Summer 1984- A day after they dropped off their oldest child to Candy’ s parents house for the summer, they are on a train to Poughkeepsie, where Sonny’s mother resides after Sonny’s father's death. His mother lives with her oldest brother and her brother’s wife. Sonny and Candy will drop their son off there, also for the summer.
As they arrive in Poughkeepsie and get off the train, the three of them go to a store. Sonny asks someone in there ‘Do you know where 2 middle avenue is? My mother lives there. Her name is Anne Thomas.’
He is told to go to two blocks and turn left. It will be apt 3i.
When they get there, everyone stays the night.
The next morning, when Sonny and Candy start to leave, they say goodbye to everyone there. Including their son.
As they head to the train station, the store manager of the place Sonny asked directions from, runs out and asks Sonny ‘Can I ask you a question?’
Sonny doesn't say anything.
The store owner says ‘Your mother owes me two hundred dollars for two months.’
He shows Sonny the bill.
Sonny says ‘I will pay for the bill, but I need your name, telephone number and position, so I can call and tell my mother about it.’
The store manager does it.
Sonny and Candy head to the train station that will bring them back to New York, after Sonny pays the bill.
Back at the house Sonny’s mother was living in, the boy was a handful. He would tell fantastic tales and get into all kinds of mischief. If he wasn't trying to make phone calls while everyone was out and blame it on the porter, so the sweeper wouldn't come back, he would tell his grandmother, his uncle and his aunt about the new babysitter he had. Everyone was following every word the small male child would say, even if they didn't take it too seriously. He would say that the female babysitter would take such good care of him that he would want to marry her one day. Everyone started laughing, thinking the child was telling a story. They didn't know how serious the male child was. That would be his dream come true.
…………………………………………………
Sonny is having a family meeting at his place with his mother's brother Bill, his sister Joanne and his youngest brother Mike.
Bill tells everyone ‘The reason I called everyone here is because your mother will be moving to Texas with Joanne and her husband.’
Sonny is taken back by this and asks ‘Why?!’
Bill replies ‘Because you have your own family and Mike has a small place. We want your approval for this.’
Joanne jumps in and says ‘You were an ok guy until you stopped listening to family and started listening to outsiders.’
Sonny has no idea what his sister is talking about. He tells her the family wanted him to go into a program for his drinking.
Joanne says ‘You forgot about the things you did in the military while you were drinking!’
Bill calms things down and tells everyone they will all leave.
Bill tells Sonny ‘We will talk in private another time.’
Joanne speaks her peace again ‘Mom loved you the best!’
Mike lets Sonny know they are still brothers and they will be in touch.
The next day Bill and Sonny talk privately. Bill tells him that his mother has not been taking care of her responsibilities and also thinks she can get away with murder. His mother loves her grandson and she is doing the best for him. Bill will only talk to Sonny, because Joanne is too emotional.
Sonny says ‘Let me talk to my wife about this, so we can come up with a plan.’
Bill thinks Sonny has handled everything well. They will talk tomorrow.
………………………………………
After the meeting Curt, Tom and Sonny are heading for coffee. Once in the place, and they make the orders Curt tells Sonny ‘It isn't any of my business, but you seem uptight.’
Sonny tells him he is always arguing with his mother and older sister. There are days Sonny wished he wasn't in charge.
Curt says ‘I am going to tell you something, and I think Tom will agree. When you were a kid, your father once hinted that if he threw you in deep water, he knew you would survive. Remember, you can handle it.’
Tom tells Sonny ‘Stay sober and attend meetings. You will overcome this’.
Sonny replies ‘You guys are right. That is why both of you are my mentors.’
August: Sonny has an argument with his mother. It is over whether Sonny's son should stay up in Poughkeepsie.
His mother tells Sonny ‘If that is the case, I don't want to talk to you anymore. You are no longer my son.’
A week later, Sonny talks to his cousin, who is also in PAR. The cousin's name is Al.
Al wants to know why after Sonny's father died, that Sonny allowed his sister to take over. Sonny tells him that she said she was in the military and that she knew more than him, and the family would back her. Al let Sonny know that the only reason his sister was tolerated was because she was family. Al wanted to get to know Sonny and Candy better.
Sonny tells Al ‘Thanks. I will call you next week.’
Late September: Sonny is having coffee with Curt and reminds Curt that he and Tom are his closest friends. He doesn't know if he would be sober without them.
Curt says ‘You may be smoking too much.’
Sonny comments ‘Yeah, I know. I will see the doctor soon.’
As they leave, Curt pays and says ‘God is giving you a training session.’
After seeing the doctor, Sonny and Candy are at a cafe having their usual.
Candy says ‘You heard the doctor. You are smoking too much. You are under a lot of stress. The doc tells you that you have to let some things go. Why don't you follow PAR, by changing your life a day at a time.’
Sonny says ‘Let's get Stella to watch the kids so you, me and the guys can go to a meeting on Saturday.’
Candy tells him that they should get home to relax.
………………………………………………..
Sonny picks up Curt for a meeting. Getting into the car, Curt tells him the kid died of a drug overdose.
Sonny expresses ‘Oh, so B.T.Kid is dead then. Let me know about the funeral.’
Curt tells Sonny ‘I will.’
About a week later, after the funeral, Sonny and Johnny are talking.
Johnny makes Sonny aware that BT Kid’s gold digging wife got all of his money.
Johnny then tells Sonny ‘Screw her.’
Sonny excuses himself.
He is back in fifteen minutes. Sonny knows John smells of alcohol.
John tells Sonny to drive him home. Sonny does it.
John gets out of the car and comments ‘Hobo is a man’s man. He likes five finger gifts.’
Sonny drives away.
Sonny and Candy are having dinner with the bishop and his new girlfriend.
The bishop tells them both that there is proof that Hobo is stealing from the organization. At the next meeting, they will take a vote to ban Hobo for a year, and would like Sonny and Candy’s support. The bishop reminds the two people that Sonny did bring it up before and was proven right.
Sonny confides ‘I know that the accusations about you aren't true. With Hobo, make sure you have witnesses.’
The Bishop replies ‘John will snitch him out.
Sonny tells the bishop ‘Good. I will vote my conscience.’
The Bishop asks ‘Will you be at Northall tomorrow?’
Sonny replies ‘I will.’.................
The business meeting at the coffee club in Brooklyn, New York- The bishop does roll call.
Chairman Paul McCartney: Present
Vice chairman Candy Thomas-present
Secretary Peter Keyes-present
Member Richard J Thomas -present
Member Tom wall-Present
Member Curtis Desilva-Present
Member-May Turner -present
Member-Dennis Mason -present
The chairman says to everyone ‘I have this meeting for one Larry Decamp alias ‘Hobo’ to be suspended from here for a year because of stealing funds. The witness is John W. Reilly. Alias ‘Johnny.’
John speaks about how he has witnessed Hobo rob the place, continuously, for about five hundred dollars. After the testimony, The bishop makes another statement to the members.
The Bishop states ‘We are not part of PAR or the family assistance. Even though some of us are part of both organizations and some aren't, we are a non-alcoholic club. That's why we have to use our legal name. We need a one hundred percent vote to bar Hobo from here. Now we will have a secret ballot.’
Ten minutes later, the vote was unanimous. Hobo is barred for one year and has to pay back the money. After voting, everyone leaves.
Once the PAR meeting is over, Hobo confronts Sonny and wants to take it outside. Sonny wants to know why. Hobo is telling Sonny that he sold Hobo out.
Sonny tells Hobo ‘I didn't do that. Your pal Johnny did.’
Hobo tells Sonny about what he did in the military. Especially with the African American woman in Baltimore. Hobo also reminds Sonny of South Korea.
Hobo tells Sonny ‘Your loyal wife was seeing Johnny when you were drinking.’
Sonny holds back when he tells Hobo ‘All of my military actions were rumors and I was cleared of any wrong doing. I don't think you have any business worrying about what my wife does. I will be leaving, because if I get angry, I will hurt you.’
Hobo calls up Johnny ‘I have heard you ratted me out!’
Johnny tells him ‘I told you not to be doing this! You don't listen! Take it like a man! Do not call me again! We will talk at the meeting!’
Johnny slams the phone down.
Sonny and Candy watch the news.
‘Live from the belt parkway. They found a body in a car, dead. His ID says he is Lawrence Decamp and lives at 1412 Thomas Avenue in Brooklyn. That's all we know so far. When we know more, we will update you.’
Candy calls Ruth and gets no answer.
Candy asks ‘What are we going to do?’
Sonny answers ‘Tomorrow I will call up the family.’
The next day, Sonny calls Hobo’s brother and says ‘I am sorry to hear about Larry.’
Larry's brothers yell ‘You never gave a damn about my brother! You think you are a saint. We all did something when we were drinking! Don't call back here! I hope something happens to you!’
Sonny hangs up the phone.
…………………………………………….
Johnny is talking to Joanne over the phone.
Joanne says ‘I am going to send you a money order for three hundred dollars, so you can find out as much information on Sonny as possible.’
Johnny replies ‘You got it.’
After the phone call, Joanne’s husband, a retired Rear Admiral, tells Joanne he doesn't know about this obsession with Sonny. Her husband thinks Sonny is a decent guy. He wasn't a great soldier and had a drinking problem, but Sonny did change. He doesn't know that Joanne is Sonny's Aunt, not his older sister.
Joanne claimed her brother had Sonny as his favorite. Now it is her time.
The husband will take them out to dinner tonight.
That night, Joanne has thoughts. She was eighteen and was told that Sonny’s father was her brother. Sonny's grandfather had an affair and a child was born from it. She cried after, and wanted Sonny to feel her pain.
Author's note:This was collaborated with Richard Turner and Curt Chown. Find out what happens in the next short story about this saga. It will be a long process like a soap opera. We are hoping you are in love with this whole sequence of short stories. Thanks for all your support. Continue reading.
Bio:
I was born in Brooklyn, NY June 30th 1972. I currently have three ebooks online on kobo. I
know I never meant that much to you, secession and sovereignty and Oh, Canada. I am
currently trying to get a few of my short stories published or recognized or plays getting
produced. I have written a lot of plays and am currently in the process of writing several novels.
I am working on a baseball book, as well. I don't have anything else published other than the
three ebooks. Thank you for your time. Sincerely yours, Thomas Turner.