2020-12-16 - Walls going down

 2020-12-16 - Walls going down

Levi Samuels spent an hour getting things together for his client.  It would be an easy enough case, just as it had been for Sasha Beaulieu.  But just in case, he wanted to cover his bases, which meant talking to Gene SInclair.  But after talking to Gene may come the hardest part … talking to Miranda … who was planning to tell her father everything.  He was proud of her … but also her telling opened up that he had kept something huge from the man he loved.

But for now, he was going to meet with Gene and his foster father Shea Walsh.  It had been arranged at a time when little Lyra Walsh was in an after school activity.  Sparrow Walsh as also invited to the meeting because apparently she had witnessed the incident and may be able to help in Miranda’s case .. if it even got that far.

He walked to the Walsh house and up to the door, ringing the doorbell, dressed at his most lawyerly.

Sparrow was half doing homework and half watching mindless television on the couch. She got up when the doorbell rang, setting her laptop aside on the coffee table and went to answer. “Hi Mr. Samuels, come on in.” They knew he was coming after all.

Shea had been in the kitchen but his hands were food messy as he was putting chicken thighs into a  marinade for part of their dinner later “Thanks Sparrow…” He called back and then set the container in the fridge when he was done and washed his hands thoroughly “Mr. Samuels….can I get you a drink? We have pop, tea...I can make coffee...water.” He shrugs but smiles warmly.

Gene was in the dining room finishing up the homework Sparrow had brought him.  It helped to take his mind off of talking to the police … or the lawyer.  He’d assumed the police would talk to him, but Mr Samuels had beaten them to it.  This was the same man who had gotten Dante out of prison super early.  And he suspected if he could get a Latino out early, he could get this white girl off completely.  Yet, he was still a little confused about why he cared so much.  But he did.  At his feet, Rufus looked up, but Gene took him by the collar.  “Relax, goof.” and the dog did exactly that.

Levi walks in, his overcoat over his arm.  “Thank you.  Sparrow, right?”  Slipping out of hi loafers, he heads for the dining room and inhales.  “I hope I’m not interrupting too much.”  he says, sitting on a chair at the other end of the dining room table.  “Oh, I think I am fine, Mr Walsh.  Thank you very much.”  He saw Gene and a large dog, but the dog seemed content, so he didn’t worry too much.  “Gene, how are you?  I’m sorry things just keep happening to you.”

Sparrow nodded “That’s right.” She went to sit with Gene and the dining room but the two chairs closest to Levi were both open for him “Not an interruption.”

Shea gestured to the open chair at the end “Come on in.” He’s pleased with the concern for Gene and sits in the other chair “What do we need to do here Mr. Samuels?” He’s a bit unclear on whether it’s just an information seeking visit or Gene might get dragged to court.

Gene looks at the lawyer as he sits down.  “Thanks, Mr. Samuels.  This one was the worst.  But maybe the last?  I hope.”

Levi waits until everyone is settled and then looks between them all.  He pulls out a blank legal pad and his pen.  Even it looked rich, but was at least silver and not gold.  “Well, this is more of an information quest.  Miranda is being charged with Assault Causing Bodily Harm, because she broke Spencer Newcastle’s nose.  I am hoping to have those charges reduced to Simple assault, but either way I think I can avoid going to court.”  He looks at Gene and Sparrow.  “I’d like you to tell me what happened.  From the moment the poster was discovered to the moment Miranda attacked Mr.  Newcastle.”

Shea looks between Sparrow and Gene a little knowingly. He wasn’t there so he’ll let them talk but this lawyer will likely get the charge reduced for a white kid with what seems to be no priors. It’s the way of the world.

Sparrow nods with Gene’s words “Yeah it was the worst.” She starts talking because her role as more of an observer might be more neutral than Gene, who was literally the victim of all of this. “There were already people in the hallway looking at the posters when our class let out. But I saw Miranda walk out and take one and then Gene saw it after her and he went back into the class.” she paused and looked to Gene.

Gene sighed and bit his lip.  “I didn’t really see Miranda when I walked out of class, but I DID see the poster.  I looked at it … read it … and I KNEW it was Spencer.  So I turned around and he was in the class, so I pointed at him and told him ‘You’re dead’.”  he shrugs.  “I was headed back in to beat his ass when both Miranda and Sparrow stopped me.”  he pauses and looks at Sparrow with gratitude.  “They calmed me.  Both of them.”  he bites his lip.  “Then Spencer says …”  he tries to remember.  “Best not to further tarnish that record Sinclair. You know he’s got one Miranda.”  he shrugs.  “Miranda said she knew I had a record then something like ‘you know what?’ and then she rushed him and punched him.  I heard his nose break.”

Levi took notes while both Sparrow and Gene told what happened.  He glanced up when Gene finished.  “Now I know it seems pretty obvious, but was there even a reason Spencer targeted you two in particular?”  he leans to the side and puts his briefcase on the table, opening it and pulling out some papers.  “Are you two involved in reality?”

Shea stays quiet but listens intently to all of it looking from person to person as they talk.

Sparrow follows up on what Gene explained “You know what was the start of...well she answered it by saying she didn’t have a record after she punched Spencer. I think maybe she was aware Gene couldn’t so she did it?” and her theory now makes her curious about Levi’s question as well. She hadn’t seen Gene and Miranda together….but why did Spencer put them both on that poster? Had he seen something between them? Because as far as she could see they were basically enemies or had been. She looks pointedly at Gene seeking the answer now. Miranda had earned quite a bit of her respect today but she wasn’t sure the two of them would ever be dating material or even friends. It seemed highly unlikely to her.

Gene arches his eyebrows at Sparrows theory.  “She DID say that, didn’t she?”  it makes him realize that she really did take a fall for him.  He looks at Levi, and then around at Sparrow and Shea.  “We’re not involved.”  he says.  “As a matter of fact, we tend to avoid each other because .. well the first day of school, I accidentally took her seat … and then a couple of days later, my record got plastered all over the damn school.  She said that she was disgusted, and I thought she meant disgusted by my past.  I told her she could have her seat back and called her an uppity bitch  A couple days after THAT there’s graffiti on her desk that said Miranda Rogers has great tits.  Too bad she’s an uppity bitch or something like that.”  he blows out a breath.  “Well we BOTH wound up in the principal's office and, of course, I got searched, but then she did too.  But I told her ....”  he thinks about what he said to her that day.  “I told her that I was an ex con and that she could witness her privilege first hand and to enjoy it.”  he clears his throat.  “Anyway, her computer broke and I work at the computer repair place, so I fixed it.  When she came to pick it up, Spencer was there and … he was taunting her … made it pretty clear in front of me that … that they’d had sex.  Miranda sisn’t see to happy about it, so I assumed they broke up or whatever.”  he rolls his head on his shoulders.  “Anyway they both left and I got a text a couple hours later from my friend Gen Beaulieu telling me that the main thing I had a problem with when it came to Miranda; the disgust at my record, was just a big misunderstanding.  It didn’t mean we were best buddies, but I wasn’t as mad.  So .. after I got off work that night, I went into that new noodle place.  Spencer was in there.  He starts talking to me about surviving another encounter with the uppity bitch and … I said … she wasn’t that bad.  He told me to not to cross her or she’d sic …”  he looks at Levi and shrugs.  “Her daddy’s fuck buddy lawyer on me.  I asked him what he did to get a lawyer sicced on him and …  I suggested some might call what he did rape.  He said it wasn’t rape, but Miranda jsut didn’t like where he went with it.  He called it ‘spicing things up’.  He mentioned the desk writer again and I asked him what he did that wasn’t rape.  He told me basically that he took some pictures and invited some of his friends to join in.  I’m guessing without her permission .. that would have been the spice.  I figured it out then that he wrote it .. cause obviously he'd seen her .. chest.  He told me I was right, but what was I gonna do?  Tell on him?  My word against his and I’m a con.”  he sighs deeply.  “I was thinking about pounding him into the window, but instead I told him to leave us alone.  Me and Miranda.  And I think my wording made it onto a bunch of lockers.”  he drops his head into his hands.

Levi has his own brand of note taking and manages to get it all down as Gene speaks.  He doesn’t flinch at the fuck buddy lawyer comment.  It’s about what he expects from the likes of Spencer.  He looks up once Gene is done talking and he is done taking his notes.  “It makes a lot more sense now.  I’d wondered how and why you got dragged into the pornography.  And you’re right.  It looks like he took your words, made you a couple and ran with it.”  he nods a little bit.  “Well … that’s justification, in my opinion.”  he looks directly at Gene.  “If it goes to court, would you be willing to repeat this in court?”

Gene snorts.  “You won’t let it get to court.”  he tells the lawyer with complete confidence.  “She's white and she has no criminal record.  You’ll get her a nice deal.”  he purses his lips.  “But yea … if it goes to court, I will testify on her behalf.”

Levi half grins and nods.  “Good man, Gene.”

Sparrow looks like she’s reeling from the whole Spencer Miranda Gene story. It fills in some gaps and she nods “Yeah that does make sense but holy shit…….I can’t even. What the fuck is wrong with Spencer? I mean other than his white privileged misogynist homophobic ass for a face……” She takes a minute to just digest it all and then mutters “I’m sorry I ever called her bitchface…” Then she looks up at Levi “Maybe don’t tell Miranda I said that.”

Shea rubs at his face and runs his hand through his hair as he listens to the whole thing. It was way more complicated than he imagined. He had considered maybe Spencer and Gene had some kind of rivalry over the girl but this….this was something else. He exhaled slowly after “Wow….” Then he gives Gene an approving nod “You are a good man...this has not been an easy welcome to the island at all…..” Then he gives Sparrow a bit of a look “You have a kinder heart than to go around calling people bitchface. Don’t do that.”

Gene blows out a breath now that his whole story was out.  “It hasn’t been ALL bad, Shea.”  he tells him.  “I’ve made a few friends and this is still the best foster house I’ve ever been in.”  he glances at Levi and assumes that since he and Natalie worked together that he knew his story.  “No one knows about my sex life before … or the prostitution.  I don’t know why, but I’m glad that hasn’t surfaced.  Probably because it’s not in the records?  When I was caught I was thrown out as a thief or for breaking curfew or something .. anything but the truth.”  he sighs and shakes his head.  Yes, he’d rather be known as a short tempered guy with an attempted murder record than a whore.and especially how 

Levi looks at Sparrow.  “I won’t mention that, no.  But it all came from a grave misunderstanding.  Hopefully that can be left in the past.”  he looks over his notes.  “And things worked out for you, Gene.”  he looks at him.  “Natalie is still doing some work on your case … specifically about the way you were treated by your foster families … the foster care system failed you.”  he holds up a hand.  “We’re being as discrete as we can.  With luck, there may be some changes.  If nothing else, you are in a better place now.”  he looks at his notes again.  “I think I have everything I need.  Do any of you have any questions for me before I go?”  he will be stopping by Jaspers next.

Shea looks comforted that Gene hasn’t been completely miserable. He tried so hard to make home a good place at least and then the school experience was rough for the kid because of this stuff. “That’s good to hear. And discretion, always.” He listens to Levi “I hope she can nail at least one of those families. No one who hurts or exploits kids should be allowed to foster any...and they should get their bio kids taken to keep them safe too.” It makes him sick what happened to Gene. “No Levi, none from me. Thank you.”

Sparrow looks sympathetically at Gene about his past and nods “I will keep your confidence….but those people are the ones who should be shamed, not you.” She nods at Levi “Thank you. I actually like Miranda a little more today. She had the guts to just walk in front of Gene while he was charging at Spencer. I didn’t expect that from her. No questions from me either.”

Gene listens to his foster father and sister and realizes that hes never felt so safe in a foster home in his life.  He’s a bit stunned about Natalie going after anyone, but he nods anyway.  Then Sparrow mentions how Miranda stepped in front of him while he was nearly blind with rage.  “She did … didn’t she …”  he murmurs.  “Shit …”  he breathes and then comes back to himself.  “No questions … thanks …  you know where to find me if you need me.”

Levi is glad to hear that Shea and Sparrow want justice for Gene.  “Well, we’ll see how it goes.  The foster system is very messed up, especially when  it comes to the placing and abuses against Indiginous children.  But our firm is full of very good lawyers on BOTH sides of the country.”  he repacks his briefcase and stands.  “I’ll see myself out.  You folks have a good evening and a better holiday.”  and he does that, turning from their row house and into the direction of the Rogers place.  Miranda had told him she wanted to tell her father … and he was ready to support her with it.  He now walked up another set of row house steps, but this time, got out his keys, unlocked the door and entered, slipping out of his shoes and hanging up his coat.

Jasper is sitting on the couch with his phone casually scrolling away and looks up as Levi comes in and smiles with gratitude “You saved her today Levi...I love you. She’s in her room but I’ll call her down….I know she’d want to see you…” He walks to Levi and kisses him tenderly if he can and then leans towards the stairs “Mandy? Levi’s here…”

Miranda had gone to her room to lie down and listen to music, tuning out the day a bit. She knew what she still had to do and she was steeling herself for the conversation with her father. She had asked Levi to come, for moral support and now he was here...it was time. She forced herself to sit up and swing her legs over the side of her bed and stand up. Taking a small box from her dresser she went downstairs, placing the box on the coffee table as an almost offering to her father. It was a box of brown hair dye “Just to let you know I will do this...I am doing this tonight…..and I need to talk to you about something else….hi Levi. Thank you for coming.” she smiled nervously at him and then swallowed, looking at her father.

Levi kisses Jasper.  “I love you too and anything for you and Miranda.”  he replies and watches Miranda come down the stairs.  “You’re welcome, Miranda.  Living room, or dining room?”  he asks, knowing full well what she wants to talk about.

Jasper beams at the box of brown hair dye and then looks a bit hesitant. There was more to talk about from today? Well he was thankful she wanted to share her feelings, whatever they were. It was finally happening. He was connecting with his teenage daughter. Levi was clearly part of this in a  good way. “Living room. Miranda I know you’ve had a big emotional day. We’re here for you of course.” He moves back to the couch but leaving room for one of them to join.

Miranda takes a deep breath and offers the couch spot to Levi, taking the chair across “This stuff….with Spencer...it started a long time before today Dad. I should have told you about it a long time ago. I did something really stupid and I was…..I was really ashamed.”

Jasper blinks, thinking about the picture from the poster. Miranda and Gene…...kids could be cruel with gossip “Did….you….did something happen between you and Gene and Spencer got wind of it?”

Levi sighs slightly when Miranda takes the chair, but he sits next to Jasper and takes his hand.  Miranda speaks and when Jasper interrupts, he squeezes his hand and shakes his head.  “No, love.  Let her explain.  Please.”  it gives away he may know more about this than Jasper does, but Miranda needed to get it out, like she had in his office what feels like a lifetime ago.

Jasper now looks at Levi with confusion and back to Miranda. What did Levi know about this that he didn’t?

Miranda holds up her hands “Dad...no I said Spencer. Gene and I are….we’re not….” She didn’t know now what to say on Gene. They weren’t friends, they weren’t enemies. But they certainly weren’t THAT either. He was just this incredibly frustrating guy who could get under her skin with one look or one word, especially if that word was Randy spoken in his soft low voice. But this was not what she was trying to talk about so after a deep breath she focussed “Back in September, I was in a bad bad space…..Spencer was the first person who was nice to me at school. I was basically really depressed. He turned on the charm and I let it distract me. I slept with him…..it was the worst decision of my life so far. Not only that but he…...he had a set up where he took pictures...I didn’t even know he was doing it. He also invited other people….I think he wanted some kind of group experience. I wasn’t into it...but this girl kissed me and he got a picture of that too before I told them all off and left. Her name is Brooke Martin. She’s….she’s kind of notorious in town. So the pictures….” Now she stops and looks away for a minute. “They went online on a site called Flickr…..Spencer taunted me with them...a few other people, saw. I didn’t know what to do to I went…” She looks across at Levi “I went to Levi.” She closes her eyes after “I didn’t tell you because the idea of you seeing those pictures was too horrible for me to face. I’m sorry Dad. Spencer’s been bullying me ever since and for some reason he dragged Gene Sinclair into it. No I didn’t sleep with Gene. I think Spencer just misunderstood something he said and decided we were a thing.” It’s all out now and she looks a little deflated as well as worried.

Jasper tensed up as Miranda spoke and his facial expressions were all over the place...shock anger...disbelief and at one point he looked sideways at Levi with an unreadable expression before shuddering and looking back to Miranda with a pained expression. After she finishes he lets go of Levi’s hand and sort of retreats into himself for a minute and then puts his face in his hands breathing and processing all of it.

Levi has heard the story before, but he remembers it perfectly.  “That seems to be what happened.”  He tells her  After all, he just came from Gene Sinclair’s house.  Then Jasper lets go of his hand and withdraws.  Levi blows out a breath.  “The photos are as gone as I could make them.”  is all he says on the matter.

Miranda starts to look really scared “Dad...please say something…” He’s had his head in his hands now for a while.

Jasper runs his hand through his hair and emerges with a big emotional looking sigh “You told Levi….” He parrots back, looking her in the eyes intensely.

Miranda’s face cracks into a sob “I’m sorry……” She sluches a bit, looking small and really just broken “I wanted to tell you…..I just couldn’t….I know you’d be there for me….”

Jasper sniffs and then quietly chokes out a sob “Of course I would be. No matter what you do or how awful you think it is...I’ll love you forever Mandy.” Then he wipes at his nose and reaches out a hand to take Levi’s again “But I get it. I probably wouldn’t have wanted my parents to know that about me….but like it or not….you had one and a good one…” He looks at Levi now “And I’m glad she felt she could come to you. And you didn’t tell me…” He laughs and cries at the same time “That must have been hard….”

Levi is just as scared as Miranda looks, even though he doesn’t look it.  But then he seems to recover and actually speaks to him.  He lifts the hand Jasper has given back to him and kisses it.  “It was very hard … but she was my client … “  he doesn’t go on, but he does have other news, once this is done.

Jasper sighs “OK….I appreciate that you kept her confidence.” He pulls Levi to him and hugs him for a moment and then gently lets go and stands walking towards Miranda “I’m not judging you for what you did Miranda. Please trust me to help you too next time….but I’m glad you trust Levi. I’m glad you weren’t carrying this alone…”

Miranda stands up too and hugs her father “I will….no more secrets. I mean after today…..that’s all of them...I think…” She laughs a bit “Thank again Levi….” She pulls back from her father and looks at them both “I actually kept my own thumb drive of those pictures from Flickr...as well as screen shots of of all of Spencer’s comments, all of his other pictures Brooke had up…..After what he did with the poster of Gene and I...I’m ready to charge him….I guess and possibly Brooke but it’s really him. I was fine with him...well not fine but I could deal with him being a  prick to me but now he’s targeting Gene for what seems like no reason. Like from the first day he got here. It’s not right. He made a poster of him with his mug shot and all his charges...then Gene and I had a stupid argument and he called me an uppity bitch...whatever I’m over it and Spencer carved it into my desk as well as something about my chest…..but I swear he wanted me to blame Gene and to get him in trouble again, which I did and it almost did. I don’t know what he’s picking on him and using me to do it. But if I can put a stop to it...I will.” She cant explain why this is so important to her but it just is.

Levi hugs Jasper and watches the father and daughter.  He listens to Miranda and her story matches up well with Gene.  “Don’t worry.”  he tells her.  “Spencer is being charged with distributing pornography to minors.”  he pauses.  “Natalie will probably do her damndest to make it one charge per poster.  She’s taking over your case.  I …”  he looks at Jasper.  “I am a little close on this one at this point.”  he smiles.

Miranda looks at Levi and nods “Good. He should be. There are pictures of women from Flickr...with him that weren’t me. I wonder if he made  a habit of this before me...but I don’t recognize most of them aside from Brooke.”

Jasper gave Levi a loving look about him being close to this one and nodded. “That is good...Listen Miranda. I’m not allowed to reveal anything about patients...but seeing as how you said Brooke is notorious….if you’ve been sexually active with someone who’s been with Brooke…”

Miranda interrupted “I got tested….believe me it crossed my mind. I went to Dr. McKinney. I asked for all the STI tests and considered requesting a rabies shot….because Brooke is truly vile. She kissed me and it was the most disgusting thing in the world. Forced a kiss on me I should clarify…”

Jasper grits his teeth and closes his eyes and then opens them again with a nod “Glad to hear you made the sensible choice. I’m sorry that happened.”

Miranda walks over to Levi “When I first went to you...it was because I know you know the law better than anyone. And you being Dad’s boyfriend made me feel like I could ask you….but I think really I went to you…..because you feel like a dad to me too Levi…” She reaches to hug him now too if she can “I hope that’s ok…”

Levi listens and is glad Miranda got tested.  He is about to speak when Miranda comes over, tells him he feels like a Dad to her and hugs him.  He hugs her back.  “Oh ….”  he clears his throat.  “Miranda …  I feel the same about you … well .. as the daughter I’d never have had if not for your father.”  he swallows.  “Oh, you’re going to make me all unlawyerly.”  he sniffs.

Now Miranda has to laugh as she hugs Levi “If by unlawyerly you mean emotional I’ll take it….Dad…” She hugs a little tighter before she starts to let go...but before she can she feels her other Dad, the one she came into the world through, put his arms around them both too.

Jasper chokes on a quiet sob and can’t stay away from piling onto the hug “You two…..I love you both so much. This is all I ever wanted….”

Levi does get emotional and hugs them both tightly.  Finally he breaks off.  “Yes, I mean emotional, young lady.”  he looks at Jasper.  “And I love you too … so much … I never imagined I’d be a dad .. or have such a great family in my life.”  he smiles and then bites his lip.  “Just … one more lawyer thing.  You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but … its about something you said, I didn’t know before.  Or I missed…”  he gets serious, in many ways hating how he could go from love to law in the blink of an eye.

Jasper smiles but eases off at the new question and looks at Miranda, waiting to see what it could be.

Miranda backs up too looking curiously at Levi “What did I say?” 

Levi looks at Miranda.  “You mentioned that Brooke forced that kiss.”  he reminds her.  “That is still sexual assault.  Charging Brooke isn’t out of the question.”

Miranda nods “I know.” And she thinks about what Romeo told her about Sophia, which she’ll never tell them but it fuels her mindset about the injustice of double standards. “I’ll think about it. I felt like...what Spencer did was with so much malice, intent. Brooke kissing me….no I didn’t ask for it or want it but she was just clueless….like she figured every woman would want to make out with another woman to turn on a guy. It seemed to come from a place of naivety and her own lack of self worth. The need to perform sexuality.” She looks between them awkwardly “Because some straight guys are assholes who expect that.”

Jasper frowned but nodded “Still if you want to charge her…..I know that’s a thing.”

Levi sighed.  “That sounds about right from what I’ve witnessed about Brooke.”  he chuckles.  “She comes onto most men…” the implication that she came onto him is clear.

Miranda looks at Levi and cringes “Oh god…..did she hit on your when you asked her to get rid of the pictures?” She looks at her Dad “You know Levi went home to home and made people delete them in front of him...all in one night?”

Jasper blinks about Brooke and about what Levi did for Miranda “Maybe it’s good I’ve never treated her…..Geez…”

Levi nodded.  “It was bizarre.  She didn’t want to delete the photos but seemed happy enough I wasn’t making her delete ALL of the pictures .. only the ones with you in them.”  he sighs.  Then he looks at Jasper.  “Well that’s why they keep us from working on or for our loved ones, right?”

Jasper looks at Levi “Oh I meant Brooke...but no at this age I think it’s best Miranda does see Susan as a physician….which I’m sure she prefers too. I mean I’ll see the boys but if they also ever prefer to see Susan or have something they don’t want me to be their doctor about I respect that.”

Miranda nods vehemently “Yeah I know you used to change my diapers….but I will go to Susan now for PAP tests and birth control pills. No offense Dad.”

Jasper laughs “None taken. Just glad you’re safe. Condoms too...always.”

Miranda rolls her eyes “I know Dad...I know. And I also don’t want Brooke to hit on you. Bad enough she did to Levi. If I see her talking up either of my brothers I might just have to punch her….now I know I can.” She opens and closes her hand which is now quite bruised on the knuckles as she looks between her dads.

Jasper casually examines the hand but it really is just bruising. “I don’t even want to think about what other pictures she has Levi….. Brooke I mean.”

Levi nods.  “That’s fair.  I know Samuels and Sons has its own lawyer on retainer …  several … just for us .. and Natalie, of course.  To handle whatever legal trouble my father doesn’t want to deal with.”  he looks at Jasper with a little wince.  “Yea … I didn’t see many, but she seems quite the popular girl.” he looks at Miranda.  “Please don’t touch Brooke Martin.  If you or your brothers need anything from my side of the family I would recommend Natalie.  She wouldn’t tell me for any amount of money, if you're her client.”

Miranda sighs “It is my solemn duty and vow to be ridiculously law abiding. As much as I would love to punch Brooke the idea of prison was far too real today while I was in that police car. Don’t worry Dads. I will be a quiet well behaved holiday elf now.”

Jasper cringed at Levi about Brooke and then had to laugh at Miranda. “I support the not punching.... but I don’t think it’s realistic to change your entire personality.”

Levi chuckles at the law abiding comment.  “I would appreciate that.” he tells her, then arches his brows.  “Quiet well behaved holiday elf…  Are you working at the winter festival?”  he wonders aloud.

Miranda blinks “As an elf? I wasn’t planning on it. Supposed to be more hours at Carpenter’s since we get in some goofy gifty things. You know who’d make a great elf though...Romeo. He’s shorter and jolly….I might risk telling the kids the truth about Santa if they’re too mouthy.”

Jasper laughs “Don’t ruin the magic Miranda. But there might be other non elf like volunteer opportunities or jobs if you’re looking for more to do.”

Levi chuckles.  “He is at that.”  he considers.  “We’ll see what he decides to do.  Of course, I must invite you all to our hanukkah dinner.  I’m now very glad Dad bought such a big house.”

Jasper smiles “that’s on Friday right? As in the last day of Hanukah? Last day of school for the kids..” He looks apologetically at Miranda who will be suspended for her last two “For the boys. What should we bring Levi?”

Miranda shrugs “It’s ok Dad. I’m actually happy to stay home and not face whatever gossip comes of that poster. Yes Levi tell me what I can bake...I’ll even get Kosher stuff. I have time…” She laughs and then looks hopeful “Hey would I be allowed to go to a party on Saturday? I promise not to punch anyone. Elise asked me when I saw her and we were both taking out the bins….it’s two doors down.”

Jasper looks thoughtful “No punching….also no secrets remember? Will there be alcohol?”

Miranda looks cornered and then just says “Probably….but I won’t be stupid about it.” She looks between them both. “I’ll text you both a  few times so you know we’re alive. I think Romeo got invited too.” Miranda didn’t normally ask permission to go out but since she’d just been both arrested and suspended from school and BC had gathering restrictions in Covid times she was asking.

Levi nods.  “That's the time … Bring some non alcoholic champagne?”  he suggests and he looks at Miranda … “Traditionally, we do deep fried things .. it’s an oil thing.  BUT, if you could bake some sufganiyot .. you can look up recipes for them both.  Deep fried things aren’t terribly good for my father.”  he grins at Miranda being able to go out to a party.  In his opinion, she was innocent.  It was the holidays and she .. and Romeo as well … deserved to be able to let off some steam.

Miranda was already on her phone looking up Sufganiyot. “Oh they’re like little donuts….jelly donuts. Cute. Yeah I’ll bake these. I think bringing an intentionally non alcoholic drink might get me laughed at but maybe I’ll bring some baking so there’s food to soak up booze? I don’t think anyone’s a big drinker.”

Jasper was a little wary with the alcohol factor “Do the parents know? I’m assuming not about the drinking….but about her having people over? And will there be more than 10?”

Miranda sighs. Her father the doctor. “They’re out for the night but I think they know and Elise is pretty smart about all that. But I can do a  head count if it makes you happy and report that to you guys?”

Jasper nodded “That would be appreciated Mandy. Maybe Levi and I should watch a movie here in case there’s a need for adults nearby.”

Miranda hugs her father “Dad...it’ll be fine. Please don’t make it weird. It’s just a party. We’re just teenagers. I promise we’ll be careful in every way.”