As Chéri entered the house, he was met by an older woman. She was a little taller than the five-foot-two Chéri and had shiny, shoulder-length hair. She was beautiful in Chéri's opinion and she had Lennon's full lips. She also had a strange accent which was a mix of metropolitan French with a hint of Québécoise and a strange American twang developed over the years.
"Hello!" Chéri said.
"Hello, welcome to America! Have you arrived with Lennon?" She asked excitedly.
"Yes! We've had a long flight." Cheri said, maintaining his deeper voice.
"I can't wait to hear all about this beautiful girlfriend Chéri! I thought maybe, he was going to bring her." The lady asked.
"Well, family commitments meant she couldn't come with him. I'm... Martyn, Chéri's brother." Chéri said with forlorn eyes as he leant forward and kissed the air either side of her face.
She smiled as she looked at Chéri and pinched his cheeks. "My name is Monique, Lennon's mother. I have a feeling that we will be seeing a lot of each other." She said as she hugged Chéri warmly. "I can not quite place your accent, Martyn. Where are you from?"
Chéri felt very welcome and enjoyed the soft tone of her voice, "I'm French-born. My mother is Spanish, and my dad is British. I know I sound weird. I have heavy English overtones due to being with my dad in England, but I went to a boarding school in Switzerland. I use tons of British slang and it confounds your son."
"Parle français?" Monique asked.
Chéri instantly became excited at the question, "Absolument! Et Espagnol et Anglais. couramment." He said as Monique pulled him into the living room and placed pillows on a large armchair to make him comfortable.
Lennon walked in with Logan, both carrying their cases.
"Lennon! Martyn is lovely and so exquisitely mannered." Monique said as she put a large knitted blanket over the grinning Chéri.
"Mmm... Martyn?!" Lennon asked with a hilariously confused expression.
"Yeah! It's nice to have a full-on French conversation." Chéri said.
"Ohh, yeah! Yeah, you've met Martyn. That's... great!" Lennon exclaimed, giving Chéri the 'WTF-eye' as soon as his mother turned around.
"You both need a sandwich! My baby needs a fried chicken sandwich and I know Martyn definitely needs... a few." Monique said as she grabbed at Chéri's arm. "Lord above, you are sooo thin."
"All of my family are really skinny. Aren't we Lenny...-Lenn, Lenster? " Chéri said, slapping Lennon hard on the back, winding him slightly.
Lennon looked back at him and silently mouthed 'Lenster' questioningly, before shaking his head. He stopped as Logan walked in.
Monique walked back in with three stacked roast chicken, avocado, tomato, onion and rocket sandwiches. She also brought a large glass bowl of potato chips.
"Wow!" Chéri said as he looked at the sandwich."
"Momma, why the small sandwich? We outta bread?" Logan asked as he lifted the top of the sandwich and looked inside.
"Yeah, I like an extra tier on mine too." Lennon said.
"But this sarnie is huge!" Chéri said.
"It's years of practice making sandwiches for three massive sons." Monique said.
Chéri looked at how Lennon and Logan towered over their mother, who was only five-foot-four.
"How come you all are so tall. Lenster's like six-four. So is Logan by the look of it." Chéri asked.
"They get it from their father. He's about the same height." Monique said with a smile.
"When's Paa gettin' back?" Lennon asked.
"Not long. He went to the hardware store because he insists on fixing the baseboard in the guest room." Monique replied.
"Dude, you got yourself new Ink." Logan said to Lennon. "Let's see. I saw the one you put on Facebook of your girlfriend."
"You've not got more tattoos, sweetheart?" Monique asked Lennon as she ran her hand through his hair.
Lennon raised his eyebrows. "Busted." He said before he pulled off his heavy sweater to show off his new neck tattoo and the large, arced Chéri above his stomach.
"That's like totally serious now, man." Logan said.
"It sure is." Lennon answered with a smile.
"Hey man, you got ink too, I see." Logan said to Chéri.
"Yep! I got this flower on my neck, and more," Chéri said as he pulled down the neck of his t-shirt to show the cherry blossom starting at his collarbone, "This goes all the way down my body, and I have these Rose's on my hands and all these on my fingers."
Logan looked confused. "So you're... covered in bright pink flowers?! And like, what's with the fashion brand logos on your fingers?"
"It's popular in Europe." Lennon interrupted, "Especially in France."
"Don't you recognise any of these?" Chéri asked, holding out his hand flat.
"Well, that there is perfume. The one that momma loves." Logan said, pointing to the Chanel logo.
Chéri pointed to the other middle area of his finger, near the tip. "This logo is Louis Vuitton, this one is Dior, and...-"
Lennon interrupted again, "Hey, anyone want to see pictures I took of places in England and Spain?"
Logan turned and looked at Lennon's phone. "Dude! That phone! That's the latest one. Don't it cost around a thousand dollars!?"
"Oh, this? Yeah, Chéri's momma gave it to me." Lennon said.
"You know her mother?! Is she a nice woman? Does she take care of you?" Monique asked.
Logan rolled his eyes, "Hey momma, I'm sure she looks after Lenn just fine. Gimmie that phone I wanna play some with it. I heard this takes like 4k pictures." Logan said.
"No, I mean, sure in a bit, you can have a look. I'm still learning how to use this thing and it's so easy to get locked out of it." Lennon said.
"Do you have a picture of her?" Monique asked.
"Yeah, let me show you." Lennon said, after fending Logan off.
Lennon brought up a picture of all the main core staff, standing in front of the Bordello. "This is her. Her name's Dolores and she's incredible. She's just like another mother to me."
Monique looked at the picture on Lennon's large phone. "She looks very elegantly dressed. I imagine she has a lot of money."
"Well, she's very well off, and she's... pretty tough." Lennon said.
Logan looked at the picture. "Who's the hot girl in the front with the weird, big hair and fluffy boots?"
"These are all... er, performers. They're in a carnival. Her names Spangna. She's a great person with a big heart." Lennon said.
"What the heck is she wearing?" Logan asked.
"She's into the cybergoth scene." Lennon said.
"The what-where? I can't shake the notion that I've seen her someplace before." Logan said while thinking.
"Haha!" Chéri laughed.
"Who's the cool steampunk guy in black with white hair and the goggles?" Logan asked.
"He ain't cool. He's an asshole, and the first thing we did was fight." Lennon answered.
"Whoa, whoa, language, man!" Logan said while rubbing Lennon's back.
"Sorry."
"When you say fight, was it like, course language?" Logan asked.
"Nah, it was a bit of a scrap." Lennon said.
"You got into a physical fight?! Didja win?" Logan asked, shocked.
"I don't know yet." Lennon said.
"You're getting into fights?!" Monique asked with a voice of concern.
"Nah, momma, nah!" Lennon said.
"Who do you fight with here?" She asked leaning in to look at the phone.
"This guy." Logan said pointing to Marcel in the picture.
Monique stared at the picture and tilted her head squinting. "Can you zoom in anymore?"
"Nah that's about it, why?" Lennon said.
"Nah, it's just... oh, nevermind! I can't even make out half his face because of that thing over his eyes." Monique said. After a moment she turned to Lennon. "Why is everyone dressed so strangely?" She asked.
"Everyone has their own sense of style, momma." Lennon answered.
"I couldn't imagine you deckin' anyone." Logan said, "So, everyone's an artist there?"
"Yeah. Everyone dances. Most play an instrument. Everyone has a gift of some kind." Lennon said.
"Do you dance, Martyn?" Monique asked Chéri.
"Yes. I dance, virtually any style. I also play the piano." Chéri said.
"Why then, did you become a truck driver?" Monique asked Chéri.
"Ohh? Oh, ahh... I started driving to pay the bills." Chéri said, not realising that he was supposed to be a driver.
"What did ya haul?" Logan asked.
"Hmm, milk." Chéri said quickly.
"Milk?" Logan asked.
"Yep. There are... too many cows in Europe." Chéri tried to explain as he saw Lennon slowly facepalm in the background.
"But, how come Lens haulin' steel and your haulin' milk?"
"Well, cos, he was going to an industrial estate and I was going to... a farm." Chéri explained.
"But shouldn't you be going away from a farm?" Logan asked with a smile forming across his face.
"This is why he was fired. He has no sense of direction." Lennon cut in, making Chéri look shocked at the fact he was fired from the imaginary job he had for five minutes.
"You were fired?" Logan asked.
"Yep. I kept gettin' lost and... drinking all the milk." Chéri said, making everyone laugh. "So, I was sacked, and had to go home for a bit." Chéri then noticed Lennon stifling giggling in the back. "But now, back to my... amazing Spanish carnival family!" Chéri said while looking at Lennon sternly.
"So, do you dance with that hot girl?" Logan asked Chéri.
"Yes! Her favourite style is industrial dancing. The man next to her in black, he dances with her a lot in that style even though he doesn't like it much. He likes the waltz. The guy next to him likes breakdancing, and the Asian guy with tattoos all over his face is a martial artist, who also dances and plays the Chinese flute."
"What's your favourite style?" Logan asked.
"Latin dances." Chéri said, deciding not to mention ballet.
"Ohh, cool! I wanna see that!" Logan cheered.
"I do it with my girlfriend back home, all the time." Chéri said.
"What's your girlfriend's name?" Monique asked Chéri.
"Suzanne." Chéri answered as he grinned at Lennon.
"I would have loved to meet her." Monique said as she got up from her seat. "I best prepare the guest rooms."
"Need help Momma?" Logan and Lennon both asked.
"Not at all! Please relax here and catch up!" She answered as she gathered a stack of blankets.
Logan turned to Chéri. "It's such a shame you both couldn't bring the girls. They sound great. Also, you shoulda brought that hot girl from the pictures." Logan said.
"Haha! Honestly, she'd love you." Chéri said to Logan.
"That's what I would bank on!" Logan said, adjusting his collar. "I'll bet she can't resist the old Adamski charm. I bet you tried it on with her, Lenn."
"Nah. Anyway, she has a significant other." Lennon said.
Logan put his hand on Lennon's shoulder and leant over to his ear. "Hey, man, man, you're not like... holding out on me here. I mean, why are all the people in these pictures dressed like strippers, hitmen and deviants?"
"Oh, because they're European." Lennon said while rolling his eyes.
"This is why I wanna go to Europe! I know Nathan's going in three weeks. Paa's always sayin' them euro girls are the nicest. Don't tell me you ain't had your hand in the old candy jar on all your country hoppin'."
Lennon smiled. "I've had more than my fair share."
"I knew it! Dude. I need to get me a CDL licence and start driving them trucks!"
"Actually, there is somethin' I wanted to talk to you about." Lennon said to Logan as he gestured at the door.
After they walked off into the hallway, Logan turned to Lennon. "Sure! Hit me up."
"Do you, hmm..." Lennon paused a moment, "Wanna buy my car?"
"Say, what?!" Logan asked concerned.
"I'd sell it to ya for a lil less than it's worth too." Lennon said.
"Lennon, are you in trouble?! You love that car!"
"Nah, nah. The truth is, I'm here to sell up and immigrate. if there's anything of mine you want, I'll sell it to you." Lennon said.
"Momma! Momma! Lennon's gone insane!" Logan shouted behind Lennon.
"Ahh! Shhh, I ain't told her yet!" Lennon said.
"That ain't cool Lenn, mommas gonna be heartbroken! You're breakin' up the family why?!" Logan asked.
"For the love of Chéri! I have to Lo! I love her and when I go back... I'm asking her to marry me." Lennon said.
"Hold on! Wait! You're leaving America, and getting married, and you haven't even thought to announce it or anything?! Those are pretty big bombshells!" Logan said.
"I know, I know. But I don't have much time. Only two weeks to organise everything." Lennon said.
Logan shook his head. "I know what this is about! It all makes sense now, and why you're here with him..."
"It does?" Lennon said, hoping that at least he wouldn't have to spell out the reason.
"Yeah, you've gone and got this girl pregnant and her brothers here to stop you making off!"
"What?! NO! I haven't got anyone pregnant!" Lennon protested.
"Looks like mister innocent ain't so innocent after all!" Logan said with a smile.
"Seriously! No ones pregnant! I'm just, in love. In love with Chéri. In love with Spain. It's time for me to strike out and be myself."
Logan shook his head slowly. "What does that even mean?! There's somethin' you're not tellin' me. This makes no sense!"
"Lo, life here just isn't for me anymore. I have a job, a partner and a life mission abroad."
"Dude, are you in a sex cult?" Logan asked.
"What?!" Lennon responded, shocked.
Logan wagged his finger at Lennon. "You're up to somethin'... you've discovered somethin' that's soo good, you wanna up stakes and leave, cutting everything and everyone off quickly. And I reckon it's somethin' to do with them ladies in the pictures. Lenn, please, tell me the secret. Tell me what's goin' on. I wouldn't hold out on you! I want in!"
"No! It's just that, Chéri doesn't want to live out here and I'm joining the family business. I love her soo badly! You don't know how it is!" Lennon said.
"Show me a picture of this gorgeous Chéri, that's worth immigrating for." Logan said.
Lennon got out his phone. "Sure, sure..."
Lennon swiped through his gallery to a folder with glamourous professional shots of Serena, that she had sent him. "This is her."
Logan took his phone and looked at the picture. "Oh wow! She's insanely hot! Looks just like her brother, Martyn. Lennon, how the flying fuck did you land her?! Does she have a sister for me?"
"The truth is, I met this lovely lady through her brother. She's a twin and there are nine siblings." Lennon said.
"Lenn, Lenn..." Logan said as he pulled Lennon close. "Have you slept with her?" Logan said quietly.
"Yeah, loads." Lennon answered.
"Oh my God, I bet that was hot! Come on man, hook a brother up!" Logan asked.
"I really don't think you're into these kinds of people." Lennon insisted.
"What? Do you think you can handle something I can't?! I had a foreign black girl, man." Logan said.
"Yeah, who you hid from momma and papa for the longest time, and I told you it weren't a big deal! And it wasn't!" Lennon said.
"Admit it! You thought that she was the hottest!" Logan said.
"Yeah, yeah, if you like the exotic stuff." Lennon said.
"And you don't? Mister 'I got a hot French girl and are sellin' up to leave for good'. I think you oughta tell momma and materialise this Chéri for the family to meet, especially if we're all gonna end up goin' to a weddin' and bein' all related."
"Well, if you all wanted to go, we'd fly you all out." Lennon said.
"What do you mean if? Lenn, what the hecks going on! Somethings wrong." Logan said.
"Nah, anyway. I have to go speak to momma. You can hang out with Martyn." Lennon said.
"Yeah, ya know. he's cool and all but..." Logan started.
"But?" Lennon asked.
"But, he's a bit... faggy." Logan said quietly.
"What?!" Lennon sighed, rolling his eyes.
"I dunno. It's just he's got a weird vibe. The accent, the weird flowers, the way he moves his hands around when he speaks. I mean, I ain't got no problem with poofs but there's something weird about him." Logan said.
"Martyn is a fine young man! Are you gonna talk smack about him?!" Lennon said firmly.
"What the heck Lenn, is that a temper? Since when do you have a temper?! in fact, I'm readin' some weird aggression off you and that... ain't normal. Calm down, Lenn!" Logan said.
"Look, imma head out for a smoke, then I need to chat to momma." Lennon said while searching his pockets for his packet.
"Yeah cool. I would hang out with Martyn but by the looks of it, he's more interested in playing with that kitten, with Jenelle." Logan said as he looked over at Chéri and the girls giggling and shrieking with excitement over the kitten.
Next Chapter: Back In Barcelona, Pippo's Off His Face On Drugs