08 – DREAMS
Brad dreams of paddocks. Rolling hills, lush green grass, rows and rows of flowers. Sometimes animals - horses, cows, birds and sheep, rarely people though.
He's never actually told anyone, well, what would people think? He's all about the brawn, the muscle, the footy, revving cars, slutty girls…Brad's no Randy, no Mark either.
So when he's 21, and he finds himself in some glitzy apartment, a blonde little thing sprawled over his chest, he wonders just a little bit more than he usually allows himself too.
He wonders if he's queer. Do straight men dream of air-freshener commercials? Shouldn't he be dreaming of the playboy girls or that hot brunette with the skirt crawling up her ass at the petrol station? He can't even remember dreaming about those in high school.
At 28 years old, his dreams haven't changed. It's that same paddock, those same hills, the flowers and the grass, and he's touring now, with his footy team, and he hears the other men moan in their sleep.
When Dan comes over, talking about his latest wet-dream-conquest, Brad thinks he's had enough. He excuses himself politely, and calls the only person he could ever even think about telling.
Wilson answers with his typical 'Heidi ho', and Brad waits for no further small talk, he tells him straight.
Laughing, Wilson listens, and Brad can almost see his eyes crinkling over the phone.
"Did it ever occur to you, young Taylor, that you've always been different from those rowdy young lads you shack yourself up with."
At the silence on the other end, the older man continued, "I am reminded of a quote by American author Marilyn French, 'To nourish children and raise them against odds is in any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons.'"
"Uh Wilson…"
"What I'm saying, Bradley, is Jill and Tim Taylor raised you well, take pride in that."
Brad thinks about that later, when he looks at himself in the mirror. Blond hair falling over wading pool eyes, when very suddenly, something clicks.
Next time he visits home, he'll ask his mother what happened to that painting he had in his room when he was very small.
The one with the paddock.
Next up: 09 - Siblings
