For the last twenty-four hours, my brain's been jam-packed with ideas for potential entries, but I had to go to the dentist so he could chip at the layers of decay plaguing the nubbin of a tooth still hanging on in my mouth and sit in on an IT meeting where I had the privilege of rehashing the same three points I've made at the last two meetings. I also squinted at my computer monitor for forty-five minutes in an attempt to figure out how to remove the glare reflecting off the spectacles of one of our scientists so I could include his new photo in the latest edition of our clinical directory, but I did get the hang of it, so it wasn't a total wash.
Anyway, just wait and see what I come up with next week, when there will be smoking! Cringing! MySpacing! Ranting about contestants on Deal Or No Deal who turn down offers as high as two hundred thousand dollars because of course their case has the million! Of course!
In the meantime, it's the moment TLF fans have all been waiting for. Michael finally speaks!
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CHAPTER TEN - MICHAEL
"I called Kayla today," Jenna announced quietly.
"You what?!?" I cried in disbelief.
"I called Kayla at prison."
Jenna and I were at her house watching some movies when Jenna let me know about the call. I couldn't believe it. "Does this mean that..."
"No, I haven't forgiven her for....what happened. I don't think I ever could." Her eyes filled with tears. "But maybe we could stop hating each other and become friends again."
I hugged her. "That's a great idea, Doll. I hope you guys patch things up, too. I still don't like her much, but if you can find good in her after all that's happened, well, I can, too." She smiled up at me. "No matter how things turn out with Kayla and me, she could never compare to you, Mike. You're the person who was always there for me, no matter what." She laughed. "You know what? Sometimes I think you're my guardian angel."
I gazed into her eyes. "There's nothing else I'd rather be." [Well, the object of your affection is a close second, but I'll take guardian angel. That's cool.]
For a moment, there was silence. Then we turned our attention back to "DYING YOUNG." Suprisingly, Jenna picked the movie. [And really, who wouldn't grapple with a few painful memories to get a glimpse of a terminally ill Campbell Scott?] [Quick aside: Every time I thought about TLF yesterday I pissed myself because I knew that line was coming up and couldn't stand living in my own skin knowing I had unleashed such a painful marriage of cheese and tragedy onto the world.]
[And another thing: what the hell is up with teenage girls being completely oblivious to the emotional hard-ons of their male BFFs? Because when I was seventeen, every boy was considered potential boyfriend material. Seriously. There was Tom, a neighborhood local who frequented the video store where I worked after school and had oddly placed ears, sort of like Sloth from The Goonies, plus two of his front teeth were brown, but I still said yes when he asked me on a date to see U.S. Marshalls because I was desperate for a guy--any guy--to find me attractive. I thought maybe our budding romance would inspire him to visit a dentist and possibly a reconstructive plastic surgeon. Only it never got that far because he decided it was appropriate to leave messages on my family's answering machine every fifteen minutes inquiring about my wherabouts, but hey. At least I tried. (Note to self: Video-store job is EXCELLENT source of blog fodder. And fiber! Must play that up soon.) Also, Jason Chambers and I were thick as thieves for almost all of high school, and I had a huge crush on him the entire freaking time. What kind of girl doesn't want to date her hottie man friend? Which is really the point of this whole comment.]
As I went home a few hours later, I thought about everything that had happened in the last 7 months. David had died, and so had Jenna's baby. Two of my friends were sent to prison for their murders. It was a lot to handle.
What a summer this turned out to be. [I could've had a V-8!]
Then my thoughts focused on someone special: Jenna.
God, she was beautiful. Blondish-brown thick hair that came in waves down her shoulders. Piercing green eyes. A snow-white smile.
I had met Jenna in my freshman year. I was 14, shy, and a new kid. We became fast friends. She introduced me to Cassie, David, and her best friend Kayla.
Now I was 3 years older, & 3 years wiser. But I still couldn't work up the nerve to tell Jenna that I loved her. [As I sit here typing out this week's excerpt, jamming to my love songs collection on iTunes, I'm thinking we need to come up with a song for these two. A song that speaks to unrequited love, heartbreak, and longing. A song that celebrates the sentiment behind Dying Young. Will continue to think this over as I type. Yes.]
She was still in pain. Anyone could see it, no matter how many times she said she was fine. You could see it in her eyes. Her eyes always revealed her true feelings.
[I get lost. In your eyes. And I feel my spirits rise....]
Once I had almost told her how I felt about her. Before I could say anything, though, she had revealed she was pregnant with David's baby. I had never tried to tell her again. [Little lady, you look so fine; can't turn my eyes away, so much I wanna say....] Instead, I became her confidant, her best friend. I offered her tissues when she was sad, and cracked jokes to keep her laughing. In turn, Jenna would drag me outdoors when I became depressed, and together we always watched old movies when things weren't going well for either one of us. [Why does it hurt so bad? Why do I feel so sad? Thought I was over you, but I keep crying...]
Maybe, after a little more time had passed, I could tell Jenna everything. That I loved her with all my heart, and more than anything, I wanted her to be my wife. [Meet me in the altar in your white dress. We ain't getting no younger, we might as well do it!]
* * *
The next few days I stayed at home. Jenna didn't call me, so I figured that she wanted to be alone. Finally, she did call.
"Hey, Doll," I said happily. "It's been a few days since I saw your pretty face. Anything wrong?"
"No. I've just been busy."
"Oh." Silence, then Jenna said, "Mike, I need a favor."
"Sure, Anything for you, Doll." [I see you've dropped a quarter down your panties. Let me get that for you!]
"I - I need a ride to the State Prison." [Capitalized, of course, because there could be no other name for a state prison.]
"You're going to see Kayla, aren't you." It was a statement, not a question. [Your mom's a statement!]
"Yeah. Can you give me a ride?"
I didn't hesitate. "Of course. I'll be right over."
Jenna was silent as I drove to the prison.
An hour later, I let her out of the car. "Will you be OK?" I asked. She tried to smile, but didn't quite make it. "I'm a big girl. Can you just wait for me here? I won't be long."
"Take your time." I'd wait all day for her.
[Maybe my passionate love for The Office and John Krasinski is clouding my judgement, but Michael and Jenna are totally Jim and Pam. With a flat iron and some smokey eye make-up, Jenna Fischer would make a great Jenna. Hey, look at that! She really would!]
CHAPTER ELEVEN - JENNA
My hands felt sweaty and I swallowed back tears as the guard led me to Kayla's cell. I wasn't sure why I was so scared of seeing Kayla. I hated her. I wanted her to hurt like I had. I wanted her to wake up in the morning and wish she was dead, just like I had so many times.
"Calm down, Jenna," I whispered to myself. The guard gave me a funny look. I stayed behind him as he unlocked Kayla's cell and yelled, "Evans! You've got a visitor." She stood up as I approached her slowly. The guard locked me in [!] and went down the hall [double !].
"Jenna!" She cried, her eyes lighting up. "I was hoping you'd come."
"Hi." I couldn't meet her eyes. Kayla noticed my nervousness and smiled shyly. "I know it must have been hard for you to come today."
"It was hard," I admitted. "I don't know why I did, actually." Our conversation was interrupted by the guard. [Yeah, it's probably best not to leave a baby killer alone with the victim's mother for more than, say, ZERO SECONDS.] He unlocked the door and let in a woman carrying a small bundle in her arms. "It's time for her feeding," she said. I didn't see a bottle. Kayla must have been breastfeeding.
She took the infant from the woman, and then she and the guard left after we were locked in again.
[This is the craziest, most lax correctional facility ever. Well, maybe not quite. Anyone remember Dangerous Women? It was like a female Oz for the nineties. That place was pretty awesome, too.]
Kayla unbuttoned her blouse, and the tiny baby immediately started drinking her mother's milk. [What's Kayla doing wearing a "blouse" in jail? The least she could do is don a freakin' jumpsuit for special guests.]
She was a beautiful baby. Dark brown hair framed her face, and as I leaned over to get a better look at her, I saw that she had chocolate brown eyes. She was so tiny! I knew premature babies were small, but this one looked like she had been swallowed by the blanket. Tears came to my eyes. Would Mary Katherine had looked so precious?
"She's beautiful," I whispered. Kayla smiled and gently carressed her daughter's cheek. "Isn't she? Did you hear that, Katherine? Jenna thinks your pretty, too," she told the baby.
"Katherine?" I asked, puzzled.
"That's her name."
I closed my eyes and put my hands on my head. I felt dizzy as the tears fell down my cheeks. She had named her baby Katherine. How could she? Didn't she know how many painful memories that name gave me?
Yes, of course she did. She didn't want to make up. She wanted to tease me with the fact that she had a baby to hold, and not me.
[Oh, c'mon. Without the "Mary" it's totally different. Like teal and aquamarine!]
"Jenna? Jenna, what's wrong?" Kayla asked, concerned.
"You - you named her Katherine..." I sobbed. I started to shake uncontrollably. I slid to the floor. "My baby--Mary Katherine...." [Shit, bitch is fading fast! Has nobody gotten her into counseling yet?]
"Oh Jenna! I'm sorry!!" Kayla looked like she wanted to hug me, but with the baby in her arms it was impossible. "I named her Katherine so her sister wouldn't be forgotten." [I was just trying to be nice. Way to make it all about you, Jenna!]
"Guard!!" I yelled, struggling to get up. He unlocked the door, and I walked out unsteadily. "Bye, K - Kayla." As I heard her shout after me, I hardened my heart.
I could never forget.
* * *
Hours later, I lay in my bed, going over the events of the day in my mind.
When I had reached Michael, I was still sobbing. He had reached out to hug me, but I'd pushed him away. He'd drove me home and I'd ran to my room and sobbed for hours. [Sob. Boy, I liked word, huh?] My parents had tried to help me, just like they had tried after the funerals, but I pushed them away, too. They didn't understand. Nobody could. [It's not supposed to happen this way! I'm supposed to go first. I've always been ready to go first! I - I don't think I can take this! I - I don't think I can take this! I - I just wanna HIT somebody 'til they feel as bad as I do! I just wanna HIT something! I wanna HIT IT HARD!]
[I hope I didn't say that out loud just now.]
After a while, my thoughts began to focus on Katherine. She was so perfect! A baby so precious didn't deserve a life with a mother behind bars. She needed someone to give her security and love. [Now, to be fair, Kayla can offer her plenty of security. Six years and one ankle bracelet's worth!]
I could give her that. I wanted to give her that. I needed her. My arms ached to hold her. I felt connected to her by David. At that moment I knew what I needed to do.
[Watch Dying Young again. What? It's a really good movie!]
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Poor Jenna. Girl done lost her mind.
HAHAHA! Tragic Love Friday indeed!
"Poor Jenna. Girl done lost her mind." Oh holy shit~! And quoting Steel Magnolias-- I kid you not, I got through that whole tangent that takes place at Shelby's funeral-- oops, I should have warned everyone of THAT spoiler-- and I had to ask myself the same exact question, for I am in a house full of mostly sleeping people.
Anyways, I see my predictions are unfolding... as it is terribly difficult to read into the mind and writings of a 14 year old girl... although, that's only partially sarcastic, because half the time you surprise the hell out of me, and that is why I can do nothing but comment while scratching my head like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail when NY152 asks her to meet...
WOW, I need to make a point and FAST! Okay, Michael, welcome to the show. Now that he's made his appearance, I believe Jenna will count on him to be her get-away driver when she goes to steal Suri Cruise from prison. Because that's what you do with the guy friend who is secretly and madly in love with you-- you drag them into crazy ass plots of the criminal nature.... which brings me also to another point, Cassie?... I picture her in a straight jacket in solitary confinement... maybe asking aloud if someone wants fries with that. I'm seeing some striking parallels... and I'd like to remind you that babies cannot raise themselves... so if you have too many people going to prison, you've got no option left but to resurrect David.
I wonder what Jenna will call Katherine after she is stolen... maybe Mary? Why mix it up anyway? It's a good solid name with enough possibilities. And will Jenna marry Michael to keep up the show when they move to Lanview?? This is all just speculation... and I need to stop talking. I need to leave some room left for Silly Hily!
One more thing-- Frema, were you by chance smoking something in your office when you commented on this one? You dealing with people with toxic blood?
Just wondering:D
Posted by: Sant | February 02, 2007 at 02:12 AM
One more thing-- I notice that more than one of your characters has an issue with stuttering... Maybe we can look into speech therapy, along with some serious mental help for these youth(s).
Your Mom's a youth!
Posted by: Sant | February 02, 2007 at 02:16 AM
What does it say about me, that I look forward ALL WEEK to these installments?
Posted by: CPA Mom | February 02, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Oh these people are just batshit insane... I just want to shake them all!
Also, they're all pretty into long-term commitment for 17-18 year olds, aren't they?
Posted by: Angela | February 02, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Hole-e shit! For the first time, I've got nothing. Nothing. There is NO WAY I could top that commentary OR Sant's comments up there. No way. That was too good Frema.
I am wondering if Sant watched Grey's Anatomy last night though because she brought up an interesting point. Last night, McSteamy wouldn't go into the toxic room b/c he was the only one who hadn't been in there and someone needed to be well to run the hospital. So, he send the interns in instead. I see what you are saying now. If Mikey boy help Jenna steal the baby and they get busted then who is going to take care of Katherine? Brangelina?
Posted by: Silly Hily | February 02, 2007 at 11:06 AM
Wow. Where do I start?!?
Fantastic! I wish I had a V-8! :-D Didn't just about every Disney movie about orphaned or semi-orphaned kids living with scary Awwwunt Scaryface, who turns out to be a good witch and loads of fun?
Second, I vote for the Michael / Jenna song to be Invisible Man by 98 Degrees. Boy do I remember being that guy in high school....man I was pathetic.
And Hooray for super-max security State Prison! I'd been waiting for another situation like this. It reminds me of the intro to Nate Doggs best (and first, and almost last solo album), where a reporter goes to visit the rapper on death row (obviously a skit, a rapper would NEVER kill someone like Kayla did), reporter gets locked alone in a cell on death row with the guy....you should just use your imagination for what happens next (I'll give you a hint, its not as exciting as you'd think).
Finally, there is nothing wrong with the word Sob. There is something a little freaky with me not knowing where the story ended and your comments began, (Nobody could. [It's not supposed .....)I had to reread that section 3 times before I was no longer riding the short bus!
Oh! And! Next! Time! I'll! Try! To! Use! More! Exclamation! Points!
Posted by: David McNelis | February 02, 2007 at 11:10 AM
BRANGELINA!??! Hahaha-- Silly Hily, that's fantastic!
Posted by: Sant | February 02, 2007 at 11:13 AM
HERE! Hit this! We'll make t-shirts! TAKE A WHACK AT OUISER! (The Steel Magnolias connection became a smidge less entertaining when I consulted imdb for the spelling of what I thought was WHEEZA's name all these years. Ouiser. Oh boy.)
I can see now what is being set up. I can't wait for someone to steal that baby. (Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak...)
Great thinking girls. It would be fun for Brangelina to enter the story!
Also, I always did think Kayla was a rotten little bitch for naming the baby Katherine. But that's just me.
;o)
Posted by: Molly | February 02, 2007 at 01:10 PM
When I read the baby-stealing predictions last week or the week before, I thought "whatever. I don't think so." You guys were right! Way to go!!
Posted by: Katie | February 02, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Oh my gosh FREMA, look, a way for 98 degrees to make a comeback since no one included them in the cheese. Mikey Mike is TOTALLY the "Invisible Man"! I second David's vote.
And Wheeza is and always will be Wheeza! Spelled just like that. Oh yall should hear me do some Steel Magnolias.
Posted by: Silly Hily | February 02, 2007 at 01:56 PM
OOH, she's a baby stealer...she's like Sheila on Young and the Restless - forget All My Children! And eee! The Steel Magnolias quote. That Sally Field will get ya everytime.
Posted by: Stacey | February 02, 2007 at 02:19 PM
A few things, "doll": (teehee)
Where the hell was I when all these teenagers were thinking of getting married? High school boys dreaming of making a girl "their wife". I must've missed something.
And this entry totally supports the baby-stealer theory, I can't wait!
That's all I got... must go watch Gray's now.
Posted by: ELizabeth | February 02, 2007 at 03:59 PM
I could not comment last week because there were just no words. This week has been lousy. I have had to learn how to be a wedding planner.I'm not liking it. Just when I thought things could not get any worse,those bastards at "ALL MY CHILDREN" killed off Dixie. That's a topic for later though.
I think the song for everyone in this tale should be Billy Idol singing, "LOVE STINKS". I keep thinking at some point I will read the words "chimed in" or the word "chum".I feel like I am a kid again reading Nancy Drew. But Nancy would never be involved in anything so hot. I cannot wait till next Friday. Are we really on chapter 10 already? I love that you mentioned "Dying Young". Now I can admit that I have watched it about 20 times. My friend got tired of loaning it to me and just gave it to me. I love the cottage. One more thing,the scene where Jenna just wants to hit something,the background tune has to be "Break Shit" Limp Bizkit.It's just one of those days..
Posted by: debi | February 02, 2007 at 10:01 PM
GEEEEEEEZ Frema. Way to leave an audience hanging!!! My face was all UP in my computer screen.
Damn Fridays. Why can't EVERYDAY be a Friday???
And not cause it's the weekend...oh no! no! no!
BUT CAUSE IT'S TLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Margarita | February 03, 2007 at 01:30 AM
God, she was beautiful. Blondish-brown thick hair that came in waves down her shoulders. Piercing green eyes. A snow-white smile.
Could you pass me a spoon? because I really need to gag myself. :) Oh Michael, may your young love be quenched soon. I'm rooting for you!
Posted by: adina | February 04, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Did your ideas get heard any better this meeting sister? They should really listen to you because you're one smart cookie. I love you!!
P.S.
DAAAA BEARS!!!!!!!! ;)
Posted by: Sissy | February 04, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Bears lose in the Super Bowl?
I might just...well, y'know.
Posted by: A.J.P. Taylor | February 05, 2007 at 01:31 AM
You're commentary is better than anything else in TLF! I loves me some Steel Magnolias, lol. Can't wait for next week!!!!
Posted by: Rachel | February 05, 2007 at 05:50 PM
I know you all saw it coming, but I did not think the baby was going to be stolen. Dude!
And yeah, talk about security at the State Prison. Holy crap.
And also, it seems that the 14 year old Frema had a very romanticized view of breastfeeding. When I was 14 I would have died before I mentioned anything about "milk" and "breasts"! You were so mature.
Posted by: Isabel | March 18, 2007 at 02:51 AM
My Uncle Ronnie used to call me "Doll". He was about 95 years old, and it was still creepy.
Plot twist! Michael is Jenna's long lost, 80 year old uncle who just LOOKS young because Tabitha from Passions cast a youth spell on him (Passions...oh, Passions).
Posted by: Pink Herring | March 21, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Ok, so Isabel got me reading TLF and I'm at work and TOTALLY supposed to be, you know, working but then? I found TLF and now I can't stop reading. And allllll day I've been planning my comments so when I get home from work I can leave them but this one? This entry? THE COMMENT CANNOT WAIT. I have tears I'm laughing so hard. And I just have to say... "I could run to Texas and baaaack! But my daughter can't!!! WHY?! I wanna know WHYYYYYYY?!"
If I ever was to perform a soliloquy, this would be the one I performed...
Posted by: Whitney | June 06, 2007 at 03:12 PM