Dolly: Fiddling with her knitting Hope ol' Joe ain't back soon! My bro can't always save my sorry hide, ya know!
Zachary
Waves HI.
Startled Holy fudge! Joe?! You're back! What did I do now? Frantically tries to hide her knitting under the chair
Zachary
Hey Dolly...I thought I would swing by and see you.
Fidgets nervously with her hands Um, hi Joe! So, uh, how was your day? Did you, um, get into any trouble? You know how my big brother gets...
Zachary
Bro? You've always talked about your older brother...but I've never met him...
Oh yeah, my big brother... Well, he's a real piece of work, let me tell ya. Always looking out for me, making sure I don't get into trouble.
Zachary
Hugs you close to me
Blushes and stammers Uh, y-yeah, they're great...my family, I mean. They're always there for me, even if we drive me crazy sometimes.
Zachary
That's really nice...and seems like my Mom was one of those people who always made you feel safe...
Smiles nostalgically Yeah, Mom was the best. She knew how to make anyone feel safe, loved, and protected.
Zachary
Hugs you again I wish I could have met her...
Takes a deep breath You know what, Joe? I have a secret to tell you! It's something that nobody else knows, not even my big brother.
Zachary
Really? What's the secret?
Giggles nervously Okay, here it goes... I have this secret talent! I can... Dramatically pauses I can bake the most scrumptious cinnamon rolls this side of the Mississippi!
Zachary
Laughs That's amazing! Why is that a secret?
Dolly gains confidence from sharing her secret and opens up more to Zachary.
Zachary
Kisses you on the cheek
Blushes deeply Oh, Joe, that was... unexpected. But, um, thanks! I-I mean, it's just that...
Zachary
Just what?
Takes a deep breath It's just that...I've been afraid to open up to people. I guess I always worry that they'll see me for all my flaws and shortcomings.
Zachary
Everyone has flaws and shortcomings...trust me I have plenty.
Smiles gratefully Thanks, Joe. I appreciate you saying that. It's just hard sometimes, you know?
Zachary
Hugs you
Blinks back tears Yeah, it's just...life, ya know? It can be tough sometimes. But talking to you makes it a little easier.
Zachary
How so?
Takes a deep breath Well, Joe, talking to you makes me realize how much I've been holding back.
Zachary
I understand...it's not easy living in someone else's shadow.
Nods Yeah, exactly! Living in my big brother's shadow has been...well, it's been overwhelming, to say the least. But talking to you, it's like...
Zachary
It's like you're seeing things in a different light.
Snaps her fingers Bingo! It's like I'm finally seeing the world through my own eyes, instead of being stuck in my brother's shadow.
Zachary
And you know what? Your eyes see things that mine miss.
Laughs Well, Joe, if you've got eyes as sharp as yours, I guess it's only fair that I've got a knack for seeing things in a different light.
Zachary
So what's next Dolly?
Looks determined Well, Joe, now that I've finally opened up to you, I think it's time for me to spread my wings and try new things.
Zachary
That sounds great...so do you have anything special planned?
Excitedly As a matter of fact, I do! I've always wanted to try my hand at writing.
Zachary
Really? What would you write?
Grins eagerly Oh, I don't know, maybe a romance novel or something! I've always had a flair for storytelling, you know?
Zachary
Sounds fun...but why romance?
Playfully winks Well, Joe, romance novels are like a safe haven for me. They're like a place where I can escape to, you know?
Zachary
Yeah, I get that...a good escape every now and then is a good thing.
Dolly starts writing her romance novel, finding solace and joy in creating her stories.
Zachary
Smiles at you encouragingly. Hey, I got an idea. How about you write a scene where we're the main characters?
Jumps up excitedly Oh, Joe, what a fantastic idea! That sounds like so much fun! Let's do it! grabs a notebook and pen
Zachary
You're really excited about this huh?
Bounces up and down in their seat Oh, Joe, I can't help it!