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Laid Up: Another Season 3–Chapter 25B
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Bette smiled at him and bumped him with her shoulder.
“I remember the day you were born. We were ecstatic. We weren’t sure who you looked like. I saw your aunt Angelica and Maxine said you looked identical to her great grandmother, Hilda. From those old photos, I can now see Hilda and she swears you look like my sister. Funny.” He looked off into the distance. “Max and I didn’t know how life would be for you. There weren’t many mixed children or interracial marriages for that matter in those days. We wanted to create a child together, an expression of our love and our hope. You were and still are those things to us—our love–even though we’re not together, we still care for each other, and our hope—hope that when a Black person and a White person create life, that their child can meld those worlds into one or at least be the bridge between the two groups. I realize that’s a great deal to place on a child. I know you don’t want to be the one that everyone looks toward for guidance, example. . .”
Bette sighed. “Daddy, I-I just want to be me.” She shook her head.
“I know, Bette. The only thing I want for you is to be the best ‘you’ possible. You have such promise. You’re an intelligent woman; self-possessed, a certainty of your own identity. But the university will offer you all sorts of distractions—events, circumstances, people. You will meet people who will lie to you, tell you that they don’t study and you don’t need to either. You’ll find them hiding in the library surrounded by books. They don’t want you to study. You won’t be just a friend to these folks, you’ll be their competition. They’ll know this. You have to know it.”
Bette nodded.
Melvin wanted her to truly understand. “I’ve been there, Bette. I’ve been in a university setting and know how people will try to trip you up, confuse and trick you, take advantage, try to convince you that you don’t have a right to be there. You’ll meet other students who will assume that you’re attending Yale as a hardship case or because of Affirmative Action or that Yale is trying to meet their quota. They’ll think that you—you, my Valedictorian, my honors’ student, my child with the highest SAT scores at Springside– are someone taking a spot from a more qualified person. I’m sorry, but that will happen. I wish it wasn’t true.” He looked at her sadly.
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Oh. My. God. That was freaking awesome, but WHO TOOK BABY A?!? Already, it seems like a hours ago that I was laughing at Al and Dane and the armpit licking, and Bette whooping as she left the retreat, and wondering what Carmen was gonna do after she ran out of beers to pour out, and hoping Henry didn’t yell once that EEG showed Tina’s been dodging the pills, and hoping that Steph didn’t get too crazy with the vengeance, and that Hels would hear some news about Dylan and that Peggy would help her daughter track Dylan down, and fanning myself over that call of Bette’s that didn’t quite make it to voicemail, and cheering on Al and Carmen’s rescue of Dana from that Aryan-esque creep-all freaking bloody AWESOME- because all I can think about now is that SOME NUTJOB-Steph? Josh? Marcus?-TOOK ANGELICA! For the love of all things, I so hope you’re posting soon, Portia. But still, this was so good I have to say it thrice, AWESOME! Thank you for the chapter. I literally cannot wait for the next chapter. Cheers
Loved the quote: Gladwell who told a story that a friend of his told him: ‘to a worm in a jar of horseradish, the whole world is horseradish.’ … Glad you’re turning S3 & S4 horseradish into something far more palatable… ;-)
This was beyond belief, every time you post you amaze me, your writing is without fault, exceptional, brilliant, outstanding. My head is swimming…I see the season being what it should have been, thankyou. I know you take a while between posts, obviously it takes time to write…but plspls if you could don’t leave us hanging too long…really it’s going to kill me to wait…but I will, every patiently…THANKYOU PORTIA
Bette’s struggles at the Buddhist retreat, her desperate, heartbreaking attempts to communicate with Tina, that amazing “voicemail,” and all the other storylines are a tour de force, pure and simple. How totally cool to discover that you drew on Ossie Davis’s own words in your wonderfully rich portrayal of Melvin. Missing Baby A, needless to say, is a cliffhanger extraordinaire. A huge thanks for the effort you’ve put into this awesome story.
thanks! the time and effort that must go into this is unbelievable. please know how much i look forward to one of your updates.
What an absolutely brilliant story you continue to weave! I am awed that you are able to develop each character so fully. Loved, loved, loved your description of Bette lost in her memories of their reconnection during the ultrasound and subsequent afternoon delight. So sizzling hot while tender at the same time. Great read, Portia!
oh no, not the baby…what a cliffhanger…please,please keep the baby safe and get bette home asap…great as always
what a chapter… there was so much… stephine is a nut case… henry is at times not all there either… and i’m glad tina is getting better… all those meds… damm… enough is enough… but now to the important part… WHO THE HELL TOOK ANGIE… i hope it was maybe alice or shane and they just turn around with her in their arms… it better not be josh… if it is… well he will be dead in the next chapter… PPS…
First, I must say thank you for this extraordinary chapter. I’ve been home sick for three days and barely able to focus on anything but your 82 pages (damn, 82 pages!) kept me awake and reading. For some reason I had thought that you were finishing this story with this chapter (I don’t know why I thought that) so I was really excited to see that this wasn’t the end. I know how much time and effort it takes to write just two or three pages so I am truly impressed with this magnum opus!!
I’m leaving a comment in advance as there’s no way I can read 82 pages right now. FUCKING AWESOME! I didn’t even have to read the chapter to know that. lol
Wow!That was awesome! by far this is the longest psot I have ever reading! If your not thinking about a book please do so. You have some awesome talent!!! As for Baby, the suspects were set-up perfectly! Stephanie, Josh, Marcus. But you know I somepoint I had a feeling this would happen and for some reason I had Theresa as the perptrator! Can’t wait for the next chapter!
Amazing, this chapter was just amazing the journeys you take us on in Bette’s memory are priceless. The advice her father gave her to the different expereinces between her parents have all been such amazing insight. Excellent. I just needed to tell you what an awesome job you’ve done. Thanks for writing it.
i can’t wait for the next chapter either this story is the bomb i enjoy stories that includes most of the gang..the arm licking was funny, weird but i thought it was cute lol :) grrrrrrreat work you do danish so well!!!
Fabulous! Please don’t let anything happen to Angelica, especially cuz her mama B is on her way home. I don’t know how either women could cope without her. Bring Dylan back for poor Helena. And tell Carmen to get that stick out of her butt :). Love, love, loved it! Can’t wait for more! Thanks Portia