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17 Reasons Why! Not – Bette Porter L Word
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”People don’t do a lot of things they should do, Alice.” Bette opens the lid to her steaming cup of tea.
”You’ll be back in plenty of time to help Tina with Angelica’s birthday party, Bette.” Shane adds.
”I know. I know I will. I just feel sometimes like I …” her voice drifts. Momentarily distracted, she takes a sip and burns her lips.
”Jesus Christ! That’s scalding hot!”
”Quick! Use this, Bette, or you’ll have a blister.” I hand over the chapstick.
Bette knits her forehead as she dabs on the scalded places along her lips. Sitting outside of Big Buddy’s Bait and Beer somewhere the fuck outside of Woodstock, New York I come to a conclusion – as I take another puff of marijuana – there are probably sixteen more reasons why our coming here is ill fated.
If they were so great together then why is this trip, this sign, this cargo van – really why is any of this necessary? Grand gestures are great! You gotta love ’em, but at the core of this nonsensical declaration that Bette knows ’17 reasons why!’ – or how she can mend her romantic relationships – leaves me with a definite ”as if” feeling, and sixteen too many more questions.
Could Jodie and Bette’s communications misses be possibly any worse than Bette and Tina’s? Could anyone’s be that abysmal? Their dilemmas are a constant source of mystery to me because I’m a talker. I can’t keep anything inside. If they ever do get back together – either grouping of them – I’m not going to sit idly by or recommend therapy to them. Nope! I’m going to insist that Tina and Bette take Italian lessons and read poetry to each other. Maybe then they’ll see the tragic parts of themselves and understand their misaligned feelings for each other.
And if Jodie loves Bette, and vice versa, then please find some common ground in a subject other than art and give us all a break! I mean, really. Lisa the Lesbian had more self awareness than these three put together. And that is not a compliment.
As much as I’ve tried over the years to pry personal information out of Bette she can be a master of deflection. She’s both enigmatic and quixotic. The disassembled sign that has incessantly rattled and gotten on my nerves for the last three hours is certainly a result of that.
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You’re a very insightful writer. You absolutely nail their quirks and personalities.I love narration so I appreciated this style. They all reveal how this grand gesture is a fucked up stupid idea. Alice is funny, sarcastic and she and Shane have more common sense in their pinkie fingers than Bette has in her glorious entire body. At least Shane knows that in her quest for family, she made a huge mistake by proposing to Carmen. They are all hoping against hope. Haven’t we all made some huge mistake hoping and wishing that everything will turn out on our side? Even when the odds are not nearly in our favor. We foolishly think that IF everything goes just right and as planned then our wild ass scheme will work. Why do humans do this? Bette can’t accept failure and if she fails in getting Jodie back then it means she is a loser. That’s why the grand gesture, something so over the top that Jodie will have to notice and forgive her. Shouldn’t Bette be enough for Jodie?
I can tell that much effort and thought goes into your writing. The characters are nuanced but their core traits are perfectly exposed in your storytelling. Each chapter’s excellence surpasses the previous one.
This was one scene in the show that really annoyed by me! You Balcbird perfectly gave the answer as to why.
Why need to grand gestures of people who love really each other?
and perfectly true: Bette and Jodie never was a common fund. This scene perfectly presented Bette’s insecurities that have to get her back Jodie is because if not, she is experiencing at this as a failure, she has another relationship with run aground.
I really like Shane wisdom of exactly see Bette uncertainty and fears.
I know that Jodie doesn’t may be written out, but I liked Bette dilemma that maybe she should not go to :)
thanks for posting.
and looking forward to the next chapter. :)
I really enjoyed this. You have given a different treatment for this chapter. Getting Alice and Shane’s POVs have been helpful to make sense of the dysfuntional relationship that Bette and Tina have. Bette seems compelled to satisfy the aching need to fill in the hole where Tina had been and an overwhelming sense of sadness at the thought of being with someone else. Jodie and Bette’s relationship was too much hard work and she was trying to change Bette into something she was not. Bette may be scared to walk away from this relationship because that would mean she would be alone again. But it is the only possibility of being with someone who loves her for who she is.
Love, love, love it! ……And absolute, absolute love this!..
“I’m going to recommend that Tina and Bette take Italian lessons and read poetry to each other. Maybe then they’ll understand their feelings for one another. And if Jodie loves Bette and vice versa then please, for the love of God, find some common ground and give us all a break. I mean, really? Lisa the Lesbian had more self awareness than these three put together. And that is not a compliment.”…
Got tears in my eyes for laughing. :D
Was happy to see your story again. Great job.
I think you really capture the”inner voice” of Shane and Alice and especially Bette. That particular scene could have been written so much better showing Bette’s angst in the TV show. Thanks for tackling it and rewriting it in a more thoughtful and comical way. I am a big fan of your style and wit. Thank you. I couldn’t agree more with Shane and Alice—Tina and Bette are really messed up.
I love your writing.PPS
Hi Blackbird… i finally am getting caught up reading with your story…it has been a busy memorial weekend for me..and just got settle in and getting caught up.. i love this story… you have a way to get your readers like me to laugh cuz it goes to the depth of the emotions you detailed in your story. i remember the show about this and it cracked me up alice, bette , and shane in new york getting that huge sign off the roof for Jodie. hilarious …keep writing.. sorry it took me a while but i am catching up. keep up the good work my friend!!! can’t wait for the next one :-)