Chapter 4
The following morning, Chachi's bags were packed, but he couldn't bring himself to leave for the airport. The fight he had with Joanie the night before about her not wanting to go on tour with him was echoing through his head. He had wanted to go after her when she stormed out of their apartment, but decided against it in favor of giving her time to cool off. He also hoped that her family would bring her to her senses, and make her realize that her place was with her husband. Even if that place was California.
Chachi sat down on the couch and looked at his watch, sighing. This territory was all too familiar to him. Last year he gave up a promising singing career in Chicago to move back home and be with Joanie. And now, unless she changed her mind within the next few hours, it seemed as if Chachi would be forced to choose between his wife and his music, again. Only the stakes were higher now. This time they were married.and this time there was a national tour involved.
"Why does she keep doing this to me?" Chachi asked himself aloud. "Why does she always want to make me choose?" Finally the pressure got to be too much, and Chachi headed for the door. "I'll talk to Fonzie."
"Dad? Can I ask you a question?"
Danny and Fonzie sat at the breakfast table, Danny with a bowl of Cheerio's and Fonzie with a cup of coffee and the funny pages. It was the kind of lazy Sunday morning that Fonzie had always dreamed of as a child, but never got to experience until now. His parents had abandoned him at a young age, and even though he had lived with his grandmother for a while, he was pretty much always on his own, and pretty much always working. But now, finally, he had something to stay home on the weekends for. Aside from Chachi and Aunt Louisa, and of course the Cunninghams', Danny was Fonzie's first real family. Sometimes, occasionally, Fonzie would have to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. The only way that his life could become more perfect would be if he could find a special woman to share it with. But she'd have to be pretty special, Fonzie asserted. Danny would have to like her too, because Danny came first now.
"Of course. What's up?"
"Well.I know everyone's been upset lately and all, but I was wondering, well." Danny seemed apprehensive about whatever it was he wanted to say.
"What is it, Danny?" Fonz asked.
"I only got to meet Lori Beth once, at Joanie and Chachi's wedding. She was really nice to me. And I was just wondering if you would tell me more about her. I mean, everyone seems so sad, and I'm sad too, but I think I'd be sadder if I knew more about her, you know?"
"Let me get this straight." Fonzie began. "You want to be sadder?"
"I just want to be able to understand. The Cunninghams are like my family now, sort of. I just want to feel like I belong." Danny had a look of longing on his face that touched Fonzie.
"You belong, Danny. Mr. And Mrs. C love you like you were their own grandson. But if you want to know about Lori Beth, that's cool. What do you want to know?"
Danny thought for a moment. "How long did you know her?"
"Well, I met her when she started going out with Richie, back when they were in college. That was about.seven years ago I guess."
"Was she always nice?"
"Oh, yeah. Richie couldn't have found himself a better girl if he'd tried. Lori Beth was the cream of the crop." Fonzie smiled.
"Was she a good mom?"
"She was a great mom." Fonzie paused. "Danny.why do you ask?"
"I don't know. I guess I just was wondering what it's like to have a mom, you know? I don't remember my real mom." Danny paused, a look of concern appearing on his face. "Don't get me wrong, Dad, I love being your son. I wouldn't trade you for any other family in the world. I've got Mrs. C and Joanie.so really that's almost like having two moms, sort of."
Fonzie could tell, despite Danny's quick attempt to diffuse his sadness, that the issue of wanting a mother to call his own was not one that would go away. He knew that Danny loved him.he needed no reaffirmation of that fact. But something would always be missing in the boy's life until Fonzie could find him a mom.
"You'll have a mom someday, Danny." Fonzie assured him. But deep down, Fonzie was afraid he would never find a woman that was good enough.for him or Danny.
The kitchen door flew open, and Chachi burst in like a man on a mission. He came to a halt by the table and bounced from foot to foot, wringing his hands. "I need your advice, Fonz."
Fonzie and Danny just looked up at him. "Well good morning to you too, cousin," Fonzie took a sip of coffee. "Would you like a Poptart?"
"I don't have time for Poptarts! My life is hanging in the balance!" Chachi finally acknowledged Danny's presence and nodded. "Hey, Danny. Fonz, can we talk in the living room?"
Fonzie stood and looked at Danny. "You and I will finish our conversation later, ok?"
"Ok, Dad." Danny smiled and turned his attention back to his cereal.
Fonzie and Chachi walked into the living room. "I take it this has something to do with the fact that Joanie spent last night at the Cunninghams'?" Fonz took to busying himself around the room, straightening here and there, in an attempt to avoid eye contact with Chachi. Even though he knew he had nothing to feel guilty about, he still felt awkward about the secret he and Joanie had kept from Chachi. Fonz knew that if Chachi ever found out that Joanie had been in love with him.even started dating Chachi because he reminded her of him.it would destroy him.
"Why does she keep doing this to me, Fonz? I've done nothing but try to make Joanie happy, and she keeps driving me crazy! First I have to move back here from Chicago, and now she's making me choose between her and going on tour! It's as if she doesn't want me to be successful!"
"Calm down, Chachi. You have to look at this from her side, too. Her family is going through a very stressful time right now."
Chachi threw his hands up in the air and grunted. "I am so sick of hearing about that! Yes, Lori Beth died. Yes, it's sad. But it's time for Joanie to move on!"
Fonzie looked at Chachi with near disgust. "How could you be so thoughtless? This isn't like you."
"I'm sorry. But I'm tired of putting my life on hold."
"You're being selfish."
Chachi started to respond, but the phone rang. "Don't move," Fonz commanded, and went back to the kitchen to answer the phone.
Chachi sighed and fell hopelessly to the couch, wearily rubbing his eyes and face. I don't know how much longer I can take this, he said to himself. If she loved me she'd.Chachi paused mid-thought when he noticed a blue book on the coffee table, with the word Diary embossed on the cover. He laughed and picked up the book. "Fonzie keeps a diary?" He quickly looked toward the kitchen door to make sure Fonz was still on the phone, before he cracked open the book to sneak a peak.
.Chachi and I broke up again last night. Why do I even keep giving him so many chances when I just know he's going to do nothing but break my heart? And I had that dream again, the one where I marry Fonzie. Oh.I wish so much that there was some way I could make that dream come true! But I'm sure he thinks I'm a kid. And my parents would never go for it. I just love him so much though. I know he would never act as childish as Chachi.
Fonzie came strolling out of the kitchen, a smile on his face. "Potsie needed directions to Chicago - again."
Chachi looked up from his reading, a look of utter hatred on his face. He held up the diary. "What is this doing here?"
Fonzie stopped in his tracks. He had forgotten that he'd left the diary in plain sight last night.
Chachi shot up like a rocket. "How could I have been so stupid? Joanie is in love with you! And what's worse.you knew about it the whole time! No wonder you kept taking her side. You probably want me to leave so you can have her all to yourself!"
"Now wait just a minute, Chachi."
"No! I've played the fool for the last time!" Chachi's face softened from anger to hurt. "I can't trust any of you. Not even you, my cousin."
"Chachi, nothing ever happened between me and - "
"Why should I believe that? You've had her diary this whole time.you knew all about this and you never told me. It's not like this was just some childhood crush, Fonz." Chachi opened the diary up to the page he had been reading, and showed Fonz the date. "She wrote this barely two months before we got married!" Chachi flipped through some more pages. "Oh, here's a good one. If Chachi ever knew that the reason I started dating him was because he reminded me of Fonzie, he'd be devastated. Well, it's nice to know she has such a strong consideration for my feelings."
Chachi was beginning to fly out of control now, and Fonz could see it. "Look," he said, "you need to calm down and look at the whole picture."
Chachi stalked off toward the front door, still holding the diary. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you. I'm leaving. For good. But not before I give that." Chachi searched for the right word. ".Jezebel a piece of my mind!"
The door slammed behind Chachi before Fonz could answer.
Joanie sat on the Cunningham's couch, watching television, just as she had all morning. Her parents had left early for Marion's garden club meeting, and as far as she knew, Richie and the kids must have slept in, because she hadn't seen them yet today. It was just as well that she was alone, she supposed, because she wouldn't know what to say anyway. Joanie couldn't help but feel guilty about everything.her feelings for Fonzie, her unfairness toward Chachi. The uncertainty of her own feelings was driving her crazy inside. As she sat curled up in the corner of the couch, she began to cry.
The front door flew open, and Chachi stormed in. Joanie jumped up, wiping her eyes. "Chach," she gasped.
"How could you do this to me?!" he yelled as he paced around the room.
"Do what?" she asked, confused.
Chachi held up the diary. "Does this look familiar?"
Joanie felt her stomach drop. "Oh my God. Where did you get that?"
Chachi became enraged. Up until this point he had clung to the possibility that this was all some kind of misunderstanding. But when he saw Joanie's reaction - the shock and horror on her face - he knew it was no joke. Unable to control himself, he threw the diary at Joanie, barely missing her head.
Richie was awoken suddenly by a thud coming from downstairs. He had only fallen asleep moments before, after spending the entire night awake, thinking about Lori Beth. He hadn't even changed into pajamas. It had only been a week since her death, and though Richie had tried to be strong for his family's sake, he was beginning to think the terrible pain was never going to fade. He was nervous, terrified, and angry, all at the same time. But he couldn't tell them. They wouldn't understand. So he kept it all inside, like a time bomb waiting to explode. Lack of sleep made him agitated, but he swung his legs over the side of the bed anyway, preparing to drag himself downstairs to investigate the noise. When he heard his sister scream, the grogginess disappeared, and Richie bolted out his bedroom door and down the hallway.
"Chachi, I can explain!" Joanie was in tears, obviously frightened by her husband's violent outburst. Chachi was following Joanie around the living room as she backed away from him, with a look of rage in his eyes that she had never seen before. "I didn't mean to hurt you!"
"Oh really? Well guess what. You did. I can't believe I spent all of these years chasing after you. What an idiot! And to think my own cousin was the one responsible for it!" Chachi picked up the diary off the floor where it had fallen, and continued to stalk Joanie.
"He had nothing to do with it. He didn't even know." Joanie's fear grew with each step until finally the pair came to a stop in front of the couch. "Chachi, I'm sorry. Just calm down, okay?"
"Calm down?!" In a fit of anger, Chachi tore the diary in two and threw the pieces into the unlit fireplace, before throwing Joanie down on the couch by her shoulders. "How am I supposed to calm down when I'm married to a whore?!"
Richie reached the bottom of the stairs just as Chachi looked as if he was going to take a swing at Joanie. He dove around the couch and tackled Chachi, landing on the coffee table and shattering it. The time bomb had gone off, and every bit of rage coursing through Richie's body came flying out. He punched Chachi repeatedly, in the stomach, about the face, until he had no strength left. The world around him had gone dim, and all he saw was Chachi Arcola, the man who called his sister a whore. The man who had almost hit her. He had heard a thud and a scream earlier. Maybe he HAD hit her. With renewed energy, Richie unleashed his anger on Chachi again.
Joanie sat huddled in the corner of the couch, not knowing what to do. She happened to turn around, and immediately wished she hadn't. Horrified, she saw her four-year-old nephew sitting on the stairs, watching the entire scene in shock.
The front door flew open and Fonzie ran in, followed immediately by Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham. Fearing his instinct about Chachi flying off the handle was correct, Fonzie pulled a still-reeling Richie off of his cousin. Richie went willingly, almost limply. Marion ran to the stairs and scooped up the frightened Richie Jr., while Howard stood between the wiped out Richie and the dazed and beaten Chachi.
"What the hell is going on here?" Howard yelled.
In an effort to protect her brother, Joanie spoke up. "Chachi attacked me. Sort of."
"Sort of?" Howard asked. He grabbed Chachi by his jacket and pulled him to his feet. "If you laid one hand on my daughter, so help me."
"Don't worry, Mr. C.," Chachi muttered, speaking slowly to ensure his jaw was not broken. "I didn't touch your daughter. In fact, if there's anyone you should be worried about touching your daughter.it's him." Chachi motioned to Fonzie.
"What?" Mr. C was obviously confused. "If you didn't hit Joanie." He turned to Richie. "Why would you attack Chachi like that? And in front of your son! What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't. I.I didn't know Richie.he, he called her a." Richie couldn't believe what he had done. Especially in front of his own son, even though he hadn't realized he was there. "I need some air." Richie turned toward the door, and then looked back. "Chach." But he couldn't bring himself to apologize to Chachi. Not after what he had called Joanie. So he just turned away again, and left.
"You," Fonzie sternly said to his cousin. "We need to have a talk. Privately. Now."
"Get away from me," Chachi spat. "You've done enough talking. My cousin. If there was anyone I should've been able to trust, it was you. And you," Chachi turned to Joanie. "I have nothing more to say to you. Except goodbye."
Chachi left the Cunningham house for the last time, leaving its occupants silent and confused. But Joanie's confusion, and even Fonzie's, was made up of mixed emotions. Howard and Marion's confusion was plain and simple, and easily summed up into a few words by Mr. C.
"Will somebody please tell me what is going on here?"
The following morning, Chachi's bags were packed, but he couldn't bring himself to leave for the airport. The fight he had with Joanie the night before about her not wanting to go on tour with him was echoing through his head. He had wanted to go after her when she stormed out of their apartment, but decided against it in favor of giving her time to cool off. He also hoped that her family would bring her to her senses, and make her realize that her place was with her husband. Even if that place was California.
Chachi sat down on the couch and looked at his watch, sighing. This territory was all too familiar to him. Last year he gave up a promising singing career in Chicago to move back home and be with Joanie. And now, unless she changed her mind within the next few hours, it seemed as if Chachi would be forced to choose between his wife and his music, again. Only the stakes were higher now. This time they were married.and this time there was a national tour involved.
"Why does she keep doing this to me?" Chachi asked himself aloud. "Why does she always want to make me choose?" Finally the pressure got to be too much, and Chachi headed for the door. "I'll talk to Fonzie."
"Dad? Can I ask you a question?"
Danny and Fonzie sat at the breakfast table, Danny with a bowl of Cheerio's and Fonzie with a cup of coffee and the funny pages. It was the kind of lazy Sunday morning that Fonzie had always dreamed of as a child, but never got to experience until now. His parents had abandoned him at a young age, and even though he had lived with his grandmother for a while, he was pretty much always on his own, and pretty much always working. But now, finally, he had something to stay home on the weekends for. Aside from Chachi and Aunt Louisa, and of course the Cunninghams', Danny was Fonzie's first real family. Sometimes, occasionally, Fonzie would have to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. The only way that his life could become more perfect would be if he could find a special woman to share it with. But she'd have to be pretty special, Fonzie asserted. Danny would have to like her too, because Danny came first now.
"Of course. What's up?"
"Well.I know everyone's been upset lately and all, but I was wondering, well." Danny seemed apprehensive about whatever it was he wanted to say.
"What is it, Danny?" Fonz asked.
"I only got to meet Lori Beth once, at Joanie and Chachi's wedding. She was really nice to me. And I was just wondering if you would tell me more about her. I mean, everyone seems so sad, and I'm sad too, but I think I'd be sadder if I knew more about her, you know?"
"Let me get this straight." Fonzie began. "You want to be sadder?"
"I just want to be able to understand. The Cunninghams are like my family now, sort of. I just want to feel like I belong." Danny had a look of longing on his face that touched Fonzie.
"You belong, Danny. Mr. And Mrs. C love you like you were their own grandson. But if you want to know about Lori Beth, that's cool. What do you want to know?"
Danny thought for a moment. "How long did you know her?"
"Well, I met her when she started going out with Richie, back when they were in college. That was about.seven years ago I guess."
"Was she always nice?"
"Oh, yeah. Richie couldn't have found himself a better girl if he'd tried. Lori Beth was the cream of the crop." Fonzie smiled.
"Was she a good mom?"
"She was a great mom." Fonzie paused. "Danny.why do you ask?"
"I don't know. I guess I just was wondering what it's like to have a mom, you know? I don't remember my real mom." Danny paused, a look of concern appearing on his face. "Don't get me wrong, Dad, I love being your son. I wouldn't trade you for any other family in the world. I've got Mrs. C and Joanie.so really that's almost like having two moms, sort of."
Fonzie could tell, despite Danny's quick attempt to diffuse his sadness, that the issue of wanting a mother to call his own was not one that would go away. He knew that Danny loved him.he needed no reaffirmation of that fact. But something would always be missing in the boy's life until Fonzie could find him a mom.
"You'll have a mom someday, Danny." Fonzie assured him. But deep down, Fonzie was afraid he would never find a woman that was good enough.for him or Danny.
The kitchen door flew open, and Chachi burst in like a man on a mission. He came to a halt by the table and bounced from foot to foot, wringing his hands. "I need your advice, Fonz."
Fonzie and Danny just looked up at him. "Well good morning to you too, cousin," Fonzie took a sip of coffee. "Would you like a Poptart?"
"I don't have time for Poptarts! My life is hanging in the balance!" Chachi finally acknowledged Danny's presence and nodded. "Hey, Danny. Fonz, can we talk in the living room?"
Fonzie stood and looked at Danny. "You and I will finish our conversation later, ok?"
"Ok, Dad." Danny smiled and turned his attention back to his cereal.
Fonzie and Chachi walked into the living room. "I take it this has something to do with the fact that Joanie spent last night at the Cunninghams'?" Fonz took to busying himself around the room, straightening here and there, in an attempt to avoid eye contact with Chachi. Even though he knew he had nothing to feel guilty about, he still felt awkward about the secret he and Joanie had kept from Chachi. Fonz knew that if Chachi ever found out that Joanie had been in love with him.even started dating Chachi because he reminded her of him.it would destroy him.
"Why does she keep doing this to me, Fonz? I've done nothing but try to make Joanie happy, and she keeps driving me crazy! First I have to move back here from Chicago, and now she's making me choose between her and going on tour! It's as if she doesn't want me to be successful!"
"Calm down, Chachi. You have to look at this from her side, too. Her family is going through a very stressful time right now."
Chachi threw his hands up in the air and grunted. "I am so sick of hearing about that! Yes, Lori Beth died. Yes, it's sad. But it's time for Joanie to move on!"
Fonzie looked at Chachi with near disgust. "How could you be so thoughtless? This isn't like you."
"I'm sorry. But I'm tired of putting my life on hold."
"You're being selfish."
Chachi started to respond, but the phone rang. "Don't move," Fonz commanded, and went back to the kitchen to answer the phone.
Chachi sighed and fell hopelessly to the couch, wearily rubbing his eyes and face. I don't know how much longer I can take this, he said to himself. If she loved me she'd.Chachi paused mid-thought when he noticed a blue book on the coffee table, with the word Diary embossed on the cover. He laughed and picked up the book. "Fonzie keeps a diary?" He quickly looked toward the kitchen door to make sure Fonz was still on the phone, before he cracked open the book to sneak a peak.
.Chachi and I broke up again last night. Why do I even keep giving him so many chances when I just know he's going to do nothing but break my heart? And I had that dream again, the one where I marry Fonzie. Oh.I wish so much that there was some way I could make that dream come true! But I'm sure he thinks I'm a kid. And my parents would never go for it. I just love him so much though. I know he would never act as childish as Chachi.
Fonzie came strolling out of the kitchen, a smile on his face. "Potsie needed directions to Chicago - again."
Chachi looked up from his reading, a look of utter hatred on his face. He held up the diary. "What is this doing here?"
Fonzie stopped in his tracks. He had forgotten that he'd left the diary in plain sight last night.
Chachi shot up like a rocket. "How could I have been so stupid? Joanie is in love with you! And what's worse.you knew about it the whole time! No wonder you kept taking her side. You probably want me to leave so you can have her all to yourself!"
"Now wait just a minute, Chachi."
"No! I've played the fool for the last time!" Chachi's face softened from anger to hurt. "I can't trust any of you. Not even you, my cousin."
"Chachi, nothing ever happened between me and - "
"Why should I believe that? You've had her diary this whole time.you knew all about this and you never told me. It's not like this was just some childhood crush, Fonz." Chachi opened the diary up to the page he had been reading, and showed Fonz the date. "She wrote this barely two months before we got married!" Chachi flipped through some more pages. "Oh, here's a good one. If Chachi ever knew that the reason I started dating him was because he reminded me of Fonzie, he'd be devastated. Well, it's nice to know she has such a strong consideration for my feelings."
Chachi was beginning to fly out of control now, and Fonz could see it. "Look," he said, "you need to calm down and look at the whole picture."
Chachi stalked off toward the front door, still holding the diary. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you. I'm leaving. For good. But not before I give that." Chachi searched for the right word. ".Jezebel a piece of my mind!"
The door slammed behind Chachi before Fonz could answer.
Joanie sat on the Cunningham's couch, watching television, just as she had all morning. Her parents had left early for Marion's garden club meeting, and as far as she knew, Richie and the kids must have slept in, because she hadn't seen them yet today. It was just as well that she was alone, she supposed, because she wouldn't know what to say anyway. Joanie couldn't help but feel guilty about everything.her feelings for Fonzie, her unfairness toward Chachi. The uncertainty of her own feelings was driving her crazy inside. As she sat curled up in the corner of the couch, she began to cry.
The front door flew open, and Chachi stormed in. Joanie jumped up, wiping her eyes. "Chach," she gasped.
"How could you do this to me?!" he yelled as he paced around the room.
"Do what?" she asked, confused.
Chachi held up the diary. "Does this look familiar?"
Joanie felt her stomach drop. "Oh my God. Where did you get that?"
Chachi became enraged. Up until this point he had clung to the possibility that this was all some kind of misunderstanding. But when he saw Joanie's reaction - the shock and horror on her face - he knew it was no joke. Unable to control himself, he threw the diary at Joanie, barely missing her head.
Richie was awoken suddenly by a thud coming from downstairs. He had only fallen asleep moments before, after spending the entire night awake, thinking about Lori Beth. He hadn't even changed into pajamas. It had only been a week since her death, and though Richie had tried to be strong for his family's sake, he was beginning to think the terrible pain was never going to fade. He was nervous, terrified, and angry, all at the same time. But he couldn't tell them. They wouldn't understand. So he kept it all inside, like a time bomb waiting to explode. Lack of sleep made him agitated, but he swung his legs over the side of the bed anyway, preparing to drag himself downstairs to investigate the noise. When he heard his sister scream, the grogginess disappeared, and Richie bolted out his bedroom door and down the hallway.
"Chachi, I can explain!" Joanie was in tears, obviously frightened by her husband's violent outburst. Chachi was following Joanie around the living room as she backed away from him, with a look of rage in his eyes that she had never seen before. "I didn't mean to hurt you!"
"Oh really? Well guess what. You did. I can't believe I spent all of these years chasing after you. What an idiot! And to think my own cousin was the one responsible for it!" Chachi picked up the diary off the floor where it had fallen, and continued to stalk Joanie.
"He had nothing to do with it. He didn't even know." Joanie's fear grew with each step until finally the pair came to a stop in front of the couch. "Chachi, I'm sorry. Just calm down, okay?"
"Calm down?!" In a fit of anger, Chachi tore the diary in two and threw the pieces into the unlit fireplace, before throwing Joanie down on the couch by her shoulders. "How am I supposed to calm down when I'm married to a whore?!"
Richie reached the bottom of the stairs just as Chachi looked as if he was going to take a swing at Joanie. He dove around the couch and tackled Chachi, landing on the coffee table and shattering it. The time bomb had gone off, and every bit of rage coursing through Richie's body came flying out. He punched Chachi repeatedly, in the stomach, about the face, until he had no strength left. The world around him had gone dim, and all he saw was Chachi Arcola, the man who called his sister a whore. The man who had almost hit her. He had heard a thud and a scream earlier. Maybe he HAD hit her. With renewed energy, Richie unleashed his anger on Chachi again.
Joanie sat huddled in the corner of the couch, not knowing what to do. She happened to turn around, and immediately wished she hadn't. Horrified, she saw her four-year-old nephew sitting on the stairs, watching the entire scene in shock.
The front door flew open and Fonzie ran in, followed immediately by Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham. Fearing his instinct about Chachi flying off the handle was correct, Fonzie pulled a still-reeling Richie off of his cousin. Richie went willingly, almost limply. Marion ran to the stairs and scooped up the frightened Richie Jr., while Howard stood between the wiped out Richie and the dazed and beaten Chachi.
"What the hell is going on here?" Howard yelled.
In an effort to protect her brother, Joanie spoke up. "Chachi attacked me. Sort of."
"Sort of?" Howard asked. He grabbed Chachi by his jacket and pulled him to his feet. "If you laid one hand on my daughter, so help me."
"Don't worry, Mr. C.," Chachi muttered, speaking slowly to ensure his jaw was not broken. "I didn't touch your daughter. In fact, if there's anyone you should be worried about touching your daughter.it's him." Chachi motioned to Fonzie.
"What?" Mr. C was obviously confused. "If you didn't hit Joanie." He turned to Richie. "Why would you attack Chachi like that? And in front of your son! What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't. I.I didn't know Richie.he, he called her a." Richie couldn't believe what he had done. Especially in front of his own son, even though he hadn't realized he was there. "I need some air." Richie turned toward the door, and then looked back. "Chach." But he couldn't bring himself to apologize to Chachi. Not after what he had called Joanie. So he just turned away again, and left.
"You," Fonzie sternly said to his cousin. "We need to have a talk. Privately. Now."
"Get away from me," Chachi spat. "You've done enough talking. My cousin. If there was anyone I should've been able to trust, it was you. And you," Chachi turned to Joanie. "I have nothing more to say to you. Except goodbye."
Chachi left the Cunningham house for the last time, leaving its occupants silent and confused. But Joanie's confusion, and even Fonzie's, was made up of mixed emotions. Howard and Marion's confusion was plain and simple, and easily summed up into a few words by Mr. C.
"Will somebody please tell me what is going on here?"