Okay, so I hope that you guys enjoyed the last chapter. It's taken me some time to see where I want to go. I've got the next 3 chapters planned out, but the last 4 are giving me hell. I decided to go ahead and get where I want to with these 3 and then hash out what comes next.
I also realized that my timeline is off. I looked up Kaley Cuoco's real age (she's a few years older than me) and started writing this with it being her age, and then realized a couple of days ago, that Penny is my age. Not older. But it's too late now, and I'm not going to worry about it too much. Sorry though.
The Psychic Vortex Continuum
Medial Connectivity
Diana Crescent
IIIIIIIIIII
The phone hadn't rang yet. That was terribly frustrating. She knew Leonard was wrong about psychics, but there was still that terrible doubt creeping into her mind. What if he was right? He was a genius after all.
She hated that about him. About her. That he could do that to her. She knew psychics were real, had been to several in her life and had never been lead wrong. Her whole family said Penny was psychic herself. She knew how to tell a fake psychic from one with a gift within two minutes of being near them. She'd been able to from the first time she'd ever sought one (granted, it had been a medium) out when she was eight.
IIIIIIIIIII
When Penny was eight years old, her mother married Doc. It had been an early June wedding. Penny had been the flower girl, Tammy the maid of honor, Johnny the best man. It had been small, only closest relatives invited.
Doc and her mother went on a six week cruise. Tammy was soon to be 17 (her birthday was in August, but she was younger, rather than older, than all of her classmates. Because of this, she'd gotten her license at the beginning of her junior year and had only been driving a year.) She was, therefore, always gone in her car (a little mint green carmen ghia that Penny had drooled over). Johnny had somehow managed to get into a six-week long space camp. The little rat bastard got to be trained as an astronaut in Florida while Doc and their mother were gone.
That left Penny with June Bug.
It had taken Penny all of two hours to figure out that June Bug was used to the company of the others and just as lonely as Penny was. It had taken Penny forty-five minutes more to figure out that June Bug was not entertaining Penny buy playing tea. Apparently, June Bug was entertaining herself by trying to teach Penny to be a lady. It did not go over so well after that.
It especially did not go over so well after their private tea parties/lady lessons turned into serving brunch, lunch, and/or afternoon tea to the Southern Ladies Auxiliary Chapter at least three times a week. Penny got to play waitress and hostess. But not in her normal shorts, rompers, overalls, or jeans. She was stuck in dresses. Lace or satin dresses with giant bows in the back. Dresses that required panty hose.
Panty hose in the summer was a bad idea to begin with. But Louisiana was humid, and wearing panty hose (always winter heavy, and white) made Penny sweat buckets. And whenever she asked, no matter how politely, to go play, she was always turned down and introduced to some other woman that she was sure she'd been introduced to at least twice before. Penny was dolled up and paraded in front of all of the southern women in the parish. All of them wearing pastel two-piece suits with scarfs and giant hats. All of them at least sixty years old.
Penny felt like a show dog like on TV. Given a cookie for good behavior, and a pat on the head after a good performance.
By week three, she was certain she'd go stark raving mad if she didn't get away from these women. So she did what she promised her mother she would never do. Or, never do again.
She ran off. It wasn't going to be permanent. Just until her mama and Doc got back from their Alaskan cruise.
She'd been walking down an old dirt road, when Tammy swooped out of nowhere in her car.
"Where the hell have you been? Don't you know that June Bug's outta her mind worryin' 'bout you?"
"You shouldn't talk like that Tammy. Ain't lady-like."
"Just what in the Sam hill are you doin'?"
"I can't take another party Tammy. In one of those dresses, in those darn ol' hose."
Tammy's face softened. For some reason, she'd been much more patient with her younger sister. In return, Penny had tried very vigilantly to leave her sister alone and not get on her nerves so much.
"I know that you're tired of always being inside, but running away ain't gonna fix anything."
Penny was struck by how familiar those words were to her. She sat down, right on the side of the road. "I know, but she treats me like I'm her pet or something. Like she's showing me off. Like I'm nothing but a poodle on that dog show Doc's daddy watches all the time."
Tammy sat down next to her. "She's not treating you like a dog. June Bug is treating you like her daughter, or her granddaughter."
"I'm Mama's daughter, and she don't treat me like that."
"June Bug's different. She's spent almost seventy years in the South. They raise kids differently here than in Nebraska, and Mama's all Nebraska. Not only that, June Bug's eighty-eight years old Penny. She's Mamaw's older sister. When she was raising her kids, and when she was raised, that's how they raised little girls. Like she's treating you now."
Penny frowned. "But if she wants a daughter, why don't she pick Mama, or you. You two are more fem-i-nine anyway, and besides that, don't you count as being more of a girl than me anyway since you got all the bits and parts?"
Tammy's eyes widened infinitesimally, but she kept her mouth shut on that one. "Perhaps, but I think you remind her more of Diana Kate."
"Who?"
Tammy frowned. "Don't surprise me none that you don't know about her. Nobody really talks about her."
"Who is she?"
Tammy frowned again, but this time in a little frustration, like she was telling a story she didn't know how to tell. "You know June Bug had a son named Charles?"
"Of course. Got himself killed in Vietnam. Stepped on a land mine. June Bug talks about him an awful lot."
"Well, I think Charles dyin' hurt her less than Diana Kate dyin'. You see, Pen, June Bug and Uncle Hew had two children. Charles was the oldest, and they had a daughter, Diana Kate. She was Mama's age. She was a lot like you. Wild and untamed, and always running around the swamps and the bayou. When she was six, she came home one day just fine. The next day, she died. Just had a fever and wouldn't wake up. It like to killed June Bug, losin' her. Uncle Hew, well, he weren't a good man in the first place. But his daughter dyin' and June Bug slippin' into depression, well, that sent him into the bottle. He started drinkin' real bad. He got right mean, and he hurt her real bad sometimes. But she never left him, Mama never said why whenever I asked. Mama said Charles volunteered to go to Vietnam to get away from this place, said it was too sad a place for him. Uncle Hew, when Charles left, got worse. Drinkin' worse and poor June Bug, she was just livin' for Charles. And then Charles died. Uncle Hew went out to the old house and blew his head off. June Bug, she had a real sad life Pen. She lost both of her children and her husband just wudn't a good man. Mamaw and Pap tried to get her to move in with them, but no dice. She stayed in this house, all alone until we came here. Mama sometimes worries about us being a burden to her, but I asked Doc about it one time. He said when he was growin' up, June Bug was the saddest, loneliest lady he knew. He said the kids used to talk about if she looked at you, you were sure to die soon. He looked real sad about that."
Penny thought he ought to. That was a real cruel thing to say about June Bug. She was the sweetest old woman she knew, and she'd been getting to know quite a few these days.
"But he said that when we came, she changed. She started to smile more. She's happier with us around. We make her happy Pen. She's been so lonely for so long, that we're not a burden to her at all. I think we're a blessing."
Penny looked down at her feet and sighed. She felt awful. Not only had she made June Bug worry, she was probably really late for the brunch. Fashionably late was acceptable, but this late was indecent.
Tammy saw the look on her face, and wrapped one arm around her. "Come on, you're already late. It'll be okay if you miss it."
Tammy helped her sister to her feet and started walking with her in the bayou.
"I wish there was a way we could help June Bug be happier. I know we make her happy, but that's not the same."
Tammy smiled in a sad sort of way. "Short of bringin' Diana Kate or Charles back, there ain't nothin' we can do."
Penny wondered briefly if Diana Kate or Charles haunted anywhere nearby, and if so, would they come see their mother. "Seein' a ghost might not be good for her health though."
"Yeah, and Mama has a strict rule against psychics."
"Side kicks?"
Tammy snickered. "Psychics. They're people who know things."
"Like what?"
"Like the future, and who you're gonna marry. Some of 'em claim to be able to talk to the dead."
Penny frowned and then looked at Tammy. "Do you believe in them?"
"Don't know. Never been to one. Pap kinda does though, and Doc does too."
That was all Penny needed. If Pap believed, then it must be true. "We need to find one that can talk to Diana Kate or Charles."
Tammy jerked her head down to look at Penny. "What? We can't do that! Mama-"
"Mama ain't here. Besides, Pap and Doc believe in them, and this is for June Bug. To help her sorta."
"Pen, I don't know if this is a good idea."
"Why?"
"What if it hurt her feelings?"
Penny frowned and they walked a little farther. "Tammy?"
"Yeah Pen?"
"If Mama and Dad stayed together, and somehow, I died from sickness and you got killed too, and then Johnny ran away only to get himself killed, and Daddy started drinkin' worse then he already did, and he beat her up before he finally killed hisself, how do you think Mama would feel?"
Tammy stopped, and looked deeply into her sister's eyes. Sometimes, Penny seemed so much older than her eight years. "I don't know Pen. Sad, and kinda like she had nothing to live for."
"I think she'd feel guilty."
"Why? Sickness isn't something you can control, and Charles made his own decision, and so did Hew."
Penny looked off into the trees. "But bein' a mama is different, I think. She might blame herself for bein' depressed, or not bein' able to save Diana Kate. Maybe June Bug felt like, if she'd left Hew and taken Charles with her, he wouldn'a gone to Vietnam, and then he'd be alive. And if Charles was alive, Hew would be too. Besides, if everyone she loved died, she might feel cursed. And no one was exactly nice to her about it. Little kids were scareda her—Doc said so himself!"
Tammy looked at her sister and sighed. "We're gonna need a telephone book. And I don't know how to go about findin' a real psychic."
Penny straightened her shoulders. "I think we'll just know. Like a gut feelin' or something. If what we're doin' is right, we'll find our side kick."
"Psychic."
"Whatever."
IIIIIIIIIII
Eight hours later, they were in New Orleans after one phone call to June Bug that Tammy had fielded. She had lied, saying she found Penny out in the garden, watching bugs. She had decided to take her shopping. June Bug had been okay with that, especially when Tammy had reminded her that June Bug had mentioned going and getting her hair done, which she couldn't have done with Penny under her feet.
It was now dark outside, and they were standing (in a not so nice part of town) outside of a small, shack-like shop that had moons and stars painted on the window, reading "Psychic: tarot, tea leaves, palm reading, and experienced medium." Smells that made Penny's nose curl drifted from inside. Purple curtains blocked severely yellowed, dimmed light from brightening the streets.
Tammy sighed, and (unlike the rest of the day, where she'd forced Penny to keep up with her) took her hand and pulled her protectively close to her body. She glanced around the streets, and walked swiftly (practically carrying Penny) into the shop. It surprised Penny for several reasons. The first, that Tammy was willingly holding her hand. The second, that Tammy had enough strength in her to carry Penny. The third, that as mad as Tammy was at her, she was still civil to her.
They'd been at it for eight hours and had seen 89 out of the 90 psychics in the telephone book. This was the last option. Penny had walked into the shop, heard the psychic talk for two minutes and told Tammy that they needed to go to the next one, that this one was a fake. She just knew it. After 89 psychics, Tammy was at her wit's end and hardly talking to Penny. Penny knew it was to keep from yelling at her, and had a sudden new appreciation for her sister's patience. She vowed she would leave Tammy completely alone for the rest of the summer if that's what it took to get back in her good graces.
A black cat watched them from on top of the counter at the front of the store. No bell tinkled, but a woman came out to greet them.
She was different, Penny could tell that right off. Not only was she dressed normally—others had been in shawls and wraps, some had worn turbans, but all had looked dressed for Halloween. They all appeared to be named Madam something (though there were at least 20 Madam Serena's). She didn't dress to fit the part, but she appeared the part more than any of the others. Her eyes were smoky blue and knowing. Something inside Penny eased, and she knew. Just like she said she would.
"Welcome. Can I help you?"
Tammy didn't answer, but looked at Penny. At this point, she was done playing nice while Penny called them all a fake. Penny, though, just smiled at her sister and nodded. Tammy, though, was not so trusting.
"We need some help. Our aunt's children died some years ago, and we'd like to contact them."
The woman smiled wryly. "You seem skeptical."
"It's not you I'm skeptical about. We've been to 89 other shops, and my sister has called them all fake. I'm waitin' for her..."
The woman looked at Penny. "What would you like to know?"
Penny looked at her. "Tell us about your gift."
The woman smiled at Penny and nodded. "My name is Allison, but most of the people I know call me Lisa. Everything else you want to know is on the sign on the window."
"And are you real?" Penny knew the answer, but she wanted to look her in the eyes. Pap said it was always the eyes that gave away a liar.
Lisa held her gaze and very solemnly said, "Yes."
"Alright then. We need your help to-"
"Contact a little girl and a soldier, yes," she said, turning around and leading them into a back room were a kitchen table sat. Tammy squeezed Penny's hand tight.
"Your aunt...she is older. Not your mother's sister, but her mother's sister. Yes?"
"That's right," Tammy whispered, voice cracking.
"What you do, you do to ease her soul. You are both very kind to an old woman."
"We love her," Penny said, solidly.
Lisa smiled kindly at Penny and nodded.
She sat them down at the table, and poured some coffee for herself, and juice for the two of them.
Tammy had warned Penny that she'd probably chant, or call on the spirits, or do something really crazy and scary.
She simply smiled and said, "I've been waiting all day for you two. The moment you decided to help your aunt Dorothy June, they showed up. They've been worried you wouldn't come. But I knew you would. Love is too powerful a thing to ignore."
"You mean, they're already here?" Tammy said, looking around.
Lisa smiled, and flipped her long black braid behind her. "Being a medium—a real one, a good one—isn't about you summoning spirits, sometimes. It's about being open to the spirits around you. Apparently, your sister has some pull with another ghost. It's a somewhat small after-life, or so I hear."
Tammy looked at Penny wide-eyed. She hadn't believed the story about Samuel—nobody had. Penny felt like she'd just been validated.
Penny took over. "Do they know how we can help June Bug?"
Lisa glanced over to the kitchen door and seemed to be listening, and both girls assumed that she was.
"They say that already given her the family she longed for. All you have left to do is to please make her comfortable," Lisa's eyes turned sad. "She doesn't have long to live, it seems."
Tammy and Penny squeezed hands again, Tammy teared up and Penny looked away.
"Is there anything else?"
Lisa smiled kindly at them. "No, except Samuel said to say hello to you both."
Penny smiled. "Tell him, I said hey, please."
Lisa nodded the confirmation.
Tammy cleared her throat. "How much do we owe you?"
Both girls had cleaned out their piggy banks (and Johnny's, but they'd cross that bridge when they came to it), and had a hundred dollars between them.
"Not a thing. When ghosts come to me, I feel it's more of my duty to get their message to others. And I'll give you both a small reading. For you, Tammy-"
Tammy's eyes widened.
Lisa smiled, amused. "For you, there is a path. You will not like it, but it is coming fast and coming soon. If you choose this path, you will live happily for the rest of your life. Deny this path, and you will live as unhappily as your aunt. Alone for the rest of your life."
"Can you be more specific?"
"No. You must make the decision on your own."
Penny could tell that irritated Tammy.
"For you, little Penelope, you will have to give up everything. You will reach a point in your life where there is no light, not even in yourself. There will be no happiness. You must find yourself, remember yourself, in the darkness. And when you do that, your life will become ordered out of chaos. Like a fractal."
Tammy cringed at what Penny's prediction, screaming inside to protect the bubbly blonde, and grumbled. "You couldna told us something about our love lives?"
Lisa smiled grimly. "I just did."
IIIIIIIIIII
When they got home that night, they both gave June Bug tight hugs, and Penny apologized for missing the brunch. June Bug kissed her head and said she'd saved them both some apricot tarts.
Tammy spent more time at home, and less time with her friends. Doc and their mother returned from their Alaskan cruise two days before Johnny returned from space camp.
They'd had to work off stealing his money. (They may not have had to pay Lisa, but they did have to buy gas and supper...and movie tickets, popcorn, sodas, and the new Depeche Mode tape.) Penny didn't get to avoid Tammy like she'd planned, and instead spent most of her time pulling weeds and doing yard work for the neighbors to pay Johnny back. They'd gotten closer than either had thought possible.
IIIIIIIIIII
She knew psychics were real, but two minutes with Leonard had her feeling like an idiot and like she'd been duped all of her life. He could make her doubt dozens of memories. Memories that were burnt into her head like a brand. It put her teeth on edge and made her cry.
That was another thing that was bothering her. She spent more time crying in this relationship than she did smiling. She couldn't remember the last time he'd made her laugh. He was too ashamed of her to tell his mother about her. He ridiculed (if not overtly) her for never finishing community college. He was constantly "superior" to her. He didn't see Penny. He saw a beautiful blonde. He was jealous to the point of idiocy.
But the psychic had her sick to her stomach. To help her career, all she had to do was cut her hair. The future of her love life, though, was a little more intimidating.
The words still pounded in her brain. "What about the man I'll marry?" she'd asked excitedly.
Leonard hadn't even been in her mind. She was aware that she didn't love him. That he was comfortable. That he was safe. That he didn't make her heart pitter-pat. That he registered on her sex monitor as a flat-line. That what she was doing was wrong, and it was hurting them both. That it was unhealthy.
"You already know the man you will marry. With him, you are safe. With him, you are comfortable. You will support him completely. You hold him above all the others."
She didn't really hold Leonard above the others—hell, after last night, she was pretty sure she'd rather date Howard than Leonard because at least he was willing to listen to her beliefs about psychics. He hadn't laughed at her. He'd stood up for her. But he was also Howard, which was incredibly gross. But she did tend to take Leonard's side because that's what was expected since she was his girlfriend.
Penny dropped her head and grabbed a fistful of her newly short hair. It was bobbed to her chin, stacked in the back, and angled sharply. She'd done it herself last night after their date and had spent the day at auditions. Eight of them.
Penny scoffed. Three things bothered her above all others. The least was when she considered how much sci-fi/fantasy crap they were into, why didn't they at least believe in it a little. The second was how Leonard made her feel. But the greatest of all was that Leonard expected her full support in everything she did and acted like a child when he didn't get it...but he wouldn't offer the same in return. He didn't support her acting career. He didn't support her being a waitress. He didn't support her beliefs about anything—from psychics, magic, ghosts, voodoo, angels, God, time travel, or ESP. Nothing.
She sniffled and wished Sheldon were there to tell her what to do. At least, of all things, he could tell her that he'd been right in saying she and Leonard were doomed. She smiled. She should have listened then. Sheldon was always right.
Penny sighed. It would be the first time that a psychic she had gone to was wrong. But she would not spend her life with Leonard Hofstadter. She would make her own path. She would end it. Tonight.
She got up and crossed her apartment to her door.
Her phone let out a particularly loud ring from its place on her coffee table. Her heart stopped. She crossed her fingers, and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Is this Penelope Bradley?"
"This is she. And it's just Penny."
"I'm calling concerning your audition for the part in an upcoming series to premiere on CBS this fall."
"Yes?"
"You didn't get the part you auditioned for. However, there is another part that we were going to cast another actress in, but we'd like you to play it instead. You're perfect for it. Exactly what we need. The part is actually a larger role. You'd be on for the entire season, probably the series. Is it something you're interested in?"
Penny nearly dropped the phone before she realized she needed to answer.
When Penny got off the phone, several hours later, it was like a weight had been lifted off her heart. Everything was falling into place.
She looked back at the door. If the psychic was right about that, then was she possibly right about the other?
Unsure, she glanced down at her phone and did the only thing she could do now. She called Tammy.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
I thought it was time that Tammy was truly introduced to us. Their relationship needed developing a little, and will further develop in the coming chapter.
