Therapy part 2

“Oh, that’s a unique way to spell your name,” I said, making a note of it in my iPad. “I like it.”

“Yeah, I like it too. Jonnie was the one who taught me how to write it like that.” Seeing the confused look on my face, she continued, “he’s my other brother. My favorite one,” then gave a side-eye at my door, meant for Justin, I’m guessing.

“What makes him your favorite?”

“Because he doesn’t send me to dumb things like therapy… even though he did agree with Justin for me to give it a try. Actually, if it were just this, I’d probably have to pick Jeremy as my fav because he wouldn’t have made me come here either. But I’m mad at him right now too.”

“Why are you mad at Jeremy?”

The memory made her fists ball up. “He’s got anger issues. He’s the one who needs to be here but won’t. Too much toxic masculinity. Even though he’s gay.”

“What did he say about you coming to therapy?”

She shrugged. “He was just like, ‘cool, whatever,’ because he mostly just does whatever Justin wants him to or feels passionate about. Sometimes Justin also just does whatever Jeremy gets in his feels about. But not Jonnie. Jonnie’s the only one living the good life out of all of us. He’s a musician and on tour right now. How cool does that sound?? He taught me how to play drums when I was little. And I’m also in a part of one of his songs on his first album. Not drumming, but screaming. He and his friends used to love how into their music I got.”

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through it for a second, then held it out so I could hear. It started with a distorted guitar, eventually the drums coming in soft, then I heard it — a little girl screaming “one, two, three, four!” And the whole song starting. It sounded vaguely familiar, and then she skipped ahead to the breakdown. I instantly knew the band, wanting to fangirl to my client about how much I loved their music, also excited that we shared this taste, but maybe now wasn’t the right time for that. Especially as the breakdown continued, and the little screaming girl had another line. Joeie beamed, proud of her work and her relationship with Jonnie, then clicked the song off.

“Wow you’re kinda famous… what’s it like being on your brother’s album? Being part of his band?”

Now she looked sad. “Well, I’m not anymore. After that album, he left. He and Justin got into a big fight, like I’ve never seen Justin so mad. And then Jonnie was like, peace I’m out.”

“That must have been so hard for you.” She shrugged, about to tell me it was fine but I cut her off before she had the chance. “What did they fight about?”

Joeie squirmed a little in her seat, choosing her words carefully. “Justin said he was drinking too much and doing drugs.” She paused, waiting for my reaction and seeing my neutrality. “It’s because Jonnie drove me home one day after band practice and he was fucked up. Like I’d known something was wrong with him and should've said something but didn’t. And Justin was pissed. This was before my mom died, by the way.”

Oh just drop that in there like nothing, huh?