Chapter 11 "The Divorce"

March 17th, 2000 Los Angeles, CA.

Jonny was sitting across from Cheryl.  She had obviously been crying.  Why?, she was getting the house.  Well he was giving it to her.  He owned everything and he just wanted her out.

"Mrs. Connors, Do you understand the documents infront of you?"  The Judge asked Cheryl.  Crying, "Yes, I understand."  
"Ok, I need you to sign here and initial here." he said pointing to the different lines.  
"Now I am assuming you would like to take back your name?"  "Yes."  More tears.  Jonny rolled his eyes, he was feeling very uncomfortable.  He just wished this was over with.  He was starting to get an itch to drink.

"Mr. Connors, Do you understand the document infront of you?" He asked Jonny.  Jonny replied that he did. 
 "Sign here and initial here, please."  Jonny took the pen and did as he was told.  
"Now it is my understanding, That, Mr. Connors you get everything except the house?"  He said looking at both Cheryl and Jonny.  
"Yes, your honor."  
"Ok, then you are to remove everything from the property no later than Friday March, 24th.  You are not allowed to be at the premises during that time.  It this clear?"  Both, "Yes."

 "Alright, well it always saddens me to say this but your divorce is final, you are no longer married."  And with that he walked out of the room.

Jonny hurried out, he didn't want to engage in any conversation with Cheryl.  He was now a free man and he felt like celebrating.  He went to the nearest bar, sat down and ordered a drink.

 Jonny had been there for several hours, when his cell phone rang.  "Hello."  "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?"  Al shouted.  

"What, I am at Expo, having a few drinks."  

Al turned to Tany, "He is at a bar."  

"Give me the phone."

Al didn't, "Jonny, did you forget we have studio time?"  "Oh, yeah, huh, ha Ok, I will be there in a few minutes."

Tany grabbed the phone, "I am sending Biff, don't drive Jonny."  "Tany, I have only had a few drinks, I promise I will be fine."  
"Jonny if you drive, I am kicking you ou......."  Al grabbed the phone back, "Don't go anywhere Jonny, Biff has already left."  
"Fine, whatever dude."  Al hung up the phone.

Tany sat there stewing.  Al, was thinking that Tany was gettting more and more crabby as time got closer for Scott to leave.  
"You can't tell him he is out of the band."  
"No, but if he keeps this up, It will be me or him, Al."  
"Mouth, just because you are upset that Scott is leaving, don't take it out on Jonny and myself."  
"What, I am not crabby because Scott is leaving,  I am sick of this."

"You need to lay off."  
"WHAT?  ME LAY OFF!!,  How about he lays off the drinking?"  And with that she walked out.

Jonny had been sitting on the curb when Biff pulled up.  He got in the car and Biff took off.

"How much trouble am I in?"  
"Tany is pretty upset."  
"I just wanted a few drinks, I am a free man now."  
"Hey, don't explain it to me, I am just the driver."  
"No way, man, you are part of the Family now."  
"No offense, Jonny, but if this is how you treat your family, I don't think I want to be a part of it."  
"What, you don't know a thing about me, you just barely got on the payroll." 
"Exactly."

Biff pulled into the parking lot and Al was waiting for him.  Biff didn't open the door for Jonny.  "Before you go in, you need to know that Tany is extremely upset."

"So, why is that my problem."  
"Because, she is the leader of this band, Jonny."  
"What, since when?"  
"Since, I became manager."  
"You can't be serious. So, you made her the leader, without consulting me."  
"Jonny, It was more of a group decision."  
"Who?"  Jonny was getting redder and redder.  Tany had been listening to the whole conversation, in fact any one within ear shot, could hear Jonny and Al.

She walked out, "Jonny," He turned toward her, "It was everyone, the band, Al and I."

He walked over to her, "How can you do this to me, Without me, there is no you." Tany stood there, trying to compose herself.  
"Jonny, I love you and you know why I am doing this."  
"Oh give me a break, you aren't doing it just for me, you know as well as I do, you are doing it because you love it." He said through clinched teeth.

Al stepped in the middle, "Ok, that's it. Jonny go settle down, Tany go back inside."  Jonny did as Al told and Tany walked back inside.

Tany was sitting by Steve, they had finished a song and were trying to think of another song, when Jonny walked in.  "Can I talk to you alone?"  Tany sat there looking at both of her brothers.  Al gave her a quick nod.  She walked out of the room, with Jonny.

"Listen...."  
"No, you listen, I am sick of your shit.  I am not going to tolerate it any more."  
"Tany, I am sorry, I just thou..."  
"No that is it, Jonny, you don't,  Give me one good reason, why I should even except your apology."  
"Because I am your brother and you love me."  
"Jonny....."  
"I know, I am an asshole, a jerk, a moron, did I cover it?"

She smiled a little.  He leaned down.  "Jonny, NO more drugs, no more alcohol or I will Jonny."  
"Ok, that sounds fair, Thanks mouth."  
"Don't thank me, just don't do it anymore. I want my big brother back."  
"I am back, I promise."

That night Tany sat down on her bed, with her guitar and wrote a song.  Tany didn't know but that song would come to mean more than her yelling at her brother.


*****Please feel free to leave a comment,  I will take the good, the bad and the ugly.  I also promise to take it with a grain of salt.*****