Monday January 1st 1990- Candy and Sonny wish each other a happy new year.
“Those New Year's Eve parties are becoming louder
than the parties in the bars.”
Candy laughs.
“The kids will be coming home soon. Our daughter is coming home Thursday and our baby son is coming home Friday.’
Sonny says " This should be a greater New Year's than last year. Let's watch tv’
Candy thinks that is a good idea.
Sonny has a new position. VP director of operations of West Street.
Sonny is on the phone thanking Cecil Jackson. Cecil is the executive VP - chief of the Manhattan operations.
Cecil thinks Sonny is doing a great job. They will see each other at the monthly staff meeting.
Sonny and Cecil end the call.
February- Ruth is visiting Candy at the apartment.
‘Sonny has to be careful of his family. They are out to get him because he doesn't drink or start trouble anymore. They are all looking for excuses.’
Candy says ‘I will tell Sonny tonight when he gets home from work."
Later on, Sonny comes home and Candy tells him about what Ruth told her. Sonny doesn't want to hear about any of it anymore and just wants to relax. Candy agrees.
That Saturday the phone rings, Candy picks up the phone and tells Sonny it is his mother. Sonny takes the phone call.
‘Hi mom.’
His mother tells him on the other side of the phone that Joanne told her to move back to Poughkeepsie.
Sonny asks ‘Why?!’
His mother tells him that the good for nothing girl is not his sister. That Joanne is his half aunt. His grandfather had an affair with a younger woman and she was born. His grandfather was a playboy. She accuses Sonny and his father of also being playboys. Joanne smokes pot and is drinking as well.
Sonny says ‘I never saw her drink or smoke.’
His mother calls him a bum for taking Joanne’s side.
Sonny says ‘Are you off your medication.’
His mother curses him out before she hangs up the phone.
A couple of days later, Sonny is watching TV.Then the phone rings.
‘Hello? Who is this?’
‘This is Joanne! You know I am mad at you!’
Sonny asks ‘Why?’
Joanne replies ‘You think you are a saint since you stopped drinking! You listen to your pals and not your family who really wants to help you!’
Sonny asks ‘What do you mean?’
Joanne replies ‘You don't give a damn about your mother or me! You are just like my father and your father! Bums! Your daughter likes to go around with boys!’
Sonny tells Joanne ‘I don't know what you are on, but call me back when you have a straight head.’
Sonny hangs up the phone.
That night, Sonny tells Candy what Joanne said.
Candy says “I knew this. I had a talk with her. I told her to use protection. She is of age now. I also told her that she can't do that in this house. We did worse. Remember, I guide our daughter, you guide our son.’
Sonny agrees.
March- Sonny gets off of work and he runs into Pete.
‘Can you drive me to my new apartment?’
Sonny asks ‘Where do you live?’
‘56th Street and avenue m.’
Sonny tells Pete he will drive him.
Pete tells Sonny ‘Do you know what that woman did?’
‘What?’
Pete said ‘She has a new boyfriend. Now she is doing it with two men. That is an embarrassment.’
Sonny stops the car and tells Pete to get a new girl and a new life and stop complaining and whining.
Pete says ‘You are right. I don't know.’
‘Grow up.’
Ten minutes later, Sonny drops Pete home and takes off.
April:
Sonny is in a meeting with Curt and Tom. The information is that Johnny is in the New York State rehabilitation center in upstate New York.
Curt says ‘It is up to him.You can't help him because you are going through too much.’
Tom agrees.
Sonny goes back home and Candy also tells Sonny what happened to Johnny. Candy tells Sonny Ruth is going out of her mind. Candy made a few calls to her friends in family assistance and she is waiting for phone calls back. The phone rings and Candy answers it.
‘Great.’
Hanging up the phone, Candy tells Sonny ‘Margaret and I will be talking to Ruth tomorrow.’
Sonny says ‘I hope everything goes well.’
He then goes into the bedroom to take a nap.
Sonny gets another call from his mother. He knew it as soon as he answered the phone.
‘You know, I just found out about your friend in rehab. You know he was spying on you. He used to call me to let me know what you were doing. I told him it was none of my business.’
Sonny says ‘Mom, I never gave him your number. You might have given him your number.’
His mother claims to not remember giving him the number and that she is not spying on Sonny.
Sonny says ‘Don't worry about it. Relax, I will talk to you soon.’
He hangs up and can't believe what his mother does.
Sonny and Candy are in the coffee shop at one of the events. The bishop introduces Sonny to a friend of his.
“His name is Patrick Kelly and he is from Ireland on a business trip.”
Sonny, Patrick and Candy sit at their table.
Candy asks 'What kind of business trip are you on?’
Patrick comments ‘I am trying to get financial assistance for the IRA.’
He turns to Sonny and says ‘I hear your family has roots in Ireland.I have to ask. What is your opinion on the war between Northern and Southern Ireland?’
Sonny says ‘I don't live in Ireland and I took an oath to protect this country from foreign and domestic terrorists. I don't support the IRA because I believe they are the exact example of a terrorist organization.’
Patrick asks ‘What do you mean by that?’
Sonny says ‘A girl was tied to a tree and her hair was cut off because she was a Catholic dating a protestant.’
Patrick says ‘She deserved it.’
Sonny counters ‘I believe in religious freedom as well.’
Patrick says ‘I thought I was dealing with a man here.’
Sonny says ‘I am an Irish American man. The last I saw, one of your leaders was half Spanish and an American from New York City.’
Patrick says ‘I will have to see other people.’
Sonny says ‘Have a great day.’
Sonny is in his office talking to, yet, another employee.
Sonny says ‘I have complaints about you making racial and sexual comments.’
The worker says ‘I don't like people who are different from me and people who protest against the war.’
Sonny tells the employee ‘You don't have a right to insult people who don't believe in the same thing you do. This is a free country. Right now, it is a verbal warning. The second time will be a suspension without pay and the third is termination. Do I make myself clear?!’
The employee tells Sonny ‘Yes.’
Sonny says ‘I don't want to see you in my office again, for at least, the next quarter. Get out and keep your mouth shut.’
Sonny is at a meeting with Curt and Tom. The speaker is Patricia M. She is a black woman with over 30 years of sobriety.
After the meeting, the three of them congratulate her for speaking and also mentions she is one of the best speakers ever.The woman thanks them.
As Sonny is driven home, Tom says ‘She is right. We don't drink one day at a time, we believe in a higher power and our lives become much better.’
Sonny gets out when they are at his house.
‘I will call you soon.’
The other two drive away.
After Mike's funeral, Sonny, Joanne, Joanne's husband and Sonny’s mother go to a restaurant.
Joanne says ‘I can't believe he was taking drugs.’
Sonny says ‘I did tell you that he had a drug problem and no one listened.’
Sonny's mother says ‘If Johnny was here.’
Sonny says ‘Johnny was helping him get the drugs.’
Joanne adds ‘How do you know?’
Sonny replies ‘I don't know for sure, but he has done alot.’
Sonny pays the bill and walks away.
After a PAR meeting, Sonny, Curt and Tom are in the coffee shop and he gets condolences from the other two.
‘Thanks. I am being blamed for Mike's death, but I have a feeling Johnny is behind it.’
Curt says ‘It is hard, but you are doing great. If you need us, just call anytime.’
Tom says ‘We will look around for anything and let you know. You have to remember, you have a wife and kids. You also have us. We are all family.’
Sonny says ‘Thanks. I will drive you guys home.’
They appreciate that.
Sonny has been informed that the bishop is in the hospital for cancer. He makes a visit
The bishop says ‘Everything looks ok and I should be discharged next week. While I am in the hospital, Pete will take care of my property.’
Sonny asks ‘Is that wise?’
The bishop says ‘I know what I am doing.’
Sonny shrugs and leaves.
Three days later, Curt informs Sonny the bishop died. They're planning to go to the funeral home to show their respect.
Sonny and Candy are visiting a Spanish woman who is going to tell Sonny about his family’s secrets. The mysterious woman’s name is Sofia de Valera.
Sonny asks ‘What’s the news?’
Sofia replies ‘I am your mother.’
Sonny claims ‘What?! I am not Spanish.’
Sofia says ‘You are part Spanish. I am your grandfather's mistress.’
Sonny asks ‘Which grandfather?’
She replies ‘Your father's father. Your real name is Ricardo Jaime. If you don't believe me, go to your adopted mother and ask her. In fact, I will tell you. Joanne, you and your late brother Mike had the same father.’
Sonny says ‘That is what you say.’
Sofia said ‘Did you ever wonder about the color of your skin and why you get along with Spanish people. That's why you have problems with speaking English. For the first five years of your life, you spoke Spanish. You don't actually have a speech defect.’
She hands him a card and says ‘Here is my address and telephone number. You, your wife and family are welcome to come. First, you have to talk to your adoptive mother. I will come with you.’
Sonny’s supposed mother will be coming over to talk to him and Candy. When the woman walks in, she sees Sofia and says ‘I can explain.’
As Sonny’s adopted mother sits down, she says ‘Your father's father had three mistresses. Each one produces a child. Joanne, you and Mike. He died in 1962. He was about 92 years old. When I married your father, I had a miscarriage and I couldn't have kids anymore, so we adopted you guys. For the first five years, you were raised by Sofia’s family. At an early age, you were speaking Spanish. When we got you, it was hard for you to speak English. We said you had a speech defect.’
Sonny asks ‘Why didn't you tell me sooner?’
Sofia tells Sonny ‘Don't be too hard on her. We all love you.’
Candy says in a happy way ‘Now you have two mothers.’
Sonny says ‘I have to think about it.’
A couple of hours later, both mothers leave.
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.