The doorbell rang and Alicia appeared in a lovely Snoopy costume. You could only see her face, the tip of her nose painted black. This time Frankie squealed first, though as soon as Alicia saw him they were both squealing so loudly that mom and I had to cover our ears.
"And Mikey?" I asked while Frankie ran to the couch with a new present in his hands: two more Shrek action figures to join his Donkey.
"Here!" Alicia reached out towards the open door, dragging a very embarrassed Mikey inside. He looked similar to Frankie, only yellow; and his costume was in one peace which made my brother seem fat for the first time in his life. I assumed that -to match his girlfriend- he was Woodstock, the bird-like creature.
"M-mikeyyy! W-we're two b-birds!" Frankie screamed and hugged my brother, who hugged back with a resigned sigh.
"Oh fuck, this is gonna be a long night..."
"Don't they looked perfect together?" Alicia threw her arms around the boys' shoulders.
"Al...you knew Frankie would be a bird too, didn't you?" Mikey discerned his girlfriend's mischievous look.
"Perhaps!" she smirked.
"Why...?"
"Uh...I thought it'd help you bond with Frankie?" her smirk mutated into an angelic smile.
"Fuck you?"
"Mikey! We're at Frankie's party now! Can't you wait until later?" she walked away shaking her hips, making her little dog tail dance.
"Gerard..." my brother scanned me. "...why do you have to be so predictable? Out of the...let's say fifteen times you've dressed up for Halloween in your life, you've been a vampire for ten!"
"So what? I like vampires and it suits me. What's more...Frankie said I looked sexy."
"He said what?" his eyes got huge.
"He's turning 19 today..." mom reminded him.
"Yeah, I know but...uh...nevermind."
Ray and Bob arrived together. Toro as an Indian, being thankful for my mother's fireplace. The warm environment made it possible for him to get rid of his heavy jacket and display his practically naked torso, only covered by an open brown leather vest with fringes. The pants were some worn out old corduroys that he had added some leather strips to. Bob... he was a firefighter, including the helmet and a hose roll on his shoulder. I had no idea where he had gotten the uniform, but it was a real one.
"Don't all Indians have straight hair?" Mikey joked, laughing at Ray whose afro stuck out savagely from under a hairband of feathers.
"Don't birds usually fly?" Ray shot back.
"Who said I can't?"
"Show me!"
"M-mikey, you can f-fly? I j-just tried but c-couldn't and hurt m-my ass..." As much as I wanted to believe Frank's last comment wasn't true, the way he was rubbing his backside told me otherwise.
"Oh, he might...if I kick his butt hard enough!" Alicia reappeared behind her boyfriend.
"Shut up, sack of fleas."
"Nevah, feather ball!"
The sight of Ray and Bob together brought me to a sudden discovery that distracted me from Mikey and Alicia's classic bickering. "Oh my God, Village People!"
"What?" Ray -who was talking to Frankie about some CDs he'd brought him- looked at me bemused.
"I just realised!" I giggled.
"You realised... what?" Bob was clueless.
"Wait...you didn't accord to dress like that beforehand?"
"No," Ray replied. "Bob called me earlier to ask for a ride, but at no moment we said how we'd dress up."
"Oh, but then this is even better! Without planning it, we got two members of Village People!"
"Village people didn't even have a fireman..." Toro noted.
"Uh..." I tilted my head, thinking. I automatically related those kind of costumes to tough, stripper-ish looking, not-too-manly men. Therefore, Village People. "You're right. They did have a song called 'Firemen', though! So it's not hard to imagine them having an extra member dressed like one!"
"How come you two know so much about Village People?" Bob frowned. "No, wait, don't tell me."
"Wh-what's Vill-age People?" Frankie asked.
"A very gay old band of gay people who wore very gay outfits to sing even gayer songs and dance well...you get the idea." was my brother's explanation.
"If...if they're g-gay then they're aw-awesome!" Frank opined knowingly.
"They are! I'll find some of mom's cassettes later so you can hear them, and we'll make Bob and Ray dance." I clapped my hands like an overexcited, flamboyant vampire. I must have looked bizarre.
"Y-yes, I'll d-dance with th-them!"
"No way!" Ray and Bob cried out.
"Way. Two ways actually, so we win. You'll dance." I exacted.
Frankie had already launched himself into the pumpkin-shaped cookies when we heard a car's strident honk. My mom looked through the peephole and gasped.
"Everybody out, you gotta see this!"
The 'Homeless Mobile' was parked in front of the house, only it looked pretty different. The white van was dressed up for the occasion just like us...as an improvised pirate ship. Timbers and nails drawn on brown paper to simulate wood, semi covered windows to make them round, a plastic anchor hanging on a side and a huge black flag with the famous skull and crossbones symbol buried in a flowerpot on top of the vehicle.
"ANCHORS AWEIGHT!" someone screamed from the inside with a husky voice. We were all paralyzed by the spectacle, anxious to see the ship's crew. I doubted that Frank would be able to close his mouth after this day.
All but Anthony got out, all of them pirates and with similar costumes except for some details. Paul was a humble version of Captain Hook; with a curly, long haired wig and the obligatory hook on his right hand. Trevor had a patch over his left eye and a couple of teeth painted black to make it seem like he was missing them. Greg's main characteristic was a fake pegleg. It was really just a thick tree branch, attached to one side of his black-sock-covered leg with duct tape and partially hidden under his pants. He also wore a red bandanna and big earrings. Jake had made such a tangle out of his naturally long hair that I didn't think he'd ever get rid of it. Other than that he presented a scar across one eye and a golden tooth.
Victor came last, exhibiting that unamused expression we had grown so accustomed to. He had huge boots -a buckle made of metallic paper added to them- over his old dress-up pants that were held in place by a ridiculously large belt. None of that was too different from what his partners were wearing, it was the rest of the costume what let me understand his discomfort. I knew who the culprit was when I saw Paul doubled over with laughter. Victor's shirt was pink, with bulged sleeves and pompous frills on the chest. His eyes carried more eyeliner than any of the other's and a silly plushy parrot was sat on his shoulder.
"No one...say...a word." he warned.
"Oh come on, Vic! I told you it was all I could find!" Paul chuckled.
"Why didn't you wear it, then?"
"'Cause it was the only one that fit you, darling!" he essayed an effeminate tone and got out of the pianist's reach before he could punch him.
Frankie was in a dream; walking along the line of pirates, analyzing every detail with eyes and hands. He hadn't even remembered to ask for presents, what he was seeing was enough. Suddenly, while he was climbing on Greg's back, he noticed someone was missing.
"Wh-where's my d-dad?"
"True...where the fuck's Anthony?" I shared the curiosity.
"Ladies and gentleman...meet Captain Tony Iero!" Greg announced.
"Ahoy, me Hearties!" there he was, a cheap copy of Jack Sparrow. Pirate hat, wig with dreadlocks and beads and the rest of accessories. The long coat had been replaced by a black leather one, but with a little bit of imagination it worked the same. Even thought I wouldn't admit it aloud for obvious reasons, I thought he looked hot. It wasn't that weird for me to think that since he and Frank were so alike.
Frankie slid off Greg's back and ran to his father. "D-dad, you look so aw-awesome!"
"Happy birthday, matey!" Tony greeted him.
"H-how you c-called me?"
"Don't mind me. Happy birthday, son! You're the most cutest bird I've seen!" he took Frankie's hand and we all got inside the house, leaving the curious neighbors that had gathered around us behind.
"Damn good idea you had, uh?" Victor complained to no one in particular. "With all the shit you glued on the van, now it's gonna be all stained and who's gonna clean it? Me, of course, like always! Everybody has fun and Victor cleans up your messes."
"Is it me or there's a conspiracy against you, man?" Mikey patted his back in an understanding way. Come to think of it, they had very similar personalities. "The van, your clothes..."
"There is, it's evident!" the guy groaned.
"Well, at least we're two...look at what my girlfriend made me wear! This is not serious!"
"Halloween is not supposed to be serious, sweetheart." Alicia correctly remarked.
"But Al... a fucking yellow bird! And the neighbors saw me! With which face am I gonna look at them tomorrow? You do it on purpose, woman!"
"Women -just like gay friends- can be the work of the devil, I tell you." Victor philosophized. "They just love to embarrass us."
"Mom, are you sure Mikey's Donald's son too?" I inquired.
"Yes, I'm sure! Why?"
"Ah, ok. I wouldn't have been surprised if you'd told me you had an affair with Victor, though."
"Gerard!" she reprimanded me, going back to the kitchen. I didn't dare glance at where Victor was because I knew he wouldn't be pleased with my making fun of him, same as my brother.
Only a little later, after a lot of chatter and some dance, my mother and I were replenishing the trays of sweet treats when Frankie came to us.
"M-mom, all the sur-prises are here n-now?"
"I think they are, baby" I answered for her. "Do you like your party?"
"Y-yes! V-very very very m-much! B-best Halloween and b-birthday ever!"
"There's one more surprise." my mother let go.
"Uh...what?" I had no idea what she was talking about, everybody was already there.
"Gerard doesn't know it either, only Ray and I." she continued.
"What is it, mom? Tell us!"
"Now you sound like Frankie..." she sang.
"Oh shut up, tell me!"
"There it is!" she pointed at the door just when someone was calling. Frankie beat us at getting it, but we followed him close.
We were met by a rather short, pudgy woman wearing an old fashioned, black night dress that reached to her ankles. She'd complemented it with battered high heeled shoes and lots of bracelets and necklaces. Her red hair was up in a bun, and her face concealed by a white mask with butterfly wings around the eyes and glitter all over. The somewhat winkled skin of her hands told me she was at least close to 60.
"Welcome!" my mom smiled. I stood there waiting for an introduction. Frankie was silent, frozen, completely static staring at the mysterious person.
"Happy birthday, Frankie." she said.
CHAPTER 66
Say the deeper the river, then the stronger the love.
Your eyes don't lie to me, and your smile is worth its weight in gold.
This life...this life aches, and this life moans.
This life...this life is great, and it's better when you're not alone.
"G-grace?" Frankie muttered, staring astonished at the woman who was still standing by the door. She removed her mask, revealing kind features. It was one of those faces that would immediately tell you the person couldn't hold anything other than good feelings. Her bright, gray eyes made you feel calm, they spoke of love and care. The wrinkles surrounding them silently narrated a million stories, and were also the evidence of countless smiles. She wore make-up, though it was obvious to me that it was just part of her costume. I pictured her clean-faced in my mind, with the natural beauty granted by time. This woman was exactly as I had imagined her when hearing her voice on the phone, when looking at Frankie's eyes while he'd talk about her.
I was greatly surprised, Frankie was thunderstruck. He was pale, looking as if he had stopped breathing. His lips moved, but no sound managed to escape from them. We watched worried, unable to move as he took some steps backwards and fell to the floor gasping for air. His emotions exceeded him, and I then knew that he had missed the nurse more than he'd ever expressed.
Grace dropped her purse and ran to Frank, catching him just before he passed out. "Oh God, I'm so stupid...I should have let him know I'd come." she picked him up with that same amazing strength my mother possessed and sat down on the chair I brought, holding Frankie on her lap like a baby.
"Don't blame yourself, Grace, Donna and I agreed...it was actually my idea to keep it secret." Ray told her guiltily. "Pleased to finally meet you, by the way."
"Pleased to meet you, Ray, I recognized your hair from Frank's descriptions!" she smiled to my friend before returning her attention to Frank, who was recovering consciousness. "Are you okay, Frankie?"
"Baby, how are you?" I knelt in front of them, touching my boyfriend's cheek. Anthony followed close and asked the same questions with a panicked expression, fixing the locks of hair that stuck out of Frank's bird cap hiding part of his face. Frankie looked around, at each of us, finally setting his eyes on Grace. He seemed confused, not completely lucid.
"Drink a little water, birdy." my mother offered him a glass, holding it up to his lips since he wouldn't react. "Slowly...very good."
"I think he's better now. Are you, kiddo?" Grace asked. Frankie gazed at her, tears running freely down his cheeks and smudging the red eyeshadow.
"M-missed you so...so m-much..." he sobbed and clung to her with such impetus that I thought they'd both fall off the chair. There he stayed, arms around his old protector's neck and head leaned on her shoulder. No words, Frank still wasn't ready to speak. He only needed to feel that familiar embrace, the one that had comforted him for ten years.
We waited, wanting to respect their moment; but after a while we were all dying to talk to the famous Grace. The nurse spared me the nerves of being the first when she decided to break the silence herself. Frank didn't change his position, I couldn't tell if he was even awake by then.
"Frankie chose very well, you're a very handsome vampire, Gerard."
"I...uh...thanks" I knew I was blushing, my brother's snickers confirmed it. Even though I had it clear that Grace was absolutely fine with my relationship with Frank, it was kind of a shock to have her in front of me. I felt weird, I became extremely shy. "You're just as I thought you'd be."
"Is that good or bad?" she joked, noticing my anxiety.
"Good! You look like the great person I know you are."
"Thank you, Gerard," she paused and her eyes -which she had wiped minutes ago- produced new tears. "thank you so much for everything you've done for Frankie...and thank you for loving him so much."
"You don't need to thank me for that," I sniffed. "I couldn't help loving Frankie, it was meant to happen and I've never been happier in my life. I'd rather thank you for being like a mother to him when he didn't have anyone else."
"Oh, but that was also meant to be! Since the first day I saw him when he was only 8, I knew that he needed someone to take care of him more than anyone else there. His grandma was crying, gathering the courage to do what she had to do. Frankie was clutching her hand with a lost stare, with far more sedatives in him than should be given to a little kid. Then...he looked at me and said: 'Who's you? Where house?' It broke my heart and conquered it at the same time." She had never mentioned that detail about their first encounter. I pictured it all in my head, a bittersweet scene.
I heard someone crying behind me. When I turned round, I saw Tony in Greg's arms, a big wet spot on the drummer's white pirate shirt. Everybody else's eyes in the room were shining with tears. I thought it'd be better to change the subject, it was a party after all so we shouldn't be crying. I was still very curious about the plot behind my back involving Grace, Ray and my mother, so that was my new topic.
"Grace...why did I never know you'd come? Where did you decide it?" I questioned. She glanced at my mother and they laughed.
"I told you he'd go all crazy about the fact that he didn't know!" mom rolled her eyes, placing some dishes on the coffee table. "Gerard has never liked to be left out."
"It's not that! I just...I think in this case you should have consulted me or something." I objected.
"Well," Grace began. "I called your house one day while you were out to talk to Frankie. He was sleeping, so Ray took the chance to fill me in on everything about the surprise birthday party. He asked me if there was any possibility that I could be here for it, that Frankie missed me. I said I'd love to and I would try, though my boss was a hard nut to crack. Then some days ago, something happened -which I figured out later talking to Donna- and the director was displaced. The thing is...my work mates knew how much I wanted to see Frank again and insisted that I traveled. They talked to the new director and got me three days. They even bought my plane tickets!"
"Oh wow, it sounds like you're really loved in that place! But how did you all arrange this? When...?" I kept asking, secretly admitting that I was jealous. How didn't I think of that first?
"Ray had given me his number, so I called him. Then Donna contacted me and said I could stay here." she explained.
"But...where were you all this time today until you arrived and why didn't you tell me about all this? Seriously! I'd have loved to know... I could have helped some way! Ray, this was too important to not tell me, man! Mom...you! Shouldn't you have asked for my opinion on keeping this a secret, also? I..."
"Gerard!" my mother cut me off. Even though she didn't scream because of Frankie, she added the necessary stress to her words to get the same effect. "Shut up already, you're gonna give the poor lady a headache, jeez! We decided it like this, period. If we had told you, there was the risk of you giving up to Frank's insistence and telling him everything. And about whether we did the right thing...it's too late for that. So please, instead of ranting why don't you introduce everybody to Grace? You're being plain rude, son."
"I...sorry." I said embarrassed, realising that my mother was right. "Grace, this is Jack Sparrow...I mean...Anthony, Frankie's dad."
"I'm glad to finally meet you, ma'am! And even more glad that you were part of my son's life. I think it's mostly because of you that he's such a sweet, caring boy." he let her know, getting up and kissing her cheek. It must have been an intense, important moment for him, to meet the woman who had been able to do what he couldn't: see Frankie grow up, help him, teach him things, give him love.
"Please, call me Grace! I must confess that I had my doubts when I knew Gerard had found you, though I gradually lost them after hearing Frankie talk about you. Now that I met you -even in your pirate version- I can tell you're a good person and father, I see it in your eyes. And God, you two look so alike!"
"I know! Thanks..." Tony replied, at a loss for words. He was suddenly entranced by the view of his son peacefully playing with the woman's copper hair which he had gotten free from the bun.
As I introduced my friends and family to Grace, Frankie lifted his face and observed it all. He didn't speak but he was smiling, even giggling at some jokes we'd make.
"Hey, there!" Grace greeted him. "Feeling better?"
"Y-yeah, fine. S-saw the c-costumes? All...all s-so good!" he pointed at us all, much more spirited now.
"Yeah, I love them! No offense though, but I must say that yours is the best one."
"D-donna made it! Sh-she...she's my m-mom now but..." he doubted. "...y-you're also like my m-mom. Uh...I k-kinda have two d-dads...can I h-have two moms, t-too?"
"I have no problem with that, sweety! What's more, Grace's been your mom first." my mother kissed his head.
"I think you totally deserve to have two moms." Grace agreed, kissing the other side. I guessed their gesture wasn't premeditated, but I found it specially significant that it was Frank's head that was receiving the love from his two mothers of the heart, while his biological one had only caused it harm.
"C-cool!"
"Now let me see you well." the woman examined him, gaining a questioning frown from the boy.
"Wh-what...?"
"Apart from the bird costume -which is beautiful- I think you got prettier since the last time I saw you. Yes, yes you did! The glasses look really good on you and your hair's so long!"
"L-like it?" Frankie inquired.
"Of course I do, it's all shiny and soft! But...there's something else...you look different..." the nurse watched him carefully. Frankie flushed and his face fell.
"Oh I....I kn-know! 'C-cause...'cause I'm f-fat now, right?"
"What? No, baby! First...you're not fat. I see a healthy and very handsome boy. This is fat!" she pointed to herself, laughing.
"N-no, you're not f-fat!"
"No? Well, then none of us is. Anyway, I didn't mean that when I said you looked different...let me check something." she took off Frank's glasses.
"N-no!" he stopped her hand. "I...I h-have to use th-them all the t-time! Th-the eye-doctor s-said!"
"I know, it'll be just a couple of seconds." Grace grabbed Frankie's face and stared deeply into his eyes, a huge grin forming on her lips as she nodded. "Yes, definitely. You're fully, hopelessly in love, that's what is different in you, my child!"
"Y-you see th-that in...in m-my eyes?" his eyebrows elevated in shock.
"Well, I already knew of course, and it's also noticeable in your voice...but your eyes perfectly show just how much in love you are. They're the biggest proof."
"W-wow!"
"Are you a gypsy or something like that?" Bob blurted out. I didn't know much about Grace's life, so I feared she might take it wrong. She did have some kind of gypsy vibe in her.
"No...my grandmother was!" she chuckled. "This has nothing to do with it, anyhow. It's just that sixth sense all women have."
"Oh, right..." Bob trailed off.
"You need some lessons about women, Bobby." Alicia stated.
"Al, leave him alone, don't you have enough with torturing me?" my brother scolded her.
"I don't torture you, silly, I put you in your place! You need...discipline, how many times do I have to explain it?"
"Would you please not fight in front of our guest?" my mother solicited.
"Tell Alicia, she started."
"Mikey...stop it." mom pushed.
"Ok, ok! Women...there are no lessons one could take to understand them, no one can so who'd be the teacher? A woman? That would not work, I tell you."
"M-mikey's a little g-grumpy but...but he can be n-nice too." Frank informed Grace. "H-he thinks I'm an-annoying, though."
"You sometimes are..." she let out, quickly winking at me. Frankie gasped and his expression changed to one of deception.
"N-no I'm not! Y-you don't l-love me an-anymore, Grace? Y-you must h-have other kids th-that...that you l-love more, now!" he whined getting off her lap.
"Frankie...I was joking, baby!" Grace held him by an arm and pulled him to her. "Of course I take care of many kids there and I love them all. However, no one will ever be as important to me as you. You're my favorite, forever...but that's our secret."
"P-promise?" Frankie raised his pinkie, Grace imitating him so they could chain their fingers.
"I promise." she swore, and the boy's eyes illuminated.
Frank and Grace appeared to have a very personal connection, a bond built on need, compassion and gratitude. One had been silently imploring protection, the other had offered selfless love. What they had could have been enviable for Anthony, who was little by little strengthening his ties with Frankie; blood ties that could be seen and felt but still needed some consolidation. In these cases presence was stronger than blood. Anthony wasn't to blame for the absence, and Frankie knew that; yet they still had years to retrieve. However, a look at Iero's face was enough to note that his feelings towards Frank and Grace's relationship were nowhere near envious. He was grateful, as I was, that Frankie had found such a wonderful person along the way.
"G-grace! I...I h-have lots of things to t-tell you!" Frankie exclaimed all of a sudden.
"Oh, but we always speak on the phone and you tell me everything, I think you should go enjoy your birthday party...I don't wanna steal you from the others!" she caressed his cheek.
"B-but...but I d-didn't tell you 'bout the p-police thing!"
"I'm staying for two more days, so I can go to your house tomorrow and we'll talk, ok? Now I'd rather dance and eat something!"
"Uh...k-kay!" Frank accepted happily. He ran to the stereo, picked a CD after staring at the many piled up on the table and pressed 'play'. An old rock and roll song began to sound, and he turned up the volume only very slightly. Once satisfied he walked to Grace, dragging her to the center of the living room.
"L-let's dance!"
"It'll be a pleasure, mister Iero!" she bowed, proudly pronouncing the last name; the same she'd been banned from mentioning in the past by someone who expected Frankie to forget who he was. Now she felt free, no longer an accomplice of something she hadn't even had knowledge of.
We all danced; whether we were vampires, pirates, birds, dogs, Indians, firemen or nurses. We all danced not minding how well or bad we did. This time it didn't matter, not even I could refuse and I honestly didn't care if I looked ridiculous. It was Halloween, we were all disguised, and more importantly...it was Frank's birthday. We danced by ourselves, we danced in pairs and we danced all together absolutely uninhibited. Only my brother was averse, but his girlfriend made sure that he joined us, bringing to his attention that he was dressed as a yellow bird which meant it couldn't get any more embarrassing than that. I didn't hear one more complain coming from him after that, and I could swear he was having great fun.
Mikey was cracking up and chanting when we grabbed each other's hands and formed a circle, Frankie in the middle being the hyperactive star. He said the gnomes and the little people were dancing with him, so we should be careful not to step on them. I couldn't tell if he was really seeing his imaginary friends or he just wanted to pretend that they were there for his birthday. I didn't ask him, we all played along. It wouldn't hurt to do so for one night. It'd already upset him enough when I told him to leave Puppy at home because he may get scared or steal the food.
Everything went peachy until my brother -having gotten rid of all shame at this point- remembered my earlier joke about Ray and Bob and went for my mom's Village People cassette. He gave the volume control a swift turn as he began to jump foolishly towards his victims. Ignoring Mikey, we all looked at Frankie at the same time, alarmed. Our worry was well-justified. He ran to a corner for shelter and started to scream, covering his ears.
"T-TOO LOUD! T-TOO LOUD PLEASE I D-DON'T LIKE IT P-PLEASE T-TURN IT OFF! I...IT S-SCARES ME I D-DON'T LIKE IT P-PLEASE..." he cried. That's when Mikey reacted, turning the music off and hurrying to Frank before any of us could.
"Oh shit, sorry Frankie I...I didn't realise. Hey, kiddo..." Mikey crouched in front of him, touching his arm. "Calm down, I already turned it off, please talk to me. Are you alright?"
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