ZAC
Zac threw himself on his bed and yawned. He was only half use to the time change and the week had worn him out. He yawned again, wider this time.
"Close your mouth or you will swallow a fly," Taylor suggested, entering the hotel room.
"Thanks for the advice, Mr. Helpful,"Zac replied, rolling over onto his stomach, staring at Taylor, who was swinging around a white plastic bag, " What's in there?"
"Postcards. Mom bought them. One for each of us. Pick one."
Taylor selected one and chucked the rest at Zac. Carefully, Zac chose one and began a letter. He managed to get " Dear" before stopping. Dear who? He knew he should write to Luke. But he couldn't. Reluctantly, he scribbled Rose beside it, cursing himself under his breath.
"Taylor help me!" he cried in frustration.
Taylor looked up in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
"I want to go home!!"
"So do I. I miss Tulsa."
"Screw Tulsa!"Zac exclaimed, "I miss Rose!"
"Rose?"
"Yeah! I really, really like her! Really!"
"Okay, okay!"
"I miss her, Tay! And she doesn't like me! I know it!"
"Sure she does."
TAYLOR
Zac's outburst had startled Taylor. And made him think. About his dumb dream. Or dreams, rather. Ever since Ike had mentioned he liked Madeline, Taylor had dreamt about her. But when he woke up, he was totally disgusted at the fact that he could even consider liking her. Eeeewww! That must count for something! He needed to talk to somebody besides his brothers because they were having a serious effect on his mind. He knocked on the bedroom door that connected to the other hotel room.
"Come in."
Taylor opened the door and found his mom laying on the bed, with Mac cuddled into her side. Jessie and Avery were on the floor, watching TV.
"Where's Dad and Ike?"Taylor asked, sitting himself down on the other side of his mom.
"They went for a drive."
"Can I phone Jake?"
"You homesick, dear?" Mrs. Hanson asked, putting her arm around Taylor.
Taylor nodded.
"Sure then."
Taylor took the cordless phone and locked himself into the bathroom for privacy. He dialed the area code and then the Lemont's number.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hi?"
"Taylor, is that you?"
"Uh huh."
"Oh! How is Diana? How's England?"
Taylor looked at the phone uneasily. He had dialed Jake's number:747-3140. But Mrs Harrison had answered the phone. It was impossible. He couldn't have phoned the Harrisons'. He didn't know their number! Sighing, he told Mrs. Harrison about England.
"Ok, Tay, you didn't want to talk to me. Who did you want to talk to?"
"Uuum, Maddy in?" Gawd, he didn't want to talk to her.
"Hold on."
"Hello?"Madeline greeted sleepily moments later.
"Did I wake you?"
"Yeah. Not all of us get up at 6:45 you know."
"Sorry, I forgot. It's 1:45 here."
"Oh. So why did you phone me?"
"I don't know,"Taylor answered honestly.
"Oh. So how's England?"
"It's OK. If I hear one more Christmas carol, I'll puke!"
" 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas! Just like the ones I used to -'" Madeline crooned.
"Shut up!"
"Sorry! Have you phoned Jake yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Boy, does he have news! You remember Shiela Parker? Oh, maybe I shouldn't tell you."
"MAD!!! I won't tell Jake that you told me! I'll act very surprised!" Taylor exclaimed. He hated all secrets that he didn't know!
" Ok, fine! He asked Shiela out! She said yes and he was so estactic! He was SO upset that you weren't home and he didn't know where to reach you! He really likes her! They are going to the movies on Friday. Met any English girls?"
"When would I have time?? We have been shifting our time between interviews and recording the new album. Met any Okies?"
"No! Are you worried?" she asked innocently.
Was he?
"Why would I be?" he asked to quickly.
"I was joking! Don't be so paranoid!"
"Sorry,"Taylor mumbled, rubbing his head, "Mad, what's your phone number?"
"Uh, Tay, you just phoned it."
"Just answer!"
"747-3140."
"What's Jake's?"
"747-5642. Tay, are you feeling Ok?"
"Yeah."
"So, why didn't you phone Jake?"
"I don't know."
"Tay, I should really go. Would you go and lie down? You don't sound so hot."
"OK, Madeline."
"Bye, Tay. I miss you."
"I miss you, too."
The dial tone greeted his ear.
ISAAC
Isaac came into their hotel room and found his brothers sprawled out on the bed. Zac looked testy and Taylor looked confused. Isaac plopped down by Taylor.
"What's wrong with you two?"
"I miss Rose!"
"I phoned Madeline."
"Wow! Congratulations!" Ike said, slapping Taylor.
"No! I don't know her number!"
" That's dumb! You phoned it!"
"But, I thought I was phoning Jake,"Taylor protested, conscious that he was entering the same arguement he had lost to Madeline and had just ended with Zac. He was getting very tired of it!
"Zac probably mentioned it," Isaac reasoned, glancing from Taylor ( he looked frustrated now, not tired) to Zac (who still looked extremely testy and grouchy.)
"I don't know it!"Zac snapped.
"Mom probably mentioned it," Isaac suggested.
"But why would I remember it?"
Ike was stumped. How was he supposed to know why Taylor had phoned his little friend? Honestly!
"So, here's my plan. When we go home, I'm going to phone Angie! Maybe after a few times, I'll ask her out!"
He expected a nice big commotion at his statement. All he got was a "hmmmm" from Taylor and a " that's nice" from Zac. Cursing under his breath, Ike hit them on the side of their heads.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"We heard you!"
"Yeah, don't shout!"
"You guys are losers!" Isaac threw his hands up in the air and left the room.
Thanks for pointing out about the Okies!!
Edith's Hanson Eclipse
77th Street