You Never Stop Learning the Facts of life (Part 2)
Mrs. Garrett looked into her bed room mirror. It was round and tall so that the person could see their whole body. She didn't like what she saw. She had gained a couple of pounds and was she losing hair color? She hated growing old, she wished she could stay young forever,
"Mrs. Garrett, what are you doing?" Tootie asked. Tootie is still young and......... Ok, we're getting carried away.
"Oh just looking in the mirror, why?" she asked.
"Just wondering." Tootie said defensively. Even though Tootie had grown physically, she was still a little girl wanting to be like the older girls in Mrs. Garrett's mind. Tootie had always been the talkative one in the group, Blair was the popular, thinks she's great girl, and Natalie was the shy girl unless you got to know her. Jo, Jo was tough on the outside, but on the inside, she was the most softhearted nice girl Mrs. Garrett had ever met. Jo had a hard life as she grew up and she had to harden on the outside to survive, Her father left her and her mom. He went to prison. The Jo got hard and started hanging out with the wrong crowd. Her mother had to work hard to shelter and feed the both of them. It was harsh out in the world and Mrs. Garrett knew she would never completely understand what Jo had gone through.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, but with Jo's friend still on the loose, I'm just a little agitated. How are you feeling?" Mrs. Garrett looked at a bruise on her face. Natalie must be asleep or she would be with Tootie. They were like Peanut butter and Jelly, you would never see one without the other.
"I'm sore but I think I'll be fine." she winced as she sat down. How could a person do this to another person? That's another think she couldn't figure out about Jo's old crowd. "Is Jo back?"
"No, she should be back anytime." and everything will be fine. No bully hurting smaller people, everything will be great.
"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMrrsssssssssssssss. GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!" Natalie yelled from up stairs. Mrs. Garrett clambered up the stairs and got into the girls' room. Natalie sat on her bed watching a TV screen.
:"What?!" she said in a panic. The girl looked all right.
"Look at this!" she turned the TV around and the news was on. A lady stood with a mike in her hand at some crime scene. Nothing seemed irregular, news reporters do it all the time.
"If you're just tuning in, there was a terrible mugging in what is notorious for crimes, Brooklyn. We have the names of the victims. Joanne Polnia..... Polniaczek and Blair Warner. Also Sean Green was at the scene. Mrs. Polniaczek has a stab wound but will be fine and Mrs. Warner was not hurt. Let's talk to some of..." Mrs. Garrett didn't listen to anything else.
"Girls, I'm going to the hospital. I'll call when I get back." Mrs. Garrett rushed down stairs.
* * * * * * * * *
"Blaih I'll be fine. I just want to get out of here." Jo started to sit up but Blair pushed her back down.
"Doctor said that you should stay until tomorrow Jo." Blair shook her head at her very stubborn friend. Sean sat watching the two, grinning. He rubbed what Jo called dreads on his head. He was cute and scruffy. Did I just say that? Jo looked at both of them and grinned, practically reading Blair's mind. "Don't even JO!"
"What?" she said innocently. "Why don't you two grab some coffee?? I'm fine here."
Why was she so unconcerned about her own well being? Was it because she was having fun? Well partly, but she had almost lost her life. Sure her abdomen was a long shot from her heart, but still.
"Sure, I'm thirsty, wanna come?" Sean leaped off his chair. Oh boy oh boy! she thought to her self.
"Yeah, why not." Blair gave Jo a look that was supposed to say you going to pay. Jo just grinned away. As they left, Blair slapped her own forehead. "I forgot to call! Sean, I need to go call Mrs. Garrett."
Too late, Mrs. Garrett came down the hall, through the mess of reporters. She smiled wirily when she saw Blair. She made her attempt of a jog and hugged Blair.
"Why didn't you call!" Mrs. Garrett said after she knew Blair was ok.
"There was a lot going on and I was just about to...... How did you find out?" Blair asked.
"The news. It's all over the news. Hi my name Is Mrs. Garrett, and you are?" Mrs. Garrett held out her hand. Sean smiled a little off guard. All over the news? Jo won't be happy about that.
"Sean, I'm an old friends of Jo's. We use to hang out and play hoops. I lived right next door to them." he had a great smile. He shook her hand and then stuffed them back in his pockets. He was the kind of guy who likes to show off with his friends, but was very nice when he was alone. Were all kids from the Bronx like that? Jo always tried to cover her soft side by threats and toughness.
"Well, where is she?" Mrs. Garrett had finally decided everything was dandy on this side of the world. On to the next.
* * * * * * * *
Sure she had pain. "Nah I'm fine Mrs. Garrett. Just a small scratch." Jo smiled to reinforce her statement.. Hey, she wanted to go home, and soon.
"She got stitches to close it up. Jo, you don't need stitches to close up a scratch." Blair shook her head. Jo gave her a look of scorn and Blair backed up. Sure Jo could back it up, just not right now. Sean cracked a smile.
"I shouldn't have made you go. I forgot how dangerous Brooklyn is." Mrs. Garrett apologized.
"It's only dangerous if you do something stupid, which Jo did. She forgot the main rule of back turning." Sean looked serious now. "You've been off the streets to long Jo. Can't even fight any more. Maybe you shouldn't go around the Bronx. Might get killed."
"Sean, I don't need any lecture from you, ok? I'm really not in the mood. Mrs. Garrett, It wasn't your fault. I accidentally turned my back. I'll be fine." Jo thrashed back. "Would you guys please leave?"
"We're just trying to help Jo. You don't have to get so defensive." Blair flipped her hair.
"You wanna know something? Just leave. That'll help a lot." Jo turned away and pushed power on the remote control. The TV turned on and a lady was standing somewhere in Brooklyn. Jo recognized the place but couldn't get the name right. She also noticed Sean, Mrs. Garrett, and Blair had not moved.
"We are standing at a crime scene, where William Brock stabbed himself repeatedly till he died. No one knows why or if it has anything to do with the Polniaczek case, but police are investigating." the lady said. Jo heard Sean cuss under his breath. Jo would have if she wasn't in such shock. No what? And am I just a case? A victim?
"Oh dear.... Was that....?" Mrs. Garrett started. Jo didn't hear her though, she was somewhere else far away.
* * * * * * * *
Natalie watched the news with Tootie babbling away at new gossip. She watched as the screen went blank and then flashed Breaking News in red. Then a news reporter stood in some neighborhood with a bunch of others.
"We just found out that Joanne Polniaczek has just been released from the hospital. Hopefully we can get a word with her. Here they come now." a police car drove up. Was that their house?
"Tootie, go look out side and see if there are people in our yard." Natalie said not looking away. Tootie groaned and got up. She headed to the door and gasped.
"Wooooooowww!!!!!!!!!!! There's lots of people out there. Mrs. Garrett just got out." Tootie replied.
"I know that Tootie. It's on TV." Natalie said as a tall black man got out. They both started running to the door. A policeman got out and escorted them as another got out. The other police officer went to the door and picked up Jo. He told her something and she seemed not to agree. Then she tucked her arms under her head to protect it. They made their way to the door.
The door opened and Mrs. Garrett entered followed by the African man. The policeman carrying Jo came in and put Jo on the coach. They all seemed out of breath and Jo seemed angry.
"Hey, did you know you were on TV? You're famous!" Tootie announced.
"Tootie, that's why they were running." Natalie shook her head in disbelief.
"Reporters are like vultures. They prey on the screwed" Jo said angrily. That lashed out on Natalie. Though Jo didn't mean it against her, everyone knew Natalie wanted to be a reporter. Mrs. Garrett saw that what Jo said bugged her and came over to pat Natalie on the back.
"Oh Jo, Philip called. He said he really wants you to call." Tootie didn't haste for the moment.
"Thanks." Jo didn't seem at all interested. Weren't they going out?
"You girls should go into a room with no windows for a little while, at least till everything calms down." the police officer said as someone pounded on the door. Mrs. Garrett grabbed pillows and blankets as she ushered everyone out. The police officer started to help Jo, when she pushed him away.
"I can do it... Thanks anyway." Jo slowly got up and smiled trying to tell the police officer it was ok and that she could handle it. Blair ran over and knocked Jo back on the coach. Jo yelped in pain. "Whatcha do that for, eh?"
"Doctor said you couldn't walk around." Blair put her hands on her hips, as if she were scolding a child. Jo seemed to pick up on that.
"Blair, he didn't expect me to go to the bathroom in the bed. Blair, stop botherin me." Jo got up again and had her hand out ready for Blair to knock her down again. We are the craziest group, who would ever think we'd live together? A snob, a Bronx tomboy, a gossiper, and a ...... Reporter. But we are like a family, sure we had our disagreements, but each of us would defend the other no matter what.... And I guess that's what got us into this mess.
* * * * * * * *
"Jo!!!!!!!!" Mrs. Garrett called from downstairs.
"What?" Will I ever finish her book on motorcycles if people kept calling her. It has been five days since she got home. The reporters finally left, as did the police.
"A young man is here to see you." Mrs. Garrett seemed giddy, which meant that it was probable Sean or Philip. Philip had called everyday, Jo hadn't returned them. He had lied to her.
Jo got out of bed and limped out. Her side still hurt as she walked slowly down the stairs. Philip stood at the door with his kakis and another polo shirt. He smiled and his eyes twinkled.
"Look Jo, I wanted to apologize for lying. I guess you probable don't want to date me cause I'm rich." He looked down at the floor. Was he ashamed of being rich?
"Ok, two things. First, no excuse for lying. Second, never listen to Blair." He bit his lower lip and nodded. Now time to find Blair's excuse. Jo wanted an excuse to smash a head or two. "Blair!"
"What?" Blair's voice rang from upstairs.
"I need a word with you." Jo stared at the bottom of the staircase. Blair was never fast and as she analyzed the scene coming down, Jo smiled. Blair laughed nervously and then ran back upstairs.
"You dead meat, Blair." Jo slowly started up the stairs and then started gaining speed. Hey, she was a woman with a mission and for some reason that didn't sound all that great, but she'd deal with it later. For Philip.... Well she'd deal with that later too. Should she forgive and forget. It wasn't that big of a deal.
"Mrs. G!" Blair screamed. Yeah going up the stairs was slow and painful, but in the end, would have great results. Nobody ever messes with my reputation.
"What's going on girls?" Mrs. Garrett asked in her whiny voice. At first, her voice annoyed her, but now she came to love it. If anybody found out about what she just thought, she'd destroy them. I'm not always thinking bad things, I just don't think about flowers in a pasture. Have I ever even seen one? Nah, lived in Brooklyn to long. Not that...... Ok end trail of thought, I'm up the stairs.
"Why don't you explain it for us, Blair?" Jo folded her arms up to her chest.
"About what?" Blair stood behind Mrs. Garrett.
"About how you told Philip that I hate rich guys and I would never date him if he were rich. So he lied to me and then I found out by his father." Jo smirked looking strait at Blair.
"Can you explain Blair?" Mrs. Garrett wasn't going to help her this time.
"Ok, so maybe I tampered here and there, but you called the Jefferson boy a stiff."
"I call all rich people that, until I get to know them. I called you a stiff.... Still do." This wasn't working right. Jo had made a mistake.
"Maybe that's the problem, Jo. You classified him, so he felt he had to." Mrs. Garrett started to sort out the problem. Blair smirked in triumph. "But Blair, what you did was in excusable."
"Ok, I admit, I was little jealous that he liked you. I'm sorry." Blair nodded in her conclusion.
"Thanks Mrs. Garrett, I gottah talk to Latino boy." Jo started down and saw that Philip was sitting on the couch. He got up and smiled shyly. Why do I even like this guy? He's not my type. He's not gritty enough. When she got to the last step, her whole body relaxed. "Look Philip, it's no big deal, and it isn't your fault Blair gave you the wrong idea. I do wish that you didn't care what I thought. And I'm also sorry I called you a stiff. I guess that reinforced Blair's information. I don't care if you're rich, poor, or middle class." She looked strait into his blue eyes.
"Can we start over?" he said hopefully.
"Yeah." She laughed.
"Hi, I' Philippe Jefferson. You can call me Philip. Who are you?" He asked sincerely.
"Joanne Polniaczek, but call me Jo." she rocked on her heels.
"Nice to meet you Jo." he shook her hand formally, but then brought her closely and hugged her. He leaned over and said "I like that name."
"Yours isn't half-bad either."
* * * * * * * *
"Ok, so you don't like TV or books. What do you do?" Blair asked fascinated. Jo giggled. Jo giggling? Now I've seen everything. "What?"
"Kids in Brooklyn tend to spend their time in bars or on the courts. They don't waste their time on TV. Lots of them can't even afford them. I didn't get a TV till I was like nine." Jo said while looking into Philip's eyes as if she were in a trance. Jo falling for a rich Latino? That was against the rules of ... Well who knows, but somewhere.
Still, Blair's going out with a Bronx boy. Maybe it's a mixed up year.
"Yeah she's right. I like to spend my time on the courts. Jo here liked to study and do well in school..... That's another story. We picked on her for that." Sean said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Philip, want to play some foosball?" Jo changed the subject. "Hey Tootie, ya want to keep your nose somewhere else?"
Tootie turned around looking at Natalie and Mrs. Garrett. Sure they were great to hang out with, but she needed excitement. Mrs. Garrett stared at her menu and Natalie babbled about some news she heard on the radio. Tootie turned again to see Jo and Philip pushing and pulling the rod controls. Blair and Sean started talking.
"So, since you know what I like to do, how about you? What do you like to do?" Sean sipped a soda pop. He seemed very laid back and he was very handsome.
"Shopping!" Jo grunted as she slammed the rod in.
"Thank you interpreter." Blair responded sarcastically.
"No prob. Do I get paid?" Jo slammed the rod out. Who ever said you don't get exercise on games? That game looked hard.
"You wanna play?" Sean asked hopefully.
"Nah, I'll stick to shopping." She waved her hand in rejection. That's good old Blair, would rather got shopping then do anything physical that could break her nail. Sean smiled and then turned around toward the game.
"Playin winners!" He yelled as he got out of his chair. Blair got out and followed.
"So, Tootie, what will you order?" Mrs. Garrett asked clearing her throat. Tootie turned around and saw that the waiter was waiting. She glanced at the menu and saw cheeseburger.
"I'll have a cheeseburger and some fries." Tootie said handing her the menu. The lady took it and left. She turned around and saw that Jo and Sean were now playing. Jo seemed to be winning by the look of Sean's face. Philip went behind Jo and winked at Sean. He tickled Jo and she yelped from surprise. She started laughing and pushing him away. Sean rose his hands up in triumph. He must have scored.
"Ok, Ok! Stop it! You're hurting my side." she pushed him aside to regain her composure and went back to the game. Blair smiled. It wasn't one of those 'I'm great' smiles but rather a warm, humanity smile. One that was very special.
Jo's eyes twinkled from the situation and she rubbed her eyes from laughing. Tootie took a picture, it would be a good one.
"Ok Tootie, maybe you should stop nosing around and come back to earth." Natalie said. "Where's Jeff?"
"In Florida, he's going to the Keys." Tootie thanked the waiter as she placed the plate in front of her. Tootie started nibbling on her cheeseburger as the other four sat behind her. Tootie leaned back to listen. Jo noticed and pushed her back on four legs.
"What will you have?" the waiter asked.
"Pizza with everything on it. Extra cheese." Jo hadn't even opened her menu, she just handed it over.
"Club sandwich." Blair handed the menu over. "Turkey."
"Ok, I want a white bun with turkey, Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and uh.... That's all." Philip smiled politely and handed her the menu. Ok that was long.
"Why didn't you just order the club without the sprouts?" Blair asked.
"Because I didn't want to." Philip sulked.
"I want what Jo ordered. She's the one with the same accent as mine." Sean replied as he dodged a napkin. The waitress looked annoyed at the juvenile behavior and went to the back.
"Why do they hire people like that?" Blair asked frowning. Sean grinned and put his arm around her.
"Because everyone needs a job." Tootie offered. All four of them looked annoyed.
"What do you know about not havin a job, eh?" Sean pounced. Bad idea Dorothy.
"Down boy." Blair responded.
"Tootie eat up before I slam it down your throat. I can officially follow up on that now." Jo warned. No jokes today, touchy subject. Very touchy subject. Tootie turned around.
"Leave the older girls alone. How would you two like to go to the movies?" Mrs. Garrett offered.
"Sounds good to me." Natalie said wiping off her hands.
"Dido." what else was she going to do?
********
Jo sat talking to Philip on a blanket in a park. It was a nice day, sun out, not to hot. Jo had been through a lot of relationships. All of them ended because of something geographical, something she had no control over. Distance was going to end theirs. Philip lived in LA and in two days, he would be going home.
"What are you thinking?" Philip asked grinning.
"About you leaving in two days and I'll probable never see you again." She answered with a sad smile. He cradled her face with his hands.
"We'll see each other and I'll write everyday." He spoke softly and made her heart ache. "I'll even call."
"Long distance relationships don't work so well." tears trickled down her face as she remembered France. Why did she like guys who lived so far away?
"It will for us. My dad has business with Blair's, so I'll come whenever he does." He stroked her hair.
"Promise?" She asked softly. He hugged her and then they kissed.
********
"So, you're going back?" Blair tried to sound nonchalant. Sean smiled and nodded. Jo rocked back and forth on her heels, her eyes spelled concern for an old friend. She knew he could take care of himself, but she wanted him to stay. Blair sighed.
"See ya around." Jo said hiding what she probable thought. Blair knew Jo way to well to know she really did care. Jo slapped him on his back and smiled. "Tell everyone I said hey and that the next time I come around I'll beat their butts in basketball."
"You better or then we'll start thinking we're better then you. They miss ya down there, talkin about Jo College." He said good naturally. "I'll check you later, Blair. Real nice meeting ya. Maybe sometime I can show you around Brooklyn."
"I think Blair would rather die." Jo smiled playfully. Jo knew what Blair was going through, Philip was leaving. For the second time or at least near to that, Blair saw Jo crying as she talked to Philip. That was always a rare moment.
Blair's heart ached as she kissed him on the cheek. Thank god for Jo, she would have never met him and would never would have gotten near him if it wasn't for her.
"I'll see ya. Jo?" He looked up at her.
"Yeah, whatcha want?" she asked annoyed but then smiled.
"Catch ya later." he smiled, waved, and then left.
"You gunna be ok?" Jo asked. Why was she always the mother of all of us? Was it because she had to take care of her self on the street and knew how to deal with things? Blair would never understand how hard it is on the streets, but she did understand divorce. That's what the two had in common and that's how they related, even though neither of them mentioned it.
"Few years of shopping will cure it." Blair said truthfully.
"I can't believe you liked him." Jo teased, pushing her sleeves up. "I mean he's totally opposite.."
"Jo!" Blair snapped. Jo put her arms in the air innocently.
"Just joking." she put her arm around Blair's shoulders and they walked into the kitchen.
Dear Diary,
I went shopping today with Jo. Weird, huh? I thought she might want to be with somebody since Philip left. He left this morning, very painful. Why do we go through pain? Is it really because of what the bible says or is it just another fact of life? Do we need it to be better people? Does living on the streets make people better? What about having your father die before you graduate or having to be the youngest? Maybe that's what makes us, well, us. Maybe our experiences make us who we are today. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I bought four pairs of shoes.
Sincerely,
Blair
Mrs. Garrett looked into her bed room mirror. It was round and tall so that the person could see their whole body. She didn't like what she saw. She had gained a couple of pounds and was she losing hair color? She hated growing old, she wished she could stay young forever,
"Mrs. Garrett, what are you doing?" Tootie asked. Tootie is still young and......... Ok, we're getting carried away.
"Oh just looking in the mirror, why?" she asked.
"Just wondering." Tootie said defensively. Even though Tootie had grown physically, she was still a little girl wanting to be like the older girls in Mrs. Garrett's mind. Tootie had always been the talkative one in the group, Blair was the popular, thinks she's great girl, and Natalie was the shy girl unless you got to know her. Jo, Jo was tough on the outside, but on the inside, she was the most softhearted nice girl Mrs. Garrett had ever met. Jo had a hard life as she grew up and she had to harden on the outside to survive, Her father left her and her mom. He went to prison. The Jo got hard and started hanging out with the wrong crowd. Her mother had to work hard to shelter and feed the both of them. It was harsh out in the world and Mrs. Garrett knew she would never completely understand what Jo had gone through.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, but with Jo's friend still on the loose, I'm just a little agitated. How are you feeling?" Mrs. Garrett looked at a bruise on her face. Natalie must be asleep or she would be with Tootie. They were like Peanut butter and Jelly, you would never see one without the other.
"I'm sore but I think I'll be fine." she winced as she sat down. How could a person do this to another person? That's another think she couldn't figure out about Jo's old crowd. "Is Jo back?"
"No, she should be back anytime." and everything will be fine. No bully hurting smaller people, everything will be great.
"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMrrsssssssssssssss. GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!" Natalie yelled from up stairs. Mrs. Garrett clambered up the stairs and got into the girls' room. Natalie sat on her bed watching a TV screen.
:"What?!" she said in a panic. The girl looked all right.
"Look at this!" she turned the TV around and the news was on. A lady stood with a mike in her hand at some crime scene. Nothing seemed irregular, news reporters do it all the time.
"If you're just tuning in, there was a terrible mugging in what is notorious for crimes, Brooklyn. We have the names of the victims. Joanne Polnia..... Polniaczek and Blair Warner. Also Sean Green was at the scene. Mrs. Polniaczek has a stab wound but will be fine and Mrs. Warner was not hurt. Let's talk to some of..." Mrs. Garrett didn't listen to anything else.
"Girls, I'm going to the hospital. I'll call when I get back." Mrs. Garrett rushed down stairs.
* * * * * * * * *
"Blaih I'll be fine. I just want to get out of here." Jo started to sit up but Blair pushed her back down.
"Doctor said that you should stay until tomorrow Jo." Blair shook her head at her very stubborn friend. Sean sat watching the two, grinning. He rubbed what Jo called dreads on his head. He was cute and scruffy. Did I just say that? Jo looked at both of them and grinned, practically reading Blair's mind. "Don't even JO!"
"What?" she said innocently. "Why don't you two grab some coffee?? I'm fine here."
Why was she so unconcerned about her own well being? Was it because she was having fun? Well partly, but she had almost lost her life. Sure her abdomen was a long shot from her heart, but still.
"Sure, I'm thirsty, wanna come?" Sean leaped off his chair. Oh boy oh boy! she thought to her self.
"Yeah, why not." Blair gave Jo a look that was supposed to say you going to pay. Jo just grinned away. As they left, Blair slapped her own forehead. "I forgot to call! Sean, I need to go call Mrs. Garrett."
Too late, Mrs. Garrett came down the hall, through the mess of reporters. She smiled wirily when she saw Blair. She made her attempt of a jog and hugged Blair.
"Why didn't you call!" Mrs. Garrett said after she knew Blair was ok.
"There was a lot going on and I was just about to...... How did you find out?" Blair asked.
"The news. It's all over the news. Hi my name Is Mrs. Garrett, and you are?" Mrs. Garrett held out her hand. Sean smiled a little off guard. All over the news? Jo won't be happy about that.
"Sean, I'm an old friends of Jo's. We use to hang out and play hoops. I lived right next door to them." he had a great smile. He shook her hand and then stuffed them back in his pockets. He was the kind of guy who likes to show off with his friends, but was very nice when he was alone. Were all kids from the Bronx like that? Jo always tried to cover her soft side by threats and toughness.
"Well, where is she?" Mrs. Garrett had finally decided everything was dandy on this side of the world. On to the next.
* * * * * * * *
Sure she had pain. "Nah I'm fine Mrs. Garrett. Just a small scratch." Jo smiled to reinforce her statement.. Hey, she wanted to go home, and soon.
"She got stitches to close it up. Jo, you don't need stitches to close up a scratch." Blair shook her head. Jo gave her a look of scorn and Blair backed up. Sure Jo could back it up, just not right now. Sean cracked a smile.
"I shouldn't have made you go. I forgot how dangerous Brooklyn is." Mrs. Garrett apologized.
"It's only dangerous if you do something stupid, which Jo did. She forgot the main rule of back turning." Sean looked serious now. "You've been off the streets to long Jo. Can't even fight any more. Maybe you shouldn't go around the Bronx. Might get killed."
"Sean, I don't need any lecture from you, ok? I'm really not in the mood. Mrs. Garrett, It wasn't your fault. I accidentally turned my back. I'll be fine." Jo thrashed back. "Would you guys please leave?"
"We're just trying to help Jo. You don't have to get so defensive." Blair flipped her hair.
"You wanna know something? Just leave. That'll help a lot." Jo turned away and pushed power on the remote control. The TV turned on and a lady was standing somewhere in Brooklyn. Jo recognized the place but couldn't get the name right. She also noticed Sean, Mrs. Garrett, and Blair had not moved.
"We are standing at a crime scene, where William Brock stabbed himself repeatedly till he died. No one knows why or if it has anything to do with the Polniaczek case, but police are investigating." the lady said. Jo heard Sean cuss under his breath. Jo would have if she wasn't in such shock. No what? And am I just a case? A victim?
"Oh dear.... Was that....?" Mrs. Garrett started. Jo didn't hear her though, she was somewhere else far away.
* * * * * * * *
Natalie watched the news with Tootie babbling away at new gossip. She watched as the screen went blank and then flashed Breaking News in red. Then a news reporter stood in some neighborhood with a bunch of others.
"We just found out that Joanne Polniaczek has just been released from the hospital. Hopefully we can get a word with her. Here they come now." a police car drove up. Was that their house?
"Tootie, go look out side and see if there are people in our yard." Natalie said not looking away. Tootie groaned and got up. She headed to the door and gasped.
"Wooooooowww!!!!!!!!!!! There's lots of people out there. Mrs. Garrett just got out." Tootie replied.
"I know that Tootie. It's on TV." Natalie said as a tall black man got out. They both started running to the door. A policeman got out and escorted them as another got out. The other police officer went to the door and picked up Jo. He told her something and she seemed not to agree. Then she tucked her arms under her head to protect it. They made their way to the door.
The door opened and Mrs. Garrett entered followed by the African man. The policeman carrying Jo came in and put Jo on the coach. They all seemed out of breath and Jo seemed angry.
"Hey, did you know you were on TV? You're famous!" Tootie announced.
"Tootie, that's why they were running." Natalie shook her head in disbelief.
"Reporters are like vultures. They prey on the screwed" Jo said angrily. That lashed out on Natalie. Though Jo didn't mean it against her, everyone knew Natalie wanted to be a reporter. Mrs. Garrett saw that what Jo said bugged her and came over to pat Natalie on the back.
"Oh Jo, Philip called. He said he really wants you to call." Tootie didn't haste for the moment.
"Thanks." Jo didn't seem at all interested. Weren't they going out?
"You girls should go into a room with no windows for a little while, at least till everything calms down." the police officer said as someone pounded on the door. Mrs. Garrett grabbed pillows and blankets as she ushered everyone out. The police officer started to help Jo, when she pushed him away.
"I can do it... Thanks anyway." Jo slowly got up and smiled trying to tell the police officer it was ok and that she could handle it. Blair ran over and knocked Jo back on the coach. Jo yelped in pain. "Whatcha do that for, eh?"
"Doctor said you couldn't walk around." Blair put her hands on her hips, as if she were scolding a child. Jo seemed to pick up on that.
"Blair, he didn't expect me to go to the bathroom in the bed. Blair, stop botherin me." Jo got up again and had her hand out ready for Blair to knock her down again. We are the craziest group, who would ever think we'd live together? A snob, a Bronx tomboy, a gossiper, and a ...... Reporter. But we are like a family, sure we had our disagreements, but each of us would defend the other no matter what.... And I guess that's what got us into this mess.
* * * * * * * *
"Jo!!!!!!!!" Mrs. Garrett called from downstairs.
"What?" Will I ever finish her book on motorcycles if people kept calling her. It has been five days since she got home. The reporters finally left, as did the police.
"A young man is here to see you." Mrs. Garrett seemed giddy, which meant that it was probable Sean or Philip. Philip had called everyday, Jo hadn't returned them. He had lied to her.
Jo got out of bed and limped out. Her side still hurt as she walked slowly down the stairs. Philip stood at the door with his kakis and another polo shirt. He smiled and his eyes twinkled.
"Look Jo, I wanted to apologize for lying. I guess you probable don't want to date me cause I'm rich." He looked down at the floor. Was he ashamed of being rich?
"Ok, two things. First, no excuse for lying. Second, never listen to Blair." He bit his lower lip and nodded. Now time to find Blair's excuse. Jo wanted an excuse to smash a head or two. "Blair!"
"What?" Blair's voice rang from upstairs.
"I need a word with you." Jo stared at the bottom of the staircase. Blair was never fast and as she analyzed the scene coming down, Jo smiled. Blair laughed nervously and then ran back upstairs.
"You dead meat, Blair." Jo slowly started up the stairs and then started gaining speed. Hey, she was a woman with a mission and for some reason that didn't sound all that great, but she'd deal with it later. For Philip.... Well she'd deal with that later too. Should she forgive and forget. It wasn't that big of a deal.
"Mrs. G!" Blair screamed. Yeah going up the stairs was slow and painful, but in the end, would have great results. Nobody ever messes with my reputation.
"What's going on girls?" Mrs. Garrett asked in her whiny voice. At first, her voice annoyed her, but now she came to love it. If anybody found out about what she just thought, she'd destroy them. I'm not always thinking bad things, I just don't think about flowers in a pasture. Have I ever even seen one? Nah, lived in Brooklyn to long. Not that...... Ok end trail of thought, I'm up the stairs.
"Why don't you explain it for us, Blair?" Jo folded her arms up to her chest.
"About what?" Blair stood behind Mrs. Garrett.
"About how you told Philip that I hate rich guys and I would never date him if he were rich. So he lied to me and then I found out by his father." Jo smirked looking strait at Blair.
"Can you explain Blair?" Mrs. Garrett wasn't going to help her this time.
"Ok, so maybe I tampered here and there, but you called the Jefferson boy a stiff."
"I call all rich people that, until I get to know them. I called you a stiff.... Still do." This wasn't working right. Jo had made a mistake.
"Maybe that's the problem, Jo. You classified him, so he felt he had to." Mrs. Garrett started to sort out the problem. Blair smirked in triumph. "But Blair, what you did was in excusable."
"Ok, I admit, I was little jealous that he liked you. I'm sorry." Blair nodded in her conclusion.
"Thanks Mrs. Garrett, I gottah talk to Latino boy." Jo started down and saw that Philip was sitting on the couch. He got up and smiled shyly. Why do I even like this guy? He's not my type. He's not gritty enough. When she got to the last step, her whole body relaxed. "Look Philip, it's no big deal, and it isn't your fault Blair gave you the wrong idea. I do wish that you didn't care what I thought. And I'm also sorry I called you a stiff. I guess that reinforced Blair's information. I don't care if you're rich, poor, or middle class." She looked strait into his blue eyes.
"Can we start over?" he said hopefully.
"Yeah." She laughed.
"Hi, I' Philippe Jefferson. You can call me Philip. Who are you?" He asked sincerely.
"Joanne Polniaczek, but call me Jo." she rocked on her heels.
"Nice to meet you Jo." he shook her hand formally, but then brought her closely and hugged her. He leaned over and said "I like that name."
"Yours isn't half-bad either."
* * * * * * * *
"Ok, so you don't like TV or books. What do you do?" Blair asked fascinated. Jo giggled. Jo giggling? Now I've seen everything. "What?"
"Kids in Brooklyn tend to spend their time in bars or on the courts. They don't waste their time on TV. Lots of them can't even afford them. I didn't get a TV till I was like nine." Jo said while looking into Philip's eyes as if she were in a trance. Jo falling for a rich Latino? That was against the rules of ... Well who knows, but somewhere.
Still, Blair's going out with a Bronx boy. Maybe it's a mixed up year.
"Yeah she's right. I like to spend my time on the courts. Jo here liked to study and do well in school..... That's another story. We picked on her for that." Sean said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Philip, want to play some foosball?" Jo changed the subject. "Hey Tootie, ya want to keep your nose somewhere else?"
Tootie turned around looking at Natalie and Mrs. Garrett. Sure they were great to hang out with, but she needed excitement. Mrs. Garrett stared at her menu and Natalie babbled about some news she heard on the radio. Tootie turned again to see Jo and Philip pushing and pulling the rod controls. Blair and Sean started talking.
"So, since you know what I like to do, how about you? What do you like to do?" Sean sipped a soda pop. He seemed very laid back and he was very handsome.
"Shopping!" Jo grunted as she slammed the rod in.
"Thank you interpreter." Blair responded sarcastically.
"No prob. Do I get paid?" Jo slammed the rod out. Who ever said you don't get exercise on games? That game looked hard.
"You wanna play?" Sean asked hopefully.
"Nah, I'll stick to shopping." She waved her hand in rejection. That's good old Blair, would rather got shopping then do anything physical that could break her nail. Sean smiled and then turned around toward the game.
"Playin winners!" He yelled as he got out of his chair. Blair got out and followed.
"So, Tootie, what will you order?" Mrs. Garrett asked clearing her throat. Tootie turned around and saw that the waiter was waiting. She glanced at the menu and saw cheeseburger.
"I'll have a cheeseburger and some fries." Tootie said handing her the menu. The lady took it and left. She turned around and saw that Jo and Sean were now playing. Jo seemed to be winning by the look of Sean's face. Philip went behind Jo and winked at Sean. He tickled Jo and she yelped from surprise. She started laughing and pushing him away. Sean rose his hands up in triumph. He must have scored.
"Ok, Ok! Stop it! You're hurting my side." she pushed him aside to regain her composure and went back to the game. Blair smiled. It wasn't one of those 'I'm great' smiles but rather a warm, humanity smile. One that was very special.
Jo's eyes twinkled from the situation and she rubbed her eyes from laughing. Tootie took a picture, it would be a good one.
"Ok Tootie, maybe you should stop nosing around and come back to earth." Natalie said. "Where's Jeff?"
"In Florida, he's going to the Keys." Tootie thanked the waiter as she placed the plate in front of her. Tootie started nibbling on her cheeseburger as the other four sat behind her. Tootie leaned back to listen. Jo noticed and pushed her back on four legs.
"What will you have?" the waiter asked.
"Pizza with everything on it. Extra cheese." Jo hadn't even opened her menu, she just handed it over.
"Club sandwich." Blair handed the menu over. "Turkey."
"Ok, I want a white bun with turkey, Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and uh.... That's all." Philip smiled politely and handed her the menu. Ok that was long.
"Why didn't you just order the club without the sprouts?" Blair asked.
"Because I didn't want to." Philip sulked.
"I want what Jo ordered. She's the one with the same accent as mine." Sean replied as he dodged a napkin. The waitress looked annoyed at the juvenile behavior and went to the back.
"Why do they hire people like that?" Blair asked frowning. Sean grinned and put his arm around her.
"Because everyone needs a job." Tootie offered. All four of them looked annoyed.
"What do you know about not havin a job, eh?" Sean pounced. Bad idea Dorothy.
"Down boy." Blair responded.
"Tootie eat up before I slam it down your throat. I can officially follow up on that now." Jo warned. No jokes today, touchy subject. Very touchy subject. Tootie turned around.
"Leave the older girls alone. How would you two like to go to the movies?" Mrs. Garrett offered.
"Sounds good to me." Natalie said wiping off her hands.
"Dido." what else was she going to do?
********
Jo sat talking to Philip on a blanket in a park. It was a nice day, sun out, not to hot. Jo had been through a lot of relationships. All of them ended because of something geographical, something she had no control over. Distance was going to end theirs. Philip lived in LA and in two days, he would be going home.
"What are you thinking?" Philip asked grinning.
"About you leaving in two days and I'll probable never see you again." She answered with a sad smile. He cradled her face with his hands.
"We'll see each other and I'll write everyday." He spoke softly and made her heart ache. "I'll even call."
"Long distance relationships don't work so well." tears trickled down her face as she remembered France. Why did she like guys who lived so far away?
"It will for us. My dad has business with Blair's, so I'll come whenever he does." He stroked her hair.
"Promise?" She asked softly. He hugged her and then they kissed.
********
"So, you're going back?" Blair tried to sound nonchalant. Sean smiled and nodded. Jo rocked back and forth on her heels, her eyes spelled concern for an old friend. She knew he could take care of himself, but she wanted him to stay. Blair sighed.
"See ya around." Jo said hiding what she probable thought. Blair knew Jo way to well to know she really did care. Jo slapped him on his back and smiled. "Tell everyone I said hey and that the next time I come around I'll beat their butts in basketball."
"You better or then we'll start thinking we're better then you. They miss ya down there, talkin about Jo College." He said good naturally. "I'll check you later, Blair. Real nice meeting ya. Maybe sometime I can show you around Brooklyn."
"I think Blair would rather die." Jo smiled playfully. Jo knew what Blair was going through, Philip was leaving. For the second time or at least near to that, Blair saw Jo crying as she talked to Philip. That was always a rare moment.
Blair's heart ached as she kissed him on the cheek. Thank god for Jo, she would have never met him and would never would have gotten near him if it wasn't for her.
"I'll see ya. Jo?" He looked up at her.
"Yeah, whatcha want?" she asked annoyed but then smiled.
"Catch ya later." he smiled, waved, and then left.
"You gunna be ok?" Jo asked. Why was she always the mother of all of us? Was it because she had to take care of her self on the street and knew how to deal with things? Blair would never understand how hard it is on the streets, but she did understand divorce. That's what the two had in common and that's how they related, even though neither of them mentioned it.
"Few years of shopping will cure it." Blair said truthfully.
"I can't believe you liked him." Jo teased, pushing her sleeves up. "I mean he's totally opposite.."
"Jo!" Blair snapped. Jo put her arms in the air innocently.
"Just joking." she put her arm around Blair's shoulders and they walked into the kitchen.
Dear Diary,
I went shopping today with Jo. Weird, huh? I thought she might want to be with somebody since Philip left. He left this morning, very painful. Why do we go through pain? Is it really because of what the bible says or is it just another fact of life? Do we need it to be better people? Does living on the streets make people better? What about having your father die before you graduate or having to be the youngest? Maybe that's what makes us, well, us. Maybe our experiences make us who we are today. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I bought four pairs of shoes.
Sincerely,
Blair