Chapter 30

On Wednesday, Taylor was drug kicking and screaming, figuratively speaking, to something called a "6 week checkup".  Though his mother swore she'd warned him about it the week before, he was certain the first he'd heard about it had been that morning at the breakfast table.  What was supposed to be a quiet day of wrapping presents and baking holiday treats quickly turned into a one sided shouting match upon Taylor and Diana's return home from the doctor's office.

"You will not ignore me, young man!" was the first sign that things had gone poorly.  Every ear in the house was suddenly tuned in to the kitchen.

As Walker headed that way, the pitter patter of six other pairs of feet were quickly joining him.  "What's going on?"  He asked as he entered the fray.

"Do you know what he's done?"  Walker could tell she was very mad and he considered backing out of the kitchen, but it was too late, too many people were behind him.  He looked at his son sitting in a kitchen chair, his right arm in a sling.

"Uh...  He broke his other arm?"

"No, it's worse."  She said.

"It's NOT worse!"  Taylor said, and the look he gave his mother was one Isaac had seen others slapped for.

"Do you want to show your ass to your father?"  She said back to him.  Gasps were heard behind Walker, not only because it was such a shocking question, but because when Diana used swear words it was a rarity and usually someone was in deep trouble.  Jessica sighed and thought to herself, boy is he in for it.

"Di, what the heck are you talking about?"

"Go ahead Taylor.  Aren't you proud of it?  You must like it, or why else would you have done something so ignorant?  You do know it's forever, right?"

By now, the crowd had moved from the hallway into the kitchen.  "Guys, why don't you all leave..."

Walker started but Diana cut him off.  "No, Walk, I want everybody to see Taylor's little work of art."

The room was silent except for the sound of Zoe sucking on her sippee cup.  Taylor's anger had turned to humiliation.  Zac was the closest to his brother and he thought he could see tears forming in his eyes as he looked down at the floor.

"Well?"  His mother said to him.  Taylor suddenly stood up and before the astonished eyes of his father and all his brothers and sisters, he awkwardly used his left hand and unbuttoned, then unzipped his jeans, turned around and pulled his pants down just far enough to reveal a tiny rose tattoo, about one inch including the stem at the bottom of his hip.   Avery squealed with delight and Mackenzie pulled up his sleeve to show his Pikachu, though it wasn't as lovely as Taylor's.  Isaac and Zac just stood there with their mouths open and Jessica was uncharacteristically quiet.  His father wasn't sure whether to laugh or be furious.  "Imagine my surprise when I saw that!  And, the only reason I saw it was because they were giving him a shot so the awful cut on his arm wouldn't get infected!"

"Taylor," his father said.  "Pull your pants up.  When... no wait.  First things first.  What happened to your arm?"

He was struggling to zip his pants back up and that button at the top took two hands and it hurt.  He turned back to his father.  He signed as best he could, "I cut it when I broke the window upstairs.  I L-O-C-K-E-D myself out."

Walker looked at his wife.  "Well, how bad is it?"

She answered.  "The doctor said he didn't appear to have cut anything vital, but that it should have had stitches.  It's too late now, so they just cleaned it and did the best they could."  Taylor sighed, sitting back down and looking miserable.  She looked at him and said softly, "that looked like it hurt."  She patted him on the shoulder and reached into a bag on the table pulling out a bottle, "We're supposed to soak it in this every night, then put on a clean dressing and he's not supposed to use it any more than necessary for seven days."

Isaac looked at both his brothers, he decided it would be best if Taylor took the rap alone for this as saying anything would implicate Zac as well as himself in the cover up.  The kids all decided the show was over. Isaac watched as Mackenzie walked over to Taylor and hugged him.  "I think your flower is pretty, Tay."  He said.

Taylor smiled.  "Thanks Mack."

"Will you watch Rudolph with me tonight?"  Taylor nodded and his baby brother ran off into the living room.

"Man,"  Zac said, "I smell something."

Diana looked at Taylor, who quickly stood up again, put his hand on his hip and said to her, "Well if I'd known they were going to stick that thing down my throat, I would not have eaten all those pancakes!"

Diana replied, "I can tell you're yelling at me and I don't appreciate it.  I told you last week, now, go take a shower and if I were you, I'd be a good boy for the next few days or Santa might get you an appointment to have your little masterpiece removed."   He turned to leave, but she stopped him.  "No, take a bath instead, and don't get your arm wet."

He nodded and walked out into the hall then up the stairs.  As Isaac and Zac began to walk out as well, their father stopped them, "Hang on there guys."

They both looked at him, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell you what?"  Zac asked.

"Everything.   When someone in this family does something to hurt themselves or someone else, we need to know.  Do you understand me?"

"Yeah."  Zac answered.

Walker looked at Isaac.  "Yes sir."

"When did he get the tattoo?"

Zac said, "I swear Dad, I was just as freaked as you about that!"

"I didn't know either, Dad."  Isaac said.

"Hmph.  Go on."  He said and they both left.

~~~~

Zac and Isaac went up to Taylor's room to wait for him.  On his desk, Isaac noticed lots of unfinished homework.  Some, things he'd turned in to his mother, only to have them returned with a large "Do Over!" written at the top.  Others obviously cast aside with no effort at all.  But also, there were songs, some fully formed, complete with lyrics, chorus, bridge, etc. while some were just  pieces.  His journal lay there with bits of paper stuffed in it here and there and he could even see that there was a drawing or two.  Though he wanted to open it and try and understand what his brother was going through, he knew until Taylor showed these things to him that he would have to resist the temptation.  He hadn't been quite as worried about him recently anyway.  The scene that had been played out that morning was actually a bit of a comfort, Taylor, though shy, had always had a little bold streak and, a tattoo wasn't all that unexpected to Isaac.  He sat on the chair at the desk and grinned remembering his father's face as he'd watched his son pull down his pants in the middle of the kitchen.

Zac had plopped down on Taylor's bed.  He was absent mindedly tapping out a beat on his stomach and his legs.  "I got an e-mail from Chelsea the other day."  He said.

Isaac looked over at him.  "Yeah?  What'd she say?"

"Well, she says Tay hasn't answered a single e-mail that anybody knows of."

"Since when?"  Isaac asked.

"Since it happened."  Zac replied.

"Good grief, that's like 2 months ago!"

"I know, plus, they started piling all the letters and presents and stuff over at the house and Mom hasn't been able to get him to go over there once."

Just then, Taylor came in the room.  He stopped and looked at both his brothers.  "What's up?"  He asked.

Zac spoke first.  "How was the checkup?  Are you gonna live?"

"Unfortunately."  He answered.

"What were they looking for?"  Isaac asked.  Taylor walked over to the computer and typed with one finger.  Zac got up but Isaac was already there, "Scar tissue?"  He asked, puzzled.  Taylor nodded and pointed to his throat.

"Was it ok?"  Zac asked.  Taylor nodded again then pointed to his ribs.

"They alright?"  Zac asked as he pushed some things over and sat on the desk.

"Yep."  Taylor answered.

Isaac looked at Taylor, "So, when did you get the tattoo?"

Taylor shrugged, then sheepishly said, "About three weeks ago."

"Don't get all shy on me now..." Zac said.  "I'm a bad lip reader anyway."

Taylor looked at him and held up three fingers.  "3 weeks."  He said carefully.

"Did it hurt?"

Taylor shrugged again and said, "I was drunk as shit."

Isaac looked at him, "What happened when Mom noticed it?"  Taylor held up his hands and shook his head. "That bad, huh?"

He nodded then typed: When we got in the truck she slapped the crap out of my good arm.

Isaac chuckled, "I can imagine."  He stood up and looked Taylor in the eyes.  They still looked sad somehow.  "So, when are you gonna let me see some of your songs?"

Taylor smiled a little, "Haven't you already?"

"No.  You know I wouldn't do that."

"I know."  Taylor said and he reached over and pushed the papers into a pile then handed them to Isaac.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Can I look too?"  Zac asked.

He nodded again.  As Zac began to read over Isaac's shoulder, Taylor tapped him on the arm.  Zac looked up at him, he put his hand up to his ear like a phone and said  "Marcy."

"You want me to call Marcy?"

Taylor nodded.  "See if I could come see her."

"You're going to her house?"  Zac asked.

He shrugged, "maybe."

Zac went to his room and Taylor followed.  "What's her number?"  He asked as he picked up the phone. Taylor reached in his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper, then handed it to Zac.  He dialed the numbers and when a male voice answered, he rolled his eyes.  "Is Marcy there?"  He asked.

"Who wants to know?"  It was Greg.

"Taylor."  Zac answered.

"This isn't Taylor.  Who is this?"

"You didn't ask who I was, you asked who wanted to know if Marcy was there."

"You little shithead."

"Is she there?"

"Yeah, hang on."  Greg said and Zac looked at Taylor.  "He's getting her."  Taylor nodded.

"Hello?"  He heard Marcy's voice on the other end of the line.

"Hey Marcy, it's Zac.  Tay was wondering if you were there."

"I'm here."

"Ok, uh... hang on."  He said, realizing he had no idea what Taylor wanted him to say.  "She's here Tay, what do you want me to ask her?"

He signed, "can I come over?"

"He wants to know if he could come over."  Zac said to her.

"Well,"  she answered.  "I guess, but both my brothers are here and you know how that is."

"Yeah."  He looked at Taylor.  "Her brothers are there."  Taylor shrugged.  "He says he doesn't care."

"Zac, is he ok?"  Marcy asked.

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Did something happen?"

"A little."  He answered.

"You know, I can't always tell what he says to me.  I think I frustrate him."

"That's ok, hang on again..."  He looked at his brother.  "Go get dressed or somethin'.  She said to come over."  Taylor nodded and waved as he left the room.  "I'm back."  He said to her.  "Marcy, don't worry about that, he must really want to see you or he wouldn't bother."

"Yeah, I guess you're right.  God, I wish my brothers weren't so hateful towards him."

"All guys hate Taylor, don't worry about it."

"Zac, I do worry about it.  I don't want anybody getting hurt."

"He's not as little as he used to be Marcy."

"So I noticed."

"You did, huh?"

"Shut up Zac."  She could feel her face get red.  "I'm hanging up now."

"Ok, go put on a fancy negligee or something..."

"Goodbye!"  She said and hung up the phone with a loud bang.

~~~~

Isaac was startled when Taylor slapped the desk.  "God bless!  Walk loud or something!"  Taylor laughed.  Isaac still hadn't gotten used to that, he missed the sound of his brother's laughter.  "I like the songs."

Taylor was putting on a t-shirt and was having a little trouble.  He looked up at Isaac and raised his eyebrows, "Yeah?"

"Yeah.  So far anyway, you've been busy."  He got up and helped Taylor pull the sleeve over his arm. "Where's your sling thing?"  Taylor wrinkled up his face.  "Why are you so difficult?"  Isaac asked him. Taylor gave him the innocent angel look, but he was one of the few people who were immune to it.  "If I were you, I'd keep Mom happy.  Besides, they wouldn't have given it to you if they didn't think you needed it."

Taylor rolled his eyes but went into the bathroom and came back with it.  "How am I supposed to wear a coat?"

"A coat?"  Isaac questioned.  Taylor nodded.  "Well, just leave your arm out of the sleeve.  You're still using Zac's right?  Marcy'll feel sorry for you, it'll be great."

Taylor cocked his head at Isaac, giving him a look that said 'watch it'.  Isaac went over to Taylor's desk and grabbed the small pad of paper there, "here, Marcy doesn't understand signing.  Yet."

And he grinned at Taylor then threw the sling over his head.  "Man, watch the hair!"

"Ha!  Don't even act like you fixed your hair, it's still dripping.  If you get out of the house like that, it'll be a miracle."

Taylor gingerly put his arm in the sling, thinking he looked more nerdy than usual now.  God, how he hated doctors, everytime they fixed him he always felt worse for it.  The two made their way downstairs. Taylor went to the closet and got his jacket.  Avery, Mackenzie and Zoe were there watching cartoons and drawing pictures for their school work entitled, "What I Want For Christmas".

Avery got up to help her pitiful brother.  "Tay, you're a mess."

"Thanks."  He said back as she pulled the front of his jacket closed and zipped it.  Isaac sat in a chair and began again to read Taylor's songs.

Diana walked in and looked at Taylor.  "Where are you going?"

"Marcy's."  he said.

"Well, put on a hat, you'll freeze like that."

"Mom..."  He started.

Isaac smiled, sometimes his family could be so predictable.  Avery came to Taylor's rescue by pulling up the hood on the back of the coat.  "There."  She said.  "Hey, you look like the lady in Dr. Zhivago."

Diana looked at her son and then back at Avery.  "Yeah, he does."  Taylor gave them a disgusted look and turned towards the door.

~~~~

Marcy looked in the mirror and put on a little lipstick.  She hadn't actually seen Taylor since Saturday, though she had conversed with him via e-mail many times since.  She didn't know why, but she felt nervous. She had known him for a couple years and had never felt anything special about him, she actually liked their music, but they didn't seem like the same people as those three who appeared on MTV or Jay Leno.  It wasn't like they were even living in the house down the street, they were gone so much.  The sound of the doorbell caused her to jump.  She hurried down the stairs hoping to spare Taylor the torture of one of her brothers answering the door.  When she opened it, she had to smile.  It was cold and the hood on his jacket had fur on it.  His pink cheeks were glowing, he smiled at her as she opened the door.  "You look cold." She said.

He nodded as he stepped into the warm house.  Her mother had gone shopping and her father was at work leaving only she and her brothers there and both of them were in the basement playing Nintendo 64.  Taylor looked around as if expecting to be pounced upon.  "They're in the basement."  Marcy said.  She grabbed the empty sleeve of his coat and shook it.  "Did you lose something on the way over?"

He rolled his eyes, but smiled.  He grabbed the collar of his coat with his teeth and unzipped it with his free hand.  Marcy helped him take it off then looked at him and shook her head.  "What!?"  He said, and he felt his face get red.

"Now what did you do?  I swear Taylor, there's not much left of you!"

He was shaking his head. "It's the same thing as before..."  He said, but she looked at him not understanding.  He reached in his pocket for the paper and pen and slowly wrote, Same problem, but my Mom found out.

"Ahh..."  She said.  "A doctor got hold of you, huh?"  He nodded.  "Is it hard to write?"  He shrugged.  "Well, I'll do my best to read you better.  Do you realize you talk kinda fast?"  He raised his eyebrows.  "Well, you do.  Slow down for me.  Even before, in interviews and stuff sometimes I had a hard time understanding you and we won't even go near the misunderstood lyrics."

His face lit up and he snapped his fingers and pointed at her.  "You're  a fan!!!"

"Taylor," she replied calmly.  "I live in freakin' Tulsa, it's not like I can avoid you guys."  She couldn't bear the pout that overtook his face, though and she touched the silver ring in his ear.  "But, if it makes you feel better, you can consider me a fan."

She smiled and he raised his hands, "Perish the thought."

"I was just making cookies, wanna help?"  She asked.

"Sure."  He said, and she smiled and headed into the kitchen with him following her.

~~~~

One broken egg and a small mishap with the mixer later found Taylor and Marcy enjoying the fruits of their labor.  She stuck an extra large chocolate chip cookie in his mouth and reached up to wipe a bit of batter from his cheek.  Just then, footsteps were heard coming up the basement stairs.  "Oooh Marcy, what's that smell?"  Greg said as he walked in the kitchen followed by his brother.

"Cookies.  Want some?"  She said.

"You know it."  He said.

"Got milk?"  Tim asked no one in particular as he got down three glasses.

Taylor sighed remembering he and his brothers drinking melted ice cream in order to be photographed for the famous ad campaign.  Marcy reached up and got a fourth glass and glared at her brother.  Taylor hadn't noticed the exchange.  "So, Jordan, did you fall off your bike again?"

Taylor looked at Greg and smiled shaking his head.  He grabbed his pen from the counter and wrote, For someone who hates me so much, you sure know a lot about me.

Greg read the note them looked up at him, "hey, I read 'Totally Taylor'."

And he and his brother laughed as Marcy smacked him on the shoulder.  "C'mon Taylor,"  she said, "let's go watch MTV or something, anything's better than hanging out with the dickheads.  Even Carson."

"TRL is over."  He said, looking at his watch.

"What?"  She said, and she stood directly in front of him now.

He pointed to his watch and said, "no TRL."

"Oh, I don't care, I just wanted to get away from them."  And she sat on the couch and handed him a glass of milk.  "Crap!  I didn't bring the cookies..."  She said and started to get up.

He held his hand out saying, "I'll get it."   And he sat the glass on the coffee table.

"Ok."  She said and began to flip channels.

He walked into the kitchen and there Tim and Greg stood, leaning against the counter looking at him.  He glanced at the cabinet over their heads remembering that was where Marcy had gotten a plate before. "Excuse me..."  He said and pointed up.

"What?"  Tim asked.

Taylor made a circle with his hands and said, "Plate."

"Ya need a plate?"  Greg said.  Taylor nodded.  "What for?"

He pointed to the cookies.  Tim reached in the cabinet and handed Taylor a plate.  "Thanks."  He said and he stepped between the two to place some of the cookies on it.

Greg leaned over and spoke quietly, but very clearly.  "You're not allowed to date Marcy while you're dating Kimmy."

Taylor looked over at him, then on his other side Tim said, "and Sherry and Melissa and Andrea."

"I'm not dating any of them."  He said.

"Oh, so you just fuck them, huh?"  Greg spat.

Taylor didn't know what to say, he was ashamed to admit it, but he didn't even remember an Andrea, but he had no doubt they were probably right.  He set the plate down them backed up to look at both of them.  "I deserve that."  He said.  "But, I'm not seeing any of them any more."

Greg said, "I can't understand what you're saying." And pitched the pad of paper at him.  "God it must suck to be you and I mean that.  Now, you know how your ugly dog feels."

At that moment, Marcy came in and she gasped when she heard Greg's comment.  "Oh my God."  She said, and her voice broke as she said it.  "You are the most cruel person I've ever known, Greg."  And tears ran down her face as she looked at him.

"Marcy..."  He started but she held her hand up.

"Don't even try to act like there was any reason for you to say something like that.  I'm ashamed to know you, let alone be your sister."  Tim walked toward her but she backed up, pulling Taylor with her into the hallway.  She looked up at him and said, "I am so sorry.  I am just...  so sorry..." and she looked away from him.

"Marcy, it's ok..."  He was saying, but she wouldn't look at him.  She was sobbing now and he pulled her closer.  She put her face against his chest as he hugged her.  Her brothers stayed in the kitchen knowing Marcy never cried.  Never.
 
 
 

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