EPISODE 187 – The Runaway Son

[Scene: Kitchen. Jennifer and Andy are talking.]
Jennifer: You look down Andy. Why is that?
Andy: But I’m fine!
Jennifer: You don’t look so fine.
Andy: I really am!
Jennifer: Is something wrong?
Andy: Nothing is wrong! I’m not kidding Jennifer!
Jennifer: Okay, fine. But I’m worried.
Andy: Well…
Jennifer: Well what?
Andy: (low voice) Something is wrong.
Jennifer: What is it? You can tell me.
Andy: I feel so left out.
Jennifer: Left out from what?
Andy: Everything that happens.
Jennifer: Well you just feel that way because you are the youngest. I remember when I used to have fights with Mom and Dad about that. Alex and Mallory too.
Andy: Like when?
Jennifer: Well, it was about five years ago, and…

[Flashback Scene: Jennifer’s room. She is talking with Steven and Elyse.]
Jennifer: You guys never let me do anything fun!
Steven: Jennifer, you are still a young girl!
Jennifer: So I’m gonna be treated like a baby the rest of my life?!
Elyse: No one ever said that Jennifer!
Jennifer: Well that’s how I feel!
Steven: Once you grow up, we’ll let you do a lot more.
Jennifer: But I am growing up.
Elyse: That’s right! Growing up. That means you still have a little ways to go.
Jennifer: But I feel so left out.
Steven: From what?
Jennifer: The family.
Elyse: Well why is that Jen?
Jennifer: I never get to go to any big events or anything like that!
Steven: Well sometimes there are things that have age limits.
Jennifer: Well none of this had any age limits!
Elyse: I see the problem. We’re sorry Jen.
Jennifer: So you will let me go to more of Mallory and Alex’s things?
Elyse: We’ll try our best.
Jennifer: Thank you so much!
(They all share a hug)

[Scene: Kitchen. Jennifer and Andy are still talking.]
Jennifer: That was a bad situation. I almost ran away from home.
Andy: Ran away?
Jennifer: Yes, ran away.
Andy: Where would you have gone if you would have run away?
Jennifer: Probably to Chrissy’s. Or some other friend’s house.
Andy: And when would you have gone?
Jennifer: Why are you asking me all these questions?!
Andy: Just wondering…
Jennifer: Okay. Well… probably in the morning. Before everyone was up.
Andy: And what would you take with you?
Jennifer: Food… clothes… the necessary stuff.
Andy: Well, I better go get Mom so I can get to school. Thanks for your help.
Jennifer: My help?
Andy: For telling me that story.
Jennifer: Oh! Oh yeah, that. No problem.
Andy: Bye!
Jennifer: (low voice) See you after school… hopefully…

[Scene: The Kitchen, 20 minutes later. Elyse and Steven are frantic.]
Elyse: Where could he be?!
Steven: I have no idea, Elyse!
Jennifer: Where is who?
Elyse: Andy! Do you know?
Jennifer: You mean he’s missing?
Elyse: Yes!
Jennifer: When did he leave?
Steven: We don’t know. He’s not in the house anywhere.
(Mallory walks into the kitchen)
Mallory: I checked, and I checked again and he’s not anywhere.
Elyse: What are we gonna do?!
Steven: Call the police!
Jennifer: Wait…
Elyse: What is it?
Jennifer: Try calling his friend’s parent’s houses.
Steven: Why would we do that before calling the police?
Jennifer: Trust me… just do it.
Mallory: I could go get his school directory for the phone numbers.
Steven: Okay, we’ll do that then.
Mallory: Hopefully it works out!
(Steven and Mallory walk into the living room)
Elyse: Jennifer, spill the beans. What do you know?
Jennifer: Well, I was telling Andy a story… and…
Elyse: And?
Jennifer: At the end I said I was about to run away from home.
Elyse: Well why would HE run away?
Jennifer: He feels left out from everything.
Elyse: Exactly how you did…
Jennifer: Yeah… a lot like that.
Elyse: So why do the friends come in to play?
Jennifer: I said that’s where I would go.
Elyse: You were giving Andy detailed instructions on running away?! Are you crazy?!
Jennifer: I wasn’t thinking!
Elyse: Well it sure doesn’t sound like it!
(Mallory comes back into the kitchen with the school directory)
Mallory: Let’s find Andy!

[Scene: The Living Room. The whole family is present.]
Mallory: Andy, we are really glad we found you!
Alex: Yeah, what would I do without a sane sibling is the house?
Jennifer: And I’m sorry I put all those ideas in your head.
Andy: It’s not your fault Jennifer.
Jennifer: Yes it is. If I wouldn’t have said anything, you’d still be here.
Andy: Yeah I would. And I probably might have been wandering the streets!
Steven: Can your mother and I have a talk with Andy everyone?
Mallory: Sure thing.
(Mallory, Alex, and Jennifer leave the family room)
Steven: Andy… we are disappointed that you decided to run away.
Andy: I’m sorry dad.
Elyse: It’s okay, but don’t do anything like this again?
Andy: I promise I won’t.
Steven: What possessed you to do that anyways?
Andy: I felt left out all the time.
Elyse: Well, it’s hard being the youngest sometimes.
Andy: But a lot of the time I like being the baby of the family.
Steven: We like that too.
(Steven and Elyse kiss Andy)
-FADE OUT-