Bookends
By Shotzette and Missy

1972, Part B
By Kath

Christmas 1972 - Side B


By Shotzette
Bookends Universe
Rated PG


This is only a piece of fan fiction, nothing more. It is not intended to infringe upon anyone's copyright's or intellectual property.




"You don't have to leave..."

Laverne looked up into the blue eyes of a stranger. "Well yeah, I do. Gotta go to work tomorrow."

"You work on Christmas?" Disbelief crossed the young man's face as he surveyed her from the rumpled bed.

Laverne swallowed hard as the minute buckle on her high heeled sandal became a lot more complex than it had been a few hours ago. "Someone's gotta," she replied, biting back the tears. Having to work Christmas day was the only thing that was keeping her going. Smiling with a brightness she didn't feel, she turned to the nude man reclining on his bed. "What can I say? I"m a sucker for overtime."

"What did you say you did, anyway?"

"I didn't. I"m a nurse," she lied, knowing she would never see this guy after tonight, and not really wanting to.

"A nurse, huh? That's cool. Hey, I have this rash..."

"Not really my department," she said, turning quickly away and not really wanting to see where he was pointing anyway. "Well," she said, the shoe finally on her foot, and purse in hand, as she inched towards the door, "this was fun. Really. But, I have an early day, so I should go. Good bye, Mike."

"It's Matt."

"Oops. Sorry. I'm not good with names."

"S'okay. Good night, Lorraine."





By the time she'd reached her small hatchback, Laverne's breathing had returned to normal. She caught sight of her reflection in the rearview mirror and groaned at her red rimmed eyes. She was really getting too old for carousing all night then putting in a full day's work. She wasn't a kid anymore, she was-- She didn't even say the number to herself. Another year gone by, another year alone. Usually the holidays weren't that bad. She'd go over to her Pop's apartment on Christmas Eve and help him decorate the dinky little plastic tree which was still superior to the scraggly firs available in Los Angeles strip mall parking lots. She'd indulge him by accompanying him to Midnight Mass and he'd indulge her by baking the pizzelle cookies that she'd loved since childhood. They'd hang their stockings by the balconey railing and she'd spend the night on the sofa bed in his living room.

It was almost easy to pretend they weren't lonely. Hell, it had worked for the last five years...

It was just like Uncle Fungi to be inconsiderate enough to drop dead the week before Christmas. Her father was flying back to New York for the funeral of his younger brother, and she was stuck in L.A. She neither had the cash, or the vacation time to spare.

And her father was fine with that. That was the unkindest cut of all. Laverne had put off tellng him for two days, anticipating his anger and lecture on family responsiblities. She was disappointed on both counts. Frank DeFazio took the news calmly and didn't seem surprised.

Even her father knew, deep down, that she didn't have anything in her life besides her job any more. Not that she was in any hurry to tell him about her little Happy Hour detours...

The growling in her stomache reminded her that the hor d'oerves she'd consumed at the bar hours earlier did not constitue a real dinner. And the three pina coladas rolling around in her gut were on the verge of making her sick. With visions of her empty fridge dancing in her head,she turned into the parking lot of the little all-night market to her left, praying that they hadn't closed for the holidays just yet.

For once that evening, the universe didn't disappoint her. Clutching a basket, Laverne ran from aisle to aisle stocking up on essentials to get her through the next two days. Milk, Pepsi, Scooter Pies, Frosted Flakes, Bosco... Laverne shook her head to clear away the intrusive memory of another blond haired, blue eyed young man. One with a taste for Bosco...

A familiar, but long unheard voice jolted her out of her reverie.

"Laverne?"

Laverne nearly dropped her basket in shock. That voice, after so many years... "Edna?" she asked, before turning around.

Edna Babish stood before her, a little older, a trifle heavier, but the eyes still held their sassy sparkle and Edna's fast mouth smiled at her. "Hello, Laverne."

Laverne opened her mouth to say a thousand things; how she hated her, what a horrible person she'd been to leave her father, how she hoped Edna had been miserable for the last five years. None of that came out, because at that one, crystallized point of time, it didn't matter. All that mattered is that an old friend was smiling at her, and she was a little less lonely than she'd been moments ago. "Merry Christmas, Edna."

The tremulous smile broke into a wide grin before her eyes, and Laverne suddenly felt herself pulled into a fierce hug. "Merry Christmas, Laverne. It's been too long. How are you doing?"

"I'm good," she lied out of practice. "You?"

"Me too. How's Shirley?"

Laverne forced a smile. "She's okay, I guess. She and Walter are in Germany now. I got a Christmas with a snapshot of the entire family. I can't beleive Dave and Todd are so big! And Eileen, her youngest, is gorgeous. Shirl's got the perfect life she always wanted," she added.

Edna nodded, as if in understanding. "I'm sure it's a beautiful picture, Laverne. But, tell me about your life."

Laverne shugged as she stepped back from the open freezer case. "I'm still with Ajax. They made me Testing Supervisor last year." Laverne smiled in spite of herself. Nearly ten years at Shotz with no promotions and little recognition aside from her triumphs at the annual talent show and on the company bowling and softball teams. Ajax had promoted her twice in the last five years, each promotion coming with a significant pay increase.

"Good for you! I'm proud of you, Laverne. You always had a good head on your shoulders, and it's nice to see that you're in a place where it's appreciated."

Laverne was momentarily dumbfounded by Edna's praise, so much she was speechless for several seconds. "Thanks," she finally stammered. "How's Amy? she asked.

Edna's smile widened at the mention of her youngest, and most special child. "Amy's fine. She's working full time now, and she and another girl from the group home have moved into their own apartment."

"Wow. I'm glad she's able to be on her own. She really must have come a long way since I saw her last."

Edna rummaged through her purse and produced a small notepad and a pen. "This is her number in San Diego. You should give her a call, she'd love to hear from you. We just had an early Christmas together this weekend." At Laverne's puzzled look, Edna continued, "Amy wanted to spend the holidays with her father in Dayton this year." Edna's eyes lost a bit of their brightness. "Johnny's not doing very well. He was diagnosed with liver cancer six months ago, and this will most likely be the last Christmas that Amy can be with him."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. He tracked me and Amy down a couple of years ago and wanted to mend fences."

"I'm glad you remained on good terms with one of your exes." The bitter words were out of her mouth before Laverne could stop them. Her cheeks flushed as she awkwardly stared at the stained linoleum floor. "I'm sorry, Edna. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's okay. You love your father very much. I can't even imagine how angry you must have been with me."

"Well, yeah. I still am, sort of. But I'm real happy to see you all the same, if that makes any sense."

"It does, Lavene. Well, now that I've let the genie out of the bottle; I can at least ask how you're father is doing."

"He's good. He sold the franchise two years ago."

"Really? I can't see Frank retired."

"He's just now getting to that point. He served on the City Council for two terms, and doing that plus running the restaurant was just too much."

"Frank DeFazio in politics," Edna replied as she shook her head in disbeleif. "Now I've seen everything."

"Pop was a great councilman," Laverne said defensively. "He really made a difference for some people."

"That part I believe, I just can't see such an honest, plain-spoken man such as Frank being a success in such a slimy business. It's good to know that at my age, there are still surprises out in the world."

"I guess it just goes to show you that anything's possible."

Edna's smile quickly returned. "Now you're starting to sound like Shirley."

Laverne let out her usual nasal bark of a laugh. It seemed like it had been ages since she heard that sound.

"Unless you think it will upset him, please wish your father a Merry Christmas from me."

Laverne's smile flickered. "I wish that I could, but he's in New York. Uncle Fungi had a stroke last week and the funeral was yesterday. Pop's staying back east to help Aunt Rosa out for a while."

"Laverne, I'm so sorry."

Laverne shrugged. "I don't want to keep you , Edna. I know you've got things to do." She turned to leave, but the hand on her arm stopped her in her tracks.

"Laverne, do you have plans for Christmas."

Again with the shrug. "It's just another day to rack up overtime."

Edna shook her head, and Laverne was painfully reminded that the older woman knew her much too well to be satisfied with a glib remark. "Don't give me that garbage, Laverne. You do to have plans. You are having Christmas dinner with me in Van Nuys and I won't take no for an answer."

"Edna, that's sweet. But you don't hafta..."

"I want to," the older woman said sincerely.

Laverne opened her mouth again to respond, but the look in Edna's eyes made her close it. Edna wasn't being charitable, she realized. She was lonely without Amy. Just like Laverne was lonely without her Pop. A slow smile slid across Laverne's face. Oh well, if she and her Pop could pretend they weren't lonely every year; it wouldn't kill her and Edna to pretend that they were still step-mother and step-daughter. In fact, that could be the one thing that could get them both through the holidays. "I'd love to," she said, gratified by the relief on Edna's face. "What can I bring?"
FIN



To the first part of Christmas-1972

To 1976











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