CHAPTER SEVEN
(chapter title – Tango: Maureen)

Tiffany sighed as she adjusted the microphone for her Mom's protest later that night. She was so fucking tired of her Mom's stupid shit.

"How's it going, Tiff?" Joanne asked, walking into the Performance Space. Tiffany looked up from adjusting the mike.

"Fucking great, mom." Tiffany muttered.

"Watch your language." Joanne warned. Tiffany had picked up on Maureen's language ever since she could talk.

"Sorry, mom. It's just that I would rather be swimming than helping Mom with her protest." Tiffany told her, angrily. Joanne sighed and put a hand on Tiffany's shoulder. Tiffany looked up into the black woman's sweet face.

"The samples won't delay, but the cable-" Tiffany started.

"There's another way
Say something – anything." Joanne reassured her.

"Test - one, two, three-" Tiffany said.

"Anything but that." Joanne told her, smiling.

"This is weird." Tiffany said.

"It's weird." Joanne echoed.

"Very weird." Tiffany announced.

"Fuckin' weird." Joanne mumbled under her breath.

"I'm so mad that I don't know what to do
Fighting with microphones
Freezing down to my bones
And to top it all off I'm with you." Tiffany told Joanne.

"Feel like going insane?
Got a fire in your brain?
And you're thinking of drinking gasoline?" Joanne inquired.

"As a matter of fact-" Tiffany was cut off by Maureen's voice.

"Pookie! Tiffany! We need to go to the hospital!" Maureen told them, running up to the stage.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Joanne asked.

"Ijusgotoffthephonewithrogerhesaidthatmarkisinthehospitalandhemighthavehiv." Maureen told them in one breath. Tiffany and Joanne exchanged confused looks.

"Slow down, Honeybear. What's wrong?" Joanne questioned.

"I just got off the phone with Roger. He said that Mark is in the hospital and he might have HIV." Maureen repeated, only slower.

"Shit!" Joanne muttered as she grabbed Tiffany's sleeve and pulled her down the stairs, Maureen right behind them.

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The three girls reached the hospital to find Roger, Sara and Ally sitting in the waiting room. Sara and Ally's heads were resting on each other's shoulders and Roger's was resting on the back of the chair he was sitting down in.

"Roger?" Joanne gently shook Roger awake. Roger slowly opened his eyes to see Joanne, Tiffany and Maureen sitting in front of him.

"Hey girls." He croaked, sitting up straight and stretching. Ally and Sara looked over at Joanne, Maureen and Tiffany, then went back to sleep.

"Where's Christopher?" Maureen asked.

"He's at the loft. I told him he didn't have to come if he didn't want to." Roger whispered.

"Where's Kaitlin?" Tiffany wanted to know.

"She's with Mark." Roger told her.

"What's the story about Mark?" Joanne asked, sitting forward in her chair.

"Well, there's some good news and some bad news. I've already told this to Sara and Ally. The good news is that he'll be able to come home tomorrow, but the bad news is that not only does he have HIV, but Kaitlin has it, too." Roger felt tears come to the back of his eyes, but he didn't care.

"K-Kaitlin has HIV, too?" Maureen whispered. Roger nodded sadly.

"I'm so sorry, Rog. Is there anything we can do?" Joanne asked.

"Not right now, Jo. Thanks for asking." He then turned to Maureen. "What time is your protest tonight?"

"Eight thirty. You don't have to come if both Kaitlin and Mark are sick. I'll understand." Maureen told him. Roger smiled slightly.

"We wanna come see you, Mo. You know I've always liked your protests." Roger said, half lying.

"Thanks Rog." Maureen smiled at him.

"I wish I didn't have to go to the stupid protest." Tiffany muttered darkly under her breath.

"You can go see Mark and Kaitlin Davis now." A nurse told them. Roger nodded and nudged Sara and Ally awake.

"Whaaaat?" Sara yawned.

"We can go see your mom now, Sar. C'mon Ally." Roger helped the two girls up from their chairs and followed the nurse to Kaitlin and Mark's room, not knowing what to expect.