Chapter 4
Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer
Megan_Forman123: Finally! I thought Dad would have relented a couple of times, but Mom wouldn't budge.
HydeNSeek: They don't budge. You'd think Mr. Cool who wears his sunglasses inside the house would—but no—they made us stay grounded the whole time. Except for that one night. I'd do this over the telephone but Hannah won't get off the damn thing—Megan, my school is having a Thanksgiving---
Megan_Forman123: At least your father isn't 56 years old still obsessing over Star Wars! Are you trying to say dance, Hunter?
HydeNSeek: Yes. It's the day before Thanksgiving would you like to go with me? I'll wear groan a tie, if I have to.
Megan_Forman123: Yes, I'll go. You don't to have to wear a tie, if you don't want to.
HydeNSeek: Thank you, I won't then. I have to look for a job after the holiday—They made Tiffany work when she was my age, actually younger because of her rebellion. It's going to stink. I'd like to work two towns over at the art studio but they aren't hiring and I don't have my license yet.
Megan_Forman123: I have to get a job, too. Mom and Dad say it'll keep me out of trouble.
HydeNSeek: I hate to cut this short, but my Dad is yelling at me to get off the computer. Love you, Megan.
Megan_Forman123: That's okay. Mom said I could only stay on for forty-five minutes anyway. [Damn her]. Love you, too, Hunter.
Next day
Donna was excited for her daughter. This was the first dance she was invited to. Her school had them twice a year, a Frosty Frolics and a Spring Fling but she never went. "Because I was never asked Mom—". Megan said she was 'okay' with the fact that she would probably be the only one at Hunter's school dance in a wheelchair, she didn't mind it because she'd be with Hunter and even if they couldn't dance they'd still have a good time. They had gotten closer since they returned from Pennsylvania the last time they visited Jackie and Hyde. She was always her Father's sweetheart. But as Megan said many nights over tea and cake when Eric was out of the house either at his support group meetings or meeting with a business client that she could never talk to her Dad about this! Donna agreed—Eric was going to have a difficult time letting go. He would probably be worse than when Kitty had tried in vain to make her apron strings uncuttable when he was becoming a young man. Megan found the dress she wanted. It was a dark green knee length dress with a bow in the back that Donna was going to get cut off and made into a hair decoration for her.
'Take that, Jackie, you aren't the only one who knows about fashion and other girly things!'
"I'll need shoes." Megan hoped that her Mother wouldn't be stingy.
"I know. ---"
"And a heel. I don't have to worry about walking in them."
Megan never wore heels before even Donna had a hard time accepting that one. But she would buy them for her, if that's what she wanted, as long as they were reasonable in the price and the height.
"All-right. How about we get lunch first?"
"Sure, Mom—does Dad know about the dance yet?"
"No, I'll tell him soon, don't worry about it."
"I don't think he cares for Hunter much anymore since our sofa incident." Even though Eric was nice to him at Jackie's party—he probably just didn't want to ruffle Hyde's feathers.
'That was a good way to describe it' Donna thought
"Don't worry about your Father, I know how to handle him."
"How? By taking away his Star Wars toys—no collectibles?"
Donna laughed, "Your first description was right."
"When I get a job, I'll buy YOU lunch."
"Thank you, Megan," Donna kissed the top of her head, "I appreciate that."
Same Tree, Different Leaf
Hyde was going to kill his son. Not literally of course. The boy was in HIS room again. Hyde didn't care if he was going be wearing a paper hat asking people if they "wanted French fries with that" his son was getting a job.
"Hunter, you better not be in my closet!"
"I'm not, Dad. You have the big mirror."
"Well, you can thank your Mother for that." She had an even bigger mirror in her 'Diva Room' but no one was allowed in that room unless they wanted their head bit off by a tiny crazy middle-aged woman.
Hunter was trying on his black, mandarin collared jacket, similar to the Beatles 1965 Shea Stadium/1966 Candlestick Park concert ones. He found this at the school sale for only ten bucks! To think someone had this cool, awesome jacket and figured they'd donate it to the school clothing drive as if it were junk. He was going to wear it open with a stunning shirt. He was going to wear one of the ones his Father gave him, it was a burnt orange color.
"That's a little big on you." Hyde observed from the doorway
"I know, I'll have Mom take it to the tailor's for me."
"Is that your jacket for the dance?"
"Yeah."
"What are you going to wear it with?"
"The burnt orange shirt you gave me last year, my black pants, and my dress shoes. —and best of all—No tie."
While he wasn't overt about it he was just like his Mother when it came to planning an outfit, especially for a formal occasion.
Hyde laughed. "You have a very interesting eye for fashion." He never thought he'd be saying that to his own son.
"Thanks, Dad. Megan won't tell me about her dress she wants it to be a surprise, but I already know she's going to be beautiful in it."
Hyde would not be surprised if those two didn't get married someday.
"I came in here to get my money off the dresser, Hannah wants to go to the mall and since your Mom's at work, we're just going to grab a bite to eat in the food court. Do you want to come?"
"No, I'll get some leftovers out of the fridge."
"And to talk to Megan on the computer." Hyde smiled as he left the room.
"That too." Hunter replied quietly under his breath.
Hyde knew it was only a matter of time—Hunter was definitely going to propose to Megan he could tell. He just hoped it wouldn't be for a few more years yet.
At least.
"You aren't angry, Dad?" Megan asked Eric while they were on the airplane to Pennsylvania. They left a day early so Megan could attend Hunter's dance.
Eric put down the in-flight magazine on his lap and looked at his daughter.
"No, lollipop. Why would I be angry? You go to the dance and have fun." He said something similar to her after Donna talked to him, but he didn't seem all that enthusiastic.
He liked Hunter; he just thought this progressing a little too fast for his tastes. He was grateful that they lived too far away for everyday interaction. Absence might make the heart grow fonder, but Eric could 'feel' HIS heart attack coming on at the thought of his 'baby' leaving the nest.
Hannah wasn't going to go to the dance because she didn't have a boyfriend, but Jackie told her it was no good stewing at home over it when she
could go out with her friends. She didn't know if her Mother meant "Megan" when she said friends. But she didn't want to sit at a table with her former best friend and watch her and her brother make googly eyes at each other all night. She did get a new dress out of the deal but she still didn't want to attend the darn thing and wished she developed a cold because the Forman's were staying for a goddamn week and Tiffany was going to be here for a few days too. It was going to be the worst Thanksgiving ever. She got dressed in her Mother's 'Diva Room' because Jackie was going to help her put her face on. And to make matters worse she had to drive them because she had her learner's permit.
"You could also try to smile, Hannah." Jackie put some sparkle gel in her hair.
"I don't really want to go Mom. All my friends have dates and I don't—and Megan and I are no longer friends—but I'll go."
"Maybe you and Megan can talk to each other tonight? Sort through your problems?"
"What's to sort through, Mom? She ignored me the moment she fell over for Hunter, or the most someone could fall over for someone in a wheelchair."
"Hannah! That's not a nice thing to say."
"Sorry but Megan is not one of my favorite people right now."
Jackie did have her silent reservations about Megan and Hunter as a couple. She didn't tell anyone (i.e. Eric and Donna) because they'd think it was a slur against her handicaps and it wasn't. Steven was the man for her but only after her experiences with Michael. To think she lost him way back in the day. The only good thing about Brad was that it made Tiffany possible. She just didn't want her son to limit himself. But she knew he loved Megan. As long as they were happy she would do her best to be supportive because she never wanted her family to get torn to shreds like they almost were a few years ago when Tiffany was in the midst of her rebellious streak.
"I don't want YOU causing trouble for them tonight." Jackie put some white eye shadow below her brow bone to accentuate her eyes.
"I won't." 'Geez, give it a rest, Mother'.
"I don't know why I'm nervous, Dad." Hunter was about to exit the master bedroom when Hyde gently pushed him back in.
"Megan's not ready yet. And it's perfectly natural to be nervous."
"I don't have a zit on my forehead, do I?" Hunter looked in the mirror
"Son, you look fine."
"What about the orchid--?"
"It's in the refrigerator. Stay calm, Hunter." For a brief moment he thought, 'Should he'? Then his better judgment kicked in.
"I bet she's extra beautiful tonight---"
Hyde smiled as he watched his son be all happy and excited over his first school dance. His son always thought dances were stupid and corporate. It's always different when you find the right girl to go with. You'll DO anything for that love. Even if meant helping out at the Girl Scout alumni breakfast or holding your Wife's purse in the boutiques while she tried on yet another expensive (yet, sexy)
piece of cashmere.
Donna put Megan's hair in a fancy curled ponytail and fastened it with an elastic band before putting the custom made dress barrette over it. She looked so beautiful in a way that Donna never noticed before. She was more grown up than even a few months ago when they all attended Jackie's party.
"You look absolutely stunning, Megan."
"Thank you. Are you crying, Mom?"
"No," She lied, as she wiped the corners of her eyes. "Let's go out and show your Dad. I told him to have the camera waiting."
"Dad---"
"Eric---"
They appeared from the bathroom and went into the living room.
"Megan," Eric almost dropped the camera, "You're very beautiful." He kissed her on the cheek
"Don't take a picture until Hunter comes in the room."
"Don't worry, lollipop, I have lots of film and so does Hyde."
His eyes were watered over but like Donna he too denied it. She wasn't his lollipop anymore.
Hyde gave Hunter the clear plastic box containing the orchid so he could take a picture of him giving it to her. Hunter's breath was taken away when he saw Megan in her new dress. She was the most beautiful woman he ever saw in his life. He did not see the wheels for they didn't define who she was.
"H-hi, Megan, you look nice." Jackie appeared, followed by a grumpy Hannah.
"So do you, Hunter."
Hyde tapped him the shoulder, "Oh, I got this for you." He nervously opened the clear plastic box and took out the wrist corsage.
"It's beautiful, Hunter, thank you." She replied as he put it on her.
He gently kissed her on the lips, despite everyone in the world being in the room.
While Donna and Hyde were in the stables and ought to know better; Jackie and Eric were in the kitchen having tea and pie.
"I wonder how the dance is going?" Eric asked, this pie was almost as good as Kitty's; he missed his Mother so much.
"Me too. I can't believe how fast they are growing up. Hunter's going to get a job after the Thanksgiving holiday."
"So is Megan. I told Donna I don't see why she can't just work for me or her as a little assistant, but Donna wants her exposed to more outside people."
"Hannah is supposed to have job gift wrapping at the mall—but I don't see her as the kind of teenager that wants to work—after all I didn't get the job at the cheese shop until I had to."
"You looked cute in your uniform." Eric admitted
"Thanks, Eric, but that Pricemart smock made you look dowdy."
"That's nice, yeah. How long are the fog twins going to be out there?"
Jackie laughed, "I don't know. But I can't wait to see Tiffany tomorrow; she doesn't visit often enough for my taste! Try to find out if she has a boyfriend because she won't tell me anything."
Eric nodded as he finished his tea. It did have clover honey in it.
Megan and Hannah ignored each other as they sat around the round table with place card number five in the centerpiece in the high school gymnasium. Hunter dragged Thomas with him when he went to get Megan and himself a cup of punch as Megan admired Thomas' dates dress. Her name was Jodie Somers.
"Thank you. My Mom made it for me." It was a sky blue sheath that looked like something a movie star would wear.
"What's taking them so long with the punch?" Megan asked
"We've never seen Hunter so nervous before. He was always the cool one of our group. Keep up the good work, Megan."
It was nice seeing a cool guy loose his coolness when the right woman came a long and put him under a romantic spell. Like Father, like son.
"My hands are shaking! My whole body is shaking. We were on top of each other naked for god's sake, Thomas. Why does this dance make me so nervous?"
"Because you're out of your element. S***. There goes Nash Winkler again, he keeps shooting you dirty looks."
Nash Winkler was the junior quarterback on the football team and the kind of guy
Hunter Hyde hated. He wasn't even the clean-cut all-American type he was more of the snobby, arrogant, condescending, kiss ass to the teachers, slash their tires when they're not looking type.
"Don't worry about it. Even he can't bother me tonight." Hunter grabbed the two cups of punch as he and Thomas returned to the table.
Later
"I'm sorry we couldn't dance." Megan whispered as Hunter helped her with her shawl. It wasn't that cold out for coats, despite it being Thanksgiving Eve. It was going to be a mild winter that year.
"Don't you ever be sorry." He kissed her tenderly on the lips.
Thomas and Jodie walked ahead and Hannah trailed as far away behind them as she could because she had to drive the stupid van.
Hunter tried not to lose his cool when he saw Nash leaned against the Forman's rental van.
"Get out of my way." Hunter said in the calmest voice possible
"You are such a touchy person, Hyde. I just wanted to meet your girlfriend. It's not very good manners to NOT introduce people, you know."
Megan felt uncomfortable; she knew those "handicapped people are worthless" eyes. She's experienced this kind of hate before.
"Get out of my way."
"It figures the NERD who thinks he's so cool because he dresses in OLD clothes—has to resort to going to a school dance with a USELESS CRIPPLED BITCH."
Hannah knew that was going to be the straw that broke Hunter's back.
Hunter punched Nash in the mouth as they started to get into it in the school parking lot.
"H—hunter---N-o!" Megan cried as Thomas and few other schoolmates tried to break them up.
Eric and Donna were watching TV as Jackie and Hyde were off doing "other things". She just got done taking a shower and smelled like juniper. They just finished some cheese and crackers, Eric was lucky if he had two.
"You know we could----" Eric put his arm around Donna and raised an eyebrow
"Yeah, we could, but we're not."
"You are absolutely no fun," Eric started to say as the phone rang, he figured he'd answer it, just incase it was one of the kids.
"Daddy!" Megan cried into the phone.
"What's wrong, sweetie?"
Donna sat up and suddenly felt the need to stand.
"I'm in the police station---"
'WHAT?!' "WHAT?!"
"I'm in the police station—you have to bring Hyde, too."
"Okay, Megan, we'll be there soon. I Love you. ---Hyde---Hyde--!" Eric shouted
"What is it, Eric? What's wrong?" Donna asked
"What is your problem, Forman?"
"Megan called—all the kids are in the police station—F***, Hyde, you STILL smell like a Grateful Dead concert, you better take a shower first! Jackie—Jackie-"
"I'm right here, Eric, what's all this about the kids being in the police station?!"
"I don't know, but I can't wait for Hyde to stop smelling illegal. Can I borrow your car?"
"I'm coming with you, you can drive, I'm too nervous." Jackie grabbed the keys from the end table and handed them to Eric.
"I'll go with Hyde." Donna said hoping they were all all right.
Hunter's lip was bleeding and Megan took an ice cube from her soda cup, wrapped it in a tissue and put it on his lip.
"Thank you. I'm glad Winkler's Father decided NOT to press charges."
"How's your lip?" Megan asked
"I'll be fine—I'm more scared of dealing with my Father."
Hannah sat on the long wooden bench, "You should be. This is all Megan's fault anyway."
"How could it be all Megan's fault? You were there."
"Nash only said what other's could plainly see."
Hunter stood up to face his sister. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means she's useless."
Megan didn't want to cry, not in front of Hunter and not in front of her former best friend.
"Excuse me, Hannah?"
Eric and Jackie rushed into the police station.
"What's this about a fight?" Eric asked as Jackie hugged everyone under eighteen in the room. Eric hugged Megan and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh, Hunter your face is swollen, and your lip is all bloody—keep the ice on it." Jackie said, wanting to swing at anyone who would harm her beautiful family.
"Some jock called me a terrible name, Daddy—and Hunter let him have it."
"Yeah, you should see the other guy." Hunter said wryly, Nash only walked away with a few minor cuts and scrapes.
"We signed the papers and since no charges have been pressed we can all go back home and enjoy the holiday tomorrow." Eric said, proud of Hunter for defending his daughter.
"Thanksgiving is going to suck." Hannah complained
Eric hugged Megan again, "You don't have to tell me what that idiot called you, and I just want you to know you aren't what he said."
"I know, Dad."
"I hope you had a good time at the dance."
"I did. Can we go back to the house?"
"Sure."
Hannah handed Eric the keys to the van. "I hope Dad is on his way."
"What's going on?" Hyde asked, he smelled like green tea because he grabbed Jackie's shower gel by mistake.
Donna went over to Megan, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Hunter defended my honor. Would you wheel me to the van kind sir?" She asked
Hunter blushed; he loved her more than anything in the whole world. "Of course, Megan."
"Will somebody please fill me in?"
"It was no biggie, Dad. Nash Winkler called Megan a 'useless crippled bitch' and Hunter tried to punch his lights out. But Nash is stronger than he is. So- He was going to press charges but his Father got him to drop them." Hannah didn't bother to tell the parents that she agreed with Nash's out of line comments. She wandered to the exit doors.
Eric's heart sank—how could anyone call his wonderful daughter that? He wanted to find this Nash Winkler (who sounded like he should be in a 1950's detective series) and beat the Hell out of him, himself.
"It's all right, Eric, it's over with." Donna felt the same way, and held his hand.
"You have a great son, Hyde. I'm glad he was there to protect Megan." Eric said
"Thanks, Forman." Hyde replied matter-of-factly, but he was bursting with pride on the inside. He would have done the same thing.
"Let's take them all out for ice cream." Jackie said
"Jackie, nothing is open. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving." Hyde replied
"Actually, the donut shop on Lincoln is open." Leave a police officer to know that one.
"Let's take them out for donuts." Jackie said, a little impromptu party is what everyone needed.
"Donuts sound good." Hyde replied, he could eat a whole dozen himself!
"Fine—but Eric and I will just have the coffee." Donna said
"Hey! Maybe, I want a chocolate glazed."
"Okay, you can either have a chocolate glazed OR," She whispered the rest in his ear, "a Donna glazed."
"That's blackmail, again." Eric said
"That's still life."
"We'll just have the coffee. Come on let's join the kids."
They all walked out of the police station. Proud of Hunter for being Megan's knight in vintage clothing.
12AM
Megan was too overexcited and couldn't sleep. She was in her Mother's old University of Wisconsin hooded sweatshirt, black drawstring loose pants, and the annoying Yoda socks her Father got her years ago. She sat in her wheelchair trying to read a magazine in the living room when she saw Hunter come in. He was wearing what he normally slept in a colored t-shirt (that one green), gray jogging pants, and white socks.
"Hi, you couldn't sleep either?" He kissed her softly on the lips.
"No."
He dimmed the lights. "I thought about this as I tried to drift off to sleep," Hunter went to the stereo complete with vinyl record player because Hyde wanted his kids to know what a record was, "and I think I got it." He made sure the volume was low so no one would be bothered by it. Megan threw the magazine on the floor as she heard the opening piano chords of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer".
"What, Hunter?"
"Can I sit on your lap? Is that okay?"
"Sure."
He put his hand on her shoulders and directed her hands to his back.
"Now, close your eyes, and sway."
He found a way for them to dance. She never even thought of that because she was so wrapped up in wishing that she had working legs.
"I love you, Hunter, I know I said it already but thank you for everything tonight, you are my hero." She kissed his shadowed cheek and buried her head in his safe shoulder as they "danced" to the record.
"I love you, too, Tiny Dancer." He replied in a night whisper as he held her closer.