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Remember Who You Are 19… an interlude
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She didn’t answer just gestured for him to continue.
Irritated.
Hostile.
He took a big breath… and a step back.
“They’ve cancelled…”
“Who?” Another gesture of her hands, impatient, her face confused.
“All of them. MOMA, Petit Palais, Musee’ d’Orsay, the National Gallery … they all pulled out, citing artistic differences or a change in schedule.”
And the last vestiges of hope fled. Jodie looked at Tom, hands on her hips, a queasy uneasy feeling in her stomach. She didn’t know whether to puke or cry or strangle Tom.
“The LA Children’s Museum?”
“They are still on board… provided you come clean about your role in the movie and make it a charity event.”
“Fine! Fucking Hell Tom… tell them! Tell them I did the work!”
“Jodie”
“Tell them” her hands flying, the look on her face deadly. He knew that look.
“I… I won’t… I can’t lie for you anymore…”
She advanced on him, moving slowly like a cat, as he backed up slowly then turned to put a table between them.
Tom had been her interpreter for years. He was in awe of her fire, her determination, her gumption. Over the years he started noticing that she often hid behind her disability, purposely “misunderstanding” terms of a contract or verbal instructions. She often discounted the work of other artists, many of whom got her where she was today. He was at her beck and call, going with her on vacations, dates with hearing women, conferences, intimate meetings with lovers. Last minute trips that interfered with his own plans. He had lied for her, about her and to her.
And he was done.
They faced off against each other, Jodie breathing heavily, her face red. He was eerily calm, he had been wanting to do this for years.
“I will tell her” she spoke out loud, the impact of what she wanted to say requiring she use her voice, the sound deep and low in the room, echoing a little.
He flinched.
He had been expecting this.
She had been holding this over his heads for years, an affair he had had five years ago. An affair with a man that would end his marriage to his wife when she found out.
He took a deep breath.
Unbeknownst to Jodie, Tom had written a tell all book. It detailed everything. Everything from the stolen art, the work done by others, the use of her disability to get what she wanted. It was all there and the latest news coming from the art world was just the publicity he needed to launch it.
It would bury her.
The last nail in the proverbial coffin.
He had also come clean to his wife about the night he spent with another man. They were working through it and he was devoted to making her happy, she really was the love of his life. He had nothing to lose now.
She signed, repeating her threat.
“I will tell her. Everything.”
“It’s over Jodie. I told her. I wrote a book. It releases in two weeks. It will tell everything…. It’s over.”
And Jodie was able to read his body language, the nonverbal cues that told her that he meant every word.
She crumpled to the floor and he stepped over her on his way out the door.
***
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Go Tom!!! All the chickens have come home to roost. And in reality, Jodi has done all of this to herself.
As to Jodi’s knowledge that Bette was not a good communicator, how would she know? Whether hearing or not we never know what is in another’s mind. And for those who use words, they do not always have the same meaning from one person to another. For example: When Tina tells Shane that she loves her, we know that this is the love of friendship or for family simply because of the relationship between the two. But when she tells Bette she loves her, it has a much different meaning. Its an expression of devotion, romantic, committed relationship that she is expressing. Yet the words are the same. So when Bette says I love you to Jodi, is it as a friendship with benefits or is it a declaration of commitment? And how do we know what Jodi heard (saw) was the same message as what Bette sent.
I’ve always wondered how the hearing impair perceived and processed verbal communications. Reading body language is a big part of it. A big part of emotion is reflected in the volume of the voice and sounds. And volume cannot be perceived accurately by the hearing impaired.
I imagine that when people misunderstand the communications being sent, then they make false assumptions. I have no doubt that Bette really did not love Jodi. I don’t understand how they got together in the first place. Everything that Bette considered of value in her own relationships, Jodi was simply did not want. Children needed too much attention, monogamy was not her life style, and using others to promote your own self worth was the norm. Jodi is not on my most favored list. Jodi’s self centered behavior made Bette’s behavior look like a charity worker.
I feel sorry for Jodi in this. But she brought all of this about by her own actions. I hope she has some friend abroad because she needs to leave the country.
thanks for this chapter….really satisfying end for dear Jodi.
Agree ???? with you ????
You make a really good point about the difference in intent that can be picked up when you also can hear the words being said as opposed to lip reading or non verbal cues. I think Jodie made a lot of assumptions about Bette and I agree with you that they did not want the same things. I understood the physical appeal of them wanting to be together but Jodie consistently disregarded Bette’s opinions, her job and her well being.
I felt like there needed some closure for Jodie in this story and it moves in a surprising direction in the next chapter.
As always I appreciate your thought responses and attention to every nuance in the story. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this truly captivating and clever comment, Martha, it was a pleasure to read and think about !
Agree wholeheartedly with Martha.
I never liked Jodie anyway and more so when she was with Bette so I actually enjoyed reading this:-)
Thanks for posting, more please
SG
Take that, Jodi! I’m with SG, never liked her. She had it coming and doesn’t need to blame anyone but herself.
Chicago next up?
Chicago… before that –
Next up – what has Eric been up to? Need to see where his head is at to better explain his actions in the windy city. He has a dark passenger for sure. Thank for commenting!
I could see that so clearly! Great writing. Jodie was kind of scary, to me, so this violence is quite believable.
Powerful “interlude”, my dear author !
The scream of the mute, a total cry of rage – an internal explosion and the worst punishment ever for such a manipulative and egocentric person : not only falling for someone who never really loved her but above all being professionally destroyed – and thanks to Bette and Tina together.
For anybody else, I could have find a bit of pity but not for Jodi. This character was absolutely unbearable, for me, since she summarized everything I cannot stand in a human being.
Your story is more than ever captivating and intelligent : thank you SO much for your work !!
A.