The Long And Winding Road
Note: Thanks to PsYcHoJo, YellyBelly, Fearless Dreamer, cutiepye06655, almost-never & Dark Spell for the recent reviews.
Chapter 28 -- Home For The Holidays
It was roughly 10 a.m. on Christmas morning. JT was walking through the neighborhood when his cell phone rang.
"Hello," JT answered as he continued down the sidewalk.
"JT, where are you?!" a loud voice asked.
"And 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' to you too, Emma."
"Never mind that. Why aren't you over here?"
"I'm not due at your place until noon."
"Well, sure, if you want to get technical about it. What, you've never heard of showing up early?"
"This is family time. I'm not going to get in the way of that."
"Yes, because my family is just so traditional and we won't let you in until the moment the clock strikes twelve," Emma said sarcastically. "Everyone is happy you're spending Christmas over here, and you don't have to wait until some official time to show up."
"Keep talking that way and I might start to believe you're waiting for me before you can have some fun."
"Dream on, JT. In fact, I'm having fun right now without you here. Tons of fun."
There was a brief pause and then Emma spoke again.
"That sounded convincing enough, right, JT?"
JT laughed.
"I'll see you at noon, Emma."
"Since you're not here and apparently not at home, where exactly ARE you anyway?"
"Just out walking."
"You're out trying to buy me a last-minute gift. Is that it? You lost track of time in the last week and forgot to buy me something. So now you're wandering around trying to figure something out."
"Yes, that's it exactly," JT replied, rolling his eyes. "Can't fool you, Emma."
"Sorry. I'm just happy, and I can't wait to see you."
"Likewise. Now go back and have fun with your family. Noon isn't that far off."
"Okay. See you soon."
After their phone conversation ended, JT kept walking but soon heard a voice from behind him.
"JT Yorke."
JT turned around to see who was calling his name.
"Ellie Nash," JT responded as the young woman stopped jogging and began walking alongside of him. He looked at how she was dressed – a black sweatsuit. "Ellie, you do realize this is Christmas. Not Halloween."
"Clever," Ellie replied.
"I never pictured you as the jogger type, Ellie."
"I've found that jogging is a good way to work off stress."
"I agree."
"Certainly better than falling back on…old habits. So, you open today, JT?"
"No, my fly's up. It's too cold to flash people during this time of year."
"You never give anyone a straight answer, do you?"
"Where's the fun in that?"
"What I meant was, will the theater be open later on today?"
"Afraid not."
"Lots of theaters are open on Christmas."
"Then you shouldn't have any trouble finding a place to go."
"Yeah, like I really want to see the new big-budget so-called blockbuster which has the same basic plot as a dozen other big budget so-called blockbusters that have come out in the last few months."
"Unfortunately, those are the films that make theaters enough money to make it worthwhile to stay open on a holiday. Don't worry, my non-conformist friend. TMD will be open again tomorrow so your indy film sensibilities won't suffer from too much withdrawal."
"Watch it, JT. Don't try to make me sound like one of those film snobs. I think you and I are basically the same way. We both despise the boring crap that passes for entertainment at the mainstream theaters."
"That's true."
"And it's not like I don't also come around when you guys show some of the older cult films."
"You're right. But if you were to actually show up on a Saturday afternoon when we're showing the old comedies, that in itself would be an entertaining sight. I'm not sure if you could handle it, since you might actually have to laugh a time or two."
"If I want comedy, I'll go to the mall theater and watch one of the predictable romantic comedies. The people that actually enjoy sitting through those type of films get rather testy when you start laughing at what's supposed to be a serious, tear-jerker moment."
"I know what you mean."
"So, if you're not opening today, I guess it's a good thing I'm staying with someone who has a satellite dish. With that, there's bound to be one worthwhile channel."
"Or you could always watch the 103rd showing – so far today – of 'It's A Wonderful Life,' or as I like to call it, 'It's A Wonderful Life As Long As I Don't Have To Sit Through This Movie.'"
"How about 'Miracle on 34th Street,'" Ellie played along, "which we could call 'Miracle If We Can Keep A Straight Face Through 34 Minutes Of This.'"
"I like that. But you know, Ellie, if you'd like to see our place open on days like this, you can always make a recommendation with Sal, the owner and manager."
"I tried talking to him once before. I suggested a film he ought to try and get. He got awfully nervous."
"It was probably all your piercings. He's basically an old-fashioned guy. People with lots more holes in their body than they were born with tend to make Sal a bit jittery."
Ellie laughed.
"So, Ellie, what are your plans for today – I mean besides jogging and complaining to me for not encouraging my boss to open up shop?"
"Well, you know I room with Ashley on campus, right?"
"Yeah."
"With the campus closed for a few days, I'm staying with Ash at her mom's place. I figured I'd get out for a little while this morning and give them some mother-daughter time before lunch. Though it's interesting to watch how a normal mother and daughter act around one another. What about you?"
"I've never been a mother or a daughter so I can't really say."
"Funny. I mean, what are you doing today?"
"I'm spending the day at Emma's place with her and her family. Like you, I'm letting them do their thing for awhile before I join them."
"Oh, that's right. Your mom. Last spring."
"Yeah," JT replied.
"I know how it is, JT. My dad, he…It's been about a year."
"I remember. I'm sorry."
"I get by," Ellie responded. "You're not going to ask about my mom, are you?"
"I hadn't planned to, no. And I notice you haven't asked about my dad."
"Yeah."
"As you say, Ellie, we get by. And it helps to have good friends."
"Absolutely."
"And of course there's Emma. She always makes sure I stay sane – but never so sane that life gets boring. She's really something special. Anyway, I'm almost at my destination, so don't let me hold you up. Get back to your jogging, not to mention confusing the black cats in the neighborhood who might think you're one of them, only much bigger."
"You jog around the neighborhood, too, don't you?" Ellie asked. "I think I've seen you sometimes from a distance."
"Yeah, I try to when I have the chance, which isn't that often. I've gotten Emma to join me a couple of times, but she hasn't really gotten the hang of it so far. Unfortunately for her feet, I don't give up so easy."
"See you around the theater, JT."
"Merry Christmas, Ellie. Or, for your benefit, should I just say 'Merry Holiday Where Corporate Greed Takes Precedence Over Honest Emotion?'"
"I like that, but I'm in an almost sentimental mood today, so you can just say 'Christmas' and I won't object."
"Then 'Merry Christmas' it is."
"You too, JT. Oh and thanks."
"For what?"
"Not prying about my old home life."
"It's the present and the future that count. Right?"
Ellie smiled and nodded her head in agreement then hurried on ahead. JT continued walking for a short time until he turned and walked through a driveway, barely managing not to trip over various stray objects scattered on the ground. He walked up to the door and knocked.
"Who is it?" a voice called out from inside.
"Bill Collector," JT replied. "But my friends call me Billy."
The door opened.
"That was terrible, JT," Sean said, standing in the doorway.
"Hey, it's cold out here. My brain needs time to thaw out before my humor can be at its usual top form."
"Come on in."
"You know a person could trip and crack his skull out here with all those tools and spare car parts lying around."
"Yeah, well we gave the maid the week off for the holidays."
JT laughed and entered the house.
"That wasn't bad, Sean. Now that you're no longer mingling with the criminal element, you're developing the beginning stages of a sense of humor. Keep this up and one day you'll be ready for civilized society."
"JT, these motivational talks of yours are so inspiring. Can I have your autograph?"
"Sorry, I don't give autographs on holidays. Perhaps some other time. And since you're one of my biggest fans, I'll even throw in a T-shirt with my picture on it. At half-price, it's a steal. Oops, guess I shouldn't use the word 'steal' in case the police have this place bugged."
The two laughed.
"So what are you doing over here anyway?" Sean asked.
"Me? Oh, just passing by and…Okay, I'm not just passing by. You've got a plan, right?"
"A plan?"
"For today."
"I'm not sure what you mean, JT."
"You know. A plan. Either you go somewhere or someone comes here. Eating. Watching bad TV. Whatever."
"Oh, that kind of plan."
"You told me a few days ago how your brother takes a lot of out-of-town jobs, but you never said if he was going to be in town today or not."
"He's here."
JT looked at him in disbelief.
"Okay, he's not HERE here, as in here in the house right now. He stayed over at his girlfriend's place last night. But he'll be back here later on. He's bringing some sandwiches and stuff with him. All I need to do is turn on the TV, hit it a few times so it will warm up and we're good."
"Good."
"Emma was right when she said you try to look out for your friends."
"Let's not get carried away, Sean. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that…Well, nobody should have to spend today alone – even brooding reformed gangsters dealing with serious eyebrow issues. So it's good your brother's going to be around."
Sean laughed but then grew serious.
"Thanks, JT."
"Don't worry about it, Sean."
"No. No joking around. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Want to stick around for a little while? The police won't raid the place, I promise."
JT laughed.
"In that case, I guess I can stay for awhile. But then I gotta walk back to the house, grab the gifts I bought and head over to Emma's before noon."
"You walked here?"
"Hey, you don't live that far away. Besides, I wouldn't want any of your neighbors making off with my hubcaps. As it is, I've heard cab drivers won't come to a complete stop when they pick up or drop off people who live on this block."
"So, this is your first time over here. What do you think of the place?"
JT looked around.
"It…it has character. Yeah, that's it."
"Such restraint, JT," Sean joked. "All the possible sarcastic comments are building up inside you wanting to break free. You want a Coke or something?"
"Sure," JT answered, sitting down at the kitchen table. "No, this place has that lived-in look. Lived in many, many, many times. But it's interesting."
Sean set cans down on the table for each of them, than he sat down opposite JT.
"So, Sean, have you heard from THEM today?"
"Not a word," Sean answered, knowing JT was referring to his parents.
"And that's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah. They're the last two people I want to talk to on any given day. Today's no different just because it's Christmas."
"That's good."
"What about you, JT? He bother to pick up a phone today?"
"No."
"And that's a good thing, right?" Sean asked, repeating JT's earlier question.
"Yeah. He's finally doing something I wanted and not contacting me. I bet he's probably off at some ski resort with his secretary. Not that he was ever a fun guy to have around on holidays. He'd act like he was having fun, but even as a kid I could tell his heart wasn't in it. Mother was good with holidays, but even she sometimes seemed like she'd rather spend the time alone with him.
"Not that I ever had a bad Christmas. What would always happen is that after lunch, either I'd end up going to Emma's or she'd come over to our place. We'd exchange cards and then hang out. It's funny, even growing up, my best Christmas memories are of her and me doing stuff.
"And now we're grown up, and still hanging out on Christmas. Only now we're spending most of the day together and things are better than ever. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about that."
"It's okay," Sean reassured JT. "Like I told Emma a few weeks ago, I think it's good that you two are together. You're good for her, and it sounds like she's good for you, too. Anyway, like you, I didn't rely on my folks when it came to the holidays. It was always Tracker who did his best to make sure things were calm – or at least as calm as they were ever going to get in our house – and that we had a good time."
"That's good that you had him there, Sean."
"Yeah, as long as he was around, things never got too ugly around there. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been a real pain in the ass a lot of times."
JT laughed.
"So what did you get her?" Sean asked.
"Emma? I'm not saying a word."
"Yeah, like I'm going to call and tell her as soon as you leave."
"No, but this is Emma we're talking about. Eyes and ears open at all times. For all I know she's planted a bug in the lining of my coat and is listening to see if she can find out any details."
"Good point."
"I love her, but she doesn't have a lot of patience. That's one of the ways we're different. Hey, she hasn't mentioned to you what she got for me, has she?"
Sean rolled his eyes.
"What?!" JT asked. "I'm not impatient. Just…understandably curious."