Title: Tastes of Home

Writer: Azure K Mello

Part: 19

NOTE: I haven't even watched Everwood since the middle of the third season because no one was acting like themselves.

NOTE 2: I'm changing the time line as I want Ephram to know about Linda's HIV prior to Thanksgiving.


He leaned against him saying softly, "So did you get what you came here looking for?"

The redhead nodded, "Gino Chang's is really great Chinese food."

"Be serious," commanded Ephram with a small smile.

"I don't want to leave. . . no, I'm lying. I want to leave with you leaving with me."

"It's less than three weeks. It's not too long."

"Now you're lying."

"It's way too long," agreed Ephram with a smile. "But we'll talk to each other all the time."

That made Jackson laugh, "Of course. I need to find out about Kidtastic's book report."

"I'll miss you."

"I love you, Ephram. It's not so far away if we both remember that."

"Now we're both sounding like something out of Dawson's Creek. Get in the car. Make sure you remember stop and get food and maybe a nap. You did it at a breakneck pace on the way here and I want you to live to see Thanksgiving."

"I'll be careful," promised Jackson. "I'll call you when I'm home."

"Thank you."

"No, Phram, that's my line after this week."

"Well then. . . You're welcome."

He leaned in for a quick kiss and one last drag from their shared cigarette and said, "I'm getting in the car, I swear."

"Have a good trip, Jack, see you in three weeks."


"What's been going on over there?" He asked sitting on the floor of the apartment bedroom he shared with his two younger brothers.

"There was a mine accident and my new piano teacher almost lost his arm. Bright got kicked off the football team because his grades suck. . . please don't gloat."

"No, that sucks. The more time he was on the field the less time he had to scope on you."

"Oh grow up!" Ephram tried to make it sound like a reprimand but he was laughing.


"What's happening at your end?" Ephram asked as he dropped down onto his bed on his back.

"Olivia's older brother won a thousand bucks on a scratch off lotto ticket. But she had paid for it. But she's a minor. So he paid her back the five bucks and gave her half. Isn't that cool? She's bringing your dad a bottle of good scotch as a host present."


"I got a car. But that's not the cool bit. My mechanic? He's like a psychic. He told this kid he had Meningitis and he did."

"Wait. The mechanic had Meningitis? I have a cold. Am I psychic?"

"No the kid had it. And my dad didn't believe it but sent him for the test and he really had it! Isn't that cool?"

"Yeah, that is. I have a cold."

Ephram laughed softly. He was so excited about Phil the psychic he could barely think about something as mundane as a cold. "I'm sorry, Jack. Get Danni to make you soup, she's good at it. Oh. . . my dad has a woman he's been obsessively hanging out with. She's seems nice enough. She's kind of condescending though. But she's Bright's aunt. . . Delia hates her, she's not Mom."


"So I was like, 'Guy, you can't fail me on a test simply because I forgot to write my name on it.' But he failed me anyway. Everyone made fun of me."

"That sucks, Jackson."

"I know. Then we smoked up on the roof during lunch."

"Solid call."


"Amy's hanging out with this guy."

"Good for her."

"No, he's massive sketch. He just got out of rehab."

"Phram, half our friends when to rehab."

"I know but it's different. Like, back home, you're parents smell a whiff of pot and you're in rehab. Here parents here aren't that vigilant so you've got to be pretty hardcore for them to wake up and smell the druggie."

"Oh, that is sketch. Does he deal?"

"Jackson!"

"I'm just saying, if you've met a friendly dealer you might as well take advantage."


"It's official, my parents suck."

"Hello to you too, Jackson. Why do they suck?"

"Don't ask. How's your family?"

"My dad's officially dating Linda, Bright's aunt."

"Are you upset?"

"I don't know; I think he really likes her."

"I really like you."

"I needed to hear that."


"Nina's son Sam got into a car accident."

"Isn't he like six?"

"I think he's eight, she fell asleep and he stole her keys."

"Wow, Ephram Brown, you might lose your title of "The Great" because you didn't start doing stuff that stupid until twelve."

"Hey, stop being clever."

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah, just freaked out."


"Amy failed three classes, her boyfriend really is a dealer, and passed out at a party. It freaked her out, she called her dad, she's living at home again."

"And how are you?" asked Jackson after listening to the problems of all the people in Everwood.

"I think Madison's hitting on me. But I'm fine. I heard you got a new car?"

"Yeah, the duct tape chariot bit the big one. The new one belonged to a little old lady who drove to 7-11 to cash her social security, the grocers, and church. It's blue."

"Cool."


"Phram? Are you okay?"

"My dad's girlfriend has HIV."

"What?"

"I know, it's something you need repeated because what middle class woman living in the suburbs has the hiv?"

"Drugs?"

"No, she's a doctor. She worked in Africa."

"Do you want me to come to you?"

"It's Monday."

"So? This is more important than school. Have you spoken to him?"

"I shouted at him at dinner. Delia knew before me and she told her friend that it was a secret and of course the girl told her parents and now the whole town knows. So Delia beat up her friend and dad grounded her. And I ended up shouting that Delia was stupid for her actions but that if Dad hadn't been fucking a woman with HIV none of it would have happened."

"He's sleeping with her?"

"Yeah. I'm freaked."

"You need to talk to him without shouting."

"Yeah, I know. I'd better go. Love you."

"You too, Phram. Everything will be okay in the end. And hey, I'll be driving out to see you in less than a week."

"Thank God."