Hanson Through My Eyes
Chapter 33
Later that night I was laying down thinking about what Taylor had said. Granted I saw where he was coming from but I could not believe he would place so much on a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. I mean Isaac and I were not even technically dating. I rolled my eyes and flopped my arms out across the bed. He’s Taylor! How could he feel excluded? I just had a hard time accepting that Taylor felt so out of it. The guilt I had carried all day came back full strength. It seemed like all day long everyone was just waiting for me to crack. The hardest was when Mackenzie turned to me during lunch and asked if I was nice again. I felt like such slime. I smiled and said yes but he did not seem convinced. It was going to take some serious action on my part to gain back the intimacy that we all shared. Not only had I been away from the family for such a long time but also the first few days I was a complete b*tch. There is no sugar coating it. I was a b*tch. I took out my fatigue on the people around me and it was not right.
I sat up and slid my feet into my slippers. Pulling my hair back into a ponytail I set out down the hall. Most of the family was in their rooms after a long day of interviews and press-related stops but I hunted down the girls.
I knocked quietly on the door. “Jess?”
I heard the lock being turned and came face-to-face with Mrs. Hanson. “Hello. How are you feeling?”
I smiled but inside I was squirming. It was the first time I had spoken to her since getting sick and part of me wanted to just fall at her feet begging for forgiveness. I did not do anything that embarrassing but instead stepped into the room. “I am feeling much better. Thank you very much for taking care of me.”
She smiled. “It’s part of the job.”
I turned to the girls who were situated on one bed looking especially angelic. Why is it that when you want to apologize everything you wanted to say just gets jumbled and never seems to come out right? I fear it is encoded in my DNA that I can never say the right words at the right time.
I took a deep breath and sat down on the opposite bed. Mrs. Hanson had somehow managed to disappear. I thought of it later. She knew what I was there to do and she let me do it.
“I just wanted to apologize. I know my behavior the past two days has been inexcusable and I apologize.”
Avery looked bored but Jessica was listening intently.
Jessica came and sat next to me. “It’s okay. We all get that way.” She leaned close and whispered. “Mom said you threw up all morning. Really?” She looked up at me with that childish intent.
I laughed out loud. “Jess you crack me up! Yes I did though.” I made a face. “It was gross. I cannot remember eating any of the stuff that came up.”
I looked over at Avery. “You okay?”
She was not as accepting, “Yeah I’m fine. I just think you were being a b-“
“Do not even say it Avery. I am still your babysitter and I will use soap if you finish that sentence.”
Her eyes opened up wide and her mouth hung open. I was still an authority figure and it was going to take more than me giving a bit of attitude to let her put me down.
She whispered, “I was going to say brat, Sam.”
I laughed. “Sorry got a bit maternal there for a second.” With the laughter that followed I felt the bonds rebuilding.
~*~*~
The lights were out but I slipped inside anyway. I had just gotten through a very weird apology with Zac and he gave me his key.
I had given personal apologies to most of the entourage
but it was Zac’s that was the most interesting. Most just shrugged their
shoulders and accepted while Zac had me down on the floor kissing his boot. I
would not have done it for anyone else but I knew he was teasing.
“No I want to feel it Samantha!” The boot tapped the
linoleum three times.
I rolled my eyes and repeated the words. “I promise to never ignore Zac again. I promise to never ignore Zac again. I promise to never ignore Zac again.” Then I quickly placed my lips to the toe of his boot.
“Good. Now we can move on.” As I climbed back to my
feet he launched himself into my arms.
“Good to have you back.”
As my eyes adjusted to the darkened room I whispered at the memory. “It is good to be back.”
~*~*~
I sat down on the edge of the bed and curled my slippered feet underneath me. I was careful not to wake Taylor as I gently shook the sleeping form. “Isaac?”
He sat up quickly and almost kicked me off the bed. “Wha-?!?”
“Shh!” I put my finger to my lips. “Sh! Taylor’s asleep.”
“What? Sami what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. But be quiet. All I need is for Taylor to wake up and freak and then I’ll be sent home on the first flight out of London.”
He wiped sleep out of his eyes. “What are you doing in here?”
“I wanted to- Wait. Come out in the hall I don’t want to wake Taylor.”
The harsh lights of the hallway were playing tricks with my eyes. I laughed at the sight of us in shorts and tank tops; me with my fuzzy slippers and him with huge stinky bare feet.
“I just wanted to apologize again.”
“Oh Sami!”
I put my hands up to stop him. “No, let me finish.” I took a much-needed breath. “I wanted to apologize most to you. You needed me and I wasn’t there. You were totally right. I was callous and unfeeling when you were obviously hurting.”
He pulled me into a hug and I just let out all the air in my lungs. The two of us just stood there like that for what seemed like hours yet at the same time was only seconds. I buried my head into the fabric of his shirt and just stood there. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I miss you too much to care right now. There is so much I want to tell you.”
I laughed. “Well you have all summer to tell me. I fear we are going to be seeing a lot of each other.”
He pulled me close. “I can’t wait.”
~*~*~
On our flight from England to Canada I was in charge of watching Zoe. I can handle that. She is adorable and not at all a fussy child. The problems begin when she falls asleep. Zoe is, as I said an adorable child but she has this knack for going dead weight when she sleeps. This lovable fifteen-pound baby falls asleep and somehow outweighs her teenaged brothers. I was sitting in my seat trying desperately not to wake her up while also attempting to get some air in my lungs. Getting comfortable while on a plane is not easy for me to do anyway but with a dead weight child on my chest it’s even more difficult. Reading a magazine wasn’t a possibility because those inserts kept falling out and I feared severe paper cuts. I flagged down a stewardess and bribed her to rifle through my carry-on to find my CD player. I plunked my headphones down on my ears and relaxed to James Taylor tunes.
What I did not know at the time was that while I was happily vacationing in Dreamland one of the worst embarrassments of my young life was happening. Zac who will never again be my favorite Hanson brother used his camera to capture a particularly candid moment. I will tell you this because I know that you will share my pain. I sometimes drool in my sleep. I know it’s disgusting but I can’t help it! Now put myself, an eighteen-year-old female together with a six-month old baby and you have one hysterical picture. There I am in all my glory holding Zoe and drooling along with her. That photo gets dragged out by one Hanson family member or another every few months or so and never fails to get a laugh.
I honestly think that my sole purpose is as comic relief for those around me.
~*~*~
Traveling with internationally famous people tends to get you pushed through airports. I like this, lines magically disappear or we get shuffled to the front. Either way it’s good. I held Avery’s hand and expertly maneuvered myself through customs. While awaiting our caravan to the hotel I engaged Avery in a game of naming countries. Not that hard. Each person has to name a country but you cannot repeat. First person who cannot think of a country loses. We were bantering back and forth in line. Bantering back and forth in the caravan. Somewhere near the outskirts of the city it became all-out war. Near shouting of “Botswana” and “Nigeria” could be heard above all other chatter. Mr. Hanson called for a cease-fire when I used my cellular phone to call in my answer of “The Democratic Republic of the Congo” to Mr. H’s cell phone. That man just has no sense of humor sometimes.
Once on Canadian soil we were shown our buses. It seemed so huge when I first stepped inside. Soon though I would see it as much smaller. No board game invented is enough to sustain a seven-year old child during a bus trip across the Dakotas. Chutes and Ladders is only good for so long. Video games can only be won so many times. Sing-a-longs can only go so far before threat of bodily harm comes into play. I love the children though. I have a hard enough time keeping busy during long car rides so how could I blame them?
~*~*~
The first concert in North America was happening in Montreal. While there not only did we do the usual press junket I was also introduced to the world of Laser Quest.
I had never played before. My brothers and I had the small targets you buy in stores but nothing could have prepared me for the evil gleam in Zac’s eye as he strapped on a fully automatic vest. For anyone who has never played before it is basically a teenage boys dream come true. There are six targets on the vest and the gun. Your goal is to shoot others while not getting yourself shot. If you are shot you cannot shoot anyone or get shot for fifteen seconds. The room itself is made up of ramps and corners with black lights. I did not know this and wore a white Dave Matthews shirt with a pair of light shorts. Basically I was a glowing sitting duck.
The whole family aside from Mrs. H and Zoe played the first game along with the whole crew and most of the entourage. Once they open the door to the room you have about a minute to scatter and hide. I was completely lost as to what to do. I ran and then all of a sudden started beeping. I looked down at my gun to find that innocent, loving Jessica shot me in the back. That little brat turned on me! I made a pact with the girls to try to beat the boys. I yelled out, “You traitor Jessica!”
From somewhere above me I heard. “Sorry. Didn’t know it was you.” I started up the ramp feeling sorry for the girl when she shot me again in the shoulder. Oh that is it. This means war. Somewhere something inside me snapped and I ran. I shot at anything and everything. One of the members of the opening band happened upon me in a corner hallway and I took him out. He looked innocent enough but I was taking no chances. Suddenly my goal of “not making too poor a showing” was not enough. I wanted to beat one of the boys.
I saw the flash of blond hair above me and starting firing. Too late. I started up the ramps until I was above everyone else and just picked people off as they walked along below me. Really the best strategy is to get as high as you can and shoot from above.
I hollered. “Got you Taylor.”
“Not for long, girlie.”
And so the war between the two of us began. The rest of the game was played between the two of us.
When the lights came back on I headed back toward the doors. Call me naïve but I thought I could have beat Taylor. I didn’t but I also didn’t come in last either. I actually beat Jessica! Not that I ever mentioned it. The boys were much more competitive and went back for a few more rounds. I offered to stay behind and watch the girls. It was much more fun playing air hockey anyway. That was something I was good at.
~*~*~
The next morning I woke up in the hotel room to the sound of the telephone. I never have gotten the hang of wake-up calls. I understand they are necessary but do the phones have to have such an obnoxious ring?
::unintelligible grumble::
“Ms. Dervan?”
::grunt::
“Ms. Dervan it’s six o’clock.” I grumbled a thank-you and hung up.
The sun was barely starting to show but I opened the glass door to the balcony. Montreal is a beautiful city. Of course it looks better when one is fully awake but I digress. I was about to head back inside when a flying object hit me square in the face. “Sam?” I saw an arm reach around the cement wall that separated the balconies. “Good morning Zac and thanks for the muffin in the face.”
“I got you in the face? No way!”
Zac’s arm was now gripping the wall and I heard a boot hit the metal fencing. “Zac? Don’t even think about it. We’re on the top floor.”
Zac, always one for dramatic entrances decided that climbing around the wall separating our balconies seven floors up was much better than using the door.
I grabbed his hand and restrained myself from dragging him by his hair. “Must you be so difficult? They do have doorways!”
His head came around and I saw his determined face. “This is much more fun.”
“You do realize that you could fall.”
“I won’t fall.”
He was now straddling the wall with the left side of his body on my fencing and the right side standing on his own fencing.
“Hurry up I have to get in the shower. Is everyone else awake?” I cringed as he wobbled a bit. I put one hand up to his side and waited for him to jump down. “You do realize if you continue to do these things I will die young.”
He picked up the smashed muffin and started toward the glass door. “You can’t Sam. Only the good die young.”
“Funny Zac, funny.” I followed him into my room and switched on the lights. “Is everyone else awake?”
“Yeah the girls are a bit slow this morning but I think they’re staying in the hotel today anyway. Can I watch TV?”
“Yeah feel free. If you’re thirsty there’s orange juice inside my ice bucket.”
He lunged across the bed for the ice bucket. “You are the best.”
~*~*~
I thanked the usher and nervously sat down in my seat. The interior lights were still bright and Aerosmith was pumping through the speakers. It surprised me that I had just left the family behind and would soon be cheering them on just like everyone else in the arena. Mrs. Hanson offered to watch the children for the duration of the concert and I was allowed to watch the boys perform from the audience.
A young girl of six or seven was sitting directly behind me and I smiled at her. “Do you like Hanson?”
Her eyes lit up. “Yeah.”
“Who’s your favorite?”
“Zac. I like when he plays the drums.”
“I like when he plays the drums too.” I smiled. “Aren’t you excited?”
She shook her head vigorously.
“Know who my favorite is?” She leaned forward in her chair. “Isaac.”
“Why?”
“Because I like his voice and I think he’s handsome.”
“My sister thinks Taylor is handsome.”
“He is handsome, nice too.”
As more people entered the arena I could feel my excitement level rising. The longer I had to sit and wait the more I fidgeted. Above and before anything else I was and still am a fan. Yes I had seen them sing a few songs here and there but never more than that and never on such a full-scale before.
I looked down at my watch and noticed that they were running late. They were doing this purposely, I thought. My fingers rapped against the plastic chair and my toe tapped the floor.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity the lights went out and the four guys from Admiral Twin came out. I thought my ears were going to explode as I looked around incredulously. The empty arena I was playing freeze tag in earlier in the day was filled with a sea of screaming fans. Admiral Twin rocked, literally and figuratively. I had never heard them play live but had gotten to know them once we met up in Montreal. Nice guys.
As the guys exited the stage and the crew took over with the setting up you could almost feel the anticipation. It is very hard to explain to anyone who has never seen a live concert but for those who have you know what I mean. Once the three distinct shadows shown against the silver curtain covering the stage the audience and I went nuts. I couldn’t help it. I got sucked into the excitement. I was screaming and clapping along with thousands of other people.
I will never forget those first few notes of Gimme Some Lovin’ just as the curtain fell. It was amazing to me. These boys I had come to know and care for were doing what they loved to do. There are certain aspects of their job that the boys hate but performing live was the best part. And it is obvious when you see them live.
Standing there along with so many other people was thrilling and a little intimidating. I forget that they are so famous. I forget that people outside of myself like their music. Silly I know but music is just part of their lives. I forget that it’s there job sometimes.
Song after song I was amazed anew.
I tell you, it still makes me tear up when I think about the first time I heard More Than Anything live. Isaac may be a lot of things goofy, clumsy, and inarticulate at times but for those four minutes he was amazing - absolutely amazing. I knew that that song was on the set list but I had no idea he sang it solo. No one told me. I’m glad they didn’t either. I just stood there in the crowd and tried to remember how to breathe. So many people around me were screaming but I was too awestruck. My mouth must have hung open for the whole song. I was just so overcome. I was the luckiest girl in the world for those four minutes. Not for any other reason but for the fact that someone who could write something that beautiful took the time to care about me. Me. I am just a random girl like any other girl. Why me?
I wiped my eyes and walked to the end of my row. The crew was breaking down the acoustic set but I just wanted to get backstage.
I spotted Mr. Hanson across the stage. I started walking forward when a security guard grabbed my arm. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t go back there, Miss.”
“I…I...oh hold on.” I fished through my pockets to pull out my pass and waited for him to get his miniature flashlight to inspect it. Finally he felt I was worthy enough and let me pass.
As I slid my pass back in my pocked I bumped into Mr. Hanson with his video camera.
“Hey!”
“Hi. How goes the battle?”
He sighed. “Well I’ve been stepped on, yelled at and propositioned. Pretty uneventful out there right now.” He noticed my red eyes. “What’s wrong?! Are you hurt? What happened??”
I held up my hands, “No! No. I’m fine. I just-“ I shrugged my shoulders, embarrassed that he saw my girlie show of emotion.
“It’s okay.” He grabbed my shoulders and hugged me adding quietly. “I know.”
I laughed and wiped at my eyes yet again. “So are you reloading here?” gesturing toward the camera.
“All right.” He made a cutting motion with his hands.
“Enough with the wisecracks…but yes if you must know I was getting low.”
”How many hours of tape do you think you’ve gone through?”
He laughed. “Do your parents know you talk to me like this?”
“They encourage it.”
“You are a brat.”
“Yet you people employ me.”
“I really should look into that.”
“Would probably be a good idea.” This rapid-fire exchange and the true concern I saw in his eyes was just another reason for me to love my job and my life.
“Where are the boys?”
“Heading back out last time I checked.”
“Damn I wanted to catch them before they went back on. Are they okay?”
“They’re good.” He readjusted his camera on his shoulder as we turned to go back out to the front.
“They sound amazing. Does it still make you proud?”
He stopped. “They always make me proud. But, yes it does make me proud.” I smiled.
“Well I have to get up there. Head back out so you don’t miss it.”
“I will. I’ll see you after.”
As I breezed past the security guard I gave my sweetest, nastiest smile.
~*~*~
Sitting in a quiet corner of a dressing room I watched the grainy video again. The boys were doing a meet and greet and the children were, for the moment, occupied elsewhere. I took those few free moments to detach the video camera from Mr. Hanson’s grasp and played back the tape of the concert. Okay so just the More Than Anything part. I indulged my inner teenie and smiled like a fool. There may possibly have been a giggle in there too but I’ll never admit to it out loud.
“Samantha!” I hit the off button and tried to hide the
evidence.
Avery was yelling down the hall as usual. The girl rarely speaks in anything
below a bellow.
“What are you doing?” I could only picture myself trying to look casual but only succeeding in looking thoroughly guilty.
“I was just sitting down for a minute.”
She hopped up on the counter beside me. “You’re sitting in the corner of an empty room Sam.”
My brain grasped for an excuse. “I just wanted quiet time?”
She raised an eyebrow. I had visions of Sami and Isaac sittin’ in a tree being chanted all the way across Canada if Avery knew I was watching the tape of Isaac.
“I plead the fifth and you should be on the bus. Let’s go.”
~*~*~
I laughed as I dialed the familiar numbers.
“Hello?”
“Isaac?”
“Sami?” Isaac had the cellular phone with him because he had just finished a telephone interview with a reporter.
“Yeah, it’s me. Can you meet me by the buses for a second?”
“Why the heck are you calling me? I can see you standing in the hallway. Turn around I’m waving to you.”
“Just do it, please?”
“You do realize this behavior could and should be considered psychotic correct?”
“Yes I do now go!” I disconnected the call.
I heard him come up behind me. “You scare me sometimes.”
We walked together to the buses and stayed away from curious eyes.
I turned to look at him and smiled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t tell me you brought me out here to grin at me.”
“Actually no.” I slid my hands into the back pockets of my shorts. “I brought you out here to tell you that you are amazing.”
His mouth formed an O and that was just the sound that came out. He squirmed a bit and laughed nervously.
It was fun watching him struggle with embarrassment. “You continue to amaze me Isaac.”
His pride kicked in and he recovered. “So you liked the concert?”
“I loved it. You were great. You all were great.”
He rolled his eyes. “So…”
“So nothing. I just wanted to tell you that you’re amazing.”
A few minutes of awkward silence followed but it was good. I leaned in and rested my forehead against his chest. “More Than Anything was…” And now it was my turn to be embarrassed. I wrapped my arms around him and sighed. “It was good. You did good.”
“Thanks Sami.”
“You’re welcome Isaac.”
Sitting in the back of the bus, trying to keep my eyes open I was waiting for the guys. I had Mackenzie asleep on my lap and was debating whether or not to get him up. It was past midnight but we had yet to leave the arena. I saw Isaac a few times in passing and am almost positive I saw a blond streak fly by that was shaped like Zac. Yawning for the umpteenth time I shifted my weight.
“Sami stop moving.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry Mac but you’re not a small as you used to be and my legs are falling asleep. Do you think I can get up?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.” There’s no reasoning with this boy when he’s tired.
“I’ll bring you with me.”
“All right. Piggy back?”
“Fine.”
“You sound like Mom when you say that.”
I laughed as I stood up and placed him on the chair. “Mac, what’s even scarier is that I sound like my mom when I say that.”
Bending down he linked his hands around my neck. “You’re the best piggy back.”
“Liar. I heard you say that to Taylor yesterday!”
I heard nothing for a few moments as I maneuvered us past the bunks and down the narrow hallway. “You’re the best girl piggy back.”
“You’re gonna be a politician someday Mackenzie Hanson, I know it. Hold on we’re going down the stairs.” Never say words like that to a four year old when he’s got his hands around your neck. The slightly winding staircase at the front of the bus is bad enough but with a child cutting off the blood flow to your brain it’s just that much harder.
“Mac, dude,” I was clutching at his little fingers. “I need oxygen. Not that tight!”
“You’re silly.”
“No honey, I’m not breathing!”
Outside in the parking lot I surveyed the scene. “Now, if I were an internationally famous band of brothers where would I be?”
Behind me I heard, “Duh Sam! They’re inside.”
“You know I like you but you’re awfully sure of yourself at age four.” And with that I spun myself around a few times. “Do that again!”
“Hold on. I don’t need you falling off and cracking your head.”
“There’d be blood.”
“Yup, Mackenzie Hanson blood all over the place.” I spun around. “SPLAT! Your brains’d be everywhere!”
We were having a grand old time for ourselves until I heard screaming. You get used to hearing screaming but this was close. “MACKENZIE!” “AHHH!”
I turned to see that the garage door of the parking garage had been opened. I was spinning around like an idiot in front of fifty or so fans.
I don’t think I’ve ever run so fast in my life. I ran up the metal staircase up to the arena, cursing myself. There was no policy as to how I was supposed to approach the fans but it basically went without saying that I was to have as little contact with them as possible.
“You okay back there?”
“I’m good.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Why are they here?”
“I don’t know Mac. Maybe they just want to see the boys.”
~*~*~
I am now bored inside the arena. Was bored out on the bus and am now bored in the arena. The boys have ended their meet and greets with the fans and are cleaning up some press. I am hoping I can get out of here to a nice comfy bed soon. I have yet to get into the rhythm of no sleep.
“Sam?”
“Yes? In here?”
“Where’s here?” Mrs. Hanson sounded lost.
“Dressing room…A, I think. Just follow my voice.”
“They really ought to give us maps in these places.”
“No fooling.” I was stretched out across a table, staring at the ceiling.
“The boys are about done so I figure we should start rounding up the troops.”
I was awake now. “Are they? Good, I’m all about packing up.”
I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted, “Kids!! Let’s go. All children who answer to Hanson please make your way to the buses!”
I felt the distinct whack of a magazine upside my head, “Samantha!”
I instantly ducked. “What?!”
“Must you shout?”
“Mrs. Hanson, you’re the best and all but did you and my mom go to mothering school together or something.” I eyeballed her closely, “It’s eery – the resemblance.”
“You’re mother is a smart woman. Now quietly go and find the others, please.”
I mumbled as I was walking away, “Yes ma’am.”
“I heard that Samantha. Don’t think I won’t ground you on the bus.” I fear I didn’t get away from my mother; I traded one in for another.
I found Avery playing on a Game boy.
“Ready to go?”
“Are we going?”
“Umm….yeah. Hence the asking ‘ready to go’?”
“Have you seen anyone else?”
Silence but for the clicking of the buttons.
“Avery?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you seen your brother or sister?”
She didn’t even look up. “Which ones?”
“Avery” I snapped my fingers between her face and the game. “Let’s go.”
She got up and walked toward the door without even looking up from her game. Sometimes, very rarely, I sympathize with my mother. I followed her out. “You do realize you’re rotting your brains out, correct?”
“No I’m not. If that were so Zac’d be even dumber than he already is.” Sometimes you’ve got to give the girl credit. She’s good with the zingers.
~*~*~
Twenty minutes later we were ready to roll. Or at least as ready as a contingent this large could be. I was at the back of the bus stretched out with the television on. Taylor was slumped in a chair next to me. Jessica came back with a brush and a bottle of detangler in hand. “Could you braid my hair?”
I could barely keep my eyes open but I wasn’t about to tell her that. “Yeah.” I sat up straight while Jessica sat cross-legged on the floor. I sprayed her hair with the detangler and sniffed. “Mmm…apple scented. So what did you do tonight?”
“Mom had us up in one of those balcony boxes. It was cool, actually. Really comfortable.”
I turned to see if Taylor was even still alive. The glazed-over look in his eye told me he was not even with us in the same room. I kicked his leg slightly and I watched the life come back into the boy. “Hey, you alive in there?”
“What?”
“Nothing. Go back to vegging.” He was staring at the TV but I don’t think he actually knew what he was watching.
“What’d you do tonight Taylor?
“What?”
I enunciated every syllable. “What-did-you-do-to-night-Tay-lor?”
“Samantha, it’s too late to be witty.”
“Wow. Okay. If you’re going to be a jerk about it.”
The only part of his body moving was his finger, switching the channels. “Whatever.”
I turned my attention back to Jessica and winced. Apparently I wasn’t awake either. The braid Jessica asked me to create looked more like a strange knot had attacked Jessica’s head.
“Uh, well it’s not going to win you any awards but your hair’s pulled back. I promise to redo it in the morning.”
Jessica went in search of something better to do while Zac came in to crash in her place on the floor. I picked up the brush and attempted to braid my own hair. With adequate success I hunted for the elastic that had disappeared. With one hand grasping the end of the braid, I stood up and looked under the seat cushion. “Zac? Have you seen a hair elastic? I think it’s brown.”
He was chewing on a plastic coffee stirrer. “Nope.”
“What is with all of you tonight have your brains leaked out of your heads?”
“No we’re just relaxing.”
“So relaxing means turning your brains off?”
“Sam it’s an elastic. It’s not like we don’t have eight million other ones on the bus.”
“Can I have yours?”
That got his attention. “No, that’s disgusting. It’s in my hair. I’m using it.”
“My arm is getting tired of holding this together. Please?”
“No. That’s gross. Don’t you think that’s gross?”
“Why? Did you not wash your hair?”
“I did. Did you?”
“Zac, please I’m desperate.”
“Fine but you have to get it.”
My mouth dropped open. “You want to me get it out of your hair.”
“Hey, beggars can’t be choosers.”
I let go of my hair and reached for the brush. “I’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone. I know I have. Normal people don’t do stuff like this.”
He leaned forward so I could pull his ponytail out. “You do realize this is slightly creepy, no?”
Zac was enthralled by the television and didn’t even seem to notice me attempting to pull the elastic out of his hair. I got a good grip and yanked. Nothing. He didn’t even seem to notice. “You are so weird.”
“Huh?”
I rebraided the hair that had come loose and fastened the elastic. “Forget it.”
Slumping back against the seat again I looked over at Taylor. “Taylor!!” I whacked his leg with the hairbrush.
“WHAT?!”
In Taylor’s hand was the brown hair elastic I was looking for. “Have you been paying attention at all? Even a little?”
“What are you talking about?”
Zac turned now to see what we were talking about. “You had it the whole time? Freak.”
Taylor was now wide-awake. “What’d I do?? I’ve been sitting here the whole time not doing anything!”
“Forget it. I’m going to read.”
Behind me I heard Taylor, “What is she talking about?”
“Taylor, does anything ever penetrate that thick skull of yours?”
“What are you talking about Zac? I haven’t done anything!”
Zac was laughing, “Dude, you are such a freak. You zoned through the whole thing.”
I stepped out my front door and cringed at the darkness. It’s too damn early for this. I tripped down the stairs and headed for my car. The Chevy was old but loved. It hadn’t had much use so I had to try the key a few times before the engine turned over. Halfway down to my destination I pulled the cellular phone out of my backpack. I dialed the number to the hotel and waited for the front desk to pick up. I swerved to avoid hitting Granny Blue Hair who decided that in between two lanes on the highway was much better than taking up just one lane. The front desk picked up just in time to hear me bellow, “Pick a lane, you moron!”
A timid voice reached out over the phone, “Ah…good morning Holiday Inn.”
I looked over to the other car as I passed Granny. She couldn’t even see over the steering wheel, “Oh, hi, sorry. I was almost run over by the oldest woman in America. Can I have room 322?”
“Yes, but, it is awfully early though. I’m not sure if I am permitted to let calls through this early.”
I wasn’t in the mood for this, “You’re new aren’t you? I need to get transferred to 322 and I’m about a half-hour away from your hotel. If I can’t get through to that room now I guarantee you’ll be out of a job by tomorrow morning.”
Dudley Do-Right wasn’t about to give up, “All right but if I get in trouble for this I will report my supervisors to room 322.”
“Hey, you can report me to the President if it will make you feel better, but please do so after you pass me through to 322.” After a huffy ‘okay’, I was transferred to Zac and Taylor’s room.
A very sleepy ‘hello’ came through the phone wire. I ducked my head to check the exit number on the highway sign and switched lanes, “Morning gorgeous, ready to face the day?”
“Samantha you are the spawn of the devil, aren’t you?”
“I am, Taylor, I was sent here just to drag your lazy butt out of bed at-“ I checked my watch, “Six-twenty-three in the morning. I’m gonna be at your door in twenty minutes or so and you had better be showered and ready to go or I’m gonna throw you in the shower and you know I won’t turn on the hot water.”
“You’re evil.”
I smiled, “I try to be. Be there in a few.” I clicked the end button and threw the phone onto the seat. I squinted as I noticed that the sun was coming up over the horizon. A quick inventory of my backpack and I slipped my sunglasses on.
~*~*~
The little man behind the desk tried to stop me from getting into the elevator but I flashed him my all access pass from the tour. Not that I gave him much time to object; I rapidly walked through the doors and bee-lined straight to the elevator. My finger was on the button for the third floor before he even got his scrawny butt off his chair.
The doors opened and I almost ran over a maid. She was waiting for the elevator and I didn’t see her. Oops.
I knocked on the door quietly and heard someone moving around. Taylor opened the door with one eye open. “Sami really, you didn’t need to get up this early. Sound check isn’t until 3. Can’t I go back to bed?”
“Yeah, right. I’m awake now, so you are too. Let’s go. Did you shower?”
He sat down on the bed and pushed the hair out of his face, “I showered when we got in last night.” I dropped my backpack on the bed and moved to open the curtains a bit.
“Oh God Sami, stop.” The sunlight filtered directly into Taylor’s face. Even I’m not that mean so I shut the curtains again.
“At least brush your teeth, you’re not gonna have rank breath in my car.”
“You always have such a beautiful way of saying things.”
“Yeah, whatever. Where’s Isaac? I wanted to say hi before we left.” Taylor was already halfway to the bathroom but he stopped to think, “He stayed with Mackenzie last night. The girls are two doors down from us so I assume he’s in the one next to us.”
I flirted with the idea of waking Zac up but thought better of it. He’s not pretty in the morning.
I knocked on Isaac’s door and I heard the knob turning, the knob turning again, and again. The door finally opened a crack but the overhead lock stopped it.
“Ike! It’s stuck!” I heard heavy footfalls on the carpet and heard Isaac’s voice. “All right, let go. I’ll take it from here.”
“But it’s Sam.”
“I know it is. Here, give me your hand.” A few seconds later the door opened again and I faced a sleepy Isaac holding a wide-awake Mackenzie.
“Morning. Did I wake you?” The boys moved out of the way and I walked over to sit on Mackenzie’s bed. Picking up one of the matchbox cars sitting on the bed, I said, “I just wanted to say hello before I left. I promise to have Taylor back before he’s needed.”
Isaac was wiping the sleep out of his eyes and stretching. He yawned and nodded his agreement at the same time.
“Are the girls awake?” I looked down at Mackenzie and noticed a big red stain on his shirt. I pointed to it and he smiled, “I had Spaghetti-O’s for supper.”
The door between the boys’ room and the girls’ room was open so I went in to say hello. They were still snoozing so I pulled the covers up and let them sleep. Mackenzie had gone to wake Zac up and Isaac had curled back under the covers to sleep.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and yawned. I heard a voice from underneath the covers, “I can’t believe he’s making you do this. Taylor never gets up before 10 and that’s only because Mom has threatened bodily harm.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s having a really early midlife crisis or something.” I walked across the room to retrieve my backpack. “I have to run. Tell your parents that we’ll be back by two. If anything changes I have the cell phone on.”
Back in Taylor’s room, he was already half asleep again. “I don’t think so, Gorgeous, you dragged me out of bed so I’m dragging you out.” Mackenzie moved his cars and was playing at the foot of Zac’s bed.
“Mac, you can stay in here until Zac wakes up or-“
A voice from the other side emerged, “I’m already awake. He body slammed me when he came in.”
“All right, well make sure he doesn’t leave the room without you.”
Zac’s rather ratty hair came up from underneath the covers, “Yes, Mom!”
~*~*~
Out in the sunshine Taylor hid his hair underneath a baseball cap and shunned the daylight with sunglasses, “Is it always this bright here? I feel like I’m standing on the sun.”
“No, it’s the solar glare. Let’s hit the road. Where do you want to go?”
I walked him over to my car and he stopped, “This is your car?”
Walking around the driver’s side, I unlocked the door, “Yeah, it has four wheels, brakes…sometimes and the radio works. What else do you want?”
“I don’t know. Maybe something built during this half of the century.”
I sank down into the seat. “Snide remarks will get you nowhere. The Chevy is a great car. If anyone gets in my way, I just drive over them. It’s a good thing.”
He was eyeing the vehicle but slid into the passenger seat. I pulled the sunglasses out of my hair and positioned them onto my face, “Ready? Seat belt, please.”
It took him about five minutes to fall asleep but I didn’t mind. I knew that he needed the sleep so I wasn’t offended. The one good thing about my car is that it’s so big. He was soon stretched out across the seat and resting his head on my armrest.
Pulling onto the interstate, I bumped his head with my arm. “Oh, sorry, Hun.”
“Thanks Sam, I needed that.” Without opening his eyes he asked, “Where are we going?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
“Well at least tell me where we are.”
“We’re in New England. Massachusetts to be specific.”
“You do realize your humor is annoying and not at all funny, correct?”
“Go back to sleep Taylor, you’re much nicer when you’re not awake.”
~*~*~
“Why are we stopping? You tired? Want me to drive?” Taylor had woken up and was slowing coming back to reality.
I thought for a moment, “We’re here. Not really and not in this lifetime.”
“You’re such a brat. I can drive well.”
Reaching into the backseat I grabbed for my backpack and pulled out my camera.
Taylor was a bit slower in moving but he stretched outside and started around to my side of the car, “Where the heck are we?”
“We’re at the subway station.”
“Of all the places you could have brought me, you brought me to a subway station?”
“Yes Taylor.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m bringing you into Boston, smarty-pants, and to get to Boston we have to take the T.”
“The T.”
“Yes, the T. Don’t touch anything, don’t breathe deeply and I would highly suggest plugging your nose while in the tunnel. I love Boston but cleanliness in its public transportation stations is not high on the list of priorities.” I fed a few dollar bills into the automated machine and it spit back my tokens. “Oh get that look off your face. I didn’t bring you to Alcatraz, we’re going into Boston.”
“Why didn’t we just drive?”
“Drive? In Boston?” I actually laughed out loud and I slipped my token into the turnstile. “You do value your life, no?”
“You’re afraid to drive in Boston?”
I spun around. “Damn right I am. Driving in Boston means taking your life in your hands. My parents only drive in Boston after double-checking to make sure their life insurance policies are paid in full and up to date.”
“You are a strange girl.”
“Yes Taylor, yes I am.”
~*~*~
I thought maybe you’d like to take in some of the historical parts of Boston, the revolutionary war memorabilia, monuments, Paul Revere’s House, etc. We have quite a lot of history here.”
“Hey, wasn’t the bar from that TV show Cheers in Boston somewhere?”
I slid my sunglasses on and walked past him, annoyed, “You’re incredible you know?!”
“What??” I turned to see his arms up in a what’d I do pose.
“Taylor you’re in one of the oldest cities in the country with history at your fingertips and you want to go to a make-believe bar??”
“So there’s no Cheers bar?”
“I hate you.”
He laughed. “No you love me.” He threw his arms around my shoulders. “Now about this history, where should we start? Where did Paul Revere ride? Shall I recreate?” Before I could stop him Taylor had his arms flung out and was yelling, “The British are coming!” at the top of his lungs.
My eyes bugged out and I slumped my shoulders before scurrying away. “I’m walking away now. I don’t know you. I disavow any knowledge of your existence.”
~*~*~
“I am going to throw you in the shower if you don’t hurry up.”
“Are there clean towels in there?” He was dragging his feet and I was not going to bite.
After a big day in the city, we were now back at my house. We both needed to shower and we were running late. I glanced at my watch and cringed. “I’ll go get some towels. The bathroom is upstairs to the left. Get going. We’re late.”
As he jogged up the stairs, I heard, “It’s not like they’re going to start without me!” After a quick call to Mrs. Hanson, I headed upstairs with two clean towels in my hand.
I knocked on the door and opened it a squeak, “You better be decent.”
“And what would happen if I wasn’t?”
I opened the door wide to see Taylor peering into the bathroom closet. “Well I guess I’d be seeing what some consider the eighth wonder of the world.”
He turned and smirked, “You’re not funny.”
Placing the towels onto the edge of the bathtub, I asked, “What are you looking for? I have towels for you.”
“I don’t know but even if I did know I wouldn’t be able to find it in here.”
“What’s wrong?” I shoved him out of the way and stared into the closet. Looking at it from a guest’s perspective I could see his point. My family and I are very messy people when it comes to closet space.
“Wow.” My mouth hung open as I looked what could be a year’s supply of partially used health and beauty products. “Anyway, mind your business. We only have a little time before we have to head back. We’re meeting everyone at the venue and if we’re late I may be strung up with the rest of the lighting equipment. So, quick shower and we’re out of here.”
As I was walking out, I heard his teasing, “Wouldn’t you like to stay and shower with me?”
“Uh…yeah, okay Taylor. My bathroom is downstairs; I’m going to take all the hot water away from your shower. Have fun with the ice water.”
I heard his protests from the other side of the closed bathroom door.