Tay-"I had a few thoughts."

I stare at the phone for about 5 minutes, blankly. I'm not thinking about calling her, I'm not thinking about anything. Next thing I know, I have the phone at my ear, and I'm listening to the dial tone. I know what I have to do. I know the concequences of not doing it. "We're sorry. You're call cannot be completed as dialed..." the false computer voice says at me. "Oh shut the hell up." I yell at it, and slam it down again.

I pick it up again, this time more focused, and I slowly but surely dial the numbers. "beep beep beep beep..." goes the phone everytime I hit the buttons. (Thinking that reminds me of one of Mackie's tapes..."Mooooooo goes the cow. Quack quack quack goes the duck...") It rings once and a half, and then her father picks up.

"Hello?" He says, sounding slightly distressed.

"Hey Rev. Do you think I could talk to Lucy?" I ask.

He sighs, "Yah, If I can coax her out of the treehouse...Here....hold on, I'm walking out.....shoes...."

He mumbles to himself, probably for my benefit as he walks outside with the cordless. I hear the screen door slam (and I get a song running through my head, but push it out, "now isn't the time, Taylor" I tell myself).

"Lucy??" He yells, "There's a phone call for you..."

I hear her say something, but I can't quite make out what. Her father replies, "It's Taylor."

He tells me to hang on, and after a few minutes, Lucy answers. "Yes?" She asks.

"Lucy." I start to say. "I don't want this to be, but it is, so I suppose I have to deal with it as much as you do. The truth is, I love you, but I cannot believe how stupid you've been. However, I did not call to lecture you because friends are supporters, not down-bringers. Now, I had some thinking time, and I've decided that I'm behind you whatever your choice is. And, if you need me to...I mean, if you choose to, you know, not have her, or him, I mean...If you wanted me to...I would come with you...Uh...." I stop.

"I..." she says quietly. "I can't...I mean...." She begins to cry again.

"Lucy, it'll be alright." I say, although I know that we both know I'm wrong. Nothing will ever be okay again.

"I know what you're talking about...and I'm as liberal as anyone else, but...it's in me now. It's not that girl down the block, it's me. And I can't do that. I can't kill a baby. You say you'll support me in that decision, you'll go with me to do that, but... will you support me in my decision if I keep him or her? Or at least adoption?"

I grind my teeth...doesn't she get it? "Lucy...I'll be there whatever the choice...." My mind is racing, but....I won't let her down. "Lucy..." I say, then break into song, "You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back....where there is love...I'll be there." I stop then, because though she tries to stop it, she is crying. However, I know, even though we have so many miles between us, she is crying tears because she is not alone.