White, Christian

This book does have some SCARY REALITY but is COMPLETELY FICTION. It was originally written by author Christopher Stoddard. It tells the FICTIONAL tale of Christian White. A young gay youth living in San Francisco is trying to find a way out of his past. Throughout this book and the world he lives in, even being antagonist throughout it, you still can't help but hope for the best for this kid.

It starts while being home on Sunday in Connecticut, feeling his life was nowhere and watching TV, Christian seen an ad that changed his life. The ad was for 'The Academy Of Art College' in San Francisco. The school boasted an open admission policy, endless studies and locations throughout the city. Christian knew what he had to do.

With help from his sister, Christian applied for every job possible. He lies on his application, but gets hired as a food server. All locations near him were near The Castro. Christian's social life took off one night at a Pleasure Dove nightclub, where he met a spikey-haired guy around his age named Laurent. He was also met by a drug dealer named Pineapple. Christian didn't want to be rude to Pineapple about his offerings, being a polite Catholic boy. It had been a long time since Christian had previous drug ventures. It was Pineapple that offered Christian his first bump of Chrystal. Thanks to the drugs he had done in his life before, Christian wasn't feeling what he should have. He was eventually met w/ a bad high and had to be brought down by being given a Valium from a friend's dealer named Cale.

Christian joined Cale as he ran "errands" around the city. They got to know each other through conversations. While waiting in the car during a drug stop that Cale was in charge of, Christian realized he really did like this guy. Christian went w/ him while he also ran GENUINE errands in town. Christian fought to keep Cale, awake who was driving the car. But Christian was having his own trouble staying awake. Christian woke up from a hospital bed resulting in an accident. After sharing a giggle, Christian stares into Cale's blue eyes, ran a finger through his hair and received a kiss by Cale.

In addition to being an artist, Christian was also a poet. He had been writing ever since he ran away at 16-years of age. While having a quiet night at home w/ his roommate, Philly, Cale comes into Christian's residence and attention, which upsets Philly by his arrival. Christian has been putting his art supplies to good use. Dreaming of what he could do, having his work hang in an exhibit and more. To Christian's amazement, Philly's "sales" of himself have become more frequent. Thanks to changing his hours and turning tricks, he generously gives Christian some of the profits to support them both. All because of wanting to clean up the apartment they share, Christian & Philly COME TO BLOWS, which changes Christian's view of Philly, ending their friendship. Awhile later, Christian hears a knock on the door. It was the San Francisco Police. Philly had him arrested on assault pressing charges. No charges ACTUALLY come about because if one does, the other will too! After being instructed to apologize, they receive medical attention. After everyone leaves, Christian can/does clean the apartment. Not knowing what to do financially because of the roommate situation, a friend of Christian's, Mimi, suggests they steal a humongous painting from Mimi's apartment building that hangs in the lobby. Liking the idea, it makes Christian forget about the drama that happened earlier.

On Christian's 21ST birthday, he, Cale & Mimi celebrate his birthday 'Blow' style and drug fueled. Looking around, Christian feels he has everything he has ever wanted: a boyfriend who cares for him, Cale, a room full of friends and drugs. Getting older is beginning to scare him. He doesn't know how to grow older. Christian has his doubts considering Mimi's husband, Raymond's, hetero status and is suspicious about his sexual preference. The suspicions are brought on thanks to Raymond's poetry about distant people w/ something to hide. Christian recently found evidence that even further make the suspicions true. He feels it's wrong, even if it is true, to bring it up thanks to being wrong in the past.

After the birthday party, it makes Christian think ALOT about his own father. After doing his research, Christian finds out his dad is in a maximum security prison. He begins writing a letter getting EVERYTHING out he has EVER wanted to say. Christian begins to feel that Cale's drug business, even though it supports their household, is getting in the way of their relationship. It beings to annoy and REALLY PISS OFF Christian.

Christian feels he taking a backseat for just him & Cale to be together. When Cale goes to "deliver" for a friend, Topher, w/ Christian in tow, Topher, rudely insults Christian without Cale defending him - but joining in with him. (Asshole!) Cale & Topher partake into using a few drugs while Christian abides to their "weekends only" rule. Christian appoints his attention to the computer. Topher begins an argument. Topher wanted Christian & Cale to go ahead and stay they night. He only did that because Topher used to "date" Cale. Christian KEPT dying to leave. He/Christian KNOWS Cale is cheating on him (w/ Topher). Topher TRIES to persuade them both to stay the night. In frustration, Christian OFFICIALLY leaves w/ Cale following after him. After driving off in anger, Christian reaches his limit.

He takes the drugs from the car, pulls out the glass bottles containing the delivery. Cale has a look of anger, bewilderment & sadness on his face. Christian takes the bottles and SMASHES them on the pavement. The liquid drugs are all over the street. Christian feels clarity & remorse at the same time. Christian & Cale are broken up by the end of the night.

Christian's depression couldn't be worse at this point. He tried 2 bottles of O-T-C sleeping pills that accosted under $10.00 total to kill himself. He couldn't use Rx medicine because Cale wasn't around to supply them. (Cale is a supplier for most of the gay community and other dealers won't work w/ him if Cale isn't.) The total amount of sleeping pills are 80. Christian continues to take them just as his mom calls. He survives the next morning while physically suffering. Christian is more determined the next morning to end his life. He feels that Cale has taken away his time, his dignity, his pride & his security. In less than a year, Christian has become ENTIRELY dependent on Cale. As he takes the scissors and digs deep into his skin, he closes his eyes and allows the sleeping pills to take over and in effect.

In his mind, Christian thinks he's at death's door knocking when there truly was one at the front door. He goes to answer it, covering up w/ a towel what he just did and covering up the mess. His guests, Mimi & Sean, were at the door bringing stuff over to help him out. Christian is overcome and sobs. It was Mimi & Sean who tries to comfort him. Christian rejects Mimi. As this draws to a close, Christian is advised to eat & clean up. Christian is an EMOTIONAL wreck at losing Cale. He turns to Mimi for answers, who hides behind the house cleaning. When it's over, Mimi told him to call if he needed anything. Later that night, it TRULY hits Christian that it REALLY is OVER w/ Cale.

After his lease expires and he needs a place to stay, Christian had to choose: Call Cale or call his mom. After a few weeks of no contact, he called Cale and asked to stay w/ him and Cale's new boyfriend, Martin. They have a HUGE loft w/ a spare bedroom. It was Cale who suggested and brought up Christian's moving in. One room would be on the first floor, another room would be on the second upstairs. Their entire apartment is a catch to be raided. The safe is filled w/ drugs and thousands of dollars in Christian's bedroom closet. In between breaks, Christian has glimpses of his father w/ cops at hand nearby. He feels them looking at him from a few yards away. They make a connection. Christian wishes his dad would arrest him just to save & feed him from his environment.

Christian's only escape is the small trips to the sink to refill his water bottle and use the bathroom. All of a sudden, thanks to the situation at hand, Christian becomes livid. After scanning the living room and seeing Martin on the balcony smoking a cigarette, Christian is up the stairs to Cale's bedroom where Cale's half asleep. Christian jumps on top of Cale. He swings and punches Cale while he is crying, weak & starving. Martin runs upstairs and Cale rises furiously. Cale pushes Christian off of him where Christian falls back to the top of the staircase where his head knocks against the railing. Cale picks up a wooden bat and holds it over his head. He pauses and listens to Christian, who argues his case. Ignoring him, Christian is hit w/ the bat brutally grazing the side of his nose w/ blood pouring. Soon Christian & Cale are both on the floor crying. They give a hug. Martin becomes jealous on the way things ended differently than he would've liked between Christian & Cale. Instead of Christian being gone from the picture, Cale gives him $10.00 to go eat.

Christian moves into an apartment that is smaller than the one he had before. After promising he'd find a job, Christian got his mom to co-sign a lease for him. Cale paid him a lump sum of $5,000 after what happened at the loft. Now comes a means to support himself. The $5,000 went to rent, deposit, food and some luxuries. Christian has gone on genuine job interviews trying to do things right.

 Christian contacted his father in prison and he replied w/ a letter and a photo. He noticed some of the similarities between his dad and himself. In his dad's letter of response, he explains that he KNEW of Christian's sexuality. He tells of the past and his addictions. He makes NO EXCUSES and owns up to his past-present. Extending his DEEPEST REGRET and NOT being there when Christian lost his brother. Christian doesn't accept his father's apology or his life change. (Why now?) Christian remembers WAY more differently than his father describes. What he remembers now is his own memory of his dad. Either way, Christian has to be reunited w/ his past.

Poetry becomes a new escape for Christian. It's less trouble than abusing drugs and not just as fun. He's been trying to ease off the partying. He would rather spend the night reading to himself or draw another poem out of him. For entertainment, Christian sees more fun at a poetry night at the Justice League instead of partying. He keeps up w/ it at the Justice League. He's feeling more confident and has been COMPLETELY sober for 2 weeks. The next thing you know Christian is w/ a friend, Sean, who manages to steal 4 lame DVDs from Blockbuster. The TRUE cause for being there at the store is for that reason. Later that afternoon, after Christian is home & falls asleep, he's awakened by Sean calling is phone. He states he's coming over. Christian wants him to bring the DVDs. Forget that. Sean informs Christian of a raid going on at his present residence w/ all of his "merchandise" there. While at Christian's, Sean informs him he will stay w/ someone else. Sean is getting rid of his phone and is getting a brand new one. He will call Christian and inform him of details later.

When the time comes and it's clear, Topher and Christian have been staking Sean's apartment. When they make their move to enter the residence, they elevate to the 10TH floor. Topher, who has keys to the place, warns Christian to KEEP QUIET. The house is already ransacked. They make their way to Sean's room. They pack and take what the police didn't: designer clothes and stuff them into containers. When they're done and they exit, they go to Topher's apartment and unload w/ Sean waiting there to assist them.

Topher called his own lawyer after hearing the police were looking for Sean. The lawyer said there were warrants out for him/Sean in connection w/ identity theft, mail theft & check fraud. The apartment itself was leased under a false name. They paid the first month's rent & deposit w/ a check from a major Chicago bank. Sean's fears of prison caused him to take the fugitive route. He planned on venturing to L.A. to stay w/ friends until this entirely blows over. But, the chances of this going away are slim-to-none.

The police are going after Topher next. He had been on their radar because of him picking up online order shipments of concentrated G.H.B. Police have been following him back & forth on drug runs & pick-ups, until the raiding of his Topher's own residence. Topher's parents DON'T KNOW A THING about ANY of his illegal activities. His bail was set at $30,000. Sean got what he could by calling in all of his owes & dues. Christian brought the bail money to the bondsman, only to find out there were new charges, meaning a raised bail. That was when Topher OFFICIALLY called his parents. Christian left the money w/ Cale for safekeeping. Christian is experiencing an affliction. He used to roam around the city high or whatever he chose. Now he's TERRIFIED! They have all been eating dessert w/o dinner and now everyone can see that.

Christian gets word to others that he and a friend, Laurent, have been in an accident. Christian acknowledges that it wouldn't have happened in a vain attempt to be cool. As this happens, Christian receives word from Topher. He/Topher is trying to tell a laughing non-stop Christian that he & Sean were arrested. He/Topher tells him the details of what happened. When Christian arrives, Topher is glad to be out of jail. He tells Christian he was in a single cell because of his sexuality. Because of being evicted from his residence, Topher states he is moving back to Colorado until things are settled. Christian thinks that Taylor is just running away, until he hears Topher crying over the phone. Christian KNOWS that Topher is STRAIGHT & SOBER in order to be able to express such emotion. The news effects Christian hard and bad enough to go home to Connecticut.

After selling his furniture and DVDs to get the money, Christian used it on the plane ride home. He had been felling weak lately since he stopped using Crystal. Going through withdrawal, Christian can feel his body going the symptoms. When the train reaches it's destination, Christian's mother is there to meet & pick up her son. His mother is a fright at his frail appearance. Weighing less than 100lbs, Christian tells his mom that he's fine and it's just that ALOT an happen in the span of 2 years.

Looking in the rearview mirror of the car has made Christian temporarily deaf at the sight of his father staring at him. IMMEDIATELY thinking of the treatment he had received from him before. He has a physical reaction to where his mother had to pull over. She thinks it has to do w/ his life before coming home. Christian wakes up in the middle of the night only to find his mother standing over him. Bible in hand which WAKES him up. Because of the appearance of his weight, she thinks he's still on drugs when he's TRULY sober. She is soon convulsing and "trying" to get the drugs out of him. She is collapsing on the floor into the fetal position w/ her Bible at hand. She eventually stands up straight, looks Christian DEAD IN THE EYE and says the MOST AWFUL REGRETTABLE thing NO MOTHER SHOULD EVER say.

Christian takes a quiet step in disbelief of what he just heard from his own mother. He is just quiet . . . . she is soon limp on his bed into tears. She stands up and is wobbly while her son is getting dressed w/ his shoes on. Tossing his backpack over him, he kisses her on the forehead. He passes his sister on the way out. They look at one another, saying ALOT without a word spoken. With that, Christian walks away from his family.

As Christian narrowly tries to escape on a train, he gets on without a ticket. When the conductor does checks, he sees Christian doesn't have one. Right before Christian is thrown off the train, he is SAVED by an older businessman who pays for him. In speaking, in extending conversation, this guy's name is Patrick Cullen. He offers Christian a bite to eat. Patrick may be a big businessman, but is still humble enough to ride the train. Patrick takes him to a trendy French restaurant to eat. Christian wonders this guy's motives due to NEVER receiving such nice treatment?

When Christian SEES he is just a nice guy who reminds this guy of someone from his own past, an uncomfortable silence comes upon the table. After Christian eventually takes up the offer on the room at the Hilton this guy already paid for, it would have been a business expense for the business man. He checks his watch and offers to take Christian to dinner. Why? For a minute, Christian can see this guy as a younger self from years ago. Christian agrees to dinner. After he pays he bill and walks away, Christian GRATEFULLY thanks him.

Christian goes back into what happened, how it felt and what it was like for him to have had to pull his VERY FIRST trick. Every time he closed his eyes while "pleasuring" this guy, Patrick, a sinister looking image of his dad would flash in his/Christian's head. Wondering what that was about? It seemed as though Christian's first trick was someone in the midst of a deep homosexual panic. He is working at a Bank. He is living in a living room of a six-floor walk-up, one bedroom that he sublets from a woman, Angela A.K.A. "Gellly". Christian goes into telling the story of what it was and why in his past, he was weary of the NICE older businessman from earlier. What happened in his past proved right as the first man that was nice to him seemed to have made Christian into a victim of sexual assault after Christian is violently punched in the face and is blacked out.

When Christian wakes up on a street corner on his right side; his arm is reached out it's far, he's shirtless & covered in small cuts & bruises. NO ONE is around or near in sight. Overwhelmed in desperation, Christian is crying out of frustration. He screams out for no one to hear. Pulling back to rest a minute, Christian sits and sobs. All of this right now being a dream while still lying on the street. Christian's dream consists of his dad being even worse to him. The weight on his ass makes Christian continue laying down at the place he calls a bed because the weight is causing EXCRUCIATING pain. Christian remembers bits & pieces before he was knocked out the night of the assault. Tears cover his face. That is when he occurs the leftover damage. His T-shirt is torn. His ass feels like needles stabbing him. A wad of cash is sticking out of his back pocket. With trembling hands, Christian asses his chest - nothing, but he has welts & bruises covering his back. He has avoided his face for as long as possible, but no longer can. His eyes are bloodshot. He has a cut on his right eyebrow. He has a shiner under his left eye. Christian ponders what to do though assessing the situation.

Three days later, Christian tells Gelly his damages were a result from a mugging. He tells the doctor at the walk-in clinic the same story. He gets antibiotics & painkillers for the injuries to his torso. They all bought his story. He goes back to work. He goes to read the newspaper and stumbles upon the architect murder. He begins to have a panic attack. He races to the bathroom and vomits. He covers up by saying it was food poisoning. Christian tries to fix his appearance as he heads back to his desk. That is when the newspapers are anew w/ the murder of 75-yr-old, Juan Carlos, the man who brutally raped Christian and made him black out. No details on EXACTLY what happened. Just the usual "if you have . . . ." Christian attends the billionaire businessman's funeral. He doesn't pray, but instead struggles to remember what happened the night of his death. Christian MENTALLY remembers what EXACTLY happened the night of the rape. He impulsively passes out. He remembers the source(s) of how his pain came the morning after the assault.

In his first Manhattan apartment, Gelly gave Christian to weeks notice after the Juan Carlos "servicing", that wont remind Christian of what he already does, that he had to find a new place to live. He settles on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and catches the second half of 'Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead'. As bad as the movie is, Christian has always appreciated the magnitude of Christina Applegate's character, Sue Ellen Crandle. In the evening, all he can think of his how freedom has left him behind to sulk in the loneliness of well-known company. As he falls asleep, Christian receives a call from a federal prison. It's from Sean. Sean asked Christian if he/ Christian remembers Pineapple, the drug dealer he used to hang out with? Sean informs Christian that Pineapple has AIDS. It became sad & liberating for Sean & Christian at the same time to have a mutual friend w/ worse problems.

To combat his time and make money to pay the rent, Christian sought work as a prostitute. He's been more careful w/ an ad posted online and began screening people. The only thing that makes him sad about this entire thing is that he feels NOTHING, even that's hard for Christian because he already feels NOTHING. Since Juan Carlos attacked him, all Christian has wanted is a sense of emotion, something to feel good about - something at all. The thing is that Christian KNOWS what he's doing and how he's gotten to his situations. He states "he's NOT a victim". He does what he has to do. After finishing the job w/ his trick and making what he needed to in order to survive, Christian just goes home.

As Christian has gotten older, he has defined the differences between "a trick" and "a date". He has been using drugs less often and has been more selective w/ his "choices" of "dates" using Craigslist. Nicki texts him around midnight weary of a party. Christian accepts the invitation and speeds getting there by a cab service. The evening almost turns to become as dangerous as the Juan Carlos rape. Christian manages to escape before things were to have worsened when Christian is looking at Nick and he is stuck in a situation w/ 2 pseudo-straight men. If it wasn't for Nick knocking on the door at that moment interrupting the other side, Christian would have been through it all over again.

Aside from last night's almost re-lived incident, aside from a gushing bloody nose, Christian is surprised he's not worse than he is. His brother, Andrew, died when he/Christian was 16. It was his sister, Michelle's, 9TH birthday and Christian was 14 at the time. He always wanted to hang out w/ Andrew and his friends. They may not have been the best of friends, but Christian loved and wanted to be in his brothers' company. Now that he's older, Christian is finding life harder without him.

He then goes into the events surrounding the death of his brother: Christian was watching TV and playing original Nintendo. Michelle was outside playing Barbie w/ friends in the driveway. Their mom was out shopping for the birthday party and their step-dad was mowing the lawn. Christian received a call from the elementary school teacher letting them know a teenage boy had been hit by a car in front of their house. The boy had NO I.D. on him and the driver didn't recognize his face. Michelle's birthday party began around 7P. Their mom was upset Andrew still wasn't home. She grew angrier as the night wore on. As 10P came, anger shifted to worry. She began to completely zone out from the birthday party. She KNEW something was wrong w/ Andrew. All of a sudden, Christian remembered & brought up the phone call from the teacher. Their mom FLEW over to the phone book calling hospitals for info. After finding the actual location of her son, she RAN & LEFT.

She blamed Christian that it was all his fault. He had the info all day and didn't say anything. She sent him to his room and angrily couldn't look at him. Christian began crying. He fell into a dazed sleep. After being gently - but firmly woken up by his step-dad, his mom was weeping, Christian heard the news he dreaded hearing. When the family returned from identifying him - Andrew was dead. Christian was no longer a boy that night. Andrew died from a hit-and-run. Police didn't have any leads as to who killed Andrew, but Christian knew who did it: It was him. After Andrew's death, their mom went to mass every day and would make Christian aware of his sins. She soon began calling her own son HORRIBLY HATEFUL SLURS. That was when Christian OFFICIALLY ran away from home in his junior year.

Before running away, while living at home, things progressed worse after that including a hit-and-run that led to Christian having an arrest record. He went to night school to get his high school diploma with honors. He worked as a cashier at a grocery store. His weekends went from raves to gay clubs in another town. That was when cocaine became Christian's drug of choice. His mom's language & religious fanaticism worsened. His stepfather eventually left his mom due to her choices. Michelle, at this time, excelled in school. The truce between Christian and his mom ended oddly enough thanks to her HORRIBLE & DEGRADING language.

When Michelle picks Christian up from the train station, the first place they visit is (An)drew's grave. It is COMPLETELY POURING rain outside when they arrive, but soon calms down to being very light. Talking at the cemetery becomes a confrontation that leads to a small physical fight. Michelle begins sobbing and collapses. Christian runs to hug and comfort his sister. Promising to help out and be around more. They never actually do make it to Andrew's grave due to closing time at the cemetery.

Christian is with the police to tell what he knows about the Juan Carlos murder, but is quiet & held back about his information. The police now think Christian is there solely to cash in on their reward money of the whereabouts. One of the things Christian feared most is becoming his father. He is terrified of the looks on his family's faces when truth comes out of what he's become: an addict, a whore & a murderer. Soon, everyone will know.

Christian is soon on a "date" w/ a guy, Hartley, at a Japanese restaurant. He is staring at the decor and upkeep of the restaurant. After eating, Christian can taste Hartley's meal after a kiss. One thing leads to another. And Christian is paid for his "services" and is then taken back home. Other stories persist of different "tricks".

Christian then goes into what could be described as sexual abuse w/ him, (An)Drew & their own dad when they were both toddlers. His past comes to him in daydreams, like nightmares, he hasn't had since childhood. Christian soon has an epiphany: HE CANNOT KEEP THIS UP selling himself OVER & OVER again. It's time to let his father go. It's time to let Andrew go. It's time to turn himself in on what he knows about Juan Carlos' death. When he is being questioned, Christian is interrogated by a repeat customer of his, someone who is supposed to quiet on the 'low. Christian rehashes the story of meeting Juan, the rape & passing out. Christian doesn't remember murdering him because he didn't. Accusations were soon flying over what truly happened. Due to the holes in the facts, Christian is arrested for the murder of Juan Carlos.

Christian's dad was arrested & convicted of First Degree Murder exactly one month before his 7TH birthday. Their mom divorced him 6 months prior to his arrest. When their dad wasn't sexually abusing Drew or Christian, he was either abusing their mom or selling drugs. Christian's memories of his dad would come & go. At times he missed him. Other times he feared his return. Christian, his mom & Andrew were constant outlets for their dad's rage. Christian goes into the story of the murder his dad committed.

The media is swarming around the case because of Juan Carlos' family fame. Christian's mom got an old family friend to help w/ her son's defense. Outside of this case, in other news: Michelle's pregnant. She practically changed overnight. After their argument at the cemetery, Michelle misconstrued the promise to come home. When Christian didn't come, she acted out by being promiscuous w/ half the members of a local gang. Now she's 2 months pregnant. Michelle refuses to talk to her brother. Their mom offered to post his bail if Christian agreed to spend time off trial at home. He refused. His next hearing was 2 weeks away. At the arraignment, Christian pleaded NOT GUILTY to the charge of voluntary manslaughter and NO CONTEST to the charge of prostitution.

Prior to a week's time, Christian shared a cell w/ a 50-year-old man who attacked him for Christian's refusal to blow him. He was moved to a single cell after that. Christian then goes into detailing the events of his brother's funeral. It was in the middle of October when Christian went to jail and now it's almost Thanksgiving. Christian's savior, Stacey Kim, a 20-yr-old Korean from New York, had walked the same streets as Christian. Stacey tells a tale similarly exact to the Juan Carlos story that Christian experienced. Only Stacy suffered w/ a pair of pliers and a bowling pin. Stacy actually managed to fight back Juan Carlos. Juan managed to successfully shoot drugs into Stacy's arm. ALL OF THIS BEING CONDUCTED ON THE EXACT SAME NIGHT!! Right before Christian was attacked & raped by Juan. During his/Christian's blackout, Juan does the same thing again to Stacy.

During Christian's blackout state, Stacy emerged. Juan was caught off-guard by Stacy during Christian's assault. Stacy KNOCKED Juan OUT. He untied Christian and shook him awake. Stacy tied Juan to the bed frame and his ankles to the front posts. He escorted Christian downstairs, hailed him a cab and seen he got home. When Stacy got back upstairs after helping Christian, Juan was conscious and struggling against his will. Juan pleaded as Stacy stabbed him in the chest, beat him & severed his arms. Right after the murder, Stacy hitchhiked home to Albany. For the next 6 months, Stacy pretended his life in New York never happened.  It was on his way to work that Stacy heard of the Juan Carlos murder in the media.

Stacy heard of Christian going down and being tried for the murder. For the next couple of weeks, Stacy punished himself w/ CONSTANT drinking and coming home drunk. When his mom, Mrs. Kim, confronted her son, what started as a screaming match led to him telling his mom EVERYTHING from his prostitution to the admitted murder. Two days later, Stacy turned himself in and the charges against Christian were dropped.

Upon his release, Christian is asked out by a kind prison guard. The guard can tell Christian needs a night out. The guard, Gal, is out - but not at work. (Understandable!) Christian sees this guy has NO semblance of his dad and accepts a date. When Christian's mom & sister come to get him, he can see a look of HELL! on his mom's face. He interns expects fears, but receives joy. Christian wonders about his mom and her religious necklace she always has? She thought it was time for a change. She spent too much time w/ religious figures. She reaches to passionately hug her son. She DOES ACCEPT Christian for who he is. When she thought she would LOSE her son, she panicked.

They all do love each other as a happy family. Michelle revealed the baby she had was aborted. She is attending Harvard. They all exit the premises of Harvard  . . . . FREE! (Their mom is free, their sister is baby free & Christian is FREE.) As they leave, Christian sees Gal's eyes long for him. Just as Cale's once did. Their mom no longer attends church as long as she has her Zoloft Rx she's A-O.K. Michelle is on the dean's list at Harvard. Stacy Kim was sentenced to 25yrs in prison for the murder. Christian and Michelle speak 2-to-3 times a week. He & the family take the courageous steps and Christian FINALLY confronts his dad after all these years and what ALL he has been through. After it's ALL DONE & OVER, Christian can move on feeling better.When it's all over, walking out of the prison, Christian KNOWS he NEVER has to deal w/ his dad AGAIN!

My Mother Was Nuts

This book is written by the REAL & AUTHENTIC woman herself. I LOVE the way this book is written in its fashion - it would be like her reading the story to you. Beginning w/ her childhood in the Bronx, she has relied on the lessons that have gotten her to where she is. From actress, director & sister, here is the TRUE story of hilariously Penny Marshall.

As an adult today, Penny is still the same as she was as a kid. She attends sporting events, wastes time playing on her IPAD, watching movies and talking on her phone. Still a kid at heart. Penny has never wanted to grow up and stop playing. Try hard, play by the rules, help your friends, don't go crazy & fun. Penny's mom was well known across the Bronx as the owner, worker & operator of the Majorie Marshall Dance School. Penny was the OPPOSITE of everyone else. She was extremely skinny, a BAD overbite and she thought telling the truth was overrated. Penny's parents met in college at NYU. Penny's mom thought Tony Marshall was a clever, handsome, athletic writer & cartoonist.  She was someone who possessed the smarts & skills to be a good provider. She wanted him to make programs for the recitals she choreographed. They married in 1932. After her mom's death, Penny found notes that were typed by mom concerning her parents' marriage that was news for her.

Life changed in 1934, Penny's older brother, Garry, was born. In 1938, their sister, Ronny, was born. Their dad had his own advertising business, The Marshall Organization. Their mom taught ALL types of dance to neighborhood kids. They originally wanted 2 kids. The calm ended early when in 1943, Penny's mom found out she was pregnant again. On Friday 10-15-1943, the only day that she was a morning person. Upon Penny's birth, her dad drew a New Yorker style cartoon announcing the birth of Carole PENNY Marshall. Everyone called her Penny. Carole was after their mom's FAVORITE actress, Carole Lombard. Penny could have a soft side. When she loved something, she put her heart into it. Her favorite shows as a kid were 'The Lone Ranger' & 'Charlie Chan' on Saturdays. The Marshall family really looked forward to variety shows. Penny's parents, her mom, didn't hide her DISGUST from her dad.

When she was a kid, Penny would play w/ the other kids in the apartment building. There was always that one elderly neighbor who threatens to nark them out. They were ALWAYS outside playing unless bad weather, that didn't stop the fun inside. They created their own fun. (If you ask me, that is something that is SORELY missing in today's kids.) Penny would have liked to be be w/ her siblings, they were older than her and she barely knew them. Penny never paid attention to boundaries or skin color. They weren't conformed to any specific religions. Garry conformed to one, Ronny was another and Penny conformed to different. Identity wasn't an issue. Penny's hometown in the Bronx was the center of her universe: It's a part of who she is. Penny's mother would have been ecstatic if she had been following her footsteps and become a dancer. Her mom tried her best to mold her into one. Penny debuted in her first recital at age 4. By age 8, she HATED every minute of it being hour long classes. The other girls loved her mom. Not Penny. She wanted to give her mom a scare.

In 1952, Penny's mom met June Taylor, choreographer for 'The Jackie Gleason Show' and later received a callback for a tryout. The audition went flawlessly and a couple of weeks later got the job. Whatever her mom lacked as a homemaker, she made up for as a producer, choreographer, road & stage manager. She would have her students perform when & wherever needed. They performed ANYWHERE from an army hospital, the Brooklyn Navy yard, an insane asylum, Fort Dix, Fort Jay & Fort Hamilton. They eventually played Madison Square Garden in the finals, opening for Pat Boone, but ultimately lost. Even though she danced this way through high school, Penny never seen herself as an entertainer. She may not have known it, but all of that torturous dancing from her mom would eventually pay off.

It became/was a Marshall family tradition spending their summers at camp. Penny's mom was the dance counselor at Camp Genova, so Penny went to camp every summer. Before camp, their mother would close the ballroom, load up the family car and Garry, Ronny, Penny & their mom would take a road trip. At age 8, Penny could meld like a 70-year-old playing canasta. Penny loved whatever summer camp she went to. This was Penny's getaway. Garry began at Northwestern University. Before leaving, he told his siblings, they could stick together in life. They are the ones to understand each other. Penny didn't know it then, but Garry was right.

Penny was a typical teenager. She was a member of the Elvis Presley Fan Club, still owning her membership card and thought constantly about boys. The Marshall Plan referred to Penny's interest in getting boys to pay attention to her. She tried to ship school as often as she could. After school ended, Penny would meet up w/ friends and ask about the day. Their world revolved around weekly dances at school. After the news of their parents divorce, Penny stole some items she didn't need and headed for the door thinking she was sick. She was automatically caught and was a smart-ass to the officer. She and her friends went to night court and received probation. Penny was great at studying chemistry, calculus & physics w/ the smart kids. The periodic table, elements, charts & graphs. Penny was too social for her own good. She wasn't trading the Parkway for the library. After seeing her sisters choices after college, Penny thought "why give a sit about grades?" From choosing books or boys, Penny chose boys. She never doubted she would go to college, Penny decided where to go w/ a C average. She settled on the University Of New Mexico because they accepted anyone from out of state.

Penny dated someone from Texas that scared her w/ his politeness. She was an outsider and was ignorant of ALOT of the biases that Southern boys possessed. She was suggested not to sit w/ different people. "It wasn't cool w/ Texas boys." Screw that. Penny was great at crossing boundaries. At the end of her freshman year, Penny met Mickey Henry. You couldn't find two more different people. When summer came, Penny was a camp counselor and Mickey worked in construction, keeping in touch through letters and conversations. One weekend in the season Mickey didn't make the travel team and sunk into a depression. They went out the next night and in the process of consoling him, they got romantic in his car. Penny KNEW she was pregnant later on and a few days later, tests confirmed it.

Penny and Tracy

Penny KNEW deep down that she wasn't ready to get married and she probably didn't want to spend the rest of her life w/ Mickey. But Mickey assured they would get through this together. They were married on 11-22-1963. The same day that Kennedy was assassinated. After the cake and Kool-Aid, Mickey & Penny went to a motel and watched Kennedy's funeral on LIVE tv! That's how they spend their honeymoon. Wanting to contribute to the home, Penny dropped out of school and signed up for office temp work as a Kelly Girl, but she had to learn to drive first. In June, Penny gained 50LBS and their daughter, Tracey, was due in early June and couldn't wait.

When it came labor time, Penny's mom was w/ her. She couldn't remember shit. They were mute when her water broke. Labor went on for at least 24 hours. The final 6 hours were hard labor. On 7-6-1964, Penny gave birth to a 7LB baby girl, Tracy Lee Henry. In 1965, Penny's New Year resolution was to find work. She made a list of dance schools and looked for a job. She was hired at The Litka School Of Music.

After Mickey had sent flowers to an old girlfriend, Penny wasn't mad, she KNEW they were just two people trying to do the right thing under circumstances they weren't yet prepared for. One day a man from The Albuquerque Civic Opera came into The Litka School Of Music asking for Penny wanting her to choreograph their production. She turned him down but took up the offer to be in it. She was soon hired to be an assistant for an energetic actor w/ a big voice. She then auditioned for a role in his play that he asked her to do. The theater motivated Penny & Mickey to get divorced. They were already living separate lives. Somehow Mickey's mother & grandmother took care of Tracy and took Penny & Mickey to court for custody. They (Penny & Mickey) never ACTUALLY went to court, but Mickey's mom & grandmother took care of Tracy. They were just young and needed to start over.

After the production, Penny decided to move to LA. When she got there, Garry was married and had a good life. He offered to help Penny w/ what she wanted to do. She didn't know. Garry had already written w/ a partner for 'The Danny Thomas Show', 'The Lucy Show' & 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'. When Penny was telling her brother what she had already done performing, he seen a light in her eyes. He suggested she try acting in movies & TV. Garry took care of his sister just as an older brother should. He pointed her in the RIGHT path/direction.

Penny began taking acting classes. She may have had to be patient because older age, perky girls like Sally Field & Sally Valentine were IT! Penny wasn't perky. Taking jobs that pay the rent including sorting W-2 and W-4's at a hospital. Garry put her on a job on the movie 'How Sweet It Is!'. Penny had a one-line in the series 'That Girl'. She quit temping and took acting and auditions REAL. It did help that she had Garry, he opened doors for Penny, but it would be up to her to walk through the them. They made her a few extras w/ one-liners. Penny landed her first role ON HER OWN in a new series called 'Then Came Bronson'.

Because of having a child, Penny was largely unaffected by the decade's changes until 1969. Even though she didn't, that was the year Penny's mother told Ronny that Penny knew Charles Manson. Out of hundreds of roommates she had, one of them was Aryln Dunetz, who crashed w/ Penny until she went off w/ a guy in a van. The next time Penny heard from her, she changed her last name to Phoenix, lived on a commune and had 7 kids; River, Rain & Leaf/ Joaquin., whom she succeeded getting into acting. Around this time, Penny';s family was suffering financial losses. Her dad was losing his best accounts and her mom's dance school was declining. Garry had helped the family once they moved to L.A. Their mom did take care of Garry's children after the move, she also took care of Tracey, who was 5. Tracey spent summers w/ her mom. She was better off w/ her dad, who was remarried w/ a more stable home.

When Penny & Rob Reiner were kids, they lived across the street from each other in the Bronx. His father, Carl Reiner, was the most famous person in their neighborhood. Penny knew Rob from hanging out w/ comedy people. The name Reiner stood out in Hollywood. Penny & Rob were instant friends. Penny liked Rob because he wore pajamas and didn't do drugs. He wanted to write and direct. His closest friends were his high school buddies: Albert Brooks & Richard Dreyfuss. Somehow Penny's relationship w/ Rob was put on hold because Rob had a nervous breakdown. The pressure to succeed was mounting on him. When recovering, Penny & Rob hung out again. She made herself available to him.

Penny was still working. She was in an episode of 'Love American Style'. Rob & Penny's relationship progressed until Tracy visited. They hadn't slept together and "the last thing Rob needed was a kid." It surprised Penny. Rob would make an excuse to get away. She made a point to break up w/ him and expressed it. At that point, he went into Penny's apartment w/ NO ailments. The next morning, Rob said their relationship became more serious. They were together from then on.

Plans for a wedding were put on hold because Rob was cast as Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law Mike Stivic on 'All In The Family'. Rob NEVER thought the show would go past the 13 week hiatus. The first break Rob had in his schedule was around April 10TH. They set the date. A month after they were married, 'All In The Family' won several Emmys. Penny was EXTREMELY supportive of Rob's growing success on the show. Her own success trickled along. Penny's BIG break came when Garry gave her a recurring role on 'The Odd Couple' as Oscar Madison's secretary, Myrna Turner. Jack Klugman took Penny under his wing. To calm her nerves before a scene, Penny would take a deep breath & say the dirtiest words she could put together. Then walk through the door and do the scene. After Penny and Rob were settled, Tracey joined them. Mickey moved to Colorado and had another daughter. Tracey joined a busy household. Everyone was working. Success changed some people. They aged. As a stable couple, Rob & Penny's house became the hangout for GREAT comedians: Billy Crystal, Charles Grodin and more. It was mostly a guys only atmosphere.

When Paramount refused to give her a $100.00 raise on 'The Odd Couple', Penny asked Garry what to do? Since he started on 'Happy Days', he told Penny that one day she'll get even. After appearing on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', creators muddled over creating a spin-off w/ Penny and Mary's other neighbor, Sally Jo, who was played by Mary Kay Place. But they didn't have the right chemistry. In the meantime, 'Happy Days' was a smash for Garry. Does ANYONE remember the ICONIC series from the 70s, 80s & 90s, Saturday Night Live? It was a TRUE television event in a history's time period. George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Curtin & Gilda Radnor. They were brilliant, fearless & F'N funny. Penny tells some HILARIOUS behind the scenes stories from the ICONIC series.

In November 1975, Penny was cast in a 'Happy Days' episode. She didn't expect anything to come of it. Garry asked her to do it. He had already cast Cindy Williams. After talking to Cindy, they both said "Yes!". Their premiere episode of their characters was 'A Date W/ Fonzie'. Cindy was Shirley Feeney and Penny was Laverne DeFazio. The network president of ABC, Fred Silverman, asked Garry for any spin-off ideas. Fred liked Garry's pitch. Everything moved fast and it was immediately ordered and put on the mid-season schedule. Everyone was in a panic. Cindy wasn't sure she wanted to do TV, afraid it would sidetrack her film career. Penny really couldn't blame Cindy for wanting to be a movie star. Everyone except Cindy knew that they had something special w/ Laverne & Shirley. Cindy didn't have to give up much. After auditioning someone else, Cindy was Shirley Feeney.

Cindy told a TV Guide reporter that she was openly worried that Penny would get preferential treatment because of the show being a family business w/ the Marshall's working on the show. NONE OF IT got in the way of production. If you knew Garry somewhere in life, his loyalty put you in the business. It was Penny who brought in Michael McKean. Laverne & Shirley premiered on Tuesday January 27TH. They woke up the next day after w/ the No. 1 show in the country. The feat was GREAT for her career, but not so much for her marriage to Rob. Laverne & Shirley knocked Rob's 'All In The Family' out of first place. The opening credit song for the show came from Penny's childhood. Something they always did: drew from their own childhoods. The only thing Penny & Cindy wanted was to raise the bar w/ comedy thanks to the first season. Cindy wanted to raise whatever issues or message crusades she had that week into the script. So the writers didn't want her either. Penny wasn't treated better because of family connections, if anything, she was treated worse. Cindy felt that Penny was getting all of the "comedy" on the show which stirred up drama backstage. Thanks to a  Laverne & Shirley Sing album tour, the show and their characters were a MASSIVE HIT and EVERYONE LOVED THEM! They were big w/ cops. Cindy & Penny couldn't help themselves. At times, acting like they were 12. It was INSANE. Their lives were never the same again.

Sometimes Penny would hear a tone in Tracey's voice that reminded Penny of the way she spoke to her own mother. It made Penny cringe. It really hurt Penny when Tracey would bring kids home who in the end were only her friends because they wanted to see Penny & Rob. Garry told his sister that she could give someone a life, meaning she could give someone a break in showbiz. Penny chose Paula Roth, the daughter of Penny's mother's partner in dance. She did the same thing for a friend's brother. It was necessary to Pay It Forward if you wanted to stay REAL in this business.

Penny & Carrie

At the end of Rob's time in 'All In The Family', he tried a variety of different series'. He struggled and second guessed himself into a place of self loathing. Penny knew they had problems when she got out of bed and he asked where she was going. She told him she had a show to do. He was festering about the little things. Egos were fragile and they were out of sync. He was ambitious and she didn't really give a shit. Penny was working on a film and learned ALOT of camera work from famed director, Steven Spielberg. Penny was endlessly fascinated. Back in New York, Lorne Michaels arranged for Penny to Carrie Fisher. Lorne was pals w/ Carrie's boyfriend at the time, Paul Simon. They have been best friends ever since. She was a one-woman show 35 years before she did one. Penny was glad to have Carrie at a time when she was losing Rob. They (Rob & Penny) took a stab at normalcy. Opening their doors to famous friends old & new. Nothing helped their marriage and working on a TV movie didn't help either. 

New York was Penny's playground. She wanted to play. Rob was interested in making movies while Penny wanted to have fun w/ friends that she missed out on as a young mother. The time had come that Penny & Rob just weren't making each other happy anymore. They were split in 1979. They stayed together for another 6 months because Richard Dreyfuss, who was staying in their guesthouse, couldn't handle their breakup. As time went on, thing were harder. Penny fell apart and was having a breakdown during the fifth season of Laverne & Shirley. All of a sudden she went blind. With Cindy rushing Penny from one spot to another, she managed to make it through. But a few nights later, Penny was ready to fall apart. But it was her best friend, and one of my personal favorites, actress Carrie Fisher, who was truly there for Penny. Carrie was there for her through the rough patches. Penny talks about different first experiences, for both of them, that they both shared. Penny talks about fun times w/ Carrie, who was w/ Paul Simon and Penny was dating Art Garkfunkel. (Can you say strenuous when they were all together?) 


Penny's FIRST time directing came in season 5. She didn't think it was a big deal. She knew what she was doing. This was such an EXCITING time at Paramount. Besides Laverne & Shirley, Paramount also housed these CLASSIC favorites: Happy Days, Bosom Buddies, Mork & Mindy & Taxi, during different trips when Laverne & Shirley wasn't filming, Penny always liked hanging out w/ just one of the guys, just like at summer camp. 

John Belushi (1949-1982)

She was devastated at the loss of a REAL good friend, ICON John Belushi. The following days & nights were a blur. Tracy kept an eye on her mom while talking w/ friends, piecing together what happened and why? (Reading this book, it seemed to me and made me feel like John's death was involuntary manslaughter.) 

The only relationship Penny ever seen Cindy fall hard & fast for was Bill Hudson. Bill had previously been w/ Goldie Hawn and produced 2 children w/ her, Oliver & Kate. Bill was becoming a GIANT PAIN IN THE ASS. He was acting as Cindy's manager and had a list of DEMANDS. He wanted credit and Cindy deferred to him. He wouldn't let Cindy talk to anyone. Everything became a legal mess. Penny went to the studio president and asked for Cindy's share of the profits if she/Penny was going to share the show Laverne AND Shirley alone. The studio agreed. Even after going back to work, the show was a mess. Cindy's departure from the show really hurt, depressed & angered Penny, as it did to her Laverne character. Even w/ all of the legalities and finishing the show on her own, the memories after 8 seasons were good and positive. Penny was proud. In the end, Laverne & Shirley would always be best friends.

Debra Winger

When Penny describes the decline & demise of her mom in late 1983, she explains the logic behind this book's title 'My Mother Was Nuts'. While spending a week or so in London, Penny decided to quit smoking. Even though she didn't work on it, Penny sat w/ actress Debra Winger after the Oscars, that were dominated by 'Terms Of Endearment'. It was Debra that suggested that Penny try directing. Penny's first job was a play called Eden Count w/ Ellen Barkin and Ben Masters. Penny liked hanging out at the theater. She was excited to get in front of an audience. In the meantime, Penny realizing she was pregnant again. She talked w/ everyone and weighed a HEAVY heart. After the play's complete run, Penny had an abortion and it became the one thing that Penny has regretted the most.


It was while working on the film 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' that Penny learned the true art of film-making. Penny, being a director, was different. She asked for help and was open to suggestions. One thing that bothered Penny on-set was how SLOW things moved in creating the film. One of the smartest things Penny did was call everyone she knew and asked if they wanted to be in a movie, that's including her daughter, Tracy, as the boss' assistant. In October after the release of the movie, it opened to mixed reviews. Penny had come onto a movie at the last minute w/ NO previous experience and finished the film. It was her FIRST finish w/ someone else's beginning. What do you expect?

Penny's next script was for a film called 'Big'. She read the script and liked the story. No one else really wanted to make this film. Because of what happened w/ 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', Penny wanted to get this one right. She went right to box-office stars. They all passed. Penny suggested Robert DeNiro for the film and he agreed. The studio DID NOT want DeNiro for the film and tried to low-ball him w/ pay. Penny completely understood why he couldn't do the film. Both Tom Hanks and Jeff Bridges wanted to be in 'Big'. Penny went w/ her gut and waited for Tom, who was busy w/ another film. When Tom was finally available, Penny heard from Robert DeNiro again. He changed his mind and wanted to do the film.She told him the position was filled. Penny & Tom developed their own shorthand language.She would just give him a word or a gesture and he knew what it meant One of the 2 days they shot inside the  ICONIC LANDMARK F.A.O. Schwarz featuring the MEMORABLE Keyboard piano keys. Penny tried out the sequences first. The end of the film w/ such emotion in it is what Penny truly wanted. When 'Big' OFFICIALLY finished, all Penny wanted to do was get the Fuck away. When she returned from her trip/getaway, Garry told her that 'Big' surpassed & reached $100 Million. Making her the first woman to reach that magical milestone.

REAL Dr. Oliver Sacks

After the success from 'Big', someone gave Penny a documentary on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Fox Studios suggested that it could be a made-for-TV-movie. After watching the documentary, Penny thought it would be worthy of a feature film. While waiting from writers she trusted, Penny turned her attention to 'Awakenings'. A script based on a 1973 memoir by Dr. Oliver Sacks, a young British neurologist working in the Bronx, who used the drug L-Dopa to wake up patients who had been catatonic for decades. People were already attached to the project but it was dead and going nowhere.The studio wanted it to be a love story, but Penny seen it as a medical mystery.

Penny immediately thought of Robert DeNiro for the role of Dr. Sacks. She thought she owed him because of the validity on 'Big'. Penny called upon the female president of Colombia Pictures and met w/ her. The president excused herself from the situation and told Penny to follow her. In private, she warned Penny "not to trust any of these guys.They will screw her over." Penny offered the job to the president who agreed to do it. After the green-light for the film, Penny went straight for Robin Williams, whom she had known for a long time since 'Mork & Mindy'. Penny did her research on Robin before casting him. After a meeting to get everyone together, Penny KNEW she had walked out w/ her 2 leads in place, Robin & Robert. Penny eventually got w/ the REAL Dr. Oliver Sacks. She promised Oliver to be available whenever needed.

Penny tried her hardest to make the movie as AUTHENTIC as possible. She tried to utilize actual people dealing w/ diseases. During the movie shoot, Sony bought the studio. But it worked out better for them in the end. It had a positive message and Penny was pleased when she seen it.

After 'Awakenings', the bosses at Sony offered Penny a production deal. If she signed w/ them, she would be allowed to do 'A League Of Their Own'. She had already made up her mind and asked Tracy if she wanted to play "Betty Spaghetti" Horn. She did. The only requirement that Penny had for casting the movie was: they had to be able to play baseball. Some of the A.A.G.P.B.L. women who lived locally to them judged whomever tried out as well as other experts. Different actresses wanted to play in the movie but couldn't: Marisa Tomei, Demi Moore, Sean Young & Debra Winger. All for various reasons.

Thanks to Debra, Penny cast Lori Petty as her sister, Kit. Tom Hanks asked for the role of Jimmy Dugan, who was based on slugger Jimmie Foxx. After going to Madonna and met w/ her, she was in. That pissed off Debra Winger. She told Penny that she/Penny "was making an Elvis movie". Debra dropped out of the film. Goodbye Debra. Hello Madonna. Rosie & Madonna were instructed to help each other differently on-set and a friendship was built from there. Geena Davis slipped into the lead and was a natural. They had their Dottie (Hinson). This was Megan Cavanagah's first film. She was originally waitressing at a '50s-style hamburger joint.

Penny made the film into a family affair. Aside from Tracy, she had Garry playing the team's owner, Walter Harvey, her niece Penny Lee in the editing room and her other niece, Wendy, was a productions assistant in charge of where to be on-set. Like Garry, Penny cast family out of loyalty. As time went on, Penny felt more like a coach than a director. Penny was a stickler for authenticity. The scene in the film where Jon Lovitz drops Dottie & Kit off at tryouts was actually ad-libs by Jon with his dialogue. (For those of you that have seen this film, his line involved "shower, shave . . . on my way") To save time, Penny spoke w/ other directors that had done baseball films before. After finishing the train scenes in Illinois, they moved to shoot field scenes in Evansville, Indiana. EVERYONE in the film and their lines were ENTIRELY full of riches. For the ACTUAL reunion w/ the AAGPBL players, there were a few actresses, but Penny used REAL veterans from the game. They were why the film was made. Their spirit was felt and they/the cast heard about the REAL fun they TRULY had from the real players.

In June 1992, the film opened to positive reviews. It eventually reached $100 Million. Penny's second film to reach that milestone. Steven Speilberg was intrigued when Penny told him she used the real women. In the end, the movie didn't belong to Penny . . . . it belonged to the women who played the game.

The REAL A.A.G.P.B.L.

At the end of 'A League Of Their Own', Tracy revealed that she was pregnant and engaged. Penny tried to do what she could in preparation. Even though there was Dan, Tracy's fiance, and Mickey, Tracy's dad, Penny was the one that stepped into action and held Tracy down. Tracy had a home birth w/ a midwife. She had a baby boy they named Spencer. Two weeks later, Penny celebrated her 50TH birthday. After fixing up a house for Tracy in LA, Tracy and her fiance split up. In early 1993, Penny tried to develop different projects but they were never picked up by a studio. One day Penny was sent the manuscript for 'Renaissance Man', which was based on the TRUE story of Bill Rago. Penny didn't think it was a blockbuster, but she liked the message it had. When Danny Devito signed on for the project, he warned her she would have to add extra wood. That was because Danny is short and she had to put planks of wood under him to raise him up. After noticing a model at a Calvin Klein tribute and the crowd going nuts, Penny told the assistant to bring him in. She met him in New York. After an hour, model and rapping pop star "Marky Mark" walked in w/ his first movie role.

Penny wanted Tupac Shakur to play Hobbs. He auditioned and was very good. The issue was that he didn't want to rap on-screen, which was what the character called for. Penny maintains a friendship w/ Mark ever since. Mark credits Penny for getting him out of underwear and the Funky Bunch. The reviews from the film seemed positive. During promotion for the film, Garry left word for his sister that their father suffered a stroke.

One night Penny went w/ a friend to 3 events. She had a sip or 2 of a drink. That was it. The next morning, Penny woke up feeling stiffness in her left arm. It didn't hurt as much as it did weird. Soon security and paramedics rushed in. Even w/ feeling better, she still went to the hospital. Penny was feeling strong & feisty. She had to do the 24hr routine in the hospital. Despite morning reports the next day, it was NOT A HEART ATTACK. She just had to stop and appreciate her good fortune. Disney went to Penny w/ 'The Preacher's Wife', the remake from 1947's 'The Bishop's Wife'. Penny met w/ Loretta Young, the only cast member from the film still alive.

Kmart had come to Penny and said they wanted Rosie O'Donnell to do a series of commercials for them. Rosie would do them ONLY if Penny did them w/ her. They got paid ALOT of money and became best friends. Penny does tell fascinating tales of behind-the-scene stories during the shooting of the film. Despite reports, Penny truly didn't have any problems w/ Whitney Houston while making the film 'The Preacher's Wife'. What Penny did see from Whitney was: GREATNESS. The only trouble throughout the film was finding the PERFECT music for the film.

When the movie OFFICIALLY opened in February 1997, Penny had no complaints. She also talks about her love of basketball games. After a championship game, Penny took Leonardo Dicaprio into the locker room. She eventually heard word that Cindy Williams had split from Bill after 10 years and 2 kids. Penny was eager to reconnect w/ her/Cindy. She still considered Cindy a friend. Reconnecting after 15 years later.

The next film project for Penny came after getting ahold of film rights to Beverly Donofrio's memoir 'Riding In Cars With Boys'. The same person that actually got the film rights also suggested Drew Barrymore for the lead. Penny hired the late Brittany Murphy to play Beverly's best friend. She added Sara Gilbert and was ready to work. Things had to be put on hold waiting for the film 'Charlie's Angels' to wrap. Prior to this, the film's lead was already promised to Drew.

Penny brought in James Woods, who played Beverly's father, but he was on another film, so they had to wait. The script drove Penny crazy. EVERYTHING on that film was a mess. Brittany Murphy was a real trooper. She/Brittany worked through anything, including being sick as a dog at the scene when Jason falls in the pool. If it was asked, Brittany did it. Drew required more patience & finesse. People in production always wanted to focus on Drew in the film. All Drew. All the time. After different screenings and was ready to open, 911 happened.

Penny wanted to premiere in New York to bring positivity to the city, but others said no and Penny took it personally. During this time, Penny and Carrie celebrated their birthdays, the last of their joint parties after doing them for 20 years. It was habit and no different when Penny made plans to be out of the country when the film opened. Penny went to any event, to Ground Zero and listened to stories from firemen. She did ALOT of hugging and responding. She wanted to show it was safe in New York and went nonstop. Penny would have flashes of her mother and the other kids from her mom's dance studio. Penny felt like everyone should know what it was like to be in New York. Everyone was doing their part and she was doing hers. For the next 8 years, Penny devoted her time to charities and sports. Charity work agreed w/ her. She supported food banks and inner city kids. After getting so much, it just felt good to Penny to give back.

After more than a decade making films, Penny slowed down. She was a fixture at basketball games. In 2004, Tracy met and married Matthew Conlan. A year later in 2006, Tracy had a cutie of a daughter named Viva.

At a basketball game, someone asked Penny "if she ever thought she would be where she is?" Before answering, she thought back on her life, from back in Albuquerque; pregnant, scared and married to Mickey. Everything she thought was impossible, even after the move to Hollywood, giving show business a shot. The way things turn out . . . . you just never know!

In 2009, Penny walked off stage at an event in a daze. Garry was there and sensed something was wrong. She had assured him it was exhaustion and she would sleep on the plane. After reaching New York and sleeping at her apartment, Penny and a friend went to see the New York Giants. After trying to make her way to the owner's seats, that required ALOT of walking to the seats. After the first set of stairs, Penny had difficulty. Someone recognized her and got her a cart. Penny was feeling off and different. It scared her.

In a semi-fog, Penny was taken to a hospital the next morning. After an exam & testing in the ER, Penny wasn't fine. She was diagnosed w/ lung cancer and a brain tumor. With her friends there to be w/ her, Penny sent some out to get some White Castles., taking the cancer news for what it is. After everyone arrived and were flipping out at the news, Penny was calm. The room filled with people. She/Penny IS NOT a hospital person. For her brain surgery, Penny was put out w/ proprofol. She was given Tylenol and felt no pain. The incompetence in the hospital drove her NUTS! She was back in her apartment on the weekend. Radiation & chemo were as effective as surgery for the tumors, which eventually disappeared. The side effects to the treatments were weight gain. That embarrassed her. She called Carrie and asked for some Jenny Craig meals. Penny quit smoking. Within a day she was back at it and still does.

After going though what she did and being in remission: what now? Surprisingly being a grandmother of 3 is something Penny likes. She hasn't changed much over the years. Looking back, Penny seen that by sticking to the rules as a kid,  she has surpassed her mother's expectations as well as her own.