Fan Fiction
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Summer Vacation. Chapter 40
Kit threw her arms around them both, “You girls …” she was still laughing a little, her eyes watery from tears, she chuckled, “that kid with the beard, you gotta get me his number for stand-up …”
Bette frowned and shook her head, silently admonishing her older sister,
They kept being interrupted, as other parents passed by and word spread through the children that Jo and the mysterious ‘Lottie’ were responsible for the evening’s entertainment so far. Grandparents came to wish them well, to congratulate them on sets and costumes and choice of words and songs, Jo simply smiled and stood back, allowing much of the praise for artistic direction to land where it belonged, with Lottie,
She stood beside Bette, both of them watching how Lottie bashfully deflected their praise, insisting that the children’s talent was their own and they too painted the sets, all she really did was advise, but the compliments spilled forth still,
“She looks like she’s enjoying herself,” Bette said quietly,
Lottie, Tina and Angie were busy chatting with Stacie, Stacie’s Mom and Stacie’s grandparents, her grandfather being a retired director and her grandmother a famous make-up artist of the fifties and sixties,
Jo nodded, watching them too, “She’s really loves being on stage,” she replied, thinking that Bette meant Angie,
Bette paused, “I meant Lottie,” she turned to face Jo, instead of talking to her from the side, “I think this play had been good for her, I hope it’s given her some focus on the things she’s really good at,”
Jo nodded again, not quite sure what Bette was getting at, “Yeah …” she mumbled, “Yeah, she’s really good at it,”
And it was true, the sets were impeccable, the costumes witty and practical, the children delivered their lines with ease, with confidence and strutted about the stage to simple tunes they already knew,
“I hope you don’t think I’ve been hard on you,” Bette said suddenly, trying to overcome the stilted conversation she always felt when she and Jo were alone, or the only ones talking, “It’s just …” Bette paused, seeing Jo’s concerned face, “well, you know, she’s my little sister,”
Jo nodded, “Yeah,”
“It’s just,” Bette felt Jo didn’t quite understand, “I’ve been struggling enough with the idea that she’s here, that she exists, I guess I got too caught up in the idea of taking care of her to realise that she’s actually pretty good at taking care of herself,”
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(36 votes, average: 3.86 out of 5)
That was a one-of-a-kind birthday!
Excellent chapter!
one of my favourite stories and a wonderful chapter:) PPS
see, i’m not first again:) i loved this chapter, basically i love this whole story. i think that you describe daily routines and the exciting/difficult stuff in this very poetic very zen kinda way. uh oh, is that me gushing again? hehe…well, too bad, i love your writing. xo thanks for posting baby, it def cheered me up:)
Thank you for posting so quickly with this story. It was fantastic to read about the play. I felt like I was sitting with the family members enjoying the play.
As I was reading, I kept having flashbacks to when I was in a school play… a long time ago, in a place far away…. but I enjoyed this on so many levels… Bette becoming “comfortable” with her little sister.. maybe Lottie realizing her true talent.. and of course the Shakespeare……take your bow Sofa… I’ll await the encore!!!
so I hope this is not the end, and that you have more NC17’s coming up. LIKE SOON….REALLY, REALLY SOON!!!!
Wow that was quite a production. Glad Lottie was alright and Bette not reaming anyone out shows growth and growth is good. : ) Ah to be 21 and in love…
Spectacular birthday for Lottie in the end I would say. I am glad that Bette has realized she needs to open up more to Lottie. Interesting little chat Jo and Bette had, can’t wait to see how that plays out in the future. As usual PHENOMENAL job! :)
God, that Che’s a little tyrant. At least his methods are less draconian than his namesake would’ve espoused. Maybe there’s a reason I never had kids. So the play went off without a hitch, and Greg escaped without having a new asshole ripped for him. Same for Lottie AND she escaped the mother of all hangovers that was her due. So just HOW did she prove that she’s done a good job taking care of herself? She forgets to take her meds and drinks herself blind. And how does ‘Saturday Night Fever’ make it to a collection of classics? Sofa, I think you have some explaining to do. BTW, you spell jailer and fetal funny, but I still knew what you meant. I hope you have a great time on your holiday. May it be completely free of arctic air masses.
Loved it sofa! I can hear Bette now…what do you mean you want to be an actress Angie? Bette and Lottie’s little talk was very touching. Can’t wait for your next update!
“When the others had asked her what Tina was like, Lottie couldn’t explain it, because to do it justice she’d have to explain the person Bette was with Tina, and how really, to separate the two was nigh on near impossible. Tina was the ‘way’ she was and ‘who’ she was because of Bette, and vice versa, Lottie didn’t know either of them any differently.” => This is Lottie’s definition of Bette and Tina as soul mates and I totally dig it! I’ve been reading this story from chapter 1 these past few days and I totally love it! It’s one of the best written stories I’ve read so far and I tell you, I’ve read quite a lot already. Your characters are very human and very believable. You do have a unique punctuation tic. I think you’re the only one who uses * * as quotes and ends many of her sentences in commas. But I love the family scenes and I’m going ga-ga over your deeply-in-love, still going strong, hot and heavy after 18 years, Bette and Tina! I love the way you describe how they still get lost just by staring into each other’s eyes, how they drink in each other without touching and kissing first thing in the morning and how they still get dreamy eyed and speak in husky tones when they talk on the phone. God, I love me some mushy but believable, giddy and loving TiBette! And I also love that Angelica figures prominently in the story because I hardly see her in the show. Whatever fuels your creativity, I hope you’ll get huge doses of them every day so that you’ll continue to be inspired and be moved to write and share it with us. I’m looking forward to the next update of this story and I hope you’ll find the inspiration to update “One Day Soon” too. I was reading it last night, and God, it’s an excellent, lyrical and introspective story. I don’t know why you haven’t won an award yet but I bet you’ll get one or two very soon. Thanks, Sofa! PPS :>
This story always gives me such warm fuzzies…I love Bette & Lottie finally getting close. Also, how on earth did Lottie not get in trouble for such intense underage drinking?? I would have thought the hospital would have noticed. As always, I love the group & family closeness!!
this is just the best story. i love the parallels you draw with the kids play and the characters themselves. Plus, i think you get Bette and Tina so right, especially their dialogue. thanks for posting, can’t wait for more
That was wonderful and funny, love them. Please post more, thanks!
Nice chapter Sofa, it is good to see Lottie having a nice birthday and Bette stepping back and getting a clearer look at her little sister. I am sorry, I thought that I left a comment on the last chapter, but I had a computer glitz. Greg is a punk for not owning to getting Lottie drunk. Yes Lottie is responsible for herself, but he owes Bette better, after she went the extra mile to get him into school. It’s one thing to play silly school pranks or drinking games, but another to purposly get someone drunk to get information from them only for them to get sick and rushed to hospital. Once he found out that Lottie was sick he should have appologized to both her and Bette. I hope that Lottie only “feed them all out of a long handle spoon” from now on because Lucinda is a jerk for saying “lets do it again sometime”. I am also glad that Lottie learned her lesson about not immediatly notifying Jo, she deserved to be there for her. Now on to the rest of the birthday celebration :o).
EXCELLENT…. the end got me weepy, such a sap i am,lol.
Hello Sofa, never be sorry for leaving it on a cliffhanger that is the exciting thing about writing… and keeping the momentum. I love all the interactions within this piece… they are all so genuine and tender. I love how Bette is trying to open herself up more towards Lo… she realizes that she has to make an effort if she is going to become a vital and vibrant part of her life… and that hug was just so powerful and symbolic… hehe… that play is one of my all time favorite plays… I have seen it at Stratford… both Windsor and England and it is just so magical… Thank you for sharing this journey with us and I cannot wait for more. Hugs… and take care of hb for me… you are a true gem… Sincerely, JC
Hello again… I meant Ontario…. not Windsor :P… JC
ha-ha I could just see ms angelica with arms folded, huffing!!!! The play was lovely i felt like i was there. Love it.
This chapter was too cute, from Bette at the hospital to the sisters watching Saturday Night Fever in the Bettecave (heheh) to Bette and Lottie’s awkward birthday hug to Che’s antics to the kids (and adults) at opening night. Really well done, sofa, warm fuzzies all round indeed. have fun on holiday, cheers!
Absolutely Great – Your stories really are about The L Word, the L word being Love!!!