Chapter 46
The morning of New Year's Eve, Greg Gutman received a very generic looking envelope in the mail. Upon opening it, he saw that it was from the Tulsa chapter of Planned Parenthood and, though it had his name and address, it was actually meant for Taylor. "Asshole, gave them my name." He muttered. He grabbed his coat and went out the front door headed for the Hanson's. When he got to their driveway, he could see Zac and Isaac unloading wood from the back of the Cherokee. Beside the garage, a large pile was already there and he saw Taylor with an armload heading behind it. He walked up the driveway past the curious looks of Zac and Isaac. "Hey, what's up?" He said as he continued his trek to catch up with their brother.
"Um, not much. What's up with you?" Isaac asked.
"Nothin'. Just looking for the prettiest guy in Tulsa."
Isaac rolled his eyes and Zac just stared at him, then shrugged and continued on with the task at hand. For a party that would go on well past midnight, the boys knew they'd need a lot of wood for the fire. Just as he turned the corner to go behind the garage, Taylor came around it as well and there they met. Taylor had been wearing a flannel shirt, but lifting the heavy wood and stacking it proved too hot and he'd taken it off and tied it around his waist leaving him in just a thermal shirt.
"Man, here you are out here in the cold in just your underwear." Greg said.
Taylor looked at him, puzzled. He signed and spoke, "what do you need?"
"Need? I don't need anything, I just thought maybe you'd like to read this letter." He leaned in and whispered, "It's the results of your sex test, finally, we're gonna find out if you're a boy or a girl."
Taylor gave him the finger then grabbed the envelope he held out. Greg smiled watching Taylor's eyes quickly scan all the words. Presently, he looked up. "Negative, negative, negative…" He mouthed smiling and tossing each paper in Greg's direction, letting them drift slowly to the ground.
~~~~
From the driveway, Isaac and Zac watched, wondering what was going on. "Hmm," Isaac said looking at Zac, "drug deal gone bad? Giving him the name of a good pimp?"
Zac shook his head and continued to pitch wood onto the steadily growing pile. "Cut him a break, Ike. He doesn't do anything but eat, sleep, and neck with Marcy." He stood up straight to take a breath and look back up at Taylor and Greg. "Oh yeah, and read books and write reports and stuff for Mom. She's been on his back this week like stink on shit."
"Yeah, what is up with that?" Isaac mused.
Zac shook his head, "Catch-up, man. He's been screwing around and he might not pass this year Mom said."
"Really?! Now that would suck."
Zac was still watching, "I'm gonna see what's up. You coming?" He turned to Isaac.
"Yeah, I need a break anyway."
The two made their way to where Greg and Taylor stood. "Thank God, I was afraid he was gonna hit me or somethin'."
Taylor rolled his eyes and signed to Isaac, "J-E-R-K."
"He says you're a jerk."
Greg looked at Taylor. "I think I got that part."
Taylor signed again. "He's inviting you to the party tonight."
Greg smiled, "Oh, I was planning on that. Um, I don't know if you all know it or not, but I think it's the social event of the season, everybody at school says they're coming."
"WHAT?!!, you guys..." Isaac said, and he looked at both his brothers.
Taylor threw his hands out and Zac snorted. "Don't look at me, I just invited Shelly and she can't come." And he shot a glance towards Taylor who gave him an apologetic look in return. Zac shook his head. "It's not your fault, her mom's just being a bitch."
"Girl troubles?" Greg asked.
"Sorta." Zac said, not being in the mood to go back and forth with him.
"That pretty blonde from the party?" Greg asked, raising his eyebrows. Zac nodded. "So, she's deaf, right?"
"Yeah." Zac answered.
"How does that work? I mean, Mr. and Miss Attitude," he said, pointing at Taylor, "they live so close, they just have their little trysts in person. And, you don't drive or anything, so how do you all hook up?" Greg was naturally a nosy person and he was genuinely curious.
Still not quite trusting Greg, Isaac watched his wary little brother size up the situation. He sighed, then answered. "Well, I haven't really known her all that long. We e-mail. A lot."
"Ahh, just like the lovebirds." He said looking at Taylor. "Speaking of which," he said picking up the papers from the ground and putting them in Taylor's hand. "We're getting a cable modem today, so the phone's not always busy. So," he smiled at Taylor, "congratulations, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now, you can type and she can yap your ear off. Be good now." He winked at Taylor, and with that, he walked away from the three. "Hey," he turned back, "can I bring Sonya? I'd kiss you at midnight Taylor, but it looks like you might be getting some whiskers."
"Sure," Isaac said, "the more the merrier."
~~~~
Later that day, Marcy had finally gotten her turn at the computer after Greg and Tim had attacked Napster, amazed at how quickly they could download Led Zeppelin's second album as well as two live versions of Stairway to Heaven. To Marcy though, it meant she could talk to Taylor on the phone and read his responses almost immediately, the next best thing to being there. Avery answered the phone, "hello?"
"Hi, is Taylor around? This is Marcy."
"Ummm," she answered, "hang on a minute." Marcy could tell she was on the cordless phone as the little girl was obviously walking a long way looking for her brother.
"Hey," she said, "if you can't find him, don't worry about it, I'll just call later, ok?"
"No, I know he's here... There he is." Marcy could hear some shuffling, then a giggle. "Taylor! Marcy's on the phone for you, you got dirt all over your butt!" She heard Avery's voice again, "I gotta stay on here so I can talk for him, so don't be whispering mushy stuff, ok?"
"Oh darn, I guess I'll have to keep all that stuff to myself then, you there Taylor?"
"He's listening."
"Are you ready for tonight?" Marcy asked.
"Are you kidding!? You should see all the wood and stuff they picked up..." Marcy heard a clap and then Avery's voice came back a bit more subdued, "Sorry, I'm not gonna listen now, I'll just say what he tells me to. Um, he says they're as ready as they'll ever be."
"Well, the reason I'm calling is to let you know we got a cable modem, so now I can talk and read at the same time. Cool, huh?"
"Yes. Very cool. Are you on now?" Marcy found it very weird to have to hear Avery's voice, but know she was talking to Taylor. "Yeah! IM me baby!" She said.
"Oh, ok... He's gonna take the phone now. He says to give him a minute. Bye Marcy!!" She yelled.
Marcy laughed, "tell her I said 'Thanks' Taylor, and she was an excellent translator." She heard a whistle on the other end and she assumed he was telling her.
A sound from the computer told her he'd gotten there. She accepted the message and read his post, Avie says "no problem, anytime, and have a Happy New Year."
~~~~
So, with those words, Taylor and Marcy began the first of many conversations. She delighted in hearing his little sound effects and in not having to watch his lips or hands to try and figure out what he was saying. It was right there in front of her. She had been teased by her brothers about the absurdity of the situation, but she didn't care. It was absurd, but it was the best they could manage at the moment and she would take what she could get.
I want to see you. He wrote.
"Well," she answered, "maybe we could get some of those vid cams that set up on your..."
No! I mean right NOW! He typed.
"Oh," she laughed, "well, I'm right here waiting."
BYE.
~~~~
She hung up the phone and within three minutes, the doorbell rang. Though it was almost 3:00 in the afternoon, Marcy was still wearing her pajamas. Taylor had to smile, they were very similar to Kim's and he knew they'd both be pissed off if they knew that. When Marcy had opened the door, he stood there, his cheeks red from running and his hair a mess. He hadn't even bothered with a coat. His eyes were bright in the sunlight and to Marcy, he looked beautiful because, for once, he looked happy.
"Where's you coat?!" She scolded him. He threw his hands in the air. "Well, get in here! Good grief, did you run all the way?!" She asked as he stepped into the living room.
He nodded, still smiling at her. On the couch, Tim sat eating a sandwich and watching the two. "Geez Marcy, why didn't you put some clothes on if you were having company?" He asked.
She shot him a look, "I didn't know he was gonna run!" Then she turned to Taylor. "I'm gonna change. Don't worry, I'll just be a minute. Just pretend he's not there, alright?" Before she could leave, he pulled her to him and hugged her. "Mmmm, that's nice." She said, "You smell good, what is it?"
He pulled back looking smug. "Musk for Men." He mouthed, then he signed, "J-E-S-S gave it to me for X-M-A-S."
She raised her eyebrows. "Jess, as in your little sister? Gave you musk for men? Is that what you just said?" He nodded. "Well, I'm going to have to thank her."
She said then turned and ran up the stairs leaving Taylor to face Tim all alone. "You may as well sit, sometimes her minutes are 60-second minutes and sometimes, they're 60-minute minutes." He then left leaving Taylor by himself.
He looked around the room. A fire was burning in the fireplace and he walked over taking a seat on the hearth, thinking it was worth the cold journey here, if only for the wonderful act of warming up again in front of the fire. He looked up at the tree in front of the window. The Hanson's no longer put their Christmas tree in front of the window, afraid some nutty fan might break the window in order to have a prize that would later show up on ebay when they tired of the boys. Of course, the fans who were able to get to their house now were few and far between, but that just made them all the more scary. Before his mind moved on to it's next thought, Marcy came down the steps and into the living room. "P-R-E-T-T-Y." He signed, and pointed to her sweater.
"Do you like it?" She said, and she turned around to model it for him. He smiled and nodded, then stood up and walked over to her. "You sure are in a good mood." She said looking up at him.
He put his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head. They stood that way for a moment, Marcy wondering what he was thinking. He let go of her, then sat back down on the hearth pulling her with him. He moved around so he could face her and spoke and signed slowly, "are you coming tonight?"
"I'll be there." She answered, "Especially since I can walk home if it gets too crazy." Taylor was shaking his head and smiling. Marcy looked at him and raised one eyebrow. "I'm telling you Taylor, every asshole in town is gonna be there. You invited Tim and Greg didn't you?"
"Hey!! I heard that!"
was heard from the kitchen and Taylor laughed, then kissed her goodbye
telling her he'd see her later.
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