Sleepwalking Page #2

That's not how it works.

You're a good guy.

You should start standing up for yourself.

We're not with Dad anymore.

What's Dad got to do with this?

Nothin'.

Hey, you remember this?

- Yeah.

- Yeah?

That's the day we left the farm.

He beat the sh*t out of me that night.

Look at her.

She's growing up so fast.

I really screwed it up this time.

This is a good place for her.

I'm just trying to say thank you, James.

Yeah. It's...

It's okay.

Yeah.

Hey.

Um, I wouldn't go in there just...

just yet, okay?

Where's Mom?

What?

She's not here.

Did she leave a note or anything?

Did you see anything here?

She probably went out for smokes.

I gotta go.

I'm late for work. Sorry.

Hey, how you gonna get to school?

Um, I'll just wait for her.

Okay. Bye.

All right. That's lunch!

So, Speedy, you have any idea

where I could buy

about 2 acres worth of weed?

Don't worry. I'm not gonna let

any of these other morons in on it.

So what's she up to?

Joleen in jail?

She and Tara are staying at my place.

What? Oh, sh*t, man!

You gotta have me over!

Hey, Danni.

You wanna have lunch

with a couple of handsome guys?

Sure. Point 'em out for me.

Ha!

I know you love a man in a uniform.

She ain't bad.

You got trouble out there.

He's on the other side right now.

Joleen?

What?

These are yours.

Did you see Mom?

No.

Hey, Tara?

Hey, come on.

She says she's got a plan.

She says she'll be back

for your birthday.

That's... That's, uh,

just a month from now, right?

It won't be so bad, you know?

Come on.

L- l... I'll do whatever you want to do.

You... You tell me what to do,

and I'll do it, okay?

We'll have fun.

You know, l-l...

I'm gonna need a ride to school...

from now on.

I can get a ride back here,

but you're gonna

have to drive me to school.

What about the bus?

The bus doesn't come out here.

Anyway, the bus sucks.

I- I guess you could ride my bike

if you want.

I'm not riding your stupid bike.

I can barely touch the pedals.

You can drive my mom's car.

I don't... I don't drive, though.

And I don't think she would be

too happy about that, either.

Then I guess I'll just sit here

in your shitty apartment

until my mom comes back!

Where are the gears?

There are no gears, Uncle James.

It's an automatic.

It's way easier driving without gears.

You just drive.

R is reverse.

Let's go.

This is it. Here. Here!

Oh. Sorry.

Okay, Tara.

Have a nice... day.

Higher. Higher.

Set them there by the jungle gym.

I've never seen you drive before.

Oh, yeah.

You know Tara. She...

She had to get to school, so...

What about her mother?

Why didn't she take her?

Oh, she's gonna be gone for a while.

Well, where has she gone?

I don't know.

Don't worry.

I'm... I'm taking care of Tara.

James, look, I think it's great

that you're trying,

but you gotta watch it.

You're gonna get yourself

in all sorts of sh*t here.

I don't know what else to do.

You want something else?

I can make something else.

There's nothing here anyway.

What do you want to do tonight?

Can we go look for Mom tomorrow?

After my work.

No. In the morning.

Well, we can't do that.

I've... I've gotta go to work,

and you've got school, too.

Well, you just asked me

what I wanted to do.

Yeah, but l-l...

So you didn't mean it?

I want to look for Mom tomorrow.

This is James.

James.

Yeah. Speedy. Right.

Is Mr. Carvel there?

Okay. Well, could you tell him,

uh, that I can't come into work today

because of my back?

Just... What's that? Yeah.

I- I know. Okay.

Can we go?

Uncle James?

Yeah.

Barbara!

What?

And what are you two

doing here in the middle of the day?

- We're looking for Joleen.

- Joleen?

Well, she's not here.

Isn't she with Warren?

Warren's in jail, Mrs. Bergen,

if you didn't know already.

- He was arrested for growing pot.

- No. No. He would've called.

Have you seen my mom?

That's all we're asking.

Tara, you know I don't ever

speak to your mother.

Warren, you know where they might be?

Do you even know you're in jail?

It's your fault she left

in the first place, Warren.

This whole thing is your fault.

I'm just wondering how long

this has been going on.

That's what I'd like to know.

Do you know what Mom would call you?

She had a name for you

when it was just me and her talking.

She'd say it, and we'd laugh.

Do you know what it was?

I don't believe you.

What was it?

Tara, what did she call me?

Tara, get back here, you little sh*t!

What did she call me? Tara!

Oh, sh*t!

- Uh-oh.

- Sh*t.

Hey!

Give me your helmet.

Give me that vest.

You're done.

- Why aren't you in school?

- I overslept.

- Come on. I'll drive you right now.

- No, no, no.

'Cause I'm too late already.

It's not like I have an excuse.

- It's not like I'm sick or anything.

- Tara, you gotta go to school.

Well, why aren't you at work?

I got fired.

Was it 'cause you were late today?

No, no. It's...

It's not just today.

If you want me to go to school,

I'll get ready,

and then you can drive me, okay?

Hey. All right if we come in?

Yeah.

You, uh, mind if we sit down and talk?

- Go ahead.

- I need to talk to Joleen, too.

This concerns her.

Oh, she's not here right now.

Oh.

Where might she be?

I don't know.

She said she'll be back

in about a month.

Everything's fine here, okay?

What day is it today?

Friday.

A school day.

James, why isn't Tara in school today?

We... We overslept.

Yeah. L... We...

We've had a lot going on lately.

Yeah, I know.

This is important.

This woman's from Social Services.

This is the part of my job I really hate.

Tara needs a proper guardian,

and with Joleen gone,

I'm not so sure that it's here with you.

I'm sorry.

He's probably right, if you think about it.

Don't you think?

Tara?

It's... It's not forever, you know?

I- I promise.

Okay, let's do it.

Hey, don't worry about paying rent

or anything for a while.

You've been f***ed over enough lately.

Go down into the basement.

Okay, here it is.

You're welcome to it.

Obviously not deluxe accommodations,

but you got runnin' water,

you got a place to hang your clothes.

That's the mattress here?

Oh, yeah. I tried to pump it up for you.

This damn thing...

My arm about fell off.

Jesus Christ.

Oh, oh, oh, oh!

Hey, how about this?

How about we throw a party tonight

in honor of your moving in here?

We do it up huge.

- Are you sure Sharon's gonna be...

- Don't worry about Sharon.

- I wear the pants in this...

- Randall!

- What, honey?

- Get your ass up here!

Okay, sweetie. I'm coming.

- Now!

- All right. I gotta go.

- You f***in' deaf? Randall!

- Yeah, man. Just make yourself comfy.

- Now!

- Okay, baby.

Here I come.

Oh. Sorry.

Is this a f***ing joint?

Now, honey...

Sweet pea? Honey bunch?

Oh, yeah!

Whew.

Oh, sh*t!

Speedy Reedy.

Hey.

So, what, you're living here now?

Yeah, I'm in the basement

just since today.

What about Tara?

Oh, uh, they said I wasn't

a proper guardian.

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