Stillme's Chapters Continue Some More

[stillme]

Just journaling the interaction:

H came as I was in D's room reading w/them. He let himself in the front door w/o even knocking; called "Let's go, kids". S ran to see him; D said "I want to stay w/you" when I asked "Aren't you going to see daddy?" So I shooed her out & went into S's room to pick up/make the bed. (I hear H turn down the Music Channel on the t.v.) After a bit (kids running back & forth getting shoes etc) I went to living room, stood w/arms folded leaning against the wall, & asked (matter-of-fact) "Do you want to keep the kids tomorrow night since you didn't get Mon.or Tues. this wk?" H says he can't/wasn't planning on it b/c of his work schedule, going so far as to show me his little calendar & pointing out his X'd out work days & his dentist appt. Fri.) Then he reverses. Back & forth for a little bit. Finally agree I will call him when I know what time Thurs night & he'll bring them back to me Fri. after b'fast for the playdate at 10am. After that was finished, I took a few steps towards the kitchen & he started talking again - about NEEDING the Yukon to p/u his boat engine (and he's rifling thru a photo stack [of MY childhood photos, given to me by my parents the other day]. So tho I came back around the corner from the kitchen, I didn't say anything & he asked "Or are you going to be difficult about me using the car when I need it?" and I said that separating our lives means separating everything, and it wasn't OUR car anymore.
H: "But I mow the lawn."
Me:"Yes. B/c you are using the garage to store your boat FOR NOW."
H: "So you're telling me I need to get a diff vehicle to tow my boat --"
Me:"Yes. And another place to store it, after the D."
H: "Well, what about for now? Are you going to tell me I can't use it to p/u my engine?"
Me: "One: IF you can tell me WHEN you want to use it and IF I'm not busy. . . and TWO: IF you can ASK for the favor instead of TELLING ME how it's gonna be. . ."
H: Then let me rephrase: CAN I use the Yukon to p/u the engine when I need it?"
Me: If I'm not busy, yeah, maybe."
He left, slamming the front door.
(Kids were outside in his car during all this.)

Stage: check
Props: check
Character X Character Development: check, begun
Character Y fallen off his "I'm the Writer, Director & Producer of this Story. Nothing happens unless I want it to" chair.
On to Scene Two (tomorrow eve.) . . .

(Boys & girls, don't try this at home!)