This chapter has the lyrics to "I Don't Think About It" by Emily Osment.

CHAPTER 10: Gypsy, Blood, and the Hidden Truths about Zoot

"…so you mean to tell us that the crazy kid from Animal's fourth grade class led Animal to a shack where there was some fine looking ladies who just so happened to be his so called friends," asked younger Dr. Teeth later that day. Right now, Animal was in the living and the others were in Janice's room discussing about the fiasco.

Janice and Animal gathered him, young Floyd, and young Zoot together to talk about the incident that had happened earlier that day.

"Like, yeah! And ever since we left, Animal's been standing over me like I'm some sort of…I don't know…like, all I know is that he's been acting weird. He kept on chanting 'woman', 'woman', 'woman' at me. I'm starting, like, to get worried, for sure," replied Janice.

Animal was wondering what they were saying. He figured that they were talking about the chaos that took place. He hoped that his mother did not find out. He would definitely be in trouble if that were to happen. He was scared really. It sounds ridiculous, does it not? The thought of Animal, the Animal, being scared! It does not sound like him…

…but even drummers get scared.

After a few minutes, Animal saw his friends coming down the stairs. When they came to the last step, they stared at the young drummer.

"What were you thinking?" asked Floyd looking very angry. Animal looked down.

"Woman…" he mumbled. His friends looked at each other.

"What'd he say?" asked Zoot. There was silence.

"…I think he said 'woman'…" replied Dr. Teeth. Animal started jumping up and down.

"WOMAN!! WOMAN!!" he yelled. His friends stopped him and settled him down. They placed him into a chair and tried to calm him down. Animal looked at the floor and breathed heavily.

"Animal, calm down, man," replied Floyd.

For the rest of the afternoon, they band talked about Animal's little adventure.

A couple hours later, the boys left Janice's house and went back to their homes.

Animal went home, but did not tell his mother, Laverne, anything about what had happened. He knew it was better to keep quiet about it.

The next day, Animal received a call from Zoot. Zoot asked him to come over to his house. He did so. When he came there, he found Janice, Floyd, and Dr. Teeth there also. They all sat on the couch in the living room, waiting to know why Zoot called them over. As his friends waited downstairs, the young saxophonist came walking down the stairs. He looked nervous and worried, which was never expected out of Zoot. He sat down and sighed.

"Hey, guys, I gotta tell you something. It's gonna affect my life dramatically," he said. His friends stared at him. Zoot took a deep breath.

"…My hair is falling out," he said.

There was silence.

"Are you, like, serious?" asked Janice. Zoot nodded. He took of his hat and showed his, as of now, full head of curly navy blue hair.

"Everything on the top of my head is gonna fall out eventually, so I'll be needing my special hat more than ever," he said as he looked down at his hat. He felt ashamed that he had inherited this gene.

I don't think about it
I don't think about it.
Misunderstood,
everybody feels that way sometimes.

"How'd this happen, man?" asked Dr. Teeth.

"My mom says that I have something called a hormonal imbalance. I feel really humiliated," replied Zoot.

I wish I could Fit in with all the rest.

"Why should you feel humiliated? So what if your hair is falling out. That happens to people all the time," remarked Floyd. Zoot nodded.

"I know, but since I'm going bald, I don't know if I'll ever get over this," he replied.

"Like, I'm sure you will totally," said Janice. The saxophonist smiled. His friends' remarks obviously meant that he was not going to be alone with this life changing experience. His attitude went from humiliated to complete confidence just in two minutes.

But I got my own style,
got my own way.
I don't care what people say, yeah 'cause I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
Bein' myself, there ain't no doubt about it. I won't cry any tears.
I'll just live without fear.
I'm so happy 'cause I'm Living my life, and I don't think about it.

Just then, Zoot's aunt Zinnia came in.

"Hello, kids, how's everything?" she asked, carrying a basket of laundry.

"I just told them…" replied Zoot. Zinnia stared at him and then at his friends.

"Oh…I see," she said.

"Yeah, but don't worry Mrs. Simms. We're still by him," said Floyd.

"By him! By him!" cried Animal.

Zinnia smiled and nodded. Zoot looked at him aunt, then at his friends, then at himself.

A shooting star
twinkling across the sky at night
Near or far,
I'm wishing everything will be alright. Got my own dreams,
got my own plan,
gonna get there any way I can
'cause I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
Bein' myself, there ain't no doubt about it. I won't cry any tears.
I'll just life without fear
I'm so happy 'cause I'm
living my life and I don't think about it.

Well, I'm glad," she said. She looked worried. Then, Animal looked at Zoot's sunglasses and became curious. Zoot noticed Animal's curiosity. He shrugged.

"What?" he asked. Then, he noticed that the drummer was looking at his sunglasses.

"Why are you looking at his sunglasses?" asked Dr. Teeth. Zoot touched his glasses and stared at the lens.

Got my own style,
got my own way,
I don't care people say
'cause I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.

Bein' myself there ain't no doubt about it I won't cry any tears
I'll just live without fear
I'm so happy cause I'm
Livin' my life and I don't think about it.

Maybe it was time for Zoot to be honest with his friends. He always knew that honesty was the best policy, at least that what his Aunt Zinnia told him. He would never be this open. He would always be quiet, but when he talked, he would speak in a very soft voice, but of course he was always loud on his sax. Maybe for one day he can break his rules and be a bit more open today. They were his friends after all.

I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
I don't think about it.
Bein' myself, there ain't no doubt about it. I won't cry any tears
I'll just live without fear.
I'm so happy 'cause I'm
living my life, and I don't think about it.
Think about it.
Think about it.
I don't think about it
'Cause I'm living my life and I don't think about it

"You know there's a funny story about my glasses, one I haven't told you," he replied.

"Really?" asked Janice.

"Yeah, my aunt told me this story once…it all started a long time ago," returned Zoot.

FLASHBACK

A long time ago was right! Back when Zoot was a baby, back when he lived with his beautiful mother, a widow named Delilah, who was wearing a white shirt, and a lime green and sky blue sundress over it, and white shoes, (she lost his husband, Zoot's father, Charles, to cancer two months earlier) went to the Dave Goelz Park. Baby Zoot was riding a lime green colored stroller. He wore a green and white striped, long sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and in his mouth was a baby blue colored pacifier. He had no sunglasses. His eyes were big, dark, and very enchanting. The thought of Zoot have enchanting eyes is unbelievable only because he is never seen without his sunglasses. But this is my story, and in my story, Zoot's eyes are enchanting!

What is the real reason why he wears sunglasses?

It started today. It was really sunny, but the sky was going to be cloudy and sobbing with rain in an hour, but as of now, it was time to relax on this beautiful day while there was still beautiful weather. When they reached the perfect spot in the green grass, Zoot's mother stopped the stroller and took out a giant yellow blanket and placed it down. As she was settling down the blanket, the sun was shining directly down on baby Zoot. His face felt its heat. The brightness shined in his eyes. He hated it the brightness. His mouth opened, letting his pacifier fall on his lap. He started crying and screaming. His mother turned and saw his son breaking down. His mother tried to figure out why he was crying, but when she tried to help, Zoot's small hands pushed her away. His hands also blocked his eyes. He hated being in direct sunlight. It was not long until his mother found out the cause of it. She reached into her purse and tried to find something to stop the crying. Then, she pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses. She looked at the glasses then at her crying son. She turned the baby's attention towards and placed the sunglasses on his face. Suddenly, the crying immediately stopped, but then he stopped puckering his lips, meaning that he wanted his pacifier back, so Delilah, his mother, gave it back to him. He did not cry for the rest of the afternoon. Zoot's breakdown worried Delilah. Could this mean to anything? Was it just a cry for help? She had no idea!

Two days later, Delilah took her baby to the doctor, Doctor Bob. Doctor Bob was a brown muppet dog who showed much resemblance to Rowlf the Dog.

After looking at baby Zoot for only two seconds, he turned to Delilah.

"Mrs. Simms, I'm afraid your child has some sort of sensitivity. It was very wise of you to give him sunglasses. I suggest that he wears them all the time, so his eyes won't be exposed to any sort of light. Apparently, any type of light can cause him pain. I suggest you make sure he wears some sort of eye protection, such as sunglasses for instance, at all times," he explained.

Delilah nodded.

"Thank you, Dr. Bob. You know, I was beginning to think you were going to be one of those doctors who make jokes instead of operate," she replied. Dr. Bob shook his head.

"No, I'm serious Dr. Bob. Comical Dr. Bob is my brother. He's also a doctor. He has two nurses working under him named Nurse Piggy and Nurse Janice, but that's another story for another time," he explained.

After ten more minutes, Delilah and baby Zoot let, went into their car and started drive away.

As they drove away, the rain began dropping down. The small sprinkles of rain became big droplets, and then soon enough, the droplets became a great big blizzard of rain. Even with the windshield wipers on, it was hard for Delilah to see the road in front of her. As she drove, she tried as hard as she could to keep a look out for red lights, stop signs, and the right turns to go home.

Suddenly, as Delilah drove on a big, sturdy bridge that was opened for cars to drive on, she kept on hearing some crashes. She tried to ignore it, but then there was one big crash and then……

CRUNCH!!!!

A big truck hit the small car and Delilah and baby Zoot started swaying in different directions. Infant Zoot started screaming his lungs out. In the strong rain, Delilah could see a red figure…which then became the rail!!

The car slammed into the rail. The rail broke through the glass. The glass attacked Delilah! Zoot's mother let out a big scream…and then that was the end of her…

The scared baby kept screaming. He wanted his mother so badly, but Delilah did not respond…

Zoot just sat there in his baby seat crying, begging for help.

Eventually, the rain stopped. Police and ambulances came rushing to the crunched up car.

They found that the doors were unlocked, so they opened them and found baby Zoot. They also found dead Delilah sitting in the driver's seat with blood running down her forehead and onto her body and the car seat.

"Oh my God! It's a baby!!" said the chief of police.

They took him out of the car, calmed him down, and found his closest living relative…his aunt, Zinnia.

What more can be said?

END FLASHBACK

By now, Zoot was holding a handkerchief. He realized he said more than he was planning to say. He hoped his friends would not go overboard with trying to help him. Instead everyone thought that they would only help if Zoot needed it. He said that he did not need any now.

That was that.

That night, everyone had already gone back home. It was about 9:45 PM at night and the Electric Mayhem was asleep. Except Animal that is.

He could not sleep. He would not stop thinking about Zoot's story. He was in shock. He wanted to help, but as said before, Zoot did not want it. As he sat on his bed looking at the ground, he heard a humming sound. His eyes widened and looked around. He stared at the wall and actually saw it move! It actually vibrated! As it vibrated, there coming through the wall was Gypsy! The future telling sorceress came through the wall and sat with Animal. Animal knew who she was, but his hormones were telling differently.

"WOMAN!! WOMAN!!" he yelled. As he attempted to chase her, Gypsy held out her hand and there appeared a force field, making Animal stop in his tracks. The young drummer stared at the young muppet lizard looking woman. She touched his shoulder.

"I saw what happened today…yikes!" she said. Animal looked down and nodded.

"What'd you think of Zoot's tragic story?" asked Gypsy. Animal looked at her.

"It…sad," he said. Gypsy nodded. She shook her head. She needed to tell him what she came for.

"Animal…it's time to get going," she said as she took Animal by the arm and led him to the window. She opened the window and off they went into the open night sky in the air. Animal was scared out of his wits! What was going on?! Gypsy led him to a distant location. It was the big meadow outside the neighborhood. When they landed there, she let go of Animal and started to explain what it was time for. Too bad they were seen by a pair of eyes that belonged to a trusted friend of Animal's.