“They remind me of when they were little,” I heard a voice whisper before I opened my eyes the next morning.
“Yea, except now they’re older and they have hormones,” was the sarcastic hushed reply.
“They look so innocent.”
“Emphasis on the verb look.”
Mrs. Hanson hushed her husband. I heard their footsteps go up the stairs. Opening my eyes slowly, my palms got sweaty. We were lying on the floor in the living room, a blanket crumpled at our feet. My head was on Tay’s chest and my leg was draped over him. His head was resting on top of mine. My t-shirt was all caught up and just barely covering me. If it wasn’t for the fact that Zac had fallen asleep playing video games and was resting with his head on my hip, Tay and I would have been found out by his parents.
“Zac,” I whispered.
When he didn’t respond after I called his name like twenty times, I simply turned a little bit so that his head slid off my butt and hit the floor.
He woke up, rubbing the side of his head, “Why is your ass in my face?”
“Because you used it as your pillow.”
“I did?”
“Um, yea,” I assured him , fixing my t-shirt. “And then your parents came downstairs and saw us.”
“They did?”
“Um, yea. And now your dad thinks we’re all perverts.”
“No he doesn’t,” Zac dismissed. Then he laughed, “he knows we’re all perverts.”
My laughter woke Tay up. “Tay, mom and dad saw us all sleeping here, and now they think Robinson’s the whore from next door,” Zac acted totally serious.
“Shut up,” Tay didn’t believe him.
“No, really,” I went along with it, “They totally know about... you know,” I waved my finger between the two of us.
His expression changed, and he got all serious, “Please be kidding.”
I tried to hold in my giggles, but I couldn’t. When he saw Zac and I start to laugh at him, he rolled over onto his stomach and rolled his eyes, “You guys are such dorks...”
“But you love us anyway,” I said, kissing him.
“Do you guys ever like, take a break?” Zac laughed.
“Jealous?” I teased.
“I think maybe you are jealous,” he pointed at me.
“Moi?”
“Cuz you want me,” he said, resting his head on his hand.
“Been there, done that,” I sighed playfully. Both Zac and Tay’s mouths fell open in surprise. There was an awkward pause, during which I laughed nervously. Uncomfortable subject much?
“Hi, guys,” Ike came down the stairs.
“Hi, Ike,” I said.
“What’s up?” he raised his eyebrows at his brothers, who I’m sure looked rather strange.
“Nothing,” I was uncomfortable.
“Robinson’s coming camping with us,” Tay finally spoke up.
“Cool,” Ike opened the fridge.
“So, what’s for breakfast?” Zac asked, pretending that the previous weirdness had not occurred.
We made pancakes and eggs, and when the rest of the family woke up, we made some more for them, too. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson talked about the camping trip. They explained that I should ask Heidi and my mother as well, and to be sure to bring sunscreen and extra socks. We’d go dirtbiking first at this farm kind of place that their friends owned and sleep in a kind of log cabin. Jessie told me about this old barn that all the kids slept in and the horses and chickens. Then, we’d hike to the camping spot, and stay there for a few days, eating fish that we caught in the river, taking showers in the waterfalls, swimming, campfires, singing, and all that wholesome, family stuff.
A little after lunchtime, when the whole crew of us were watching the Sandlot in the living room, the telephone rang. It was Heidi, asking me if I could come home because she needed to talk to me. Saying farewell to everyone, I assured them that the next night I would come over, most likely with Heidi, so that we could get an early start the morning after.
As I walked throught the trees that separated our backyards, I wondered what Heidi needed me for. Usually, she would just wait until I came home. Once in my backyard, I saw a familiar car in the street and I sighed impatiently.
“Hi, Tay,” Heidi was in the kitchen puoring herself some orange juice.
“Hi.”
“There’s someone I need you to talk to,” she said, motioning toward the living room.
“I’m not talking to him,” I informed her, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Him who?”
“I saw Dave’s car in the street.”
“No, it’s not him. My friend borrowed his car.” she assured me, pushing me ahead of her.
“Tay, this is D.C.”
There was a girl sitting on the couch. She was obviously punk, with short, spiky blue hair and a cut off t-shirt with safety pins all over it. Her nose and her lip were pierced, and she wore a lot of blue eyeliner.
“Hi,” D.C. stood up to shake my hand. Then she turned to Heidi and said, “She’s perfect.”
“Huh?” I looked at her weirdly as she sized me up, turning me in a circle with her hand on my shoulder.
“D.C.is in one of my classes at school. She writes plays for the local theater.”
“I wrote this play-” D.C. interrupted Heidi excitedly, “and I think you’d be absolutely perfect for the part. Heidi told me you used to act, and sing and all that. Will you read this?” she handed me a thin package of paper.
I didn’t know quite what to say, “I... I dunno, I mean, thanks, but-”
“Please, just read it?” she seemed desperate.
“But I-”
“When I wrote the part, I envisioned a certain type of person. You are it, Tayler. Please, just take this, read it, and consider it. If you think it absolutely blows, then fine, hand it back, and I’ll have to find someone else.”
Politely, I took the script and smiled. Thanking her, I went up to my room. I packed for the camping trip for a while, getting out my sleeping bag, and making sure to put in extra socks like I had been advised. After a little bit, I wandered over to the script on my bed and picked it up.
It was a weird story, not that it surprised me, because D.C. was not your average playwright. It was about this like twelve year old girl and all this madness about punk bands and sexual abuse and how she tries to seduce this singer, and all kinds of stuff. It was really cool. Even though the lead was a sex crazed twelve year old who whores it out on stage, I was flattered that this total stranger thought I was some sort of dream realized.
Later that night, during dinner, I told Heidi to tell D.C. that I’d love to do the part. It would occupy me while Tay was gone. Thinking about Tay being gone gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“What’s the matter, Tay?” my mother saw my face darken.
“Nothing.”
“D.C. had been asking around for someone to play the part, but she didn’t think anyone was right,” Heidi explained, “She said all the people who read for her were just wrong.”
“I feel proud to fit the pre-pubescent stalker whore personality,” I joked.
“You should,” my mother raised her eyebrows as she placed her plate in the sink.
“No, really,” Heidi nodded, “It’s not every day you’re someone’s vision realized.”
“Has she cast anyone else yet?” I asked, putting my dish in the sink, too.
“I dunno,” Heidi shrugged.
“So why was she driving Dave’s car?”
“They’ve known each other for a long time.”
“How did she know about me?”
“She asked me if I knew any actresses, and I mentioned you. The fact that the other actors are gonna be in their twenties and older than you makes it good, because it will make you look younger, too. She said she wanted to meet you one day.”
“Are you gonna be in it?”
“I’m your mom.”
“Congratulations,” I laughed, “So, Mom, are you coming camping?”
“I guess I could skip class,” she shrugged.
“Come on, what will I do without you?” I pulled on her arm.
“I know exactly what you’ll do,” she smirked, elbowing me.
Shushing her as my real mom continued clearing the table, we giggled. “So really,” I said, “are you coming?”
“Okay,” she smiled.
