Chapter 11 - Let It All Work Out

December 25, 2022

Norman had a heap of arguing with Emma about Christmas as he didn't want to spend it with her.

"I can't really go over, I'm gonna be caught up with my family …." He said on the phone as he sat in his room as he laid back on his bed.

"I mean I get that but why not just let me come over, let me meet your family already ?" She asked as he was hesitant as he said

"No no- I can't just do that, they don't know anything about you so you just showing up-"

She felt offended as she asked

"We've been together a while now and you haven't even told your fucking parents about us !?- what the fuck dude …"

She was pissed off as he tried to find a way to explain it as he didn't want to bring up any past issues with his family that he's had and doesn't really feel it right to say it over the phone.

"Not like that it's just- look I can't really explain this that we'll can we just meet up tomorrow so I could explain this better-we could hang out new years ?"

It was silent as he thought she hung up,

"Emma, Emma ?" She quickly said

"Yea- yea !- okay…fine we'll hang out tomorrow but I'm not letting this down Norman…"

He was relieved as she added on

"Now I gotta throw your gift away …." He sees what she was trying to do as he said jokingly

"Oh yea, that's fine you can donate it "

She laughed as she said

"Well I can't do that, it cost nearly 200 dollars and it's from me and my mom- you know she's kind of starting to get used to you …"

Norman liked that even more as he said

"That's really great, hey did she like the food I brought last week ?"

Norman got up a bit and put on his slippers as he was preparing to head downstairs to open presents with his family.

"Oh she did- oh I gotta go, merry Christmas and love ya !-" she hanged up quickly as Norman assumed it was for her family to celebrate too.

He put his phone in his pajama pocket as he headed downstairs as he saw his family in the living room waiting for him.

"There he is, Christ we've been waiting …." Said his father as Norman rushes down the stairs.Everyone had a gift in hand as Norma said

"Well wait now, let me get a picture …." All three of them were annoyed of this as she got her phone ready.

"Norman get next to your sister and dad- come on y'all don't be such assholes …."

All three were next to each other as they pretended to smile, all fake smiles.

"Alright let me get in one with y'all- Norman take the picture …."

Norman took his mothers phone as his mother was positioned where he was.

"Alright….smile …." Said Norman in negative tone as they all again had on a facade but Norma was genuinely excited, too excited.

"Great let's get one -" said Norma as Penelope interrupted as she said

"Mom if you make us take more pictures I'm gonna kill myself !"

Norma was shocked as Theo said

"Hey watch it ! -"

It all settled down as Norma said "oh alright- go ahead , I just wanted to have our memories but go ahead …."

They all quickly scavenged through the tree to find gifts with their names on it as Theo and Norma sat aside each other on the couch.

Norman accumulated six gifts as Penelope got four, they were both still excited regardless.

"Go open that one Norman !" Said Norma as she pointed at a box wrapped in red and a green ribbon on it, it was a medium size.He quickly demolished it as his sister was already opening her second box.

"Oh my god- it's amazing …." Said Norman as he got a 6 pack pair of red and blue striped socks.Penelope's second gift was shown to be some red wireless headphones as she was delighted.

"Oh these are great, weird color but great- thanks " she smiled as Norma remarked

"Have you found a job yet ?"

Penelope stayed quiet as they continued opening the gifts as it felt like a modern day happy family.

They finished up the day with clothes, posters and new shoes; some all star Chucky Taylor's.He was now in his room as Christmas was coming to end so fast.It was midnight as he's gotten messages from Emma and a picture of her and her dog in matching outfits.He laughed at this as he saved them to his camera roll.He stayed up that night as he watched some old Frank Sinatra clips.This put him in a daze as he fantasized his secret ambition.

He slept peacefully as he got up and got dressed in a white button up shirt and black pants with black dress shoes.He was doing all this in the dark as he had his light off, he was determined.He looked in the mirror as he went to his closet to put on a coat jacket as he had his black tie ready.He put on the headphones as he started listening to "Ring-A-Ding-Ding " by Frank Sinatra as he did a quick spin.

He transitioned into a whole different outfit, a red suit, a Paisley and gray button up long sleeve shirt with matching tie, an orange suit vest and the same black dress shoes.He was set as he started to sing the song in a nightclub setting as the place was packed, it went from new to old famous celebrities.A very diverse crowd as he sang beautifully he had the same gimmick and tone that Sinatra would have as he sang his heart out.

In reality he is acting this out in his room in the dark with a hairbrush as he lip synced it.But back to his fantasy, he's walking around in a jittery way as he felt the rhythm of the song.The crowd just adored it as they kept cheering him on, he's loving every second of it.He gave a wink to the crowd as they sparked up even more.The flooring was wooden as his background was a red curtain.

He started doing all sorts of slow dances as the crowd was loving it even more.The song was nearly over as he did a last spin to end it.The crowd was enjoying it as they started to throw flowers and all sorts of things as he bowed and thanked them all.Now it's back to reality as he looked again in the mirror and said

"Oh Imma be a star …."

He was a bit out of breath as he sat back down on his bed as he got the water bottle he had laying around, he drank it.He sat on his bed as he said again to himself,

"Yea imma be a big movie star ….."

it's sad to say his ambition are going to get him nowhere but one can only dream.

December 27, 2022 was a rough day for Norman as his life just slowly fell apart.He was walking in the rain as he got on a hoodie and denim pants as he wore work boots.The rain drizzled for now as it was around 8:34 pm as he tried calling Emma but no answer.He called about a dozen times as she denied every single attempt.He was outside her home as he stood from across her street.Suddenly his phone buzzed as it was a text from Emma.

"LEAVE ME ALONE !!!" said the text as he frustrated as he had multiple texts ready but he sent nothing but a simple

"Okay, I'm sorry …."he put his phone in his pocket as a man started walking by and accidentally bumped into him.

"Watch out asshole I'm already getting pissed on…" Norman was furious until he realized who the voice was.

"Oh you son of a bitch- hehe …" said Norman laughingly as Susan turned around and gave him a hug.

"Oh I've missed you boy, how you been ?"

Asked Susan as they hug ended abruptly.Norman changed his demeanor more as he said

"Oh just walking-" Susan interrupted as he said

"Horseshit- you're stalking Emma aren't you, can't tell me I'm wrong that's her house …." He pointed at her home as Norman tried to play it off as he replied

"Fuck you I'm not stalking I was just in the neighborhood-" Susan laughed more as he said

"Alright Night Stalker- let's go for a walk then…."

The two went ahead with their night as they walked in the rain and conversed.They walked about a half a mile in a slow pace as they eventually ended up at a bus stop.They sat down as the rain began to poor, thankfully they had a roof over their heads.

"Where does this bus take us ?" Asked Norman as Susan replied

"Takes you near that convention store near your house so you could walk it from there…"

Norman was pleased with that as it was silent for a moment.

"So Whys she so mad at you ?" Asked Susan as Norman took a moment to answer.

"Well it's more she's mad that I caught her- I caught her with another guy in her room…"

Susan was shocked as he asked

"What the fuck, when and what'd you do ?"

Norman felt melancholy at just speaking about this as he said

"Well it was yesterday, I went over to surprise her because I felt bad I couldn't spend Christmas with her so I thought fuck it happy Kwanzaa -" Susan started laughing as Norman kept explaining the situation,

"So I knocked on the door as her mom let me in, you know we were on better terms now but that didn't matter- so I said my hellos and she let me upstairs as I knocked on her door and let myself in as I had a box of heart-shaped cookies with me…."

Susan was trying not to laugh now as he showed some sort of anger as he quickly asked

"What type of cookies ?" Norman then repeated himself as he kept explaining,

"Heart-shaped- heart- shaped cookies, so I see him sticking it to her as she was enjoying it well until she saw me.She jumped and he quickly went to put on his clothes…..I just- I just walked away ….I couldn't fathom to see it another second….I aggressively walked downstairs as I slammed the front door on my way out …."

Susan was very interested as he asked

"Who's the guy ?" Norman quickly replied,

"I don't know but what I don't understand is, she fucked him and I apologized- I fucking feel bad, I'm put as the bad guy…. She's mad that I caught her …."

It was silent again as Susan began to lite a cigarette as he offered Norman one.

"Na I'm good …." Said Norman as Susan put the packet and lighter away.

"Suit yourself …" he replied as he looked at the cars passing, driving like there's no tomorrow.Susan began to laugh as he stated,

"Oh that damn Emma, just like her sister- it's why I don't see her anymore ….hehe …."

Norman was in a stubborn state as Susan laughed, a car drove by as a red light appeared ahead.

"Look- you wanna go let out some of that pain on others ?- have another Pent Jones ?" Asked Susan as he turned to Norman as Norman sat there in a depressing state.

"No- nah I'm not feeling that….I just don't feel like hurting others anymore I just feel why keep living now-" said Norman as these words really angered Susan as he slapped Norman in the face and said

"Aye, what I tell you before- never think like that; you hear me ?" Norman was still processing the slap as he said

"Ahh you Fuckhead !-"

Susan kept talking as threw out his cigarette and said

"Look I'm going to tell you this and remember, The most selfish a man can do is kill himself and the most awful thing he could say is I love you.

Now right now- let's go kill some sad miserable bum who's doing a lot worse in life …."

Susan's little speech really gave Norman a small ounce of confidence as he got up and said

"Alright, let's go …."

The time changed to 9:33 pm as the rain was still a pouring, they were in the alley ways once again.

"We haven't done one of these together in a while huh ?" Asked Susan as Norman replied

"Yea we haven't, I tried one on my own but nearly got the killed …." Susan laughed even more the news as he heard about that one.

"Oh yea I heard- left you looking like you just caught Ray Rice in an Elevator…"

The two laughed as they're near their next target who's just a few yards away.

"Fuck you man, I still got the one up on him, it seemed like a fair beat down- I mean Christ they don't lie about crackhead strength …"

They both laughed even harder as they're approaching their next victim.They walked in a bit of silence but nothings really silent with the floor flooded in puddles.

"Look at him …" said Susan as they both stared at he man as he covered himself in his jacket to hide from the rain, he was sitting down against the wall.He was cold and shivering as he asked

"Cold out ain't it ?" The two looked at each other as they knew to attack, they swept him off his feet as Norman got the jacket off him and Susan punched him in the face,

"Why the hell- Ahh " he yelled out as Norman then picked him up and threw him against the wall opposite of them.He fell over as Susan began to kick him in the stomach and face repeatedly.Norman then had anger in him as he's been cheated and wants to let some of these emotions out.He began to hit him in the head repeatedly as he cried out with each punch; he stopped after four.Susan noticed this as he got him back up and pulled him aside,

"Hey hey, it's alright kid- don't cry now …" he comforted him as Norman began to cry in his arms.The homeless man was too hurt to move as the two had their little moment.

"I don't know, I don't know- I don't know anymore man… these type of feeling can't be expressed like this I just need someone to talk about this with…."

Susan felt pressured as he said "like therapy- a therapist ?" Norman nodded as he had sniffles,

"Yea therapy- fucking therapy man; I think I need therapy …."

Susan felt broken by this as Norman let out another cry as he said

"I really did love her …"

Susan patted him on his back as he felt a bit of awkwardness and embarrassment as the rush started to die down, it was just drizzle now.

"Oh look at that, you made the clouds stop crying ….hehe " he said as it lightened up the mood a bit as Norman stopped his whining.

Norman cleared his throat as they calmed down for a moment and took deep breaths.They both looked at the homeless man who's in his own world of pain as Susan said

"Ah fuck it …" he quickly pulled out his pistol and shot him in cold blood; two shots rang as they both just stared at him.

"Let's go !" Yelled out Susan as the two ran out of the area and ended back at that same street they met so long ago.They sat on the pavement again as it was 10:46 pm now,

"Look Norman " said Susan as the adjusted himself.

"The way you're feeling, just know it's completely normal and this little love bug will blow over soon- you just gotta find another squirrel to take your nut yo get me ?" They both laughed a bit as Susan changed the mood to a more serious manor.

"Na but seriously- maybe do consider a therapist because there's a point in life when a man just can't hold in those feeling anymore and it'll end in embarrassment or misery because the way we live now …" he said as Norman stared at the ground as Susan slowly pulled out another cigarette and his lighter.

"The way we live now, it's worse for a man- we're in a Gary Cooper Dilemma ….looking strong and silent but no person truly ever asked hey how you doing or checks up on you …. So yea- seek therapy if you feel comfortable with it …."

It was silent as Susan smoked his cigarette and Norman sat their in sadness.Susan looked over at him as he quickly pulled out his pistol as he handed it to him,

"Here take it…" said Susan as Norman stared at it and said "no I can't man …" Susan argued as he said "no take it- come on take it you bastard-because I don't want to here you're losing anymore fights to some bums- hehe " Norman laughed a bit as he thought Susan handed it over for a different reason.He took it as the safety was still on, Susan noticed and took it back as he showed it how it works,

"Ahh hold on- look this little lever right here- it's the reason you haven't shot your nuts off yet- it's the safety, flick it like this and boom you're ready to kill and like this to have it just to have it for show …" Norman nodded as Susan handed it back to him with the safety on.

"Alright, thanks man …" said Norman as Susan continued smoking as the rain had already settled; the moon is finally free.

"No it's no problem just see it as an early Christmas and going away present …" Norman nodded again as he asked

"Alright- wait- what do you mean going away ?"

Susan let the cigarette drag as he explained

"I'm leaving kid, I'm sorry to say …" Norman was shocked as he had the pistol tucked in his jacket.

"Leaving ?" He asked as Susan nodded and replied

"Yep, you probably won't see me no more but that's just a part of growing up…it was fun wasn't it ?" He asked as Norman had all sorts of questions as he first asked

"I mean we could keep in contact man- come on ?"

Susan shook his head as he said

"Nope- can't do that kid I'm going off the grid; gonna start fresh and I don't want my past lingering around …."

Norman was shocked by all this as he asked

"Let me go with you man-" Susan interrupted in anger as he said

"No god damn it- I'm leaving and you stay and finish school, you hear me- Christ you're still young …" Norman then asked

"Well man this bullshit, after all we've been through these past months- you're just gonna disappear on me ?"

Susan nodded as he tossed his cigarette as he said

"Yea and that's just life okay- so you're gonna seek mental help, finish school and find some other girl to love ….okay ?" He said in a demanding voice as it was quiet for a moment as Norman said

"Okay …. "

They both sat there as Norman asked

"Where too ?" As Susan was heated

"Christ what type of Off The Grid don't you understand ?" Norman apologized as they both sat there as Susan quickly got up, as did Norman.Susan looked at Norman one last time as he had his hands on his hips as he said

"Christ you've grown so much and I can't wait to hear about you one day- who knows maybe you'll be a movie star …"

He said jokingly as gave Norman one last hug as Norman said

"Yea maybe …" Susan savored the hug as he felt as he was being set free.The hug ended as Susan had his arms on Norman's shoulders as he joking said

"Maybe you'll make a book or movie about these killings we've done…hehe …"

They both laughed as Susan added on

"But if you do- change my name …"

Norman agreed as Susan let go and took a step back.He went for a handshake as Norman accepted it, they shook hands with a firm grip as Norman knew he couldn't live without the guidance of Susan but knew Susan had his own life to worry about.

"so long Cowboy ..." said Susan as he began to walk away as Norman stood there in the middle of street as he looked at Susan one last time.Susan walked upon the sidewalk as he was a good distance from Norman as the darkness of the night and the very poor-quality streetlights gave him a gritty and dark exit.

He disappeared after a few seconds as Norman turned and began to walk home as he got in about 10 minutes.He entered as he saw that Evernote was asleep as the lights were all off as he headed upstairs.He went into his room as he searched on google for numbers to licensed therapist.He had seen a couple numbers until he found one that lye felt was right.

"I'll call tomorrow …" he said as laid in his bed in a bad state of mind.He slept it as what was to come was starting to feel like a way of peace.