Family Ties

Chapter Seven


Nick set alone staring into the tv screen. He was quite pleased with the activites that had occured during the day, and vowed to himself to attempt to find a place at home once again.

"Nick?" a small whisper echoed.

Nick turned around to see Aaron. "Hey, bud, why are you up? Didn't you go to bed a few hours ago?"

Aaron took a seat on the couch. "Well, yeah, but I had something on my mind."

"Wanna' talk about it?"

"I guess. Do you remember me saying 'I wanna' tell you something'?"

His older brother nodded.

"This is what I wanted to tell you."

"Shoot."

"Would I be popular if I wasn't your brother?"

"Well, yes, I think so."

"Sure, you think so, what about other people. I heard some political show and were..."

"Were what?"

"Dissing me pretty bad. Comparing me to Billy Gillman, even The Osmonds all kinds of crap."

Nick wrinkled his nose in disgust. "The Osmonds? Ew. Why?"

Aaron rolled his eyes. "They sang 'One Bad Apple', Nick."

"Oh. Who's Billy Gillman?"

"A country singer. He's really good and he's really nice."

"Then what's the problem?"

"They said Billy had true talent and I was just another 'Carter reincarnation'. They referred to you as Donny and me as Jimmy."

Nick sighed. "Kid, don't listen to that shit on the tv anymore, okay?"

"But is it true?"

"What do you think?"

"I dunno, I'm only thirteen I don't know about this kind of stuff!"

"Well, if you don't know about this kind of stuff, you don't need to be worrying about it."

"I guess, you're right."

"Is that what you wanted to tell me? Osmond Family history?"

The teen laughed. "No. I just wanted to know if we would've been as close if I wasn't a performer. I was just starting to wonder, Nick. I mean, I don't know if I wanna' do this all of my life."

"Who said you have to do this all of your life? Just enjoy it now, and when you're ready to move on to something else- go ahead. But why would you want to stop?"

"I've been thinking about it. I know there are times when I cry because I miss you. And I was upset when you wanted BJ to come live with you, because you were lonely. The business has made our family life pretty weird. I don't want my life to be like this forever."

Nick smiled. "Aaron, with that type of intelligence you would be cheating the world if you didn't share it in your years to come."

"Thanks, Nick," he yawned. "I'm getting tired. Goodnight."

"Night, Aaron." Nick called to his brother as he walked to the bedroom. "Wait a sec!"

"Yeah?"

"Where in the heck did you see that program you were talking about?"

"Oh, channel 11, night."

Nick watched carefully making sure Aaron was out of view. He grabbed the remote changing the station. A thin, female reporter stood outside the retirement home his parents had once functioned in Florida.

"We've discussed the conditions of brothers Nick and Aaron Carter. Now, we move on to the singing sister- Leslie Carter. Directly behind me is the retirement home where the fourteen-year-old entered the world on June 6th. We now join Dirk Voner with a report of the middle-child."

"Leslie reminds me a great deal of Marie Osmond...." the old man stated.

Nick threw the remote against the cushions. "Good grief! Another freaking Osmond!"

"When Leslie Carter first became known to Backstreet fans, she was merely Nick's chubby buttoned-nosed little sister!"

"Hey!" Nick growled at the screen. "My sister was never chubby, you overgrown fatass ape!"

"But know that puberty has found her- look out! She is much thinner and as beautiful as ever."

Nick stretched out. "That's more like it, ape-boy."

"Leslie, has been well-hidden, but now her talent shines. Her vocal qualities surpass that of her brothers, but as for her presence- that is to be decided. Leslie appears insigificant when being interviewed, appearing as nervousness or not caring. This could terribly affected her career. However, I feel out the three celebrities- Leslie will be the one to soak up the rays of the limelight, just as Marie did so many years ago."

The view returned to the reporter. "There you have it, ladies and gentlmen. A history and review of the Carter Family. Which Carter will be the true successor? It's hard to be sure. Two more Carter children remain- BJ and Angel. BJ is the eldest female in the family and Angel is twin to popstar Aaron. Will either them attempt to take the spotlight from their celebrity siblings? Only time will tell. Thank you and goodnight."

Nick turned off the television. "Man, this family will never be without chaos."

Chapter 8