It works for them... why not?

Blue eyes

Blue eyes

Jonathan asks, stupefied -What?- To which Susanna clarifies -Yeah... I acted like that so they wouldn't associate me with the Deetzes when I started my career in New York-

Hopper asks -When the hell did that happen?- She replies -After I graduated... or well, that was the idea. In the end, I didn't sell a single photograph, and all my manuscripts were rejected-

The tense police chief asks -Yeah, well... could Joyce please step outside?- He tries to control his usually aggressive tone, but Susanna looks at him indifferently and responds tersely -Sorry, handsome, but we're not like...- He searches for the words, but can't find them, so he just says, -... "That kid"- pointing at Liam, and finishes -... We don't talk to each other-

Nancy, always perceptive, asks -So, Susanna... what are you doing here?- Susanna replies -Good question... The last thing I remember is leaving Claymoore, planning to come visit my aunt Darlenne, and suddenly... here I am-

Lucas asks, without understanding -What is "Claymoore"?- To which she casually replies A psychiatric support center... I mean, a mental hospital-

This revelation left everyone completely speechless, until Jonathan urgently asks -So, what the heck were you doing there?-

Susanna replies -Maybe I was crazy... maybe it was the 60s- No one understood her comment, mainly because the only other person alive back then was Hopper, and that era brought back VERY bad memories.

So I sigh and clarify -Charles and Delia thought it would be good for me... after I took an entire bottle of aspirin with half a bottle of vodka and ended up in the ICU-

Steve asks, frightened, whispering -Please... tell me they hid all the alcohol- Jonathan answers in the same tone -Well, yes... but I don't know if she remembers where-

Eddie asks -You do know it's been 20 years, right?- Susanna indifferently waves her hand and answers -More or less... my perception of time has always been somewhat "nonlinear" like I get memories of arriving here in Hawkins, but it's like watching the trailers for a movie... a very boring movie, by the way, but I think I was looking for you- pointing at Hopper.

Then he continues .But you were gone... to the war, your father told me. Then I looked for Bob the Brain, he wasn't there either, at college, I think- Those words brought back memories and regrets to the police officer's mind.

Susanna continued -Then, just as I was about to head home, I ran into little Lonnie Byers... who wasn't so little anymore, and...- Jonathan stops her, saying, alarmed -Okay, okay... we get the context of the story now, no details please-

Liam rolls his eyes and comments -You're so exaggerated... Please tell me your books weren't as melodramatic as Gordie's- addressing Susanna at the end.

She replies -Publishers classified them as "excessively self-indulgent" and "very harsh with social criticism"- to which Liam replies -Whew, perfect-

Susanna comments -I think that's partly why I'm here- Hopper asks -What are you talking about?-

And she explains -I think Joyce and Lydia didn't like looking at him, as he was "before"- pointing to Gordie on the screen, and then, disinterested, adds -But I think it's also because he couldn't stand how much you two look like him- pointing to her biological children.

She shrugs and comments -But like I said... I'm just guessing- and takes a pack of cigarettes out of her coat, caring little about the children present. In fact, Liam, calmly, asks her -Can I have one?- which surprised the group.

But they were even more surprised when Susanna indifferently replied -Fine- without even looking at him, and handed the pack to him.

Although Jonathan quickly snatches it away and replies -Hey, hey, no... forget it- in an annoyed tone.

Liam responds, amused -Oh, come on... Will's been stealing her cigarettes since he was 10- and Susanna adds, still indifferent, staring into space -And she knows it, she let it go... just like she knew about your "purple activities" with the long-haired boy-

Jonathan freezes, and his face begins to show embarrassment. Fortunately, the only ones who understand the context of the sentence are Mike and 11.

Liam points at him and laughs as he comments -Look at that face, Aunt Susanna, hahaha- She turns to look at him and smiles very slightly.

The eldest son says, bewildered -What? What? What do you mean, Aunt?... YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU'RE AGREE WITH THIS-

The younger son shrugs and replies -Well, it would be a little awkward for me to meet my mom, there are so many people, and Joyce is very... Joyce-

Susanna sighs in annoyance and adds -You said it-

Then Liam continues -Besides, you have to respect the way people process their mental health issues as long as they don't hurt anyone, and you should too... insensitive- He crosses his arms and turns his head, refusing to look at him.

Jonathan angrily asks Is she not hurting anyone?- Suddenly, his little brother turns to look at him angrily and says The only one I see hurting here is your ego... Johnny-

The older brother angrily asks -What?- and Johnny replies -You spend your time complaining just like him- pointing at the screen where Gordie's horrified face was still visible.

And then he continues -But in the end, they're both the same... whining all day about how unfair their lives are and all the opportunities they were never given-

Nancy stands up and walks to the board with a slight grunt of agreement.

Jonathan, very annoyed, is about to answer when a hand grips his shoulder firmly. It's Steve, who urgently says -No... blue eyes-

After a few seconds, he understands. It's Dan. Steve urgently comments -You mot... Susanna's right. This isn't the time to talk. We'd better get this over with quickly-

He was about to grab the remote again, but Nancy stops him, asking -Susanna... what year did you leave Claymoore?-

She answers -65... I think- With some hesitation, Nancy puts a Post-it note with "New York/Susanna/62" and then another one with "Claymoore/65" to stick it on Joyce's lifeline on the board.

Okay, it took a lot longer than expected, I admit, but I needed everything to be perfect. I wrote about three drafts for this chapter, and I had to decide what to include from each one.

And I think I should clarify that Joyce isn't abandoning her sons, not exactly, considering the circumstances; this would be the equivalent of the mother who buys a Cornetto and spends 10 minutes listening to the radio in the supermarket parking lot while eating it, before starting the car and heading home.

Give me Votes and add Libraries.

Criticism and comments are welcome.