Party Down Under

By Dick Z. Lenn

Katie Anderson is a five-year-old with pure blue eyes that shine like the sky on a sunny day. Being the daughter of Sophia Anderson has its advantages as well as disadvantages. Sophia is a superstar who spends her days on the set of her sitcom, Party Down Under, and her nights wrestling with her inner-demons. But what no one knows is that someon

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dick Z Lenn Publications
• Release date: Dec 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781954168091

Dick Z. Lenn

Dick Z Lenn enjoys horticulture. She’s a member of the VRC also having works published in 2001 for conservation works. “Party Down under” is a in-depth look on perseverance. Being on the receiving end of abuse she writes this book and hopes to reach as many readers as possible, being an advocate she believes everyone has a chance.

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Party Down Under

Copyright © 2020 by Dick Z. Lenn

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN

978-1-954168-11-4 (Hardcover)

978-1-954168-10-7 (Paperback)

978-1-954168-09-1 (eBook)

Explore the story of Katie Anderson as her life dramatically unravels before her eyes.

Katie Anderson is a flamboyant blonde little girl with the purest blue eyes that shine like the blue sky on a sunny day. With her birthday being today, she was overly excited knowing she was going to be able to spend the day with her mother. See, being the daughter of Sophia Anderson has its advantages as well as disadvantages; she got whatever she wanted—just not all the time she wanted with her mother. See, her mother is a superstar who more often than not spent most of her time on set doing the sitcom Party Down Under. Katie stood anxiously waiting for her mother to come down the stairs so they could go. Her mother had previously told her that she was going to see the animals at the zoo and go to the park. When Katie saw her mother coming down the stairs, she couldn’t keep her excitement bottled up any longer.

Come on, Mom! We’re going to be late!

Katie, I promise that you’ll get to see the monkeys.

Mom, we gotta go.

Sophia chuckled as her daughter ran to the car. Sophia fastened her in and headed to the mall to get Katie her birthday present. Katie was taking in all the sights. When she saw the tall buildings and big balloons, she heard her daughter say with excitement,

Look, Mom!

Yes, I see, sweetie, are you ready to go to the mall? Do you know what you are going to pick out?

Kelly says the unicorn is the best. I think I want that, Mom.

What do you want, Katie? Kelly’s mother can get hers.

Katie looked at her mother knowing what her tone of voice meant; that meant she was serious, and when she spoke like that, it usually meant she wanted the truth. Katie looked into her mother’s eyes, a face that she would see on television. It was her TV face too, that’s how she knew when her mother was going to work. Nervously she responded,

No, I want the unicorn, Mom.

Okay, if that’s what you truly want.

Sophia parked the car and slipped into the mall. She knew Burt wasn’t too far behind, so she headed to the toy isle where Katie bounced right over to the blue unicorn and walked to her mother, who smiled; if she knew her daughter at all, she knew Katie already had a place picked out to put the blue toy. Sophia didn’t want Katie picking a toy just because a girl at school told her; too, she’d already had a discussion with a few parents and teachers. Katie would come home thinking that because the little children in her class told her about toys, then she needed to have one that night, but it was just so the little kids at school could take them from her. Katie was a sweet little girl with a bubbly personality, but when it came to other children, she was and always would be gullible. It made Sophia mad that her daughter was taken advantage of, so she looked into those little pools of blue and asked again,

You sure you don’t want to look around maybe get something else?

No, Mom, I want this one.

Okay, come on, I’ll take you to Burger King, then we will go to the zoo and the park.

Okay, Mom! Let’s go, I can’t wait to see the monkeys!

Sophia bent down in front of her daughter. Katie watched as the people stared at her mother. She truly didn’t understand why. Not really. Katie wanted to tell all the people watching her mother to stop looking, she didn’t like it much. She did love going places with her mother, but the people with cameras kept her from going a lot of places with her mother. Sophia took her hands; she knew it was risky in public, but she wanted her daughter to know how she felt. Sophia didn’t want the paparazzi to have a field day with her daughter; she saw the curious look in the little girl’s eyes as she chewed her lip, a telltale sign that she was nervous. Sophia smiled.

Katie, you know I love you, right?

Katie looked in her mother’s eyes; she watched that smile bloom on the little blonde’s face as it glistened in her eyes. Katie broke out into a series of giggles, telling Sophia that was a silly question.

Of course, Mom, I know you love me.

I know I don’t get enough time with you, especially the time that I want to get with you, but I want you to know I do think about you all the time.

I love you, Mom.

Sophia pushed back the tears that threatened to show as the warmth of her daughter’s words shot straight to her heart. She knew at that moment everything would be okay. After doing all the things Sophia had promised Katie, they headed back to the Villa; bubbling with excitement, Katie chattered on about what all she was going to tell Maria and where she was going to put the blue unicorn—freshly named Blue, which would be between Orange the Hippo and Banana the Monkey. Sophia beamed with pride knowing she had made her little girl’s birthday a special day.

Bearing her gifts, Katie barreled up the steps as fast as her legs would carry her, ready to show Maria just what she had got with her mother. Sophia stood back, watched the joy spring from the little girl’s eyes, as she couldn’t tell Maria fast enough about the monkeys and the birds in the park. She spoke with excitement.

Maria! Maria! Look what Mom bought me, it’s the unicorn. Mom took me to get fries and to the park and to the zoo too see the monkeys.

Whew! You’ve been busy. Why don’t you go on up. I’ll bring you your milk and cookies. Then we’ll read your favorite book. If you wash your face and brush your teeth.

Yes, ma’am.

Maria watched the little blonde bounce up the stairs. She smiled so glad that her birthday was such a day for her to remember. She turned to close the door; she noticed Sophia was still standing there. She looked into Sophia’s eyes.

You okay, Sophia? You look tired.

Sophia stood with her eyes half closed; worry lines formed around her mouth. She knew Maria would ask. She smiled that half smile that got maria most of the time she knew better than anyone who maria truly was and also knew Maria knew her better than anyone she loved thinking about the times they spent together when katie was at school and her husband was off doing whatever it is he did she had her suspiscions but knew it really wouldn’t matter in the end sometimes she wished she could just hide away with the ones that meant the most to her just escape from the reality and live life she wanted so much to just be out right honest and say she was tired tired of the lies and the deceit tired of hiding who she truly was tired of always having to steal those moments of perpetual bliss. One thing she knew she loved katie and would do whatever nessecary to see that her daughter didn’t have to struggle with being true to herself or have to worry about pure nonsense She looked elegant as she always did. Maria loved sophia she knew that soph knew it too on those long quiet walks next too the gardens they would spend that quality time saying what they couldn’t say in the daylight she so wished sophia would open up about work she knew something was going on that troubled her lover she just couldn’t pinpoint what like right now she could tell when Sophia was at her end just as she knew that Sophia would tell her that everything was fine.

Oh, Maria, I’m fine love seriously. Tell you what, I’ll read to Katie tonight.

Sophia walked toward Maria the only one who was still in her life before fame and fortune she smiled as she kissed her letting maria know she still totally wanted her and after ten years it still melted Maria’s heart Maria totally answered back with her own power punch Maria pulled away afraid that Ray would come staggering in at any moment

Sophia you know i love you but we cant just kiss like that knowin its time for Ray to walk in You’re sure you dont need to rest you look beat?

Yes i’m sure, and i will kiss you anytime i want Maria the last time i checked you loved that kiss just as much as i did but if you feel that way than im giving you a chance to get out test the waters, plus I haven’t spent enough time with her. I realized that today.

i don’t need too test the waters sophia your the only being on this earth i long for like that i just dont want anymore stress on you with the tabloids going on about the incident involving Ray you dont need anymore.

you let me worry about that Maria i love you and if i deal with it for Ray i believe it will be well worth the while on someone i truly love.

Sophia kissed Maria so deep it had Maria aching for more she so wanted to take sophia right there in the foyer not caring who came in but she would back off she knew how ray got when he was drinking pissed her off is what it did she understood the situation that sophia was in they didn’t declare love for one another until after the marriage Maria wanted things done clean cut just like sophia did she was content being the one who was responsible for that beautiful smile

you ok Maria?

im more than ok just so totally wanted you naked

She saw the smile blossom on sophia’s face

out with you we will finish this tomorrow morning love

yes ma’am

Sophia watched maria turn and walk toward the door

hey tittlepop!

She watched maria turn with the smile and blush

Yes?

i love you

l love you to Rockstar

She smiled and loved when they used the nicknames from high school sophia went upstairs she hated facing reality she knew she could just kick ray out and move maria in but that would be an ugly mess one neither wanted for katie she sighed as she went to her bedroom Sophia slipped into her nightgown. wishing she was getting dressed for someone else and knowing exactly why she couldn’t right now sucked She knew Ray would come in lit, and she wanted to be ready for bed before he came in. Due to the fact that if she was in there with him, he would want to have sex. With a drunk like Ray, it was more like wallowing; she totally hated the fact that Ray had turned out to be the loser her mother had predicted. Her mother was a devoted christian and was dead set against her feelings for Maria she had proclaimed she loved Maria in the tenth grade her mother’s wrath was brutal so she tried dating men and wound up with ray what a prize she thought so she gave it a try she talked to Maria who was confused with her feelings at the time and they became really close friends On the start, she had totally believed in him and what he said. How he said he was destined to be the best Hollywood had to offer. She shook her head. He totally flopped that ever since he went to the bottle for confidence and comfort. Now she knew she should’ve listened to her mother. Better yet it made her furious for pushing away maria the real love she knew now she had and could have had but then she wouldn’t have katie and katie was worth it the wait and the worry. She found Katie in her bed, pj’s on, and her unicorn on her lap. Sophia noticed the new comforter and pictures of her and Katie on the wall. she loved the little things that maria did it made her heart swell she also knew maria dove into katie with true and honest love. With Katie, things were always about love; even though she knew her dad and loved her dad, Sophia knew the little girl heard the fights. Katie still smiled; she didn’t go to her father with problems or questions, she just went to the one she knew would smile when they saw her, and that would be her mother. Sophia had filed for divorce a couple weeks ago; she knew if Ray found out about that, he would be highly pissed. She wanted to say that she did it for her and Maria on a small scale she did but the main reason was katie she deserved better than what he was giving she deserved someone who truly loved her like sophia did and only one fit that bill so she had went to see her lawyer Gina and told her what she needed done she couldn’t deal with a drunken Ray the rest of her life; Katie deserved the best in everything. Sophia cleared her throat and took the chair by Katie’s bed; she saw that bright smile when those eyes looked right on hers, then she watched that smile subside.

Mom, you okay?

Hey, baby, let me read to you tonight.

Okay!

Sophia sat down and began reading to Katie about the little bear that had trouble sleeping because he was afraid of the monsters in his closet. She kissed the head of her sleeping daughter as she read, a gesture she found she missed more than she realized. Katie was then asleep. Sophia just sat there a minute; she knew what needed to be done, had lawyers working effortlessly to get it finalized. Sophia heard the door open and shut downstairs. She took a deep breath and stood and placed the book back it’s place on the bookshelf getting ready for what seemed like the samething everyday; with that simple gesture, Katie woke up. It was rare when her mother took the time to read to her. Maria usually did and although katie loved her mother she worried about her mother Katie watched her mom run her hand across her brow. she knew that meant her mother and father usually ended up yelling,

You okay, Mom?

Yes, baby, I love you.

The woman watched the Andersons for a while, whomever said hard work paid off was a fool all they truly needed was a brain she set out to find Sophia anderson and she did. She couldn’t be more happier about the plan she set into motion the bitch should have listened. She was already in especially now that she owned the security that was protecting the bitches pretty ass. She could have her dead right now oh and it was pure satisfaction knowing that but she wanted to be the one watch the life leave Sophia’s body she wanted sophia to have to look into her eyes and know who held her life in her hand. The security gaurd was already eating out of the palm of her hand she had the whole schedule she even knew when the royal pain in the asses sat to watch tv and she knew that Ray would come into the house wasted; She also knew about Sophias little side fling with the nanny never figured her for a fur trader she smiled as she set content with the knowledge she was finally going to get even. her little birdies told her all she needed to know about Ray Anderson they would tell her anything she needed to know all she needed to do was shell out the cash what was cash she had more than she needed especially after she sealed the deal to make sure it was hers she shook her head in amusement as she thought about the one woman who infuriated her more than anything it amused her how she landed such a winner at least that was small satisfaction knowing she had to deal with a drunk every night though she wanted more pain more distruction the bitch forgot her so she planned on revenge oh ray would not know what hit him there wasn’t a night that he didn’t come home that way. He would be easy to eliminate. She didn’t have to deal with that one. She roped her sucker he would take care of her light work; she never would forget Sophia as a little girl promising to be there for her. It was a lie; she hadn’t been. Now she was big time, not evening knowing her or calling. With Sophia gone, he just found another one wouldn’t even mess with her. She hated the fact that Sophia was the favorite, all because she was blonde and beautiful. It should’ve been her; she had been there longer. Then she got a scholarship and moved away; it should have been her on that damn bus, not Sophia. Even in school, Sophia had better friends and better grades. She never saw her; the fact she could walk right past her and never blink, it infuriated her, but that would all change tonight. She would know who held her life in their hands, and that was pure satisfaction; it was foolproof, thanks to Sophia’s crazy, jealous, and in love boyfriend who played right into her hands. She laughed as she would finally get even with the one who had kept her in the shadows for way too long. Oh, she had tried to get to Sophia, but damn her security was so tight, there were several failed attempts. She dressed in what she needed. She appeared to be an old helpless woman—who wouldn’t make way for a frail eighty-year-old? She eased down the street from the Villa. She didn’t want a damn thing materialistic; it was more personal. She wanted Sophia dead; that’s all there was to it. She had to be dead, so she would get her tonight. Oh yes, it had to be tonight. Oh, and that damn brat—she looked just like Sophia. It made her want to shatter things—multiple things. She climbed out knowing she would be in a rage; too early, she slipped into the bushes knowing that was only one of few blind spots on the property. She watched as Joe walked up. She saw the sweat beading on his face.

Do it, you best not fuck up.

All right, you said you would let her go.

Sure, you just do your end.

She bit her lip in anticipation as she watched Joe go in the house. She timed him, and he was right on the dot. She watched as he left and headed down the street. She slid in and went upstairs. She walked briskly and started her plan into motion. She smirked at the expensive paintings high up on the wall and at the glassware baubles; she glanced down at the lifeless Joe and was thankful she found an amount that paid that security guard off for the accurate information. Now it was her turn. She smirked as she came to the family photo of the smiling three, which made her grit her teeth.

Sophia heard him come upstairs. She felt nervous as she pulled Katie to her just by the way he came upstairs. She couldn’t describe it, but a hint of danger lurked in the air. She pulled Katie too her in a tight hug.

I love you, hide in the pile of clothes, baby. Whatever you hear or see, don’t scream.

Mommy, are you okay?

Sophia pulled Katie to her held, her tight. She felt her daughter shake with fear; her heart ached, wanting to reassure her that everything was going to be okay but knew that would be a bit premature.