Changing narration to dialogue

“No, I don’t want them around the plane. I don’t want you around it either. I want you inside, spending time - . “The kids know, I’m doing this for them.” Still staying beneath the aircraft but Marcus has now given his full attention to his wife.

 

As she reflects back to the time they had, one happy family having their summer holidays and she sigh. “We all used to be so close…” “We still are,” says Marcus, finally coming right out from beneath the plane. He heads for a pile of tools discarded nearby. “No, we’re not. Jason is closer to Zen and Win than you are these days.” Marcus gives her a dejected look as he picks up one of the tools from the pile. “That’s hardly fair. You know why I’m doing this. We’re going flying for our summer holiday.” “Zen and Win would rather have their father.”

 

Marcus prepares to vanish back under the plane. He stops when he sees the hurt on Jaxin’s face. “I’m sorry. Look, I’m nearly finished and soon another couple of days everything will go back to the way it was.”

 

“You promise?” Asks Jaxin, folding her arms across her chest. “I promise.” Says Marcus warmly and gives her a smile.

 

 At the kitchen window, Zen and Win watch the exchange between their parents, but have no idea of the conversation taking place. “I don’t like it when they argue,” says Win coldly. “Me neither,” admits Zen. As Jaxin turns and heads back towards the house, Zen ruffles his sister’s hair. “Come on, let’s get washed up.”

 

From where he’s seated, Marcus watches Jaxin walk away. He waits until she passes through the gate into the garden before digging his phone out of his pocket. “Hey Jason, I was wondering if you had any free time? I could really use a little help…”

 

 

***

 

The beginning of school half term is finally here, Zen and Win achieved the grades they wanted and head home to begin their holiday. They first head to the field in search of their father. Chances are he’s in the hangar working on the plane.

“Hi dad,” Zen and Win chorus in unison. “Hello darlings,” the grease covered Marcus replied. They stand with folded arms, watching their father continue his tinkering... “How’s school?” Marcus breaks the ensuing silence,  and  climbs into the cock pit. “It’s all right.” Zen answers disinterestedly, clearly disappointed and starts to walk away. “Come on sis, let’s go. Dad is too busy to talk to us.”  Win nods in agreement, and they drift off together hand in hand.

As Marcus tries to start the engine, he sees the children walking away. For just a moment, there was a poignant sense of sadness that dwelled within him. However, this moment of reflection did not stop him redirecting his attention back to the aircraft. He pushed the button to start the engine. “Come on, you can do it.” as if giving encouragement to a suffering friend. The noises confirmed that the engine was in serious distress, but still the propeller not moved at all. “Come on, come on” he repeats, displaying excitement.

“Zen, did you hear that?” They  glance back with excitement. “Oh! No, it stops.” Zen’s enthusiasm is short lived. Marcus jumps out of the cockpit shouting and swearing as he kicks the ‘pile of junk’. “Why don’t you do what you’re supposed to! Why won’t you start?! What is wrong with you?!!”

“Dad!” Zen and Win call in unison, shaken with their father’s behaviour.  

Marcus looks out of the hangar across the field and notices the children are staring back at him. As their eyes meet, a feeling of loss and sadness momentarily overwhelms him. But again, his focus changes back to the aircraft in readiness for another start-up attempt as he wipes a tear from his cheek. 

Jason has arrived and is on the field heading towards the hangar. He sees the children and notices they are looking sad, almost melancholy. “Hi Zen, Hi Win. Everything all right?” The children nod pensively. There is neither excitement nor energy from them. “Is your dad in the hangar?” The children nod again. Not a word from them. “Catch up later.” Jason confirms, almost dismissive of the reasons behind their suffering, believing the kids are just being moody. He runs on up to the field to the hangar. “Hi dude.”

“Hi Jase. What brings you here.” “Well I have the afternoon off, so I thought I’d come round to give you a hand.” “Thanks.” Marcus sighs. “What’s wrong?” Jason is scanning at the surroundings where many tools are scattered around.  “The engine won’t start.” Disappointment in his voice as well as shown on his face, Marcus picks up another tool to begin to work on the engine.

“Have you tried putting fuel in the tank?” Jason tries to lighten up Marcus’ tense emotion. “Funny guy you are huh!! But there were signs of life - .” “That’s great news. There is hope –.” “Really - ?

“I saw the children they don’t look happy. Do you know it’s half term now?” Jason is now looking closely at the engine to see what Marcus has done. “Damn it! I totally lost track of the time. The children must be disappointed with me. But I can’t stop I must get this aircraft going. I’ll make it up to the kids later.”

Marcus and Jason are busy repairing and restoring the aircraft into the evening.    Jason is spending more time to help Marcus as he can’t bear to see him neglect and damage his family relationship any further.   

 

Jason Harper is Marcus’ best friend and has been since they were children. Jason works as an aircraft engineer, a single parent in his late thirties. He is a cool and relaxed type of guy but very responsible regarding his work and as a father to Joe.

 

Jason always keeps his Friday free to take his son to see Marcus and his family. He likes the idea that Jaxin is there for him almost like a mum; so close that he addresses her as Ma.

 

Joe is very much like his father and has a hankering to be the man of the house. He is a happy, bright young man with brown curly hair and a cheeky smile. His mother died when giving birth to him and he always found it difficult to accept a life without her. Not having a mum to grow up with, Joe has learnt to be  independent and even looks after his dad the best he can.

 

The alarm went off. “That’s quick, time for sausages to go into the oven.” Joe mumbles to himself while putting on his favourite navy blue apron and not to forget his oven mitten to complete his uniform. “Dad be home in less than an hour,” looking at the clock on the wall and very pleased with himself. “I’m nearly done with my Maths homework, perfect timing to watch Dr Who.”  

 

 

***

 

 

Nights when the two families are together are really the only nights when Zen gets to use the tree-house, thanks to his mum distracting Win.

 

Win is a typical tomboy, getting physically involved in all the boy’s activities, when they let her. Her oval shaped face, wavy dark brown hair and  shining brown eyes make her look absolutely gorgeous. Being younger, smaller and weaker – and a girl! – means the boys don’t feel she’s up to their adventures. They’ll only share the ones they think she could cope with.

 

Occasionally Joe and Win will argue. “You’re annoying; you want to know everything.” Win pulls her face at Joe’s comment. Zen finds that funny, that’s the love and hate relationship between Joe and Win.

 

The two boys climb into the tree–house with backpacks. “Zen what have you got in your bag ”? “Secret plan for our adventures.” Joe is following closely behind. “Great, I have mine in my bag,” This warm summer night is just what they’re looking for. Zen reaches the tree-house and throws his bag down before offering one of his hands to Joe. “Let’s work on it tonight.”  

 

Tonight, instead of working into the early hours on their adventures, they spend part of the night watching their dads tinkering through the night in the barn, repairing the plane.

 

In the morning, Win shouts from beneath the tree-house. “Zen, Joe, wake up.” The boys lay awake for a while as Win continues yelling, Zen had enough. “Quiet, Win!” Zen and Joe cover their ears with pillows. Not giving up she insists “I want to know, what’s - ” “Tell you later, please leave us now.” Replies Zen disgruntledly. “I’ll come back, when breakfast is ready.” Win runs back to the house holding her favourite teddy bear.

 

                                                    ***

  

After a fortnight, Jason and Joe have arrived. Joe is excited and eager to get to Zen’s room. “Hello Ma.” He gives Jaxin a hug and a kiss. “Hello Joe, it’s great to see you. Zen is waiting in his room.” He heads straight to the stairs “Zen”. “Yup, in here.” Joe pushes open the door, dropping his bag on the floor and put his hand in as he utters “look, what I’ve brought.” Zen looks up and stops playing his computer game. “This is cool.” He reaches out to take the binoculars. “Perfect for tonight.”  Joe nods and shows what it can do.

 

Jaxin taking the opportunity to cook up a storm.  She cooked far too much, too much meat and too many vegetables, definitely too many potatoes. .

 

“Mummy, there’s lot of food.” Win is surprised whilst placing cutleries on the table. “Daddy, Uncle Jason and Joe are joining us for dinner tonight.” “Really? Daddy is going to eat with us?” A surprised looking Win is thrilled, it’s been a while they eat without their father.  “Yes, darling.”

“I’ll let Zen know.” Skipping out from the kitchen. “Zen…”  

 

For the first time in months the night started with a true family meal. Jaxin and Marcus, Win and Zen all gather around the table, with Jason and Joe together with them like extended family, which really is exactly what they are.

 

“Joe, eat your vegetables,” chided Jaxin midway through the meal when she noticed Joe pushing his carrots to one side. Jason smiled at Jaxin when she said it. “Boys what have both of you been up to in the tree-house?” Instead of answering his dad’s question, Joe is eager to know. “Dad, what’s the progress with fixing - ”

 

“Yes dad, any chance we can go flying?” Zen interrupts. Not to be left out, Win echoes “Daddy, daddy, when can we go flying?” Both Marcus and Jason look at each other and smile. “Well… you got to wait and see.” Marcus winks at Zen.

 

After dinner, Joe and Zen watch Marcus and Jason in the barn from the tree-house window, taking turn to use the binoculars. “Torch off.” Joe mutters. So they seem to be asleep. Behind them, the house is in darkness, Win and Jaxin already asleep.

 

“You think they’ll get it working?” asks Zen. “Dad’s always been really good with engines; his boss told me he can fix anything, so yeah… I think so.” Joe passes over the binoculars. “I hope so too,” nods Zen whilst trying to keep his eyes on the barn.

 

In the barn both men are cramped into the engine compartment, swapping tools with one another and handing nuts and bolts between them. “Wrench,” says Jason, his head still buried in the engine. He holds out his hand and Marcus gives him the wrench. The more experienced engineer, he’s clearly taken charge. “You’ve done some really good work here,” says Jason. “Thanks,” Marcus sighs, “Just not enough to get it working.”

 

Jason stops what he’s doing to look at Marcus on the other side of the plane’s nose. “You realise how lucky you are?” Marcus doesn’t answer; he just shakes his head like he doesn’t understand the question. Jason knows he understands exactly what he means.

 

“Come on,” says Jason. “How many relationships of mine have fallen flat on their face when I’ve spent too much time working, or it’s been decided I’m spending too much time focusing on Joe? Too many to count, that’s how many. I can get a woman but I can’t keep one.”

 

“I know,” says Marcus, finally relinquishing his acknowledgement of where the conversation is going. “Do you though? How many summers have the kids waited patiently for you to finish this thing? How many nights has Jaxin spent alone instead of sleeping beside her husband?” “I need to finish it, I promised the kids.” “Yeah, but you didn’t have to neglect them.”

 

“I didn’t neglect them!” Neglect is a word Marcus doesn’t like. It cuts a little close to the truth and he knows it. “I just got a little… obsessed.” Jason waits expectantly for Marcus to finish. He’s always been a proud man, not great at showing his feelings.

 

“Ever since they changed the guidelines at the flight school I’ve felt like I’ve let the kids down. I really thought the plane would be an easy fix.” He takes a deep breath. “I honestly didn’t expect it to take this long it’s now become like an obsession. I promised the kids, I have to get it working.”  

 

Jason takes a few moments to contemplate then studies the engine of the plane as he continues thinking. “Okay,” says Jason, nodding agreement with his own thought, “I’ll make you a deal.”

“What?” Marcus is unsure what’s Jason referring to, stops what he is doing and looks over for clarification. “You ease off on the obsession, start spending time with the kids and Jax. I’ll bring some tools and parts from work, and help you get this heap in the air. With a bit of luck it could be before the end of the summer.” He holds out his hand across the nose of the plane. “Is it a deal?”

 

Marcus shakes Jason’s hand vigorously. “It’s a Deal.” As the handshake ends, Marcus asks, “You sure we can do it?” Jason nods his head towards the cockpit. “Turn it over.” Marcus looks confused and hopeful at the same time but doesn’t move. “I thought we needed parts?” “I didn’t say it was fixed, I just said turn it over. Go on,” Jason urges.

 

Marcus climbs into the cockpit and looks again at Jason, who nods. He turns it over and the engine grumbles, then splutters. Marcus looks at the end of the plane’s nose and starts to laugh excitedly as the propeller tries to spin; creeping round by half a turn before it stops and the engine coughs and goes silent.

 

For many that might be seen as a failure, but for Marcus who has spent so long with little more than a splutter from the engine, it’s a huge leap forward. There are tears in his eyes as he leaps from the cockpit and throws his arms around Jason. “Thank you.” “Maybe next time you’ll accept an offer of help rather than insisting on trying to do it all yourself?” 

 

The two laugh as, up in the tree-house, Zen and Joe are ecstatic. “We’re going flying!” Zen jumps up excitedly. “We’re going to need provisions,” Joe raises his hand for a high five.

  

***

 

Jason and Joe are pretty much moved into the cottage, every evening they’re there.  The two dads would go to work every morning while Jaxin spent time with all three children. At night they’d return to the cottage and Jason always seemed to be laden down with tools and parts.

 

Beyond the adventures, which Win always pushed to be bigger, better and bolder, courageous beyond her years or, as Zen liked to joke, “too naive to know when something was a bad idea,” the three children helped with chores around the house as best they could. The best of times  for the boys, were on the days when Jaxin and Win are out. .

 

Jaxin and Win have just finished cultivated the flowers in the yard. “Zen, Joe. Win and I are taking the flowers to the market.” She turns her attention back to Win. “Come on, let’s get the garden soil off our hands.”

 

“Mummy, the flowers look so pretty, sure we can sell them in no time.” Win tries to lift the flower basket with both hands. “I hope so sweetheart. Chop-chop, we better leave now. Bye, boys.”