potentially what would get him through the month without his family. He was determined to make his little corner of the hotel room feel a little bit like home and these would be the supplies to do it.
First, the sonogram picture. That was an easy one, he had already carried that around with him most of the time anyway. Next was a photo of his parents. After that, a photo of Adam and Adrian. After that, the Let's Breed! poster of James. He found his favorite picture of Flea and another picture of three pets together. Finally, he had to decide what pictures to bring of his wife.
He loved the ones where she was goofy as much as the dollied up pictures. He choose one from their wedding and smiled as he carefully place it in the red folder. He couldn't help thinking about his conversation with James. Though James had meant support, Andy felt more bummed out than ever about it. He expected James to be able to related a little bit more due to his tour but he didn't blame him, if Andy had that kind of money he would promise not be away from Lauren for more than two weeks too.
Of course they didn't have that kind of money. He couldn't afford a separate hotel room, let alone afford plane tickets for quick visits for either he or Lauren, like James could with Ava. They couldn't afford for Lauren to not work for a month. Andy was ashamed when he thought about how Ava only worked "ntermittently" as James had put it. He would probably never make enough money for Lauren to only work when she chooses. They were dreading the period when she'd be on maternity leave; they were destined to be a two income family.
Andy had grown up in a two income family; he wasn't ashamed of that nor was he of the opinion that women shouldn't work, he just felt let lousy that he couldn't support his family the way the way James could. He hated the way that money differences made him feel on a separate plane than his best friend. He knew James didn't feel that way, though could he really? He could throw around his money anyway he felt like, he never knew what is was like to scrap together just to get by.
He feared that it would only get worse when they had kids. Andy's children would be loved and taken care of and not left wanting but they would never know the kind of freedom James's money gave him or his family. Andy had to smile when he packed a few photos from their honeymoon. They were able to go on an amazing trip together. They had a life together that made them rich, regardless of financial wealth. He just hate the way money could affect people. He hated the emotions it brought out and then inequalities it caused. He decided to teach Ku not to feel affected by it. It is what is but it doesn't make or break a person.
He packed about 8 more pictures of Lauren just to get her range of emotions. He grinned as he carefully put the newly packed red folder in his backpack and went to go find Lauren and a snack.
