"Well, if you want my opinion on the whole thing, its that maybe now you'll have more time to do things. You know? More things like baseball and soccer. Things that kids aught to be doing." Dad reflected. His feet were up on the sitting stool in the chair he like to read the newspaper in. It was Sunday morning, and he was wearing slippers, talking about the Kid Knight movie because Mom had told him about the discussion with the Director.

Shawn made a show of considering that idea, and tried to look at least moderately pleased at the idea. He wanted to keep Dad happy, but at the same time, he had a feeling that Mom hadn't yet given up on the dream and he didn't want to commit too hard to being happy about having more time to do kid things.

"Anyway..." Shawn's Dad trailed off, seeming to be more interested in what the paper said than anything Shawn was thinking or doing. "Oh look. The Dodgers won last night." he mused.

A moment later Ralph came wandering down the hall. One of his socks was flapping about, loose and unkempt. It flopped every time he took a step. His hair in the back of his head jetted out straight up. It looked like he had just gotten up from one of his many naps. Ralph had been sleeping a lot easier since he got his blanket back, and now that it was summer time, he seemed to be the most at ease in the house.

Unphased by what was bothering Bobby.

Unmoved by the pressures that Shawn felt.

Calm in the face of what Mom was considering the growing tragedy of Shawn's career.

Plus, he didn't have to work like Dad.

"Shawn...you wanna....wanna...wanna...wanna...go outside? I talked to Bobby, and he's tired from last night. He wants to...wants to...wants to..wants to....sleep."

"Umm, sure!" Maybe playing outside with Ralph would help Shawn clear his head. At the very least, it'd hopefully keep him out from underfoot with Mom.