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Bruno stood opened mouth looking at Doris whom his father had introduced as Nancy. For a moment there was silence.
Doris: “Erm, could I use your bathroom, please?"
Angelo had a wide grin on his face: “Sure it’s the first door on the left.”
Bruno watched as the woman gathered up her clothes and rushes off to the bathroom.
Angelo turned to his son: “Now what’s this about spending the day together? Isn’t it the first day of school?”
Bruno glared at his father: “Never mind that, what are you doing, bringing strange women back to the house?”
Angelo: “Don’t worry, don’t worry, nothing happened. I slept on the couch!”
Bruno sighs: “I'm not worrying about your sex life just the fact that strangers are wondering about our home half naked!”
Angelo: “She got into my cab last night, having had a drink or two and passed out. What was I supposed to do? Just drive round and round until she woke up again?”
Bruno shakes his head in despair: “I don’t know, just not have brought her here!”
At that moment they both here a ringing noise, like a phone, coming from the bathroom and both exchange confused looks.
Bruno: “How does she have a phone in the bathroom?”
Angelo shrugs: “Beats me! Now why don’t we give a lady some privacy?”
Angelo lead his son by the arm down stairs to the kitchen. Bruno looked back at the closed bathroom door as a thought came to his head.
Bruno mutters to himself: "A phone! The other Doris?"
Angelo looks at him: "What are you muttering about?"
Bruno turns his mind back to the current situation: “Look Pop, I'm worried about you. I haven’t got any important classes today. I caught up with everything in the few days I was helping Shorofsky with the auditions. I think we should just hang out together!”
Angelo was puzzled: “I bring one person back for the night and you’re suddenly worried about me? Bruno I'm a big boy now I can take care of myself. Besides I have plans to see your Aunt Beatrice today.”
Bruno: “Great then I’ll come with you!”
Angelo shakes his head: “Son don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know what has gotten into your head but you are going to school and that’s my final word.”
Bruno tried to protest: “But Pop...”
Angelo interrupted sternly: “But nothing, you are going to school! Unless you want to tell me what this is really about?”
Bruno stood in an awkward silence while his father waited expectantly. Eventually he tried to explain.
Bruno: “Well, someone told me that something bad was going to happened today and I needed to stay with you?”
Angelo laughed: “And you believe that mumbo jumbo?”
Bruno: “Well, I thought it came from a reliable source. Besides what can it hurt?”
Angelo replied angrily: “Have you lost your mind? It can hurt your education that’s what it can hurt? I can’t believe you are taking this rubbish seriously. I think I should be the one worrying about your behaviour. Tell Nancy to wait for me, I’m going out to get some air and will take her home later. When I get back you better be in school!”
Angelo stormed off towards the door, pausing momentarily to rub a pain in his chest.
Bruno called after him: “Pop, please wait...”
But Angelo Martelli had left. At the time Bruno was unaware that that was the last time he’d see his father alive.
After a moment Bruno raced upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door.”
Bruno: “Okay Doris, I know it’s you. You can come out now!”
Silence greeted him from the other side. He knocked a couple more times and eventually opened the door. He looked around in amazement as the room was empty.
Bruno had gone to school that day but it wasn't long before Shorofsky told him that his father had had a heart attack. They had rushed to the hospital and Bruno remembered sitting in a chapel at the hospital. He wasn't religious and it seemed odd sitting in a place of worship but it was peaceful and his mind raced with thoughts of his father, the argument they had had that morning and the last song he’d written for his father.
"Once in awhile I stop and I smile
And think about the times we share
If something goes wrong won't be very long
Cause I know that you are there
Once in awhile I think of your smile
And all the memories we've known
It's not gonna end, I'm telling you friend
Neither one of us could ever be alone
The laughter in your eyes is certain
The look that lets me know your pleased
How everyday you reassured me
When no-one else believed
Once in awhile, though it's not my style
I wonder what my life would be without you
I'd only get through 'cause you taught me to
And there's no way I could doubt you
Once in awhile, I sit and I smile
And think of all the things before us
The good and the bad
The happy and the sad
And when I'll think of you again
It will be more than just once in awhile"
Shorofsky had entered the chapel and sat next to him.
Shorofsky: “For the rest of your life he will be the first one to hear every song you write!”
Bruno had felt numb and couldn't quite comprehend the enormity of what his music teacher was saying. For a long time he sat in the chapel in silence with his music teacher’s arm reassuringly around him. The next few weeks had been a blur, from organising the funeral to trying to comprehend his father’s finances, trying to adjust to living alone and making the monumental decision to leave school. Through all of it he didn't cry. It was almost as though crying would be admitting the terrible truth and he hadn't wanted to accept that.
The closest he’d come to crying was on the day he’d packed up his locker at school. Mrs Berg had kindly opened the school on a Saturday as he wanted to avoid difficult and awkward goodbyes. He’d taken one last look around the school as though silently saying goodbye to it. Just before he left completely he was drawn to the auditorium for one last look around. The room was in darkness and just as he turned to leave a familiar voice called to him:
“Mr Martelli?”
Bruno had stopped and turned to see Sherwood standing behind him. As she walks closer she smiled sweetly.
Sherwood: “May I show you to your seat?”
As the lights came on and Bruno had seen Shorofsky sat further down in the stalls, while on stage was Lydia and a bunch of the kids. Bruno had been a little hesitant and surprised as he slowly approached Sherwood.
Bruno: “I didn't even know myself I was going to stop by the auditorium... How did you know?”
Sherwood: “We know you better than you know you.”
Sherwood encouraged Bruno to take a seat next to Mr Shorofsky. As he sat down Shorofsky smiled and patted Bruno's hand. The kids on stage performed a song and a lump came to Bruno’s throat. He swallowed hard trying desperately to stop himself from crying.
After the music stopped there was a moments silence until Bruno stood up, pulled his bag onto his shoulder and started to clap his hands.
Bruno: “Bravo! Bravo for just now and all things before.”
As he turned to leave Lydia called out after him.
Lydia: “Hey Bruno, wait honey, wait, we’re not finished yet. Bring your bones up on this stage!”
Coco added her encouragement: “Come on!”
Bruno: “Wait, wait a minute...I.. Know there’s probably punch and cookies and somethin’ nice planned but I..I...I can’t deal with that right now... I’ll see you around.”
Teenage Doris yelled angrily after him: “Dammit Martelli, you’re leaving the school you’re not walking out of our lives!”
Bruno glared at her: “Look! You know I love you and you know I'm gonna miss you... and this school.....(he paused fighting his emotions).. What the hell else is there to say?!”
Bruno turned and walked quickly to the exit and noticed the older Doris sat in the back row. He gave her a confused look but he couldn't stop and hurriedly left the school.
Within a couple of weeks life had settled down a little and Shorofsky had helped him get a job at Carusos, where he now sat looking at the mysterious phone number.
The next time he’d felt like crying was when he finally picked up the courage to confront Doris. He’d waited for her after school and they had walked arm in arm along the sidewalk towards the river. Doris had chattered about all the changes and new people at school. Eventually he confronted her.
Bruno: “What were you doing at my house that day my father died?”
Doris was puzzled: “I wasn't at your house. It was the first day of school, remember?”
Bruno nodded: “I remember, I remember it very well! Before school, you were there dressed as your older character. My father had bought you back to spend the night!”
Doris laughed: “Wait! You think I spent the night with your father? I know my love live is in the toilet but I haven’t yet taken to dating men twice my age!”
Bruno: “So you deny being there?”
Doris was confused: “Bruno, what is this all about? Of course I deny it. I simply wasn't there, it didn't happen and I have no idea what you are talking about regarding this older character. Are you feeling okay?”
Bruno was angry: “Doris I saw you. You were dressed as an older woman. The first time you had a blond wig on and said a friend of your mother helped you put the character together. The next time you were in my father’s bed with darker hair but you looked exactly the same but you pretended your name was Nancy!”
Doris shook her head in confusion: “Bruno, this is madness. None of that happened. Have you taken some pills or something?”
Bruno laughed nervously: “You think I'm going crazy? But I know I saw you, I spoke to you Doris. You warned me to stay at home with my father because some psychic had warned you something bad was going to happen. I guess I must have been a little crazy to listen to you in the first place. Maybe my father would still be alive if I hadn't listened to you!”
Doris was hurt: “Bruno I know you’re hurting at the moment and I can’t imagine how it feels to lose a parent but what happened to your father, just happened, it wasn't my fault and it wasn't anybody else's fault either!”
Bruno sighed: “Don’t worry I don’t blame you, I blame myself for listening to you and trusting someone I thought was a friend.”
Doris: “I am your friend and I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Bruno: “But you will lie to me?”
Doris slowly shook her head: “Bruno, I'm not lying to you. I would never do that, surely you know that?”
Bruno had felt tearful: “I don’t know what I know any more Doris or who I can trust. I've not just lost my father but my best friend too...”.
Doris had tried to squeeze Bruno’s hand and was shocked when he had snatched it away from her. Bruno knew he was going to cry and started to hurry away.
He turned and called back: “I never want to see you again!”
With that he’d broken down with tears rolling down his face. When he had finally put some distance between him and Doris he stopped to catch his breath. Suddenly he had started to sob uncontrollably and for the first time he had cried over losing his father.
For awhile he avoided speaking to Doris or to any of his other friends about Doris. That was until the President was supposed to be attending a school show. He’d taken some coffee and sandwiches over to the school for the security staff. It was a crazy night but things had gotten even more complicated when a mysterious woman had been caught by the security forces. To him it was the woman claiming to be Doris but Holly thought it was a teacher, Sherwood thought it was a parent and Dwight had believed it to be Morloch’s wife.
Bruno had stood looking at this woman who claimed to be Doris and the real Doris both in the same place at the same time. He remembered Troy's words telling him there was another Doris and things had started to fall into place. Feeling guilty for the things he’d said to his friend he walked over to the teenage Doris.
Bruno: “Doris... I'm sorry... this was the person that warned me about my pop and she told me she was you. She sounded and acted just like you... which is why I was so angry with you... I'm really sorry for doubting you."
The two friends hugged and teenage Doris was happy that Bruno has finally come round and wasn't angry at her any more.
A couple of weeks later Bruno had had one final encounter with the mysterious woman. Coco had dragged him to a party, as she thought some agents were going to be there. It was a strange night.
Bruno: “What am I doing here? I don’t even like parties!”
Coco threw him a dirty look: “We’re here Bruno because I heard there were going to be some important agents here and I intend to get noticed”.
Bruno looked around the room at the sea of young faces: “Does it look like there are any agents here?”
Coco glared at him: “Relax Bruno, it’s still early!”
A young woman with long brown hair was singing and Bruno noticed Coco watching her intently.
Bruno: “She’s very good isn't she? Do you know her?"
For a moment Coco was a little lost for words as Bruno voiced her own thoughts, that this girl singing was strong competition for her.
Coco: “No I don’t know her. Maybe she is one of the new starters at school this year... but, I thought I'd already checked out the competition! Actually I don’t recognise anyone yet, I thought there’d be more people here from school.... You really think she’s good?”
After a strange encounter with Danny. Bruno spotted the older woman he believed to be Doris rushing across the room and called out to her.
Bruno: "Doris?"
He reached out and grabbed the woman by the arm which stopped her in her tracks.
Bruno: "Doris, what’s going on? You never had an opportunity to explain what on earth is happening. The last time we saw you Agent Crane took you into the teachers’ lounge!”
Doris looked at him and then at Coco and seemed lost for words.
Doris: “Look Bruno, I'm sorry I don’t have time to explain things now I've got something really important to do. I've really got to go!”
Bruno: “Doris, you nearly ruined our friendship so I really think you owe me an explanation.”
Doris: “You’re right Bruno, I do and I promise next time I see you, I’ll explain everything as best as I can but right now it’s a matter of life and death and I've got to go.”
Bruno watched as the woman gave an apologetic smile and rushed off towards the door. He and Coco had exchange surprised glances.
Coco: “This is turning into one weird evening!”
After a moment the older woman was back and Bruno had called out again.
Bruno: “I thought you left already? "
Doris turned towards the smiling Bruno.
Bruno: "Well it looks like as this is the next time we see each other , so I'm ready to hear that explanation from you".
Doris sighed: “Oh Bruno, ....I truly am sorry. One day I’ll explain it all and you’ll understand but until then...”
Her words trailed off as she rushed to the door.
Bruno's called after her: "Wait.. Doris?"
He didn't see the woman again but often thought of her, believing her to be the person who gave Troy the mysterious phone number. Every once in awhile he took the piece of paper containing the number out and tried to ring it. He’d never had any reply but something inside of him, which he couldn't explain kept him trying.
Tonight was one of those nights. Having looked at the paper for a long time and remembering the past he finally picked up the phone receiver and started to dial.
For what seemed like a long time there was silence and then to Bruno’s surprise a dialling tone. After a few moments the dialling noise stopped and he could hear someone breathing on the other end and a voice carefully says “Hello”.
Bruno hesitated: “Doris? Is that you?
The woman on the other end becomes excited: “Yes Bruno, it’s me. I can’t believe I'm finally speaking to you.”
Bruno smiles: “I think it’s time we talked properly don’t you?
To be continued.......
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