CHAPTER 2 - TAYLOR
I settled back in my first-class sear fot the long ride to Boston. It was no use though, their voices kept coming back to me. Why did everyone that was supposed to be supportive of me, suddenly ditch me when I wanted to do my own thing. I tried to explain ot ratioanlly to mom and dad but they wouldn't listen, not that they'd be able to hear even if they'd wanted to. Mom had blubbered all over the place at the airport and dad wouldn't speak to me. And they wonder why I didn't tell them I was leaving until I'd booked my place and my ticket and there was no turning back. You'd think I'd announced that I was moving to Molokai for self penance. Zac was in a funk at home and Ike was giving me the silent treatment. The little kids could have cared less! I'm terribly sorry for wanting a good education! I'm awfully apologetic for wanting to prove to everyone that I'm not just Cleetus the slackjawed yokel who could play the piano "real good like". And of course when mom and dad found out they made sure that if I was going I was to have a private room, the works. I'd never been so embarrassed. All I wanted was to be left to study in peace. And at Harvard I could do that. There were plenty of famous kids who studied there, I'd be a little fish in a great big pond. And it's not as if I wouldn't be able to play anymore. I could still record in my my holidays, it just meant we couldn't tour as often.
I guess in a strange...and possibly demented way I'd miss my family. I'd miss Ike always being able to offer some advice, good or otherwise. I'd miss Zac...well...I probably wouldn't miss him that much. I'd miss Mac's five am wake-up calls and the way the girls girated around back-stage during our concerts and I think most all I would miss Zoe. She was such a sweet kid. When she flashed you one of her thousand watt smiles you knew all was right in the world.
I'd had a fight with mom and dad at the airport. I had walked out and run straight into a girl. She was really pretty with soft, long blond hair and big blue eyes. She'd been on the phone but had freaked out when I'd banged into her...probably a fan!
I pulled out my lap top as the plane glided steadily through the blueest sky I'd ever seen. Logging onto my email I found six new messages already from my family.
Dear Tay-Bear,
Momma says you're up in the big plane now, Avery's writing this for me. Why's everyone mad at you? Ikey won't talk to anyone and Zacky's been throwing books again. Remember last time and he put a hole in the wall? That was funny. I hope you have a good time at your big new school. I don't care what Jess and Mack say! I'll miss you Tay-Bear. Please don't forget me in Boston,
Love,
Zoe xxoo
I smiled to myself, she was such a cute kid, I opened the next letter.
Taylor,
We've just gotten home from the airport. I know your father and I weren't very well...welcoming to the idea of your going away, but we love youy and accept your decision. And know that if you ever want to come home, there's a place for you here.
Love,
Mom xxoo
P.S. Did you pack enough clean underwear?
I groaned at that last part. Mom would say something like that.
"excuse me sir?" I looked up at the flight attendant. She was tall with legs that seemed to go on forever, have you ever noticed that all flight attendants are babes? I mean, that's great. Years worth of travelling, and that's all I've concluded! All flight attendants are babes!
"Yes?"
"Can I get you anything?"
"Uh...I'll have just a bottle of water thanks" She nodded and waltzed away. I turned back to my reading. There was a letter from Avery, my cousin Amelia and finally, Zac and Isaac.
Dear Taylor,
Well, this is pretty difficult. We're not gonna lie, we're not writing to you cos we want to, just cos we're being made to! We totally understand that you want to go to school. So do we! But you could have told us! We would've supported you!...
The rest of that letter berated me for not sharing every intimate detail of my life with them. They could bluff as much as they wanted, but if I'd told them, the shit would have really hit the fan. They would've tied me down and sat on me to stop me going!I sighed and closed my eyes.
My eyes flew open at a loud noise in economy class. The gorgeous stewardess, Karen as her name-tag proclaimed, walked past briskly and through the curtain. The curtain swung back and caught on a hook, falling open to reveal a wild-eyed guy with waist-length black hair
****AUTHORS NOTE ****
Did anyone see "In Dreams" with Anette Benning and Robert Downey Jr. ? Cos this guy looks like Vivien (Downey)
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He was screeching at Karen. I supressed a giggle as he called her an up-graded grout scrubber. A blond girl was sitting next to him, her head buried in her hands. Poor girl! Must be his daughter! She glanced up and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle and rise. It was the girl from the lounge! She stared at me disbelievingly. I smiled softly and she grinned back. She was really quite pretty. Pity about her dad though. Oh well! Can't choose your relatives! If anyone knows that I do.
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