The Story of Lennie Johns

ONE DAY AT A TIME is a work of fiction, based on a cartoonish version of a real celebrity. Which means, artistic license was used to create the people, places, and things in this story.

Many will say it's about musician and famous member of The Beatles, John Lennon, and that's hard to dispute. I took inspiration from his life and attributes, but that's as far as it went because when he was killed on December 8, 1980 all ability to wonder about his life ended: what it would be like had the event never happened, and what would he be like as well. My character Lennie Johns required a fictional status because he needed room to grow outside of all that; he needed room to develop his own existence, as well the story needed the same ability to expand. As a writer, that would not have been possible if I'd stuck to any ideas about a real person called John Lennon or anyone else you have in mind. The fact is, there's a lot of Ozzy Osbourne in Lennie Johns and for those who are still mourning his passing, perhaps they'll find comfort in the fact that he, like John, can live in the world of Lennie.  

Let me tell you about Lennie. The time is October 1990, he has woken from a coma after a violent attack, and he is originally from Manchester though he now lies in a hospital in Staten Island. It’s a financial thing. Being in a coma costs money. He used to have a lot of it, but you know how things are. How things are . . . his artist wife Kiko emigrated to Europe to hang out with Andy Warhol with rich financiers and she's a big star. It’d be admirable, really, if it wasn’t so shocking. Lennie thought she loved him but clearly he was wrong about a lot of things. At least he has his two nurses, Candy and Madge, to keep him company, although with his salty words and acerbic ways he fears they too could leave in a revolutionary style of dissention. The thing is, he can’t walk and that means he needs them. When Lennie found out he couldn't walk he felt very alone and . . . what did Ratso say in Midnight Cowboy? Scared. 

Lennie is scared. He can’t walk, he can’t pee, he can’t get out of bed; it’s ten years later and the world has changed. There’s a war in the Gulf and no one seems to remember any of the goddamned wonderful shit he said about Peace and it’s frustrating and . . . he’s scared.  

So when one of his toes moves, then the other, then his entire leg . . . Lennie declares himself a miracle (but not bigger than Jesus), and he and Nurse Madge hit the road for the panhandle. Fun and chaos ensue. Along the way he meets up with his ole bandmates Saul, Dingo, and Jorges and together they write a new hit song called, “Yeah, I Love You.”  

“Are The Bootles getting back together?” That’s the age-old question. Nothing about how his legs work or world peace. Nothing about what he wants now or how much he's changed. He's changed? Yes, but not like the world outside his window. Music's done a 180, people are cut-throat, clothes are different, society is different and it's all a bit too much to accept. His own lawyer Ethan said it best, "You can't get a blow without, well, blow."

If he wasn't so scared, he'd be inspired.

Lennie's trying not to look too far ahead. You can’t do that. You always must be an optimist, even if you're opposed to it. You have to remember to keep a clean pair of underwear, never look back, and continue to take life ONE DAY AT A TIME. And that's exactly what Lennie intends to do. I hope you'll enjoy the journey of Lennie Johns and all the people he meets along that way. 

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