Reviewer: ftmill16 Signed 10
Date: February 05, 2011
Title: Chapter 39: Being With Someone
Oh I cannot tell you just how excite I was to see that there were new chapters added to this fic! Such a happy joyous day! Okay, this is a really GREAT chapter! At first I was thinking, geez mama Halpert, you're being pretty harsh with Pam. I mean, she hut Jim, but he hurt her too! Then I thought about my own 20 yr old son and heck, he had a girl hurt him recently, nothing like this, no prolonged period of time and certainly not in front of an audience. Thinking about that I realized that the love of a mother isn't always the most rational thing, especially when it concerns a mom and her 'little boy' when she feels he is sensitive.
That said, you do SUCH a fantastic job with the emotions and the explanations in this chapter. I thought it was so realistic that after Jms mom had seen all that Pam had helped with in the prior chapter, then here she is, sitting with a woman she doesn't know all because she loves her son, without realistically expecting the love to be returned any longer... it would be hard for the irritation NOT to melt away. At the same time, I like how Larissa get's to the point asking why Pam is there and when Pam uses phrasing that of course we all know is BS and is really just using the 'repaying of a debt' as a justification to be there, well, Larissa thinks again about her wounded son and is right back in THAT mindset.
I love the backstory you created (at least I think you did) of Jim and Mark moving from and apartment to a house together and that putting doubt even in Pam's mind as to Jim's sexuality, even if she had long ago concluded that she was wrong. I like that she was able to make Jim's mom really see her side, how se felt, what she thought and explaining about how much was shot for the documentary vs how much is shown was crucial. I think it was also good for his mom to hear that one reason Pam didn't seriously consider it was that she simply felt that the girls Jim dates are far out of Pam's league. I think you showed in there that even his mom didn't really agree with that. I really LOVED his mom giving Pam advice that Pam needs to talk to him and that she would need to be the one to start the discussion. What Pam doesn't know is that his mom I think, along with his dad of course, have known for some time that he isn't happy with Karen and is just going through the motions and trying to protect himself. I think that as a mom, seeing what Larissa had seen both in Pam's actions and her words, she could sense that Pam really and truly does love Jim, his heart would really be safe with her and she knows that Pam is what would really make Jim hapy and complete and that's why she was willing to listen to her and give her advice. I think that Larissa really got the chance to see that Pam really is a good, aring, loving person and that THAT is exactly why Jim fell in love wth her.
This really was an awesome chapter and as eager as I have been for interraction between Jim and Pam, I think that this chapter was absolutey necessary! (Not that it matters what I thnk! :o) )
Author's Response: Of COURSE it matters what you think! I'm writing for the READERS!
Glad you liked the back story I made up about Jim & Mark's living arrangements. And I was so glad to read your comment about Larissa's irritation melting away during the day but coming right back when Pam says something that puts her "right back in that mindset." That emotional mental switch is exactly what I was trying to convey. Thanks!