NOTE: Once in a while you can expect me to change little things within the
plot or the grammar of this fic. So always check back. (
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Velma could not believe how casually her daughter walked along South Lake Shore Drive on the way to the competition.
"You little prima donna, you're not even scared at all are you?" Velma asked snickering.
"What is there to be scared of? I already know I'm going to win. Come on mom, I'm Cathy-Fly! Look at me!"
As she spun around in a playfully condescending manner, her little red sequined dancer's skirt twisted and snapped perfectly back into place. Her mother beamed. She was profoundly amazed at how much her daughter took after her.
"And as you know, mother..." Catrina started in a lofty tone. "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." She saluted. Velma burst out laughing.
"But God, that satire, just like her father." She shook her head not noticing she had said that aloud.
"My father?" Catrina looked soberly at her mother. If Velma could have kicked herself in the ass she would have done exactly that right there and then. She grimaced at the thought of the impending doom that approached her now that she had unintentionally opened Pandora's box.
"I'm like my father?" Catrina went on raising her voice. "Cat, please let's not start right now." "What are you talking about, mom? You started it!"
Velma wanted to scream 'If your father hadn't wanted nothing to do with us, I wouldn't have to constantly hide all of this from you!' But she couldn't. "Look, let's just forget about this for now and focus on your contest, ok?" She remained fully composed externally while her insides felt like raspberry jam.
"Fine." Said Catrina glaring furiously at her mother.
If looks could kill, her mother would have been lying face down on the sidewalk with a rest in peace plaque hanging above her head.
In all honestly her mother was overcome by guilt, especially when she thought of everything that had led to her and Billy going their separate ways. If maybe she had stayed and waited longer in Chicago, things would have gotten better for all three of them. Perhaps she could have kept her true love as well as her job; and maybe she wouldn't have had to be down on her hands and knees all those years up to her eyeballs in the waste and filth of unworthy classless buffoons that wouldn't know the good life if it was staring them in the face.
She remembered when she had broken the news to him. She had never opened up to anyone like that before. He knew of her vulnerability, yet he still had chosen to cast her off like yesterday's newspaper. Telling her that he wasn't ready to be a father. What the hell was he waiting for? She thought. He was no spring chicken when he had decided to place the order.
What killed her more than anything, was that she had allowed him to overcome all her better judgments. Like a child walking over the edge of reason to the tune of the pied piper, she had fallen victim to his charm. She didn't think it was possible to ever love again, and she hadn't even wanted to, but there it was anew like a blessing from God, and it had been too good an offer to pass up.
And then the begging for her not to leave Chicago. He affirmed over and over his love, yet Velma's foolish pride may have ended any chance of happiness and a thriving career in show business for her, and more importantly any life worthy of approval for her daughter.
It had to be all or nothing. All of Billy's undying devotion and a ring, or he would not be allowed to see her, nor the fruit of their love. She wouldn't even accept his repaying of the $5000 he had charged her for his courtroom services, before she took off to Boston. No...Velma Kelly would not settle for anything less than the best. She never had, and never would.
But looking back, now it was apparent that her hostility towards settling for less had caused her to loose much more in return. Maybe all the times that she had haggled for perfection and received nothing, instead of bending and being satisfied with a smaller piece of the pie, had caused her bitter outlook on life. It seemed in every situation she looked at the glass half-empty. Always nagging, always bitching, always casting a shady glance upon her neighbor rather than her well deserved self.
There is always a limit to having high expectations, and now the fact presenting itself was catching up with her.
Velma began to feel light-headed, more taken with regret than she cared to be. "Let's not start ripping each other apart again, OK Catrina? I'm sorry we had to fight like this twice in one day. Just try and concentrate on your act alright?" She lovingly ran a hand through her daughter's raven locks.
Catrina eyeballed her mother inquisitively. She could tell her mother felt bad about getting her going and was now feeling in the wrong. "I'll make you proud, mom." She smiled. She wanted the feud to be over. She just wanted her mother behind her, the one person it seemed who gave a damn whether she lived, died, flourished, or faltered. Forget the goon who was never there once for her throughout her life...at least for now.
They could just hear the crowds a block away in the Athenaeum Theatre parking lot when Velma pointed to the colossal building. "That's it, baby. Your future in show biz awaits you there." That remark put too much pressure on Catrina and she trembled.
"God, mom, don't say it like its totally cut in stone that I'm gonna win. I know I'm good, and you know I'm good, and its only obvious to the entire world that I'm the top of my game, but we don't know how fair those judges are gonna be. I mean they might be the types that wouldn't know talent if it bit them in the--"
"Catrina," her mother cut her off, chuckling. "You'll be brilliant, and the best one there, whether you win or lose. Remember, you've got my genes." Velma grinned impishly. "Yeah, yeah, yeah...And then some, right?" replied Catrina.
"You got it babe!" They ran the remaining block to the theatre talking and laughing all the way. As they entered the enormous structure, a million thoughts whirred through Catrina's mind. But the last thing she thought before leaving her mother to join the large group of girls backstage was how much she wanted to win this contest.
Yes, she wanted to show people how talented she was. Yes, it would be nice to win a couple of admiring friends that she could string along 'til she got sick of 'em. And yes, she wanted to win in loving memory of her dearest Grampy. But what she wanted most, was to be her devoted mother's little shinning star. For if Velma lived to see her daughter bud and bloom into the glorious flower that she once was, maybe she could continue to live in peace with herself as she was now, beautiful though, these days, withered.
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Hope you appreciated this chapter. There was definitely some more background info needed on Velma's situation. The next chapter is the much awaited--Well...you'll see. ;) Anyway, I hope you're enjoying it all so far! Keep R&R. Muchas Gracias!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Velma could not believe how casually her daughter walked along South Lake Shore Drive on the way to the competition.
"You little prima donna, you're not even scared at all are you?" Velma asked snickering.
"What is there to be scared of? I already know I'm going to win. Come on mom, I'm Cathy-Fly! Look at me!"
As she spun around in a playfully condescending manner, her little red sequined dancer's skirt twisted and snapped perfectly back into place. Her mother beamed. She was profoundly amazed at how much her daughter took after her.
"And as you know, mother..." Catrina started in a lofty tone. "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." She saluted. Velma burst out laughing.
"But God, that satire, just like her father." She shook her head not noticing she had said that aloud.
"My father?" Catrina looked soberly at her mother. If Velma could have kicked herself in the ass she would have done exactly that right there and then. She grimaced at the thought of the impending doom that approached her now that she had unintentionally opened Pandora's box.
"I'm like my father?" Catrina went on raising her voice. "Cat, please let's not start right now." "What are you talking about, mom? You started it!"
Velma wanted to scream 'If your father hadn't wanted nothing to do with us, I wouldn't have to constantly hide all of this from you!' But she couldn't. "Look, let's just forget about this for now and focus on your contest, ok?" She remained fully composed externally while her insides felt like raspberry jam.
"Fine." Said Catrina glaring furiously at her mother.
If looks could kill, her mother would have been lying face down on the sidewalk with a rest in peace plaque hanging above her head.
In all honestly her mother was overcome by guilt, especially when she thought of everything that had led to her and Billy going their separate ways. If maybe she had stayed and waited longer in Chicago, things would have gotten better for all three of them. Perhaps she could have kept her true love as well as her job; and maybe she wouldn't have had to be down on her hands and knees all those years up to her eyeballs in the waste and filth of unworthy classless buffoons that wouldn't know the good life if it was staring them in the face.
She remembered when she had broken the news to him. She had never opened up to anyone like that before. He knew of her vulnerability, yet he still had chosen to cast her off like yesterday's newspaper. Telling her that he wasn't ready to be a father. What the hell was he waiting for? She thought. He was no spring chicken when he had decided to place the order.
What killed her more than anything, was that she had allowed him to overcome all her better judgments. Like a child walking over the edge of reason to the tune of the pied piper, she had fallen victim to his charm. She didn't think it was possible to ever love again, and she hadn't even wanted to, but there it was anew like a blessing from God, and it had been too good an offer to pass up.
And then the begging for her not to leave Chicago. He affirmed over and over his love, yet Velma's foolish pride may have ended any chance of happiness and a thriving career in show business for her, and more importantly any life worthy of approval for her daughter.
It had to be all or nothing. All of Billy's undying devotion and a ring, or he would not be allowed to see her, nor the fruit of their love. She wouldn't even accept his repaying of the $5000 he had charged her for his courtroom services, before she took off to Boston. No...Velma Kelly would not settle for anything less than the best. She never had, and never would.
But looking back, now it was apparent that her hostility towards settling for less had caused her to loose much more in return. Maybe all the times that she had haggled for perfection and received nothing, instead of bending and being satisfied with a smaller piece of the pie, had caused her bitter outlook on life. It seemed in every situation she looked at the glass half-empty. Always nagging, always bitching, always casting a shady glance upon her neighbor rather than her well deserved self.
There is always a limit to having high expectations, and now the fact presenting itself was catching up with her.
Velma began to feel light-headed, more taken with regret than she cared to be. "Let's not start ripping each other apart again, OK Catrina? I'm sorry we had to fight like this twice in one day. Just try and concentrate on your act alright?" She lovingly ran a hand through her daughter's raven locks.
Catrina eyeballed her mother inquisitively. She could tell her mother felt bad about getting her going and was now feeling in the wrong. "I'll make you proud, mom." She smiled. She wanted the feud to be over. She just wanted her mother behind her, the one person it seemed who gave a damn whether she lived, died, flourished, or faltered. Forget the goon who was never there once for her throughout her life...at least for now.
They could just hear the crowds a block away in the Athenaeum Theatre parking lot when Velma pointed to the colossal building. "That's it, baby. Your future in show biz awaits you there." That remark put too much pressure on Catrina and she trembled.
"God, mom, don't say it like its totally cut in stone that I'm gonna win. I know I'm good, and you know I'm good, and its only obvious to the entire world that I'm the top of my game, but we don't know how fair those judges are gonna be. I mean they might be the types that wouldn't know talent if it bit them in the--"
"Catrina," her mother cut her off, chuckling. "You'll be brilliant, and the best one there, whether you win or lose. Remember, you've got my genes." Velma grinned impishly. "Yeah, yeah, yeah...And then some, right?" replied Catrina.
"You got it babe!" They ran the remaining block to the theatre talking and laughing all the way. As they entered the enormous structure, a million thoughts whirred through Catrina's mind. But the last thing she thought before leaving her mother to join the large group of girls backstage was how much she wanted to win this contest.
Yes, she wanted to show people how talented she was. Yes, it would be nice to win a couple of admiring friends that she could string along 'til she got sick of 'em. And yes, she wanted to win in loving memory of her dearest Grampy. But what she wanted most, was to be her devoted mother's little shinning star. For if Velma lived to see her daughter bud and bloom into the glorious flower that she once was, maybe she could continue to live in peace with herself as she was now, beautiful though, these days, withered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope you appreciated this chapter. There was definitely some more background info needed on Velma's situation. The next chapter is the much awaited--Well...you'll see. ;) Anyway, I hope you're enjoying it all so far! Keep R&R. Muchas Gracias!