Don’t Make It Bleed “Anthony this isn’t making any sense…where will you go?” Anthony looked at Yohanna but he wasn’t thinking “Somewhere I’m not sure where I’m just going…” Yohanna picked up some clothes that flooded out of his duffle bag “Listen we can talk this out before you leave then maybe after we talk you can decide to go or not.” Anthony didn’t expect Yohanna to understand he knew she’d try to stand in his way and stop him. He wanted her to try so badly but he knew he had to run. Yohanna was desperate and didn’t want Anthony to run because he was running from her. He revealed to her that he and Heidi had a spat, which sent her away, and he was back into heroin, which he claimed was ‘his idea’ not for his heart breaking. She was his last resort she had to save him before he killed himself “Anthony I know you’re running because of me and I will come home if you want me to but please don’t go at this alone” he glared at her “Why come home to someone you don’t love enough?” Yohanna felt terrible she sat on the bed “At least think about it” “I have and I want to get away to a place where no one knows my name and I can’t fall in love” “Can’t fall in love?!? Anthony Kiedis that’s ridiculous there will always be someone who will fall in love with you.” “I’m going and that’s final” he zipped the duffle bag “What about your family, fans, friends, band?” “Tell them I killed myself tell them whatever I don’t care if I stay I’ll endanger them and lose them all” “I promise you won’t but if you walk away Anthony you’ll lose me and whatever hope we have of getting together” she tried her luck he just sneered “I don’t need nor depend on you anymore Yohanna I have a hand that can do that job for me” any other time Yohanna might have found that last comment humorous. He was ready to leave he grabbed his luggage Yohanna came to the door with him “How will I know you’re all right if you don’t contact me?” he put his bags down and pulled Yohanna close to kiss her “Yo I don’t even know if I’m okay right now but I can promise you wherever I go I’ll be alive” she kissed him several more times before letting him go. The door shut and Anthony was gone from Yohanna she didn’t know how long. Eight years later… “Cole telephone…” a wrench dropped “Motherfucker” Cole spat picking it up. He came into the restaurant part of the garage “Hello?” “Hey honey how’s everything going?” “Okay is this important I’m kinda backed up here” “Oh it’s not important I’m just lonely and bored Maggie is taking a nap” Cole sat on the stool “Has her fever gone down?” “Considerably since last night I’m going soon to pick Josh and Jared up from daycare” Cole looked out the window into the garage to see another customer “Lyssie I have to go another one just rode in” “Love you Cole” “Love you to Lyssie” he hung up. Cole came out “Hello there sir” the man stared for a moment “You know you look like Anthony Kiedis” “Never heard of him” “He’s the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers he’s from around the Grand Rapids area” “Yes well I’m Cole Dammet and this is Battle Creek whole different person” he said snidely “What seems to be the problem?” “Well Cal Bessie here her radiator quit on me I’ve been using a fixer upper for the time being but she has a car show to go to” “Give me two days and Cal Bessie will be a purring kitten” the man nodded heading into the restaurant. About an hour later Cole saw his wife’s SUV pull up he wiped his brow and walked outside. Lasiandra hopped out of her car and shut the door. She was an average woman with 5’5” frame a calm demeanor she used to be an architect until she met Cole they had children and it’s now a hobby. “Come here you good looking man” she smiled he walked to her “Mmmm I love when you’re all sweaty reminds me of the first time we had sex” “Are the kids with you?” “Nope mom is at the house with them…let’s go into the shop” Cole and Lasiandra kissed then held hands walking in the garage. By then the restaurant had closed and Cole had to finish up and lock up. Lasiandra was sitting on top of the trunk while Cole worked “You remember the first time we met?” “Huhuh” he said “I came here because my car broke down at first I was repulsed by you I mean you were sweaty and dirty you smelled funny…” she laughed “…And I got angry because you wouldn’t open your garage to fix my car you were going to make me spend the night here then we both got locked in the garage…my cell phone was in the car and it wouldn’t have worked anyways you got out of that blue jumper and then I knew I wanted to jump you” she laughed again “God feeling your tight, muscular body up against mine made me so hot I hoped we’d never get out then we got in the backseat of Mr. Johansson’s old Mustang and conceived Jared” Cole slid out and saw up Lasiandra’s dress he got on his knees and opened her legs it took her by surprise “I don’t know about you but I think we can conceive another” “Cole, Margaret isn’t even nine months old yet” “Shhh Lyssie come on…” she wrapped her legs around his waist as they had sex in the back of Cal Bessie. Lasiandra lay in Cole’s arms kissing his flesh “Cole?” “What baby?” “Tell me about your tattoos I swear they look familiar” “They’re just elements of my past honey that are over now” she rolled around so all her nude flesh could touch Cole “You know what I like best about you physically?” “No what?” “You have a very fat dick it fills me” she giggled they kissed and headed into round two. Yohanna was the first face Blackie saw at three o’clock in the morning “Do you realize what time it is?” “Yes I know but I found Anthony” Blackie looked confused “Hold on let me collect myself from sleep” he let her in then sat on the sofa “Okay now say it again” “I found Anthony he’s in Michigan he’s been right under our noses all along” “Yo it’s been eight years Anthony was literally pronounced dead” “Yes, Anthony Kiedis was but not Nicholas Jared Dammet” Blackie sat forward then got it “Cole…how’d you find him?” “I have my sources he’s in Battle Creek he works at Greasy Joe’s” Blackie started laughing “You’ve got to be kidding me that’s a run down gas station with a creepy restaurant he’d never work there” “I know it’s way out of his league but that’s what he wanted a large makeover” “So what are you saying we go there and nail him?” “Exactly…” Julie, Jen, and Peggy went to the house while Blackie and Yohanna went to Greasy Joe’s. “I’m not knocking you knock” Julie shoved Jen “What if they have a vicious dog?” “I think it would have come around by now” then they heard growling they turned to see three wolves with collars and tags on. A little boy peeked out the window “Mommy there are three strangers on our porch that Bane, Kindred, and Shadow are about to eat” he said opening the door “My mommy will be down in a minute” he shut the door. Lasiandra came to the door after scolding the boy “Jared that was rude…how may I help you ladies” “Number one by calling off your dogs” she whistled the dogs went away “Come in please” they entered. They looked around at photos of their Anthony holding strange children and wedding photos with the strange woman who opened the door “Is Cole home?” Peggy finally asked “No he’s at work he’ll be home late tonight…would you like tea or coffee?” “Coffee is fine.” The women sat in the living room seeing Anthony’s new life since it began eight years ago “How’d you and Cole meet?” “Well I’m an architect and my car broke down after I was coming home from a dig in Montana he was there and I was lucky” “How long have you been married?” “About six years it drove my family crazy they don’t like Cole because he’s so aggressive and hands on my mother blames it on the fact that’s he’s a Leo but he’s still my Cole” Lasiandra gushed about Cole/Anthony. Peggy, Julie, and Jen listened intently as she went on about the new Anthony “Where are my manners? I’ve been rambling on but Cole does that to me why are you ladies so interested in my Cole?” she asked protectively “Well your Cole is our Anthony” Peggy pulled out a photo from eight years ago of Anthony. Lasiandra held it up to her wedding photo the only difference between Anthony and Cole was Cole shaved his head “Nope they do look alike but I’m afraid my Cole isn’t your man” she sounded nervous “Does your husband have any tattoos?” Julie showed her another picture of Anthony with no shirt. She gasped they took it as a yes “Sweetie Cole’s real name is Anthony Kiedis he was born to me and my ex-husband John Kiedis, November 1, 1962 in St. Mary’s hospital he grew up the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and until now he’s been gone for eight years” “How’d you find him?” “His ex-girlfriend found him she was the last one to see him before he left” she flopped on the chair and cried. “How may I help you?” a man in a turtleneck wiping a counter down asked Blackie and Yohanna when they came in “Does Cole Dammet work here?” “Why yes he does best damn mechanic I’ve had since Frank Ives” Blackie nodded “He’s out in the garage if you want to meet him” “You stay here while I talk to him” Yohanna sat at the bar area “What’ll it be little lady…?” Blackie came out to see a man hunched over a car working on the carburetor he studied the man. He unhunched himself Blackie saw a shaved head then caught a glimpse of his side profile “Cole? Cole Dammet?” Cole turned around. Anthony looked at Blackie he wiped his greasy hands “That’s me” he replied calmly Blackie leaned against the door “What gives Anthony?” “Do you have business here or what? I’m a busy man sir” “Anthony I know you are just putting on an act well show’s over time to get out of character and come back to real life” he put his wrench down “This is my life Anthony is gone and I suggest you go too you’re only wasting time” he went back under the hood. Peggy, Julie, Jen, and Lasiandra arrived at the gas station Lasiandra ran inside “Watt is Cole in the garage?” “Yeah he never leaves” Yohanna turned around to see his wife “Yohanna where’s John?” “Talking with him” Lasiandra just stared she ran outside “Cole…” Anthony/Cole looked at her he hugged her “Honey what are you doing here?” she started crying “Better question what are you? Cole our whole marriage is a lie” “How can you say that?” “Because you aren’t Cole Dammet you’re Anthony Kiedis” he was furious he looked at Blackie “How dare you come here and interfere with my family” Peggy and Yohanna came outside he sneered at Yohanna “Okay so I’m not Cole but Lyssie our love and marriage isn’t a lie I love even if I’m not Cole Dammet and I love Jared, Josh, and Maggie the same” “The man I married and fell in love with was Cole Dammet I know it’s just a name but you and Anthony have different personalities why couldn’t you tell me?” Anthony looked away when Lasiandra took his face in her hands like she always did when he was hurting “You have a family outside of our home they worried for eight years about you why?” “Lyssie eight years ago I was hopping girl to girl and the rock star life consumed me and I was into drugs again I needed an escape away from everyone and everything I didn’t think anyone would find me” he looked at Yohanna again “Son we still love you and want you back” Peggy opened her arms Anthony hugged her “I’m sorry mom” he took Blackie’s hand “You’re my baby boy of course I’ll forgive you” Peggy kissed his face. He faced his wife again “What’d we do?” “I don’t know this will take some time to get used to and the kids won’t understand” “I have to know can you forgive me?” Lasiandra just brushed her lips across his they kissed softly “I love you and I’ll stick by you as long as you want me to” they kissed “Where are you going?” “To the boys and Margaret” “Please let me explain to them honey” “I will…” Yohanna and Anthony were walking outside around the place “So how’d you meet Lyssie?” “Her name is Lasiandra DuPaul she used to be an architect until I got her pregnant we married when Jared Austin Dammet was a year old” “What happened to ‘I wasn’t going to fall in love?’” she asked sharply wrapping her coat tighter around her “I didn’t expect it but after we married and Jared turned three we had Joshua Andrew Dammet then a few months ago Margaret Renee Dammet was born” “She seems very well rounded and very sensitive I guess she was everything Anthony wanted but couldn’t get huh?” Anthony stopped “I didn’t become Cole to marry Lasiandra I was Cole when she met me are you jealous?” “I wouldn’t satisfy you to say yes” she crossed her arms under her chest “I love my life here and I love my family and I wish you could’ve left well enough alone” “How was I to know that you had a wife and three kids?” “You weren’t you were just supposed to let it go I don’t want my family to mix up with Anthony the rock star” “Instead Cole the amazing mechanic at Greasy Joe’s since Frank Ives” she advertised sarcastically “It may seem like nothing to you guys but this life has everything Anthony’s didn’t” “What are you saying you aren’t two people Anthony you’re still Anthony Kiedis! Time to quit playing pretend and own up to the truth” he knew she was right but he wanted to stay Cole forever. They came back and Lasiandra’s mother was there “I knew there was something about you I didn’t trust and I knew my daughter shouldn’t have trusted you either” “Lorena lay off this has nothing to do with you this is between me and Lasiandra” he told her off “You listen to me whoever you are I’ll make sure you never get to hurt my baby girl” “Get out of here and get out of my marriage I never want to see your face at my house again or my work or around my kids” she gasped and ran out. Anthony sat down at the bar Julie and Jen surrounded him “You have beautiful children and your wife is pretty adorable” “Thanks” he sulked Julie rubbed his shaved head “This is a new look for you” “Are we going to pretend this isn’t true?” “Not if you don’t want to” “Okay then I don’t want to I just want to go home and comfort my wife” “We’ll come with you if you like” “I think that would be best get mom and my dad.” Blackie rode with Anthony “So where’s James?” “Film school” “Bet you’re proud” “I am and I’m still proud of you even though you work at a gas station but you’ve done a good job with your family” “I just wanted my kids to grow thinking they’re normal kids not rock star children” “Even if they were born Kiedis they’d still be normal” “Yes, but media and tabloids wouldn’t leave us alone and now that I’m found they’ll be all over this like a scandal” “You know son they don’t have to know you’ve been found you can still live a private life with Lasiandra and the kids I see that’s what you want so why don’t you just keep it under wraps with your kids” “No pop I can’t lie to them anymore I have to do this but I will still stay private.” Jared and Josh were chasing one another when Anthony scooped them up and put them on the couch “Okay boys I need your attention can you give daddy your attention?” they nodded and sat still “Good…I know you two may have some questions about what went on today but I want to let you know that despite what you may hear and what I’m going to tell you I’m still your daddy and your mommy is still my wife and I love you four very much” they nodded “Are you really a lying sonofabitch?” Jared asked Lasiandra smacked his mouth he hung his head “Your grandmother cracks me up I have been lying for eight years but I never lied when I say I love you my name is really Anthony Kiedis and this is your family” Jared and Josh looked around and got quiet and scared. After the talk Blackie and Peggy were getting to know Jared and Josh they were excitable and jumpy. Anthony was showing Jen and Julie little Margaret while Yohanna watched. Lasiandra waved for Anthony in the kitchen “What’d you plan to do?” “Pop and I talked and we decided that I’m going to stay in seclusion so no one but my family knows I’m Anthony” “So you’re staying Cole Dammet?” “Yes” she smiled running her fingers over his lips then she pushed him into a wall kissing him they groped one another. “What about your blonde friend in there?” “Yohanna is a friend and a very good one I know that now she reunited me with some of the most important people in my life that I otherwise would have let stay at my waist side eight years ago she was the reason I ran away I would have never dreamed she’d be the reason I’d be found…”