"Da da da la la la. I have never been more bored in my entire life. Da la da la. A doo bop doo bop doo wup. Boring. Boring." Zac effortlessly sang.
The four of them, Carrie, Taylor, Ike, and Zac sat in the Hanson's tree house. It was a rainy day out, and the clapping sound of thunder filled their ears. Carrie was bored too and just started to look around. It was a cute little tree house, it had three rooms. It was very large for a tree house, and had food, sleeping bags, and magazines and scribbles of music on crumpled paper laying around. Zac was sitting in the "kitchen" and was just staring out the window. Ike, Tay, and Carrie were sitting in the other "room."
"Me too." said Ike. Let's do something that involves more than sitting around and eating....Jello, Jellybeans, and chips.
"There isn't anything to do on a rainy day." Taylor said. Zac, was still singing a song about being bored in the backround.
"Well, we could play a board game or something."
"Or we could sing." Zac mumbled.
"We could do that." Ike said sounding more enthusiastic.
"Whoa guys, wait. I can't sing." Carrie interrupted.
"Well yeah, but we could sing to you." Tay smiled. Ike noticed that Taylor liked Carrie, Taylor hadn't mentioned it, but he could definately tell he liked her...he just smiled at Tay's words. Carrie smiled too, and soon they were all on their feet stretching.
"Let's go!!" Zac screamed. That was what was weird about Zac. One minute he was quiet as a mouse, and the next, you couldn't shut him up. They started scurrying into their house, and the light rain dampened them slightly. Zac slipped in the mud and started laughing. Taylor hysterically started to crack up. Zac...a little embarrassed in front of Carrie, pulled Taylor down with him. Taylor's laughs were turned into a blank stare at Zac. They both sat there in the mud, just evilly staring at each other.
"What's the problem Tay?" Zac laughed. He then picked up some mud and chucked it at him.
"You asked for it!!!!" Taylor shouted. Then, a mud fight began. Carrie and Ike later joined, and they were in the mud for about 20 minutes. They all were plastered in mud, and when they tried to get up, they slipped. Ike finally managed to get up, and helped the others up, too. They ran inside, not knowing what to do with the mud, and just tried to slip on by Mrs. Hanson.
"Shh, don't let mom hear us." Zac whispered. They quickly crept in the house where their mother was baking cookies. With her back turned to them, they thought they would have the perfect chance.
"Hold it right there my little mud covered children." Diana turned to see the four of them, and gasped at the sight. They all held their breath, hoping that she wouldn't blow up at them....but, she started laughing. With sighs of relief, they started laughing, too. "Go rinse yourselves off outside you guys," she said as she pushed them out the door. "Yuck."
"That was so awesome! She didn't care!" Zac screeched. Carrie just ignored Zac, and contined staring at Taylor. His shirt was clinging to him, showing six-pack. Their eyes met, and then both a little embarrassed, just went on rinsing off.
"Here are some towels." Mrs. Hanson offered as she stepped out of the house. After they were all done and in dry clothes again....Carrie wore some of Taylor's sweats...they all gathered in the den. Carrie took a seat in a chair and listented to them tune everything up. She wasn't listening to anything...just staring at Taylor. Zac tried to impress Carrie by playing the hardest thing he could on the drums...it did sound good, but Carrie didn't hear it. She was in her own little world...staring at Taylor....
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Zac yell "1-2-3-4." They began to sing a new song they had made up yesterday.
"And I cried, the day that our love died...." She listened to the rest of the song and thought it was good, a few times she caught Taylor glancing at her. Isaac was being Isaac, and Zac was....well...Zac.
"Oh man, that was awesome!!" cried Zac.
"Yeah, but there is still room for improvement." Taylor said as he picked up a pencil and started scribbling things down.
"What did you think Carrie?"
Carrie broke her stare from Taylor. "Oh, I thought it was great."
"Well, that's because of my awesome playing." Zac said, pulling up his pants and raising an eyebrow. "You know, I have true talent on these suckers right here. Yeah, I was born with these babies." He patted the drums and stared at them. "Oh, I LOVE YOU MAN!!!" he said as he hugged his...drums. He laughed. "I am just so funny!"
"Whatever." Ike mumbled.
"Hey, you know I am awesome man."
"Sure." Taylor added. Looking up and raising his eyebrow, then, he walked out of the room.
"Where ya going buh-dee??" Zac questioned.
"I'll be right back." Zac followed him out of the room, which left Ike, and Carrie.
"You guys sound great."
"Us or Taylor?" Ike smiled. Carrie was embarressed and blushed. "Oh, don't worry, it's not too obvious. And besides, he likes you too, so it's not that big of a deal."
"He likes me? How do you know? What has he said?"
"Nothing."
"Then how do you know?"
"Carrie, I have lived with the kid...or man...whatever, for 14 years. You grow to know him. When he acts like that, you know loves in the air."
"Really??....I mean...oh." Carrie tried to hide her feelings. Then, Taylor and Zac walked in the room.
"I worked on this last night, here." Taylor handed Zac and Ike some music. Isaac picked up a different guitar and started to play what was on the music. Taylor and Zac tried the same. "Okay, let's try it."
"Okay, here we go. 1-2-3-4!" Zac counted off. The tune immediately got Carrie listening. It was beautiful, even the first time playing it. Taylor sang the lead, and Zac and Ike did back-ups. "And the minute I first saw you, I knew that it was love." Taylor smoothly sang. He looked up at Carrie and threw her a smile. She blushed, but smiled back. The song was soon over.
"Tay, that is really cool." Ike said.
"That was really pretty." Carrie whispered, looking deep into Taylor's blue eyes.
"You think so?" Taylor softly said, walking towards her. "I just got it from"
"Okay." Ike interrupted, that's enough for today." Zac shot a blot of jealousy at Taylor. But, he then accepted that Carrie liked Taylor, and walked out of the room.
"Carrie?" Mrs. Hanson called up the staris. Taylor and Carrie were still inches apart, staring at eachother.
"Yeah?"
"You're mom just called. Said you were to go home and get ready to out for dinner."
"We're going out?"
"Yeah, with our family." she answered.
"Oh, I'll be right down." Carrie broke the stare and ran down the stairs, running out the door, without saying goodbye to Taylor.
"What the heck? She didn't say goodbye???" Taylor said to his brother.
"She was too caught up in the moment. I don't think you know how much she likes you." was his response.
"Huh? How do you know?"
"I just know." and with that, he walked out the door.
"Humm." Taylor thought.
"Mama, I want the hamberger."
"Okay, you can have that, Jessica." Carrie and her mom and the Hanson's were all crammed in Denny's.
"Me too."squeaked Avery.
"Me too." the little one piped up.
"Okay, three hambergers please..."
After everyone was full, they all decided to go to the Hanson's house afterwards to chat for awhile. Carrie and Taylor were embarrassed to look at one another, but did anyway.
"She is so pretty, her smile is so gorgeous." Tay thought.
"Look at those eyes." Carrie thought.
"Taylor!! Stop drooling!" Ike thought.
"She wants me." Zac thought. "She wants me bad." He thought he was getting stared at...he was sitting next to Taylor, mistakingly thinking that he was getting smiled at by Carrie.
"Come on, we are going back to our place for awhile." Mr. Hanson announced.
They all piled into their cars and drove home, or to the Hanson's house, and sat down in the living room. Talyor, Zac, Ike and Carrie sat on one couch and the 3 parents sat in chairs. But first, Diana put the younger kids to bed.
"So, do you have any news on your mother?" Walker questioned Carrie's mom. The parents continued on jabbing while the three kids just sat there, bored to death again.
Carrie soon felt something cover her hand. She looked down to see it was Taylor's hand. She looked up at him, and he nudged his head towards the exit of the living room. She got the hint.
"Umm, excuse me, I have to use the restroom." Carrie said. She stood up, looked at Taylor and nudged her head towards the exit. She walked out, standing by the bathroom, waiting for him to come. She soon heard footsteps coming closer, and then saw Taylor.
"Come on..." he said as he grabbed her hand and led her in his room.
Ike and Zac thought something was up, but decided just to leave them alone. The parents were too busy babbling, not even caring what their children were up to.
"What is it?" Carrie asked.
"Shhh." He said as he put a finger over her mouth. "The song today, I made it....for you." he whispered. They just stared at eachother for a moment, he was hoping she would somehow respond.
"What the heck should I do???" Carrie thought as she raqued her brain.
Soon, he pulled her closer, still staring deep into her eyes. He leaned in closer, and gently kissed her on the lips. He pulled back to see her reaction. She pulled him back to her and kissed him back. He wrapped his arms around her, and she put her arms around his neck, letting her fingers linger around. After a few soft kisses, Taylor started to make the kisses become deeper and longer. She accepted, but then....
"Taylor, they will start to think..."
"I know, but just...." he whispered and began to kiss her again. She ignored her thought and began to kiss again.
"We better go, our parents...." she said a few minutes later.
"I know." He slowly let go, but still kept staring into her eyes. She quickly kissed him, and grabbed his hand and then returned to the parent conversation.
Ike gave Taylor a look, but Taylor just smiled. Zac got the hint, and decided to leave.
"Well, I'm pretty tired. I'm gonna hit the sack." Zac said as he yawned.
"Okay honey, see you in the morning." Diana said. Then she gave her son a hug and kiss and he went up to bed.
"Me too." Ike said, and he followed his brother upstairs.
"What time is it?" Carrie's mom asked.
"Almost 10." Walked informed her.
"Well Carrie we should get home, it's getting late."
"Okay." She looked at Taylor and smiled as the parents said their goodbyes. "I'll call you tomorrow." she said.
He nodded and she and he walked behind the adults, holding hands until they reached the door. They smiled, and then, she walked out the door.
"Ike?" Tay whispered as he layed in bed."
"Yeah?"
"Zac, you awake?"
"Ah-huh. Unfortualtely I had to sit there listening to the parents talking while you went and did what ever you did with Carrie."
"Shut-up Zac."
"What happened?" Ike asked.
"Well, I just told her that the song I made last night was because of her. Then, I kissed her, and then she kissed me, and then we kissed. The end."
"Way to go Taylor!" Ike laughed at his brother while Zac scowled. Isaac noticed this. "Zac, Carrie never liked you."
"I know, shut-up. Just why, why does TAYLOR always get the good ones. I mean, she lead me on. She was staring at me at Denny's."
"What are you talking about Zac?" Tay asked.
"She was staring at me at Denny's."
"No she wasn't, she was staring at me you idiot." Tay responded. Zac scowled again.
"Whatever." Zac muffeled out. "Just whatever."
"Good night guys." Ike said.
"Good night."
"Carrie, why were you gone so long?" her mom asked her.
"Well, ya know, I was, like I said, in the bathroom. Yeah." Carrie lied.
"Oh. Just checking." She knew her daughter was up to something but didn't say anything else about that.
"How's Grandma Pierce doing?" Carrie asked to take away some tension.
"Carrie, we talked about that most of the time at the Hanson's. I told everyone there. How could you have missed that?"
"Oh, ah, just day dreaming I guess. Sorry."
"Well, maybe we listen more instead of staring."
"What??!!"
"You know what I mean." she gave her daughter a smirk and went off to get ready for bed.
Carrie blushed, and brushed her hair and teeth humming the tune of the song that Taylor wrote, and then, went off to bed....with happy dreams.
"Okay, this is how you play." Mac said as he pointed his finger and strode across the room. Carrie and Taylor both laughed at his attempt to be sophisticated. The two were babysitting Mac at Carrie's house, and Mackie was explaining the rules of this game he had made up. "First, Taylor will be it. Me and you, Carrie, will hide. Then, Taylor comes to look for us. Me and you can run away from him, too. We just have to try and get to the couch without him tagging our arm. Do you get it?"
"Um-hum. So, we have to try and get to the couch without Taylor tagging us, and we can hide any where in the house?"
"Yup."
"Got it." Carrie turned to smile at Taylor, and he smiled back. "He's so cute she wispered."
"He gets it from me." Taylor said jokingly.
"Okay, Tay. You count to 40. Then, try and find us!" Mac said as he ran off. Carrie caught up with him, and they both ran upstaris as they could hear Taylor counting. As they both reached the top, Carrie said, "You that way, and I'll go this way."
"Okay." he said as he galloped off. Carrie crept behing the corner of the staris and waited for Taylor to ome up the stairs after he was done counting.
"40!!" Taylor yelled from downstairs. "Ready or not, here I come!" Taylor had heard shuffling on the staris when they went up, so he went upstairs first. Carrie peeked around the corner and saw him coming. She quickly jolted her head back and then saw Taylor come up the stairs. Luckily, he turned the way that Mackie had gone, and missed Carrie. This was her chance. She quickly tried to run down the stairs, but then Taylor, only a few feet away, heard her, and went running after her. She screamed as she looked back and saw him only inches away. When she got to the bottom, she ran into the living room, Tay still inches behind her. She never got to the couch and went in circles, and then ended at the bottom of the stairs again. Taylor still hadn't gotten her! She started to run up them, hoping to reach the top and get into a room to lock herself in it, but then Taylor grabbed onto her ankles and they both fell
"Looks like I got you." Taylor grinned.
"Yeah, well...you cheated." Carrie teased.
"What? How can you cheat in this game??" He crawled up closer to her. "You lie."
"I do not! You cheated, it's so obvious!" she giggled.
"Okay, fine, but you still have the best smile." Taylor sincerely said.
"And you still have good eyes. Just good."
"Oh yeah right. You always tell me my eyes are the best." Taylor said back.
"Well, I was lying." Carrie smirked.
"I bet."
"No, really." Carrie had to concentrate hard to stop herself from laughing. "I've seen better eyes."
"Fine then. I've seen a better smile. But, I mean...you have to like SOMETHING about me."
"Not really." Carrie slyly stated.
"Oh come on. Stop hiding it." Taylor pleaded.
"Okay, so you're nice....but that's all." Carrie joked.
"And funny...."
"Ahhh, okay. Funny."
"And charming....." Taylor laughed.
"Maybe."
"And fun to be with....and smart...."
"Smart yeah, but DEFINATELY NOT fun to be with." Carrie laughed.
"Hummm. But, I'm just a little cute, don't you think?" Taylor said, giving her a puppy face.
"Well....I donno. That's a toughie...." She laughed and Taylor later did too. Then, he leaned in and kissed her. She accepted, and they deeply kissed for a few minutes. "Well, you are just A LITTLE cute." Carrie whispered as she pulled back. He smiled, and as he started leaning in again....
"You guys? Are you still here? It's dark in here. MOMMY!" Mac screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Yup, we're coming. Don't worry Mackie." Taylor said as he stood up. They went into Carrie's room, where they found him hiding under her bed.
"Help me out of here." he said, concern staining his voice.
"It's okay." Carrie said as she helped Taylor pull him out.
"I don't wanna play again. That's scary." Mackie said.
"Okay, we don't have to play any more. " Taylor said as he grabbed his brother and took him downstairs. "Wanna watch t.v.?" he asked Mac as he set him on the couch. Just then....
"Carrie??"
"Mom? What are you doing here?"
"Honey, get in the car now. Grandma has slipped in a coma. Come on we gotta get to the hospital. Taylor, I'll drop you and Mac off at your house on the way there. Let's go!" she said as her eyes were dampening. They quickly gathered everything up and ran to the car. Carrie's mind was racing so fast that she didn't know what to think.
"I hope she's okay." Taylor said as he and Mac stepped out of the car, and walked into the driveway.
"Thanks." Carrie and her mom both said at different times. Then, they drove away, heading towards the hospital.
Carrie sat there, with the same feeling she had had all too many times before. She just stared out the window, watching the world zip by...she didn't know what to think. Instead, she just broke out in tears. "Why?" she said outloud. "Why do we have to go through all this? First dad, then grandpa, and now this," Carrie sobbed.
"Oh honey..." her mom started, but then she too, started to cry heavy tears. "It's just the way the world works. And we have to deal with it." she cried. Not another word was said as they approached the hospital. Nothing but tears were heard. They quickly ran into the hospital and went to the desk to see what room she was in, and then rushed to it.
"Grandma..." Carrie said as she entered the room. There she saw her grandma laying there with tubes going up her nose, and IV in her wrist. She had such a pale looking face. The sound of a beeping machine was the only sound that filled the room. At the sight of her grandmother, Carrie started to cry harder. Her mother put her hand over her mouth as she slowly went to sit in the chair sitting next to her bed.
"Mom." she managed to sputter out between sobs. Just then, a Doctor entered the room.
"Excuse me, who let you in here? This is supposed to be off limits right now. You can't see her now." he stated.
Carrie's mother was ready to explode. "No. Excuse me. This is my mother. I should be able to see her when ever I want. My mother is dying and you just want me to let it go? I don't need a guy in white to come and tell me that I can't see my dying mother..
"I'm sorry, but you can't come in here at this time. Only after 4:00 ma'am."
This built up even more anger. "I don't care what time it is. MY MOTHER IS DYING. I AM STAYING HERE. My husband has died, and my father has died. Both of which I was not able to see them. I am not letting it happen again! Now, please let my daughter and I alone so we can pay our respects!!"
"I'm sorry maam." he stuttered. "I had no idea what you've went through." Then, he walked out of the room.
"I shouldn't have to tell him what I've been through. It's just common courtesy and commom sense."she grumbled and then turned to look at her mother. Carrie hadn't heard a word. She was too caught up in everything to even understand what was going on. Just a few minutes ago, she was having fun with her boyfriend, and now, she was weeping before here dying grandma.
It was morning now. Carrie and her mother had stayed the night. Both wide awake, hoping and prayng that things would get better. The Doctors kept informing them that there was nothing to be done. Through the entire night, not a word was said to anyone. They were both in too much shock to even turn their attention from the elder lady. Carrie was deeply thinking about the good times she had had with her grandma when suddenly, something started to move ahead of her. It was her grandma. They both were too stunned to say anything, and didn't move. Grandma turned to look at them with small eyes; they were barely opened enough to see anything. She then picked up her hand, and started to smile at the both of them. She continued smiling, and with her last ounce of energy, bent her fingers, and made a small wave goodbye. This was the end. Her hand fell down, and her eyes slowly closed. She was gone. With her last bit of energy, she said goodbye to the remains of her family. It was as if she knew that they were waiting for her
A nurse came walking in, and then looked at the machine. "I'm sorry." she said. And then she turned the machine off and dissapeared into the hallway.
Carrie immediately started to cry heavy tears. She buried her face in her hands, and cried and cried. Her mother, just sat there, not knowing what to do. Then, she spoke. "Oh God. I thought it would be a relief after she was gone." she started to sob. "How could I have been so stupid...how could I have been so stupid?" she asked her daughter, still crying hard. They enveloped each other in their arms. Grandma Pierce was dead.
A few hours later, they were getting ready to leave, when another nurse walked through the entrance. "Are you going to go home?" she gently and quietly asked.
"Yes, we'll be leaving now." Carrie's mom said as she sniffed.
"Before you go...." she pulled out two envelopes from her white coat. "She asked me to give you these." She handed Carrie the one that had her name on it, and did the same with her mom. "I'm sorry." she said as she exited with a warm smile.
Carrie and her mom decided to wait to read those for when they got home. They slowly walked out to the car, and drove home. Carrie was curious about the note inside, and when she got inside her house, she went directly to the beach. She put her jacket on the table, and then went outside. She sat down on the sand and was very near the water, but didn't care if she got wet at that point in time. She carefully opened the envelope, and read what was inside.
My Dearest Carrie,
I had the nurse write this for me, I knew I was running out of time, and I wanted to say farewell somehow.
Sometimes in life, things don't go the way we want them. Sometimes life can be so cruel and demanding that you just want to give up hope. One of the things about you Carrie is that you never let things get you down. Never loose your confidence and drive, it is a powerful thing to have. Always keep your chin up, and never forget the memories we had together. Keep your beautiful smile, and your wonderful personality, and you'll get far in life. You've become a beautiful young lady, and I trust that you will become a beautiful woman.
We are often like butterflies, Carrie. We always need to take the risks of flying off in a different direction, and stay on the right road. I'll watch you from above as you do so. I know you will make the right desicions, and become what you want to be. But the hardest thing is getting started and staying up in the sky. But, I'll help you. Live each day the best you can, and always think positively. So spread your wings, and fly. I'll always love you.
Love,
Grandma
Carrie started to choke up as she read her letter from her Grandma. She started to cry again, but then remembered what her Grandma had said. Spread your wings, and fly. She knew she had to get on with her life. She knew what her Grandma was telling her. Life goes on, move on, but never forget the memories.
"I love you too Grandma." Carrie sobbed as she looked up at the sky....knowing her grandma was watching her. She picked up the letter again, and gently placed it in the lake, and watched it float away, and over yonder, the sun was setting. This was Carrie's way of saying goodbye. She sat there for a half hour before she felt something touch her shoulder. She looked up and saw Taylor looking down at her. She grabbed his hand, and pulled him down. They said nothing. He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned back into his chest. He rested his chin on her head, and they sat there in the sand, staring up at the tinted pink clouds, and watching the sun set.