Chapter 5: Johnny's Promise
Shannon is in her bedroom, laying on the bed, face front on her pillow, sobbing. Robby has just left the apartment, and now, Shannon is thinking about how she failed miserably.
Throughout Robby's entire life, She told him about how much she hated Johnny, and not only did she hate Johnny, She taught Robby to hate him, too, and not only did she teach him to hate Johnny, she MADE SURE he hated Johnny.
And Yet, despite her best efforts, she failed.
Meanwhile, in Johnny's car.
"Thanks for coming to get me, dad." Commented Robby.
"You're welcome." Replied Johnny.
Johnny was so glad that Robby had agreed to move in with him.
"I'm Hungry." Said Robby.
"I know a good burger joint." Replied Johnny.
A Little Bit Later, at Sal's Burger Place.
Johnny and Robby are eating burgers at Sal's Burger Place. Johnny decided to take Robby to this particular burger place on Father's Day for a specific reason.
"Good, huh?" Asked Johnny.
"Yeah!" Answered Robby.
"Secret's the chopped onions!" Said Johnny while lifting his burger up.
Johnny lowers his burger.
"Sal keeps it simple." Continued Johnny. "None of that veggie crap."
Johnny, again, lifts up his burger.
"Just a hot grill and some quality chuck." Continued Johnny.
After swallowing his bite, Johnny drinks a sip of his coke. After his sip, he sets the cup down.
"You see that building over there?" Asked Johnny.
Robby looks to his right, and he sees that it's the hospital.
"Yeah, the hospital." Answered Robby.
"That's where you were born." Replied Johnny.
"February 4th, 2002." Replied Robby.
"Yep, and it was a Monday." Replied Johnny. "Your mother was in labor for 17 hours."
"Mom was in labor for 17 hours?". Robby was shocked to learn that. He had never heard that before in his life. He couldn't believe that nobody ever told him that. "That's crazy!"
"Yeah, I'm sure it was." Replied Johnny.
Johnny pauses briefly.
"I wasn't there." Continued Johnny.
"Well, I knew that part." Replied Robby.
"And my mom had just died." Continued Johnny. "I was a real mess. I never knew my father, so she was all I had. Next thing I know, I'm gonna be a dad. Scared the shit out of me. So instead of being up there, welcoming you into the world, I was down here, soaking up the booze from a 3 day bender, trying to get the courage to walk across the street. I never got there."
Johnny pauses for a moment, and Robby doesn't say a word.
"I know it's no excuse, and I failed you on your very first day in this world, and I kept failing you for 16 years." Continued Johnny, who was starting to tear up. "and I want you to know that from now on, I'll always be on your side, and I'll always have your best interests at heart."
"Thanks, Dad!" Replied a smiling Robby.