Scene 4

Later, he is seated next to the small, car-shaped bed in the boy’s room. He has opened in front of his son’s pillowed head a hard-bound book about all different kinds of mommies. There are colorful illustrations, in the style of a young child, of moms doing a variety of things. e.g. some moms drive motorcycles. some moms work at home. some moms walk you to school.

Completely spaced, again, he stares hard at his left knee, still holding the book upright.

When he realizes he is absent, he blinks a few times and wonders how long he has been holding up the same page.

He looks over at the boy, who watches his dad. The kid giggles and says “Daddy, you so silly.”

After he finishes reading and saying goodnight, he goes downstairs and remembers the pile of laundry that he left on the floor in the corner the night before.