Chapter 12: .The.Phone.Call. "Guys, I have some bad news..." Walker said in frustration as he replaced the telephone receiver against the wall. Outise, the sky was slightly overshadowed by clouds, even though it was midafternoon, perhaps to coincide with the turn of events that would be taking place.
Zac looked at his two brothers seated next to him in the cozy kitchen. He wasn't too worried. Usually, the bad news was an appearance was delayed. "Okay, what's up?" he asked in apathy.
"I just got off the phone with a representative from the Rosie O'Donell Show. I tried to cancel the appearance because of your condition, Taylor, but he said there was no way they could get a replacement for tomorrow! I can't understand the way they work sometimes. I told them the day of the accident..."
"WHAT?! There's NO way I'm going on that show! Dad, don't you realize I don't even remember how to play any songs?! How can I go on? She's going to tell everyone what happened, and the fans will be wild! You know this can't happen!" Taylor shouted with anger.
"You are one hundred percent right, Tay...but there is nothing we can do. We have no choice this time," his father replied in all seriousness.
"Well why can't they put a rerun on?" Tay interrogated.
"Because they can't. I told you yesterday we may have to fly to NY to do this show, and now it's definite. I can't tell you anything but the truth, kids," Walker responded, allowing an agitated tone to peek through his normally assured voice.
Ike knew arguing would get them nowhere, so instead, he opted to come up with solutions. "Well, I think we have a few choices here. It's going to be impossible for Tay to learn the songs in less than a day, and this is a live show now, so we don't have any room for mistakes. Do you think it's possible to lip synch and fake our instruments?"
Walker deliberated this idea for a short while before answering. "That's what I was leaning to. This could cause some problems, but it's our only solution. Let's work everything out so I can call them early."
"Ike and I can grab most of the questions. Plus, she's limited for time, and Ike sure does know how to ramble," Zac laughed while making fun of Ike.
"Hey, I do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do NOT!"
"DO TOO!!!"
"DO NOTTTT!!!!!!!!!!"
"TOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
"NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Enough!!! Come on guys, this is serious!!" Walker disciplined sternly.
Meanwhile, Taylor sat silently screaming. This was just too much for him.
"Can we prepare some questions or maybe ask which questsions she will be asking so we can tell Tay the answers in advance? Some will be geared towards him, probably," Ike pondered.
"I'm not so sure about that, I'll find out in a little while when I call them back." Walker said.
Taylor thought his life was getting better. He had no unusual dreams, and the start of the day had been great. As the male members of the family aside from Mackie broke up their unplanned meeting, Taylor headed to the beasement with the rest of his brothers to memorize lyrics and learn how to pretend to play the keyboards. He was determined not to let the fans know his condition if he could help it.
About a half hour later, Taylor threw his hands up in the air, losing every last bit of patience he possessed.
"Tay it's not that difficult. Try it again. It's 'Gimme some lovin' not 'Gimme your lovin'," Isaac corrected.
"Not that difficult!!! HA!!!! I have absolutely no idea how this song goes, I don't know the words, I don't know which notes to play on the keyboard, and I have until tonight to learn it! Oh, not that difficult!" Tay shouted back. He had no idea why his brothers were being so stupid.
"Whoa, okay let's not argue. Look, we'll go over your lyrics Tay, and Ike and I wiill play the record and cue you on when you come in. Ike can show you what your supposed to play. We'll work all day if he have to, but we will get through it." Zac encouraged. He couldn't believe that he, of all people, was breaking up an argument instead of creating one.
On that last note, the three dedicated brothers relentlessly wore the day away rehearsing for the show. They had improved greatly since they had first started, but they all knew that Tay was, by no means, ready to do a show. As dusk approached them with unforgiving speed, their efforts seemed to be done in vain. The later it got, the wearier they became, anbd their rehearsal went completely downhill. The called it a night and prayed fro a miraculous blessing to happen on the show tomorrow.