And another thing I'm trying out, this time for Joanne, it's the same as Maureen's, a background story. Hope you like it!
Hi. My name is Joanne, and I'm married to my partner Maureen. We've got two wonderful daughters, Mia and Ruby, and the dog, Alfie. What I always wanted.
I was born Joanne Julia Jefferson in New York City. I had a Mom, Emily, and a Dad, Thomas, even an older sister, Grace. I've always wanted a childhood like that for my kids, because for that part of my life, I was happy.
Grace was seven years older than me, and she was the wild child. When she was fourteen and I was seven I remember her coming back home after nights out, completely drunk, sometimes high on drugs.
And that's why I can't bear to see Mimi and Roger go back to the drugs. I can't let another person I love let the drugs kill them. Grace died of AID's complications when I was ten. She was only seventeen, and that tells me everything I needed to know.
AID's doesn't discriminate.
Then, when I was eleven, a year after Grace died, my parent started getting strict. No TV, no nights out with friends, no 'bad influence' friends. For the first time in my life, I felt trapped. I was unable to do anything about it.
My parents weren't nasty, they just wanted me to have the life that Grace could have had, but didn't. That's why I became a lawyer. My parents. I never wanted to be a lawyer, but in the end I loved it, because it brought me to Maureen.
I first discovered I was a lesbian at an early age, about thirteen. My best friend was comforting me on Grace's death anniversary, and she suddenly kissed me. I was taken aback, but deep down, I liked it.
However, not everyone was accepting. I told my parents first, just before I left for University. They were horrified, and tried to stop me from going, so they could st me down and talk this 'rubbish' out of me.
When I finally came out in University, girls would walk past me whispering sharp comments loudly. I can still hear them.
"Dyke."
"Don't get too close, she might touch you up."
They acted like I had a disgusting disease. No-one would touch me if they didn't have to. Apparently, even my possessions were regarded as 'dirty.'
Eventually, one night I was walking back from the library, and someone grabbed me from behind. It was the girls from Uni. They took me into an alley way and beat me up. They took my money, and my phone and keys. They left me on the floor, bleeding and crying in pain.
But, being Joanne, I didn't tell anyone. I struggled up, stumbled back home, and found my spare keys under the doormat.
I cleaned myself up, and no-one asked any questions. I was just the queer who got beat up. No biggie.
But now, I'm happy with my sexuality, and I don't care about what my parents are thinking right now.
I know that I, to everyone else, am the high-flying lawyer with the perfect life. To Maureen, I'm so much more than that. She knows everything, about Grace, and about my parents. She understands, and for that I am truly grateful.
Thanks to those who reviewed the Maureen story. Please review! I am planning on doing this for each of the bohos, I have done one already for Maureen and now Joanne. What do you think?
