Taylor shook his head and ripped the shirt off, tossing it in the already
overflowing garbage can in the corner. “Well,
there’s another 25 bucks thrown away. Assholes.”
“What were you doing at Steak ‘n Shake?”
Zac asked, resigned to his lowly grilled cheese and soup.
Taylor snorted. “Oh, just
riding Justin’s skateboard home ‘cause my stupid car wouldn’t start when I
got out of work.” He began to
empty the pockets of his black pants onto the table.
Zac grinned around a mouthful of bread and cheese, “Dude!
You can’t skate!”
“It’s faster than walking.” Taylor
groused, holding up a wrinkled ten dollar bill.
“God, I love it when those rich bitches come in.”
Isaac shook his head, “She must have had a hefty bill.”
“Nope. I just shook my ass
a little at all the right moments—bill was $19.96.”
Isaac stood and took his bowl to the sink, “She tipped you ten bucks on
a twenty—that’s like fifty percent!”
“Some’s got it and some ain’t.”
Taylor said, puffing out his bare chest.
Zac rolled his eyes, “Maybe you could start turning tricks in the
parking lot when you get off.”
Taylor’s face got serious, “I would if I thought it’d get things
moving faster.” His eyes
brightened, “One good thing happened, though.
I stopped at that weird booky coffee shop to get some paper
towels—it’s kinda hard to ride a skateboard with milk and ice cream in your
eyes—but anyway, they had this guy on this little stage playing a guitar—“
“Taylor.” Isaac
interrupted him. “I’m going
back to school. Mom and Dad said
they’d help pay and I could go back and live in the basement.”
Zac prepared himself for the argument that he knew was about to happen again.
But Taylor didn’t yell this time.
“Ike, I’m gonna start doing pizza’s as soon as I get my stupid car
going. Mike makes like, fifteen
bucks an hour after tips.” There
was a pleading in his voice now which was much worse than yelling, Zac thought.
“How are you gonna have time for a band if you’re working two
jobs?” Isaac asked.
“Tay, I just don’t think—“
“Ike, they said we could play at like, eleven and stuff.”
Taylor reasoned.
“I gotta be at the store at 8:30 a.m.
I’m not staying out ‘til three in the morning playing guitar for
three drunks and a prostitute.”
“Ike! You work downstairs!
Can’t you start going in at 1:30? You
know some of the guys would probably jump at trading—they probably want their
nights free. Besides, it’s just a
bunch of old used records. If you
got a job at Pizza Hut, you’d make twice the money.”
Isaac sighed, “They’re not used, they’re vintage, and we prefer to
call them second hand.”
He protested.
Zac got up and headed toward the front room.
“Where are you going?” Taylor
said. “Why aren’t you helping
me get him to see the light?”
Zac turned wearily, “I’m gonna play a new game I brought home.
Tay, if he doesn’t want to play in the band, you can’t
make him.”
“Why would anyone not want to play in the band?”
Taylor asked incredulously. “And
how much did that game cost?! You’re
supposed to be saving for a new bass drum.”
“I didn’t buy it, jerk. I
borrowed it from the overstock bin. And
man cannot live by music alone, Taylor. Why
don’t you go call Maggie and get laid?”
“Maggie’s last words to me were “Go Fuck Yourself” so I don’t
think she’d be very cooperative there.”
Taylor muttered, flopping down on the orange sofa.
“Psshh, that was like, three weeks ago, you all haven’t made up
yet?” Zac asked, his eyes already
glued to the television where his game was opening.
“No. And I’m not going
to either.” Taylor spat.
Zac rolled his eyes, “Whatever.”
“I’m not!” Taylor
exclaimed. “In fact, I got a date
with the counter girl at the coffee shop.”
He smiled. “A very cute
little red head.”
Isaac walked in at that moment. “Who’s
a cute little red head?” He
asked. He sat down in his favorite
chair. It had green flowers and a
high back and was perfect for playing his guitar.
Before Taylor could answer, he asked another question.
“When are you ever gonna finish painting that wall?”
Taylor looked over at the mural he’d begun a year ago when they’d
moved into the apartment. It’d
seemed like a good idea at the time, to cover the dingy walls with a bright
scene and just add to it as inspiration hit him, but as the reality of working
and paying bills had hit him harder, it had gone by the wayside.
Taylor sighed. “I don’t
know. I’ll just go buy some paint
somewhere and cover it up.” He
looked at his older brother as he picked up his old guitar and began to pick
softly at its strings. “Ike, I
know we can do it. Why do you write
songs if you don’t want to play them?”
Isaac didn’t look up but he answered, “Because I love music.
I just don’t like trying to get gigs and having to deal with drunks and
stuff.”
“I’ll handle that.” Taylor
said. “If you don’t play,
Zac’s not going to either. I know
it.”
Zac glanced their way, “I play drums.
I ain’t going out front.”
Taylor threw his head back against the sofa cushion, “Zac, you sing
like a fuckin’ angel. What’s
your problem?”
“I never said I’d sing. You
asked me to play drums, so I play drums.”
Zac answered, his face a grimace as his character’s health dwindled to
a sickly 23%. A few moments later
and he was dead, slain by a ninja with large breasts and stiletto heels.
“Goddamit!” He spat.
He looked over at his brother, “Besides, how are you gonna deal with
the drunks when you can’t even get down the street without some assholes
throwing shit at you? You better
quit fucking guys’ girlfriends or one of them’s eventually gonna beat the
crap out of you.”
Taylor stood up, “Ike, can I have your keys?
Danny told me I could hang out in the store and use the stereo as long as
I didn’t mess anything up.” He
walked toward the door. “And I
didn’t fuck anybody’s girlfriend. All
you gotta do is talk to one of them and their a-hole boyfriend thinks you fucked ‘em. You
know,” he said, stepping out into the hallway, “I thought this was a cool
neighborhood when we moved here, but these fucks are just as backwards as the
ones at home.”
~~~~~
Isaac walked into Game Asylum and watched his little brother offer a man
$32.50 for his six games. “I paid
$39.95 for just that one!” The
man exclaimed.
“Dude—nobody likes that game.”
He pointed to the wall behind him, “That’s why I already got three of
‘em. Don’t like it?
Don’t sell ‘em. It
doesn’t hurt my feelings a bit. It’d
piss me off too—but we gotta pay the rent, y’know?”
With a sigh, the man presented his ID so that Zac could pay him.
Beside him, Chris, his co-worker stared intently at the little screen on
the counter, his thumbs moving as quickly as his eyes as he navigated through a
futuristic maze.
“Hey, Ike.” Zac
acknowledged his brother. “What’s
up, man?” He asked as he handed
the man his money.
“Well, it’s a good thing I was the one opening this morning, ‘cause
Taylor was laid out on the couch in the break room.
And, it’s a good thing Danny likes him, or I’d be fired by now.”
Zac waved the comment away, “Music types always like Taylor—they can
see he’s got it bad, just like they do.”
Isaac chuckled, “Not all of them like him—“
“They’re the jealous ones.” Zac
said, picking up a controller and continuing with the game he was playing.
It always amazed Isaac that the boy could play a game and win and still
hear every word you said to or about him.
“Jealous?” Isaac asked,
walking behind the counter to gaze over the boys’ shoulders.
“Yeah, ‘cause he’s got the talent on top of it.
And for some reason, girls love a girly guy.
I don’t get it, but that’s the way it is.”
He said, cocking his head to the side as if it would help the computer
generated man in front of him.
“Hmph. Don’t let him
hear you call him that.” Isaac
said.
“Fucker!” Zac cursed at
his enemy. He glanced at Isaac,
“Truth hurts.” He muttered,
then looked back to the screen.
“I know, but still.” Isaac
sighed. “What do you think?
I mean, we aren’t getting anywhere.
I like playing, but shit man, we gotta eat.
Tay’s working himself to death at Bella Farte’s and now he’s gonna
start doing pizza on top of trying to line up gigs and practice and everything
else. He’s skinny ‘cause he
forgets to eat.”
“I’ve never had that problem,
so I wouldn’t know.” Zac said.
“Ike, if you wanna
go to school, then go to school.”
“I don’t know—it’s not that I want
to go to school that bad. I just
feel like I gotta get started on my future.
I’m twenty one now. In a
month it’s gonna start getting cold and we’re gonna freeze in that rat trap.
You know him, he’ll buy a new guitar and not pay the gas company.
I thought I was gonna die last July.”
He let out a slow breath again, “You know, if I go back home, you have
to come too. Mom and Dad aren’t
gonna let you stay here with just Tay.”
Now Zac put down the controller. “That’s
just stupid.” He said.
“Zac, you’re only out of high school ‘cause you’re home schooled
and you kept up with me and Taylor. Why
wouldn’t you want to go back home? You
don’t even like music that much.” Isaac
asked.
“Yeah, I do. Just maybe
not as much as you and Tay. Just
because I don’t make drummer faces and party all night, it doesn’t mean
I’m not into it.” Zac reasoned.
“Besides, if somebody doesn’t stay behind there won’t
be anybody to make sure pencil man eats or pays the utilities.”
Zac smiled, “Do you want that on your head?
He’ll be up there with no heat and no food, singing with blue lips and
a three thousand dollar Fender on his lap.”
Isaac didn’t laugh, feeling it was a little too close to the truth.
“Well, just so you know, you’re a minor so it might not be your
choice.”
Chris stopped his game and took a drink from the Mountain Dew that sat on
the counter. “You’re a minor?
How do you play in bars and stuff, then?”
“’Cause nobody ever asks and we don’t booze it up ‘til we get
home.” Zac answered with a grin.
Isaac shook his head, “You better not do it there either.
If Mom and Dad even thought you
were, you’d be back home in about two seconds flat.”
“Yeah, yeah. I heard it
all.” Zac picked up his own drink
and downed it, then smashed the can.
“Come on, man.” Isaac
said, glancing at the clock on the wall, “Don’t you get off at five?
It’s ten after.” He
headed for the front door, stepping past two girls who seemed more interested in
the staff than the games around them. “Ladies…”
He smiled and got a giggle in return.
Zac rewarded them with a full out
teeth and all smile, “Be back tomorrow, 10 a.m., I’ll be here.”
And he left with his brother. He
took in a big breath of the fresh September air, “Sometimes, it’s good to
have Taylor not with you…” He
mused.
~~~~~
“Hey man, what are you doing home from work already?”
Isaac asked Taylor when he walked in the front door.
The television was on but his brother had his face in his hands.
For a moment Taylor just sat there, then he ran his hands through his
hair, “I got sick and came home.” He
answered.
Zac looked at him, “How’d your breakfast date go with your coffee
girl? Did you eat something
funky?”
For a moment, Taylor looked at him like he had no idea what he was
talking about. “Oh…oh, yeah.”
He smiled for a split second and stood up, walking over to the old
bookcase in the corner.
He brought back a Polaroid picture of himself, “She just
wanted to paint me.”
Isaac looked over Zac’s shoulder and laughed, “Literally!!!
That is awesome, dude!!
Are you butt naked!!?”
Taylor smiled and looked at the picture, “Naw, I just had my shirt off.
She was gonna paint my chest too. But,
surprisingly, it’s too hairy. I
guess the paint wouldn’t stick. And
sorry, even for art’s sake, I ain’t shaving my chest.”
“Did ya get a second date out of it?”
Zac asked, wiggling his eyebrows. But
Taylor had gone off into his own world again and didn’t answer.
He and Isaac exchanged looks.
“So, what’s wrong? Are
you sick to your stomach or what?” Isaac
asked, cocking his head to look at Taylor’s face.
Taylor closed his eyes a moment, then snorted, “Yeah, I guess you could
say that. I puked all over the
bathroom at Bella Notte’.”
“Well, maybe you ought to be in bed.
You can use mine, just take a garbage can so you don’t barf all over
it.” Isaac said.
Taylor usually slept on the couch, being the one most likely to come in
late and stay up ‘til early morning.
Taylor let out a sigh and looked out the window, “Naw, I gotta go back
to work.” He shook his head and
looked at his brothers, tears hanging on his lashes, “Gotta start making the
big bucks, now.”
Zac stepped closer, making sure of what he was seeing, “Taylor, what
the fuck’s going on?”
He looked away and swiped his arm across his eyes, standing silently for
an agonizing moment before speaking. “Maggie
stopped by. She was there when I
came in for my shift…” They
both waited for him to finish, but it was all he said.
“Soooo, does that mean you’re back together?
I mean, that’s good, right?” Zac
said, glancing at Isaac, then back to Taylor.
“Yeah, I guess it’s good.” Taylor
muttered. He looked back at Isaac,
“Um, when are you going back to school?”
He asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets and sniffing.
“I don’t really know. I
think it’s too late to start this semester, so probably winter.
Taylor, I know you’re freaked out about something.
What aren’t you telling us?”
“Well…fuck!” He sat
heavily down on the couch. “Just…”
He started again. He looked
at Isaac, “Don’t worry about the band, man.
Just do whatever you need to do. If
you want to be an accountant like Dad or teach school or whatever, then go for
it, okay?”
“Is she pregnant?” Zac
asked. Isaac furrowed his brow and
was about to whack Zac for even asking, but then he saw Taylor’s face.
“Four months.” He
uttered. He looked up at both his
brothers, “I think she waited ‘til it was too late to get rid of it.”
He laughed but it was bitter.
“I guess she thought I’d make her have an abortion.”
Isaac shook his head as if what he’d heard could be thrown from his
ears. “What?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said, too.”
Taylor said. He looked up at
his brothers, tears glistening in his eyes again.
“Ya heard right. She had
the little stick to prove it and some paper from the clinic.”
“Shit.” Zac said,
sitting down next to him. “If it
was anybody but her, I’d ask if you were sure it was yours.”
“There wouldn’t be anybody but her that could
be pregnant by me.” Taylor said.
“Contrary to what everybody says, she’s the only girl I’ve been
with since we moved here…” He
looked at the window again. Zac
wondered if he was considering jumping from it, but in actuality, he just
couldn’t bear to see the looks on his brothers’ faces.
He’d drug them away from their comfortable home, against their
parents’ wishes because he’d felt they could make it in music.
It was all he’d ever wanted. And
now, he’d screwed up any chance they’d ever have to be successful.
He came from a family with seven children, he knew what it took to take
care of a baby: money, and time—two things he didn’t have nearly enough of.
“What are you gonna do?” Isaac
asked.
“I don’t know.” Taylor
replied. He stood up, suddenly
looking like a caged animal as he began to pace, “I mean, she could lose it,
right?” He said, softly.
Then he closed his eyes, “I can’t believe I just said
that…” He looked heavenward,
“I ‘m sorry God, I didn’t mean that.”
He then looked at the clock. “Fuck,
I gotta get back to work.” He
said. He looked at his brothers and
smiled, a sad smile. “I guess
it’s good you’re going back home. That
way me and the wife and kids’ll have a little more room, huh?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys, “Hey, at least I
got my car started.” He said, and he went out the door and pulled it shut
behind him.
