A Kid Like Jake Page #4

it's the lawyers

that make it all impossible.

- No offense.

- No, I'm sure you're right.

- You ladies need any help?

- Yes, I do.

I was looking at

the Power Rangers costumes

and I couldn't see

anything in red.

My son's like... yay high.

We may be sold out

of that color. I can check.

Oh, no, no, you see, it's..

It really has to be red.

- Okay.

- Yeah, okay.

So, what does Jake wanna be? Hm?

Oh, you know Jake.

He has a different idea

every other day.

I'll just grab a few options.

- Yeah, smart.

- Miss?

Oh, my God, my hero!

Yes! You found it!

Hey, Teresa, can you do a price check

on baby Frankenstein kit. Thanks.

Maybe we should explain to him

why Rapunzel's not a good idea.

I just think..

What if someone says something?

Or even a funny look?

I know.

It is our job to protect him.

Meredith?

You really don't have to stay.

There's a good chance

he'll just forget.

Why?

Why can't I be Rapunzel?

Did you see the pirate?

It's awesome.

- It's got these tassels.

- No! No!

Hey, buddy, come on.

Mommy's trying really hard..

Jake. You haven't even looked.

You promised me!

- Trick or treat!

- Trick or treat.

I hate you!

Jake, I need you to calm down.

- Your ideas are lazy!

- Just calm down for one second.

Happy Halloween.

I want! I want!

I want! I want!

No.

He was Ben.

He just had the face of the man

from the bodega.

Like the man from the bodega

was playing Ben in my dream.

Okay.

And we get to the top

of the mountain

and the snaps on my pack pop off

and all of my gear

just falls off.

Just rolling down this ravine.

And I'm watching it go,

and I know this is bad

but for some reason

I just start laughing.

So I guess I'm wondering,

what does that mean?

- Well, that depends.

- Yeah, I know.

I'm just wondering

what you think it means.

I mean,

just give me your two cents.

I mean,

isn't that why we're here?

I think that's less important

than your own --

Oh, my God. I'm sorry,

are you always like this?

Or just here?

I'm sorry. I think we should end

early today.

You're allowed to feel

frustrated.

Yeah, I know I'm allowed.

With me, I mean.

What am I... like?

Switzerland.

That's what Ben and I...

call you.

'Cause when I

first started coming

he would always ask me

whose side you were on.

I told him..

...you don't like taking sides.

Whoa! Slow down, boys.

- Greg! Nice to see you.

- Oh, hey. Hi.

I just.. I -- I got here

early today

so I figured I would just

I don't know, check in and see

if there were any updates.

The truth is, I haven't talked

to Bethany this week

but we spoke on Friday,

and she said

that Jake had actually been

a little better.

"Better?"

I -- I just meant the schools.

Oh.

Uh, wha -- what's up

with Bethany?

No, there were, oh

one or two incidents in class.

I spoke with Alex about it

briefly, over the phone.

She didn't tell me.

Oh, here, honey. Come on in.

It was nothing serious.

He's always liked doing things

his own way, you know that.

Yes.

But lately, according to Bethany

he's been a little more..

...obsessive?

Refusing to leave

the dress-up corner

when it's time to move on

to something else.

He'll act out the, uh

what do you call it,

the, the "Stroke Of Midnight"

over and over again.

- Right. Right.

- "Bong, bong, bong."

Yeah, "Wait, come back.

I don't even know your name."

- Ha-ha.

- Exactly.

Alex says he's been fine

at home.

No, no, no, he's just, it's..

He's been a handful lately.

It's, it's normal stuff.

Alex thinks..

...that maybe

we need to set, uh..

...better boundaries.

So that Jake can learn

a little more self-control.

Do you agree?

It's just that I also know

that she's not..

She's not totally herself

right now.

And I don't blame her, you know

she's scheduling everything,

the interviews, the tours.

For a while there, she was

nauseous every other morning.

She's been sick?

Oh, sh*t.

- Please don't tell anyone.

- I won't, I won't.

Uh, we're not telling anyone

till we're past 13 weeks.

You know, she told people sooner

last time, and then when we lost --

I know how hard she took it.

I just know how much she

respects you. She always has.

And I was thinking,

if you do talk to her

that maybe... you could try

to reassure her

that nothing's wrong.

Just that things

are gonna be okay.

I'd like to show you something.

If you have a minute?

He did these last Thursday.

I was going to show Alex,

but as long as you're here..

Jake did these?

Mm-hmm.

They don't,

they don't look like his.

I mean, I -- I get it.

That's..

That's a lot of blood.

Well, the blood's one thing.

A lot of children

are fascinated by it.

And justifiably so.

But sometimes artwork like this

can be an opportunity.

It can help us understand

something a child

might be having difficulty

communicating.

Do you ever see children,

in your practice?

No. Couples occasionally,

but mostly individuals. Why?

I guess it's beside the point.

I was, uh..

...just curious if Jake has

you know, ever expressed concern

to either of you

about his gender.

No.

I mean, I don't think so.

I mean, there's a curiosity,

maybe.

Um, he asked once,

we were having dinner

and he asked why boys

can't wear skirts.

You know, 'cause girls

can wear pants.

What'd you tell him?

We told him the truth,

I guess, which is..

...there is no good reason,

really.

But then,

I -- I mentioned that, um

in Scotland men wear kilts

which are kind of like skirts.

We Google-imaged kilts,

looked at some pictures.

He wasn't very impressed.

So you didn't tell him

there are men

who do wear dresses

in our culture?

You talk to Judy at all?

Recently?

Week before last maybe.

Why?

I was just wondering if we might

wanna bring Jake to see someone.

- A professional.

- Why?

It's a lot of change,

all at once. You know?

- He's visited a bunch of schools.

- Right.

I mean, and if he's already

having trouble regulating

his, you know, I mean..

Maybe it could be helpful.

You don't think that might

make things worse?

How?

I don't know. He's only four.

We put him in therapy,

and then there's a..

Suddenly, there's a stranger

asking all these questions --

You know that's not

how it works.

But what if he starts thinking

there's something wrong with him?

That's not what I'm saying.

No, I know it's not.

But, you know, it's..

I don't know, it's,

it's the message he might get.

Kids are moody.

He'll be fine.

Okay, I think it's time

that we clean all this up

and get ready to go home.

Jake, I'd like you to come out

and help us, please.

No.

I really, really, really

need your help to clean up

because we're getting ready

to go home.

Jake, I'd like you to come out

and help us clean this up.

Please?

You need help in there?

Sandra.

Hi, it's -- it's Greg Wheeler.

I -- I thought we were scheduled

for 2 p.m. today.

Um, maybe you're on your way,

or maybe something came up.

Anyway, uh, call me back so we can

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