CHAPTER NINETEEN
Allison spent the next three months in the hospital and an additional four months in a convalescent facility. During that time, she overcame her addiction to alcohol and worked on regaining the ability to walk. She also reluctantly agreed to join her family on the West Coast once the doctor released her from his care.
Despite knowing what his sister had been through, Bobby was shocked at the sight of her being lifted out of the airport’s courtesy van and into a wheelchair. But the glee Bobby felt over seeing his sister for the first time in a year quickly overcame his surprise. Clutching a large paper bag, Bobby ran down the sidewalk to greet Allison. He threw his arms around her neck and placed a quick kiss on her lips.
“Hey, sis.”
Smiling warmly, Allison returned the hug. “Hey, kiddo. Been a while.”
“Yeah, it has.” He gave her the bag. “I picked you up a little something.”
“Well, thanks!” Allie opened the bag and pulled out a Bobby Womack album.
“I’m not really an expert on soul music…”
“You did fine, kiddo. ‘Lookin’ For A Love’ is a great song.”
It did not take long for thing to get back to what, for the Leonettis, passed for normal. Her limited ability to walk did nothing to curb Allie’s petulance and acerbic wit. It also did not help that Bobby felt the need to constantly remind his sister that it was his “lack of talent” that allowed his family to drive Cadillacs and live in a twelve-room house in Brentwood.
Allie also noticed disturbing changes in her brother’s behavior. Bobby spent increasing amounts of time alone in his bedroom. He also kept losing weight and was very fidgety. When watching TV, Bobby got up to change the channel every few minutes. Allison also heard Bobby in his room pacing the floor at all hours of the night and talking to people who weren’t there. Finally, she confronted him about it.
“Are you taking drugs?”
“What?”
“You heard me, kiddo. You’re displaying telltale signs of drug usage.”
“You’re nuts!”
“So you’re not taking drugs? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“What I’m telling you is to keep out of my goddamned business.” Bobby ran upstairs, leaving a heartsick Allison staring after him from her wheelchair. She decided to tell her parents.
“What are you talking about?” said Maria. “Your brother’s not taking drugs.”
“Yeah,” said Vince. “We raised him better than that.”
“Sure, like you raised me not to be a drunk. Haven’t you noticed him acting kinda weird?”
Maria laughed. “He’s an artist, Allie. They supposed to act weird.”
Since no one took her suspicions seriously, Allison tried to convince herself that she was mistaken. She found a good physical therapist and continued to work on her legs. She also enrolled in night school to obtain her G.E.D. After that, Allison planned to attend college.
The Big Screen Adventures of Captain Bobby came out that summer and turned almost as big a profit as The Singer had. With another album climbing the charts and a new single in the top ten, Bobby spent July and August on tour. On Labor Day weekend, he again appeared on “The Kenny Kendall Show.” In Kendall’s office, Bobby complained that the pills the TV host had recommended no longer did anything for him.
Sitting at his desk, Kendall said, “Let me make a phone call.”
When he hung up, Kendall wrote down a name and phone number, which he gave to Bobby. “Friend of mine in Watts. He said to come over any time.”
“Thanks, Kenny. You’re a pal.”