Hi folks :) This is a remake of 'A Family Problem', a tiny fic that I tried writing a while ago. I couldn't bring myself to add anything there, so I decided to give it a new life and try bringing it back. Anyway, we shall see what we shall see
xoxo, Betsy
Another night in another club. Joanne was unusually silent, while Bobby was constantly talking about his new girlfriend. Larry was somewhere else dancing like an idiot. Or at least that was what Joanne though. She liked this club, though, mainly because of a big-band playing on a small stage. Moreover, this was the only club around where they were welcome.
The woman sat with her cocktail staring off into space. It's Christmas soon... Larry's gonna go all sentimental again... With his photo albums and old songs... If only he knew how it hurts... Robby interrupted her thoughts.
"Joanne? You're spacing out again, aren't you? This... this is strange. I know that you sometimes get like this, but today... Woah, you haven't said a word!"
"It's not your problem, kiddo," Joanne took a sip from her glass and pursed her lips. A strong drink burned down her throat and brought warmth to her injured soul.
"This isn't about me or anything, right?" Bobby asked, trying to catch her eye.
"It has nothing to do with you."
"And with whom then?"
"Quit it."
"Is it about Larry? C'mon, Joanne, you know I won't stop until I know everything."
"Oh, believe me, you will," Joanne scoffed and took another sip. "I will make you."
"Okay, okay..." Robby sighed and turned his gaze away from Joanne, trying to find Larry in the crowd. His gaze stopped on the band. He desperately needed to change the topic. "See that girl? She definitely has something for that saxophonist."
"Which one?" Joanne narrowed her eyes. Why did I ever refuse to wear glasses or lenses?..
"She is the only girl there, Joanne," Robby gave a tiny laugh and turned around a little bit more to see the whole band. "Look at her. Seems to me that she is so into him!"
"That's not same for him, though..." Joanne said under her breath, leaning closer to Bobby. "Look at him. He certainly tries to get away from her."
"Yeah, looks like that."
"He's quite handsome," Joanne added, lighting up a cigarette. "No wonder girls are falling for him. I bet he could fuck the whole club if he wanted."
"Joanne! What d'you mean?!" Bobby laughed loudly. "Are you jealous cause he won't fuck you?!"
"I'm not interested on him, he's too young for me. I will have to teach him everything even if he thinks he's a pro. I prefer mature man who know what to do with women." She looked at Robby, cocking her eyebrow, but quickly turned away. He has already rejected you, don't even think of trying once more... "Maybe we could meet up some other day?" Yeah, that's how you do it, Joanne... Good for you, idiot.
"Well, we could... but... I bet you won't come to that saxophonist and ask him out!"
"But if I will and he agrees, I will go out with him, not with you!" Joanne grinned. Now that's gonna be easy... Jost two more drinks and I will come up to anyone... "What do we do if I win?"
"If you win you go out with me or first with that guy, then with me. And if I win, you... you tell me your darkest secret!"
"No way!" Joanne burst out, almost breaking the glass in her hand. "Who do you think you are?!"
"Well, I knew you don't really wanna go out with me..."
Joanne frowned, thinking. It was a tough choice. On the other hand, coming up to anyone seemed quite easy to her. Well...
"Okay. I agree. But if I win, I choose the club!"
"Okay!" Bobby smiled widely and took a sip from his glass, putting it away. "That will be just enough for me. I wanna enjoy the show and remember it."
The band finished their concert earlier that night. Usually all the musicians were staying in to have some drinks, and Joanne hoped that she could take her time. However, time passed, and no one showed up.
"Larry," Joanne turned to her husband and pursed her lips. "I wanna go out."
"Why, honey?" The man smiled at his wife, trying to calm her down. "I've just stopped dancing, we can have a drink now..."
"I wanna. Go. Out. I don't care what you think, okay? I need to." The woman stood up and glanced at Robby, then left.
"Um... this is not good... I'm gonna go talk to her... be right back!" Bobby jumped to his feet and tried to catch up with Joanne, leaving Larry all alone and bewildered.
"This is all your stupid idea," Joanne hissed as soon as they were out. "We have like... ten seconds before Larry will find me with that guy. And if this will destroy my marriage, you'll be responsible for that."
"Should I bury my rage with a boy half your age in the grass... Tell me how could I leave you, when I left long ago?" Robert muttered, grinning.
"Quit it for the love of Follies." Joanne hissed, walking to the 'stage door', as the sign above it said. And there she saw them.
The tall blonde guy, who was the saxophonist, was standing there with that girl. And they clearly weren't happy about it. Joanne could overhear some words. The guy was asking the girl to stop following him, while she tried to say how much she loved him. Suddenly she cried out so loudly that the whole city must have heard her, "I even curled my hair like that bitch you love! She has the same name, she plays the same instrument! What does she have that I don't?! Just tell me!"
Joanne gasped as she recognised the voice. She turned away from the two and walked up to Robby, looking shocked and puzzled.
"So you wanted to hear my darkest secret?" Joanne hissed into Robby's ear when they entered the club for the second time. "Here you go. That was my daughter."