Battle Lines
By Shotzette

Battle Lines

By Shotzette
Rated PG
Souvenirs Universe

This is only a work of fan fiction and is not intended to infringe upon any copyrights of any being or entity.




"And so, if Lenny wins the song-writing contest and gets the $500 prize, we'll have enough cash to travel back to Milwaukee in style. Whaddya think, Shirl?" Laverne looked at her best friend expectantly as they sat at Hector and Angie's battered dinette set.

Shirley's mouth opened three or four times before any sound came out. "I think you're both insane, that's what I think. I mean really, Laverne! Lenny? Winning a contest? You always said that I was a dreamer..."

Laverne's face darkened. "Lenny's a real good musician, and he always has been, Shirl."

"Yes," she countered with a dismissive wave of her hand, "by Milwaukee standards... But, Laverne, this is for real! You really don't expect him to be able to compete with professionals, do you?"

"Lenny is a professional musician!"

"Yes, and three years ago, he was a professional truck driver. Two years ago, he was a professional agent..."

"It ain't the same thing!" Laverne's voice rose as the strain of walking on eggshells for days around her best friend took its toll on her

"Yes it is! He and Squiggy always had some fly by night scheme to strike it rich. Remember when they took over Lenny's uncle's diner? Do you remember what a fiasco that was?"

Laverne's cheeks reddened at the memory of the "Dead Lazlo's Place" debacle. "This is different!"

"The only thing different about it is that he's dragged you into it instead of Squiggy."

"Squiggy doesn't have anything to do with this, Shirley! If you haven't noticed, there isn't hide or greasy hair of his to be found. This is all Lenny. It's all his dream."

"Which makes it all the scarier that he's roped you into it. I mean, come on! What was going through your mind when you got in the car with him back in California. You had a job, a terrific apartment, and you gave it all up to.."

"Watch your mouth, Shirley..." Laverne's voice held an edge that she had long forgotten she possessed.

"You gave it all up to follow Lenny Kosnowski across the country! Without even an engagement ring on your finger? Why??"

"I'm in love, that's why!"

"In love, or just lonely?"

"I'm warning you..."

"I know you, Laverne." Shirley's tone softened somewhat. "I know how hard it is for you to be alone. How you'll do almost anything to avoid it..."

Laverne's last bit of control snapped. "I said Shut up!" she yelled, as she slammed her hand down on the formica. "I'm with Lenny because I want to be with him-no other reason."

"Well as thin as the walls are in this place, we all know how much you want to be with him.," was Shirley's sarcastic reply. She continued with a vicious gleam in her eyes, "I mean really, Laverne! There are children under this roof! Thank heavens that Davy is too young, but this can't be a healthy thing to expose Chris and Cathy to..."

"That's what it's about, isn't it?" asked Laverne, as realization slowly dawned on her.

"What do you mean?"

"For once in our lives-and I pretty much just mean this once-I got someone in my life and you don't."

"Shirley waved her engagement and wedding ring under Laverne's nose. "Walter and I are married, Laverne. We're just taking a little time apart that's all."

"Yeah, right. Is that why you showed up in tears on the doorstep of a guy you haven't thought about in 10 years? This ain't taking time apart, and you know it. Hell, we all know it. You're marriage is all but over, Shirley. Wake up and smell the coffee."

Shirley's answer was made of icy steel. "I don't have to take this from you-from someone who's settled for a guy she's known forever. A guy who's going nowhere. Be realistic Laverne, when did Lenny become so irresistible to you?"

"You be realistic! Maybe your dreams are over. Maybe they were never the right dreams to begin with, but don't you dare tell me how to live my life no more, Shirley Feeney. You lost that right a long time ago."

"Quiet! Both of you!"

Both women whirled around to see the outraged form of Angie Katzenbaum in the doorway, her hands clamped protectively over her son's ears. "You gotta leave," she said dully. " I don't care if it's one of you, I don't care if it's both, I just know that someone's gotta leave tomorrow morning. I just can't take this strain no more."

"Angie, I-" Laverne began.

"No. No more, I don't want to hear anything else. C'mon, Chris," she murmured as she dragged the wide-eyed boy from the room, leaving the other women to glare at each other balefully.

FIN


To "West End Family Grave"
To "Bright Lights and Promises"