Gracie's Choice Page #3

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Nobody ever called me.

Every time I called and called,

all I got was recordings.

- Oh, my God. All kinds of recordings.

- What about Robbie and Jonny and Ryan?

All of you are going to stay with me

for a while.

We'll see how it works out.

Let us try it for a while,

and I think that's good.

- Get in the car where it's warm.

- Grandma, you're using a cane.

Grandma Lou, can we please

go get our kittens?

Well, why not?

Shadow?

Here, kitties.

Your mother's still in jail.

So, what happens when she gets out?

She is not allowed to live with you kids.

She can't even see you,

and that's the deal.

Else I don't get to keep you.

I can't get the money to keep you.

Grace, Grandma's got to have some money

to feed you kids.

I got to have the help.

I can't keep cleaning up her messes.

My heart just won't take it.

I hate my mother for doing this.

- No.

- Snowball!

- Shadow?

- Rose.

- They're not here.

- I can't find them.

We'll get new ones.

Gracie!

- Gracie!

- Oh, my God! You've grown!

- I swear you've grown.

- You didn't call us.

- I had no idea where to phone.

- Those mean kids called me a retard. Am I?

- Of course not, Robbie.

- What did you do to your hair?

- Does Grandma have any hair gel?

- Maybe not, but Jell-O.

Come on!

- Hi, Grandma.

- Hi, big boy.

Oh, it's good to see you.

Get in the kitchen.

These kids are driving me nuts. Every time

I turn around, one of them's there.

Yeah, well, Robbie's fine

as long as he can see you.

This morning I went in the bathroom,

and he followed me in there.

We have to keep telling them that we're

at Grandma's and we're safe.

Yeah, which means more commandments.

"Thou shalt go to school. "

I hate school.

Gracie.

Okay, okay.

- Don't take all the covers.

- And don't wet the bed.

I won't.

Gracie.

We don't wanna be alone in there.

Just for tonight.

All right. Just be quiet.

- Grandma says we gotta say our prayers.

- Just whisper it.

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before...

- You look like a bunch of little animals.

- I won't bite them.

Boys do not sleep with girls!

Is that one of those commandments?

You bet it is.

It's God's commandment.

And you get out of this bed right now.

You go back to your room,

and you stay there. Do you hear me?

- Shouldn't you be in class?

- Lady, I gotta pick my brother up.

My name is not "lady. " It's Mrs. Thurston.

I'm a counselor at this school...

...and you will help me

gather up this mess.

- I'm gonna need to talk to your parents.

- Good luck.

- Lf you find my dad, I'd love to meet him.

- Don't give me attitude. I just want answers.

- Now, what about your mother?

- She's in jail.

- Who's the head of the household?

- Supposed to be my grandmother.

- Who buys the food and prepares the meals?

- I do.

You gotta do something

about your schooling.

I don't know how you made it

to the 12th grade.

I don't know what they discuss in class.

Thing is, your IQ tests

say something completely different.

You're just behind, but you

cannot skate through this school...

...like your others.

- Some days I have to leave early.

I don't want to hear

about you ditching.

It's not ditching.

I need a job to make money.

Gracie, making money is not

as important as going to school.

Now, look, I can't help you at home,

but I can make sure you do your best here.

I am doing the best that I can.

And I think you can do a lot better

if you put your mind to it.

Can I be excused?

Or whatever I'm supposed to say.

- I have to pick up my brother.

- Lf you really have to pick him up, go ahead.

But listen, my friend,

you better get your act together.

All right, Wolverines.

She thinks she's so hot.

Ladies, on your marks.

Get set.

So how'd you learn to run so fast?

- Running from truant officers, I guess.

- You should be on the track team.

Yeah, the coach asked me...

...but I don't have time for this.

Yo, Tommy, out here!

- It's only her first week here.

- What are you doing here?

My fault.

I thought she deserved a day off.

She has had plenty of days off

since she met you.

Did you help Grandma with supper?

And the boys?

Did they finish their homework?

Jonny was working

on some stupid model.

He was using toilet-paper rolls

to build columns.

He's making a model of Acropolis.

Maybe you could have helped him.

Miss, could I get a burger

and a chocolate milk shake?

If you can pay for it.

Please. Please, please, Gracie.

He forgot his wallet.

- I forgot my wallet.

- Fine.

I'll pay, but don't come again

without your wallet.

- Please. I gotta be able to depend on you.

- Okay. Thanks, Gracie.

Hey.

You going home?

- Yeah.

- I'll give you a ride.

No. It's not far.

And I take the bus.

My car broke down.

Guess we're going

in the same direction, though.

And don't laugh.

My mom's a psychiatrist.

- Who's laughing?

- Everybody.

She's always asking me crazy stuff.

I don't really wanna tell my mom.

So, what about you?

You haven't said anything about yourself.

- You're not giving me a chance.

- I'm a motor mouth when I'm nervous.

- I make you nervous?

- Hell, yeah.

Okay, it's your turn.

My mouth is sealed.

You asked for it.

This is my house...

...and I live here with my three

half brothers and half sister.

We're all bastards.

We have different last names, different

fathers. I haven't seen mine since I was 2.

Our mother's a drug addict,

and she's in jail right now.

We live with my grandmother

as wards of the court.

All my brothers have ADD.

Jonny has ADHD.

Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder.

Robbie, the youngest, who's a little

slower, has trouble being alone.

- Okay, is that enough?

- No.

- I mean, I'm sorry.

- Don't be.

- I'm not.

- No, I mean, I like you.

I just wanna know you.

- Come here.

- What's the matter?

I don't have time for this.

I run a zoo.

How about I give you a ride tomorrow?

- I told you, I take the bus.

- That's okay.

So tomorrow we'll both take the bus.

What?

You are knocked up,

and I'm the last person that you tell?

- I knew what you'd say.

- This is stupid.

- How are you gonna raise a kid?

- See? I knew it.

You can't quit school. Mom quit,

and look what happened to her.

I hate school.

So you're gonna live with Ricky

and then what?

Clean houses for other people?

Stay here.

We can raise the baby together.

- Oh, Lord.

- Another one won't matter.

- Rose, Ricky said to hurry it up.

- Bye, you guys.

- Rosie, make sure that boy marries you.

- Rose, wait.

We've never been separated.

Hurry it up, babe.

I am saying goodbye to my sister,

Ricky, so just can it.

Look, I know what you're thinking.

That I'm gonna end up like Mom.

But, Gracie, I love him.

I can't do this without you.

It had to happen someday.

I'm not like you.

You can do anything.

Just take care of yourself, huh?

I'll call you.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Could you help me with my computer?

I'm having some problems.

Go away.

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