Kevin McCallister : I’ve been kind of a pain lately. I said some things I shouldn’t have. I really haven’t been too good this year.

Marley : Yeah.

Kevin McCallister : I’m kind of upset about it because I really like my family, even though sometimes I say I don’t. Sometimes I even *think* I don’t. Do you get that?

Marley : I think so. How you feel about your family is a complicated thing.

Kevin McCallister : Especially with an older brother.

Marley : Deep down, you always love ’em. But you can forget that you love them. And you can hurt them, and they can hurt you. And that’s not just because you’re young. You want to know the real reason why I’m here right now?

Kevin McCallister : Sure.

Marley : I came to hear my granddaughter sing. I can’t come and hear her tonight.

Kevin McCallister : You have plans?

Marley : No… I’m not welcome.

Kevin McCallister : [confused] At church?

Marley : Oh, you’re always welcome at church. I’m not welcome with my son. Years back, before you and your family moved on the block, I had an argument with my son.

Kevin McCallister : How old is he?

Marley : Oh, he’s grown up. We lost our tempers, and I said I didn’t care to see him anymore. He said the same, and we haven’t spoken to each other since.

Kevin McCallister : If you miss him, why don’t you call him?

Marley : I’m afraid if I call him, he won’t talk to me.

Kevin McCallister : How do you know?

Marley : I don’t know. I’m just afraid he won’t.

Kevin McCallister : No offense, but… aren’t you a little old to be afraid?

Marley : You can be a little old for a lot of things, but you’re never too old to be afraid.

Kevin McCallister : That’s true. I’ve always been afraid of our basement. It’s dark, there’s weird stuff down there, and it smells funny, that sort of thing. It’s bothered me for years.

Marley : Basements are like that.

Kevin McCallister : Then I made myself go down there to do some laundry, and I found out it’s not so bad. All this time I’ve been worrying about it, but if you turn on the lights, it’s no big deal.

Marley : What’s your point?

Kevin McCallister : My point is, you should call your son.

Marley : What if he won’t talk to me?

Kevin McCallister : At least you’ll know. Then you could stop worrying about it, and you won’t have to be afraid anymore. I don’t care how mad I was, I’d talk to my dad… especially around the holidays.