This is the final installment in my Facts of Life: Fire and Rain series. What started as kind of a lark has ended up being a very rewarding experience as it developed in my mind. Jo and Blair are TV characters, obviously, but in this set of stories, they depict what many real-life people went through, and continue to go through, simply for who and how they love. The most stark case ever may be that of Matthew Shepard, who was brutally murdered simply because he was gay.
This is dedicated to everyone who fought to secure same-sex marriage as a right for all Americans. Yet even thought it is law, it is still under threat from bigots and haters. May their dedication continue through the day that there is no more hate simply for wanting to love.
Note: all the political details in here are correct in the dates that they occurred. Of course, I've taken a little creative license to the events.
And, as usual, there is a Soundtrack with this. I'm posting a new song to the Soundtrack as I post individual chapters. Plus there will be additional tags added as the story progresses, so keep an eye out for them.
/playlist?list=PLCBF0ydO8AFJbP0Et6Y6_PyL3ic-1qLku
Enjoy the end of this series.
I
Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in most every thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream
Everything I want the world to be
Is now comin' true especially for me
And the reason is clear, it's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to Heaven that I've seen
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world
Somethin' in the wind has learned my name
And it's tellin' me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze
There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me
There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world
Top Of The World, The Carpenters
May 12, 2009. Albany, New York
Blair and Jo, with six-and-a-half year old David Warner, and almost four-year old Gloria Warner sat in the spectator section of the New York General Assembly building in Albany. Many of their friends within the Warner-Polniaczek Foundation, and from other groups, pushing for same-sex marriage, were there as well.
Everyone knew what the outcome would be: it would be a carbon-copy of 2007, when the Assembly passed the measure, but the conservative-controlled Senate killed it. But the foundations were being laid, and the pressure on the State Legislature almost continuous, as more and more New Yorkers were amenable to same-sex marriage.
"So it'll just die in the Senate again", Jo Polniaczek grumbled. "I'm getting tired of this crap, Blair."
Blair understood that. She could see more long-term than Jo, who let her emotions get in her way sometime. "It's a process, Joey", Blair reminded her, as Gloria squirmed in the seat between them, but behaving for the moment. "Every vote is going to get us closer, whether it seems like it will or not. It's the same question you and I will take to Washington in a few months when we're in front of the Senate Committee."
"Wonderful", Jo lamented, but with a half smile. "More time in front of two-faced politicians. Just what I always wanted."
Blair leaned over Gloria and kissed Jo tenderly. "Just remember, at the end of all this, you and I will be married, I promise you that."
Jo beamed back at her lover. "And I trust you implicitly, Princess. We've been together over ten years, and it still ain't reality. I'm just anxious."
"I know, love", Blair said with another loving smile.
An hour later, the vote had been taken, passing by a vote of 89-52. And, as expected, the Republican-controlled Senate let the bill wither and die on the branch. But this day, everyone left with smiles on their faces.
Curt and Natalie Tompkins were enjoying the afternoon watching the Colorado Rockies, the city's Major League Baseball team, in an early-season game against the hated Los Angeles Dodgers. Natalie had never been a big sports fan while in New York-she could tell you who the teams were, but not much else, but since moving to Denver, and especially since dating then marrying Curt, she had become a rabid Denver sports fan. Her passion was obviously the Broncos, whom Curt worked for, but she was almost as crazy for the Rockies, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.
Right now, in the 6th Inning, neither of them were happy. The Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp had just hit a tape-measure home run off of the Rockies Ubaldo Jiminez.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph", Natalie said, making Curt laugh. "Jiminez needs to get his shit together."
"You cannot curse deities that you do not believe in, Nat", Curt said tongue-in-cheek, Natalie, who was Jewish, giving him the evil eye.
"Only one is thought of as a deity, bub", she said crossly, but Curt caught the twinkle in her eyes. "And even The Savior would have crushed that fastball."
"I would hope he would, since He made the fishes and loaves, brought the dead back to life and all. I think a ninety-three mile per hour fastball would be a piece of cake for Him."
Despite the Dodgers hitting the home run and having the lead, Natalie couldn't help but burst out laughing at that remark. "I think you have a future as a Religious historian, Curtis Tompkins", she laughed. "That was too funny."
The game continued, in the 8th Inning, Natalie got a text message from Jo on her phone: Bill passed the State Assembly, but it'll die in the Senate. Love, Jo and Blair.
"Hmpf", Natalie said, reading the text.
"What is it, babe?"
"Oh", she said, turning to Curt. "Jo just let me know the bill passed the State Assembly today."
"And", Curt added without skipping a beat, "it'll die in the State Senate." He looked thoughtfully at Natalie. "That's gotta drive them bananas."
"Jo, yes. Blair? No." She explained herself. "One reason why they're so good together is that they balance each other. Jo's the impetuous one, wants everything now, Blair looks at the long game, not the moment."
"Still, they've been together for a decade. Knowing them better than I used to, I think those two alone will change the mind of the legislature. They're a force to be reckoned with."
"Yep", Natalie said proudly. "Those are my Musketeers."
Dorothy Ramsey had begun to make a name for herself on Broadway, even though the play she was in now was off-Broadway, but still in New York City. She was cast as Sophie in the critically-acclaimed play Ruined, about female bar owner in the war-torn nation of the Democratic Republic of The Congo. She wasn't the lead, but her character was an integral part of the story. It was not a family-type play, as it focused on the different warring factions within the nation, and how they treated woman.
That left her little time to talk to, let along follow closely to what the other Musketeers were doing, although she did call Natalie, Jo, and Blair on her one day off a week. She just wished she had more time to get involved in what they were doing. Such was life as an adult.
Mrs. Garrett, now retired, and her boyfriend, Mark Browning had watched her in the play twice, gushing backstage to her at her performance both times.
"You two are gonna give me a big head", Dorothy laughed, hugging Edna. "But this is such an awesome character and role. I'm glad I was picked for it."
"I don't think it will be the last one you'll be picked for, Dorothy", Mark said to her, kissing her on the cheek.
Mark had been folded into this ever-growing "family" that revolved around Edna, The Four Musketeers, and assorted family and friends of Jo and Blair. He had been easily accepted in the group, and had struck up a good friendship with Charlie and Rose Polniaczek. He wasn't as close to Monica Warner as he was Jo's parents, but they still got along very well. Edna's four girls had given her their stamp of approval of Mr. Browning the first time they met him.
"Thank you, Mark", she said shyly. It was funny, she could never call Mrs. Garrett "Edna", but Mark had made it easy to call him by his first name. No one really minded. "Blair and Jo are gonna try and see the play, but they're so busy with the Foundation. It's hard for them to both work on it since David is in school, but those two will move Heaven and Earth to reach their goal."
"They're good parents", Mark noted, "and they're both in a tough line of work to raise kids, but they're getting closer to their goal."
"You think?" Edna wasn't sure. "It seems the State Senate shoots them down every time, my dear."
"They're getting there", Mark assured them. "It's still may take a while, but they're getting there."
Monica Warner had made some very good friends since moving to White Plains a couple of years back. She no longer stayed in touch with most of her society friends from her days when she was married to David. Her priorities had changed on a terrible day several years earlier, when her oldest daughter Blair had almost died in a terrible auto accident.
She had mended her relationship with Blair and Blair's half-sister Bailey, who was thriving at Eastland School just up the road in Peekskill. She was still gobsmacked by her two grandchildren, David and Gloria, who she doted on constantly. She had become good friends with Rose and Charlie Polniaczek, who were happily re-married and living in Jericho.
But the most significant change had been with Rose and Charlie's daughter, Jo. For years Monica had detested Jo for what she was, and knowing that she was in love with Blair even before Jo herself realized it. She thought it was just a money grab by a poor girl from The Bronx.
Then the accident occurred, and everything Monica thought she knew about Jo Polniaczek had been shattered like glass. Today, they were on good terms-they'd never be on great terms, but Monica had been thoroughly impressed at how Jo had handled the accident that had Blair rehabbing for over a year, and her devotion to both her daughters.
Monica even sent monthly donations to The Warner-Polniaczek foundation, as well to other organizations that were working for same-sex marriage. Her donations were always anonymous, as she no longer wanted the publicity of her name, and wanted to make sure Blair and Jo were getting all the credit they deserved. On more than one occasion if the couple had to go to Albany for an overnight involving the State Legislature, Monica happily took her grandchildren.
The last few days, she had been feeling a bit run down. She thought it was just a passing bug or something, but if she didn't feel better in a few days, she'd probably check in with her doctor. Other than that, she was, perhaps for the first time in her life, truly happy.