Chapter 4 - Gen 6 - Lyric

As soon as I got to Forrest's house, I regretted it, he is walking around in just shorts how am I supposed to keep myself sane and act normally!!  He had muscles where I didn't even know you could have them.  I wasn't really surprised when he told me he worked at the stadium, he wants to be a Superstar Athlete one day.

Forrest:  "You know you had a very famous Athlete in your family, he was a legend in his time and people still know his name today, but you would know who I am talking about, he is after all one of your ancestors."
Lyric:  "Actually I don't, history was never one of my favourite subjects or sports for that matter!!"
Forrest:  "Your joking me, you have to know who I'm talking about!!"
Lyric:  "No, you tell me because I don't have a clue!!"
Forrest:  "Marty Keaton, surely you have heard of him."
Lyric:  "Oh Ive heard of him, actually I saw him only two days ago, but I never knew anything about him, I always wandered what he did."
Forrest:  "You what!!  How could you have seen him he has been dead for hundreds of years, wait I suppose your family would have a picture of him somewhere."
Lyric:  "No pictures, we just have his grave in our back garden he quite often wanders round the house at night."
Forrest:  "Your pulling my leg right!!"
Lyric:  "I only wish I was, 13 graves going back 6 generations sit in our back garden, they creep the hell out of me, but Granddad insists they stay with the family always, he has even left a space for his own grave, maybe I should show you some time."
Forrest:  "That would be awesome!!"
Lyric:  "If your lucky I could even introduce you to him if you are such a big fan of his."
Forrest:  "Aw, I'm not sure I like the idea of that!!"
Lyric:   "I didn't think so somehow!!"

Lyric:  "Anyway, how do you get to know something about my family that I don't"
Forrest:  "He was a sports legend, I can't believe you didn't know."
Lyric:  "Keaton is not exactly Ugli is it so how did you know he was one of my ancesters."
Forrest:  "How do you think your family became famous in the first place, he made it famous and he changed his name to Ugli when he married your however many times removed Grandmother she was of yours, besides the famous Rock star and Scientist and your Granddad's Art, they have helped continue your family name, in a minute you are going to tell me you didn't know any of this."
Lyric:  "Granddads Art yes, all the rest - no!!"
Forrest:  "I can tell you are a spoilt rich kid!!"
Lyric:  "Hey I have been far from spoilt thank you!!"
Forrest:  "You need to look yourself up on line mate - I bet I know more about you than you know about yourself!!"
Lyric:  "Get out of here!!"
Forrest:  "Just stick your name into a search engine - you might be amazed - don't you ever read the newspaper??!!"
Lyric:  "Not really No."
Forrest:  "I don't think you even know how famous your family are do you!!"
Lyric:  "Probably not, I've grown up and the fame has always been there, I don't know any different and I don't take any notice of it, I am no different to you, I am just me."
Forrest:  "You think you are no different but everything I do isn't splashed all over the newspapers."
Lyric:  "Granddad always taught us, most of what they write is just rubbish, so reading the newspaper is something we have never bothered to do, why upset yourself when there is no need, I don't care what they say about me, I know who I am and Forrest, I am probably not who you think I am, if you believe anything you've read about me in the newspapers."

So engrossed in our conversation I had actually relaxed and forgot how much I fancied him, well not forgotten entirely it was pushed to the back of my mind but it didn't make me nervous enough to act stupidly and I left without him even having a clue remotely of how I was feeling about him.  Now I am away from him again, I know how being around him was not doing me any good.

I decided to go to Raspberry park for a change but it was pretty much a mistake, with quite a few "new" people there that I had never met before I kept getting interrupted by people wanting autographs and photo's.   Red I have met before but she still interrupted me for an autograph.

My Dad turned up too which kind of surprised me as I thought he haunted the other park not this one, there was no sign of my mother though which was a good thing.

Interrupted again by somebody else, this time a genie.  They pretty much amazed me as I had never seen one until we moved to this town.  There are quite a few living here, and that flowing thing they do fascinates the hell out of me, its quite magical to watch.

I kind of gave up on the day and decided to go home, my head was all over the place thinking about Forrest and some of the things he had said this morning.  Just as I was thinking about him my phone rang and there he was phoning me again, so soon, did he know what he was doing to me?!

Forrest:  "Well, did you search yourself on the net yet?"
Lyric:  "No and to be honest, I don't think I want to!!"
Forrest:  "Actually I am glad you said that, and that's why I phoned, I have been kicking myself all day for suggesting it, I would hate for it to be my fault you getting upset over the rubbish they write - like you said, its better you don't read the rubbish they write about you, not that they do write rubbish about you, oh.... I think I should just shut up that came out all wrong and i'm just going to be kicking myself again when I put the phone down."
I couldn't help but laugh at him, he was flapping now I could hear it in his voice.
Lyric:  "Don't worry I know what you meant, I won't be reading anything so its fine - don't kick yourself - no harm done!!"
Forrest:  "Good, that's a relief!!  I was wandering, are you busy tomorrow only I have the day off and I wandered if you wanted to do something?"
I just couldn't see him again, not so soon!!!!!!
Lyric:  "I'm sorry as it happens I'm busy, I have an audition, quite a few sing-o-grams booked and I have some family stuff that needs sorting out."
Forrest:  "Its fine, another time maybe."
Lyric:  "Yes sure - I'm sorry Forrest!!"
Forrest:  "Its fine, I'll let you get on then, Night Lyric."
Lyric:  "Night Forrest."

I was finding him asking me to hangout again tomorrow pretty strange, or am I just being paranoid.  No, I am being stupid he just wants a mate, where is the harm in asking a mate to hang out, but he isn't really my mate is he, I hardly know him.  Forget it - I need to stop thinking about it, I am letting the way I feel about him cloud my thoughts, I am making a mountain out of a mole hill and if I carry on I'm just going to drive myself mad!!

I killed myself working out, I needed to do something with my body, these days I feel like I am always suffering from muscle fatigue, I had no stamina and a few hours singing for tips in the park had me aching from head to foot, if I am ever going to get anywhere with my singing I am going to have to become more athletic.

I woke up on the sofa, not even realising I had slept there.  Granddad was screaming the house down because Piper had played a prank with the shower and now Granddads head was bright yellow, he was not impressed.  I am glad it was him who copped it and not me!!  He spent hours in the shower washing the yellow dye out of his hair.

I found myself doing something I said I wouldn't do I turned on the computer, sat staring at it for a bit while I argued with myself in my head.  I put the words Ugli Family in the search bar and pressed enter.  I sat back and watched as a load of stuff flew up onto my screen.  There was pages of it and I was pretty shocked.  I skimmed through the titles, I kept seeing my own name here and there but skimmed over them, not really wanting to read anything that had been written about myself.  Then a headline caught my eye and I clicked on it, it was about Granddad, I saw my mothers name and started reading.  I was close to the end of the article when a small box popped up onto the screen that made a loud "pinging" noise, I nearly jumped off my chair.  I might have known who it would be.

Forrest:  "Hey Lyric, what are you doing online?"
Lyric:  "Research."
Forrest:  "Not family history I hope!!"
Lyric:  "No, song lyrics."
I lied, I wasn't going to admit to what I was really doing!!
Lyric:  "So what are you doing?"
Forrest:  "I was bored, so I came to the library to use the computer."
Lyric:  "You don't have one at home?"
Forrest:  "On my wages your joking - anyway I thought you was busy today?"
Lyric:  "I am but its only 9.30 I'm hardly awake yet!!"
Forrest:  "I hear you are going to be an uncle!!"
Lyric:  "Well that's news to me, let me guess, something you read in the paper?!"
Forrest:  "Yes - sorry!!"
Lyric:  "So come on which sister I have two that it could be, all the rest are two young."
Forrest:   "Well its not going to be your twin sister is it, obviously its Melody."
Lyric:  "Why couldn't it be Harmony?"
Forrest:  "I know her girlfriend silly, she's gay remember, you really aren't awake yet are you!!!"
WHAT!!???  Since when!!?? Harmony isn't gay too is she??
Lyric:  "You know you should pack in reading those newspapers - I'm sorry Forrest, I've got to go, I have an audition in the park soon - I'll phone you later!!"

I made my way to the park, I was auditioning with the park proprietor to get a two hour gig in the park.  I just hopped that she thinks I am good enough.  It will be my first rung up the ladder if I can get my own show in the park!!

 I thought the audition went ok, and was relieved when she said yes, tomorrow night, 7.30pm sharp and don't be late!!  I suddenly got excited - I know it was only a show in the local park and probably only a few of the locals would see me doing it - but still, it was a start - my own show I couldn't believe it!!

I hung around and played for tips.  I found it pretty funny that the genies I had seen over in raspberry Park yesterday were over here today.

It was not long before someone interrupted me, another autograph hunter that I had never seen before.

My phone started ringing, it was Melody, I had a feeling I knew why she was phoning me!!  Just then I spotted my mother making her way across the park towards me.

Melody:  "Are you busy only I've got something to tell you!!"
Lyric:  "You are pregnant."
Melody:  "How did you know, did Dad tell you?"
Lyric:  "No, it was in the newspapers apparently."
Melody:  "Really!!!, say Lyric, you are not reading those things are you."
Lyric:  "No a friend told me - so how did Mom take the news?"
Melody:  "You might guess, she's not interested."
Lyric:  "Im in the park, she's lurking about here but I haven't spoken to her, and no doubt she won't attempt to talk to me!!  Melody can I ask you something about Harmony - is she gay?"
Melody:  "Of course she is, I thought you knew, you both are aren't you!!"
Lyric:  "I am, but I didn't know about Harmony, nobody told me, these days I get to hear family stuff from a friend who reads it in the newspaper!!"
Melody:  "Well if you see Dad don't bring it up, its a very sore point with him at the moment the pair of you being gay, you know what he's like, the stuffed shirt can't get his head around it, he'll be ok with you but he just won't talk about it!!"
Lyric:  "I can imagine - say I got my first gig in the park tomorrow night!!"
Melody:  "That's great, what time? - I'll pop by and watch you!!"
Lyric:  "7.30pm - I guess I'll see you tomorrow then, if you remember!!!"
Melody:  "I'll be there, don't fret!!"

I carried on playing for tips, I was pretty shocked when Mom actually came up and started watching me.  Usually she just lurks about in the background chatting and not paying me or my singing the slightest bit of attention.

I played until after dark and Mom was still watching me she hadn't budged for hours.  There was quite a crowd and I was really enjoying myself even though I was aching like hell and really needed to eat something!!

I was just thinking about going home when my phone rang.

Lyric:  "Are you stalking me?!" (wishful thinking!!)
Forrest:  "No but I can if you want me to!!"
Lyric:  "I was only joking!!"
Forrest:  "I know - are you busy still, only you never rang and I am going to bed soon and once I'm asleep you are not waking me!!"
Lyric:  "Im just finishing now and packing up to go home, sorry I've been a little distracted."
Forrest:   "It's ok. so what's been distracting you?"
Lyric:  "My mother acting strangely and I got my first gig in the park tomorrow night, my own show!!"
Forrest:  "That's great, shame I'm working!!"
Lyric:  "I thought tomorrow was your day off."
Forrest:  "Normally yes but I got a promotion today so I'm working tomorrow."
Lyric:  "That's great, so we both had a good day today!!!  oh and you was right about me becoming an uncle, Melody phoned me today to tell me."
Forrest:  "That's good, I hope I didn't spoil the surprise, Im going to keep my big mouth shut in future, I'm not going to tell you what I've been reading in the newspaper!!"
Lyric:  "It would be better if you didn't read those damn things at all!!"

I noticed Mom lurking closeby while I carried on talking to Forrest, it actually looked like she was waiting to talk to me.  After the call ended I turned round but she had gone.

The next day after a good nights sleep I went to the park, I didn't plan on playing for tips today, I didn't want to be aching when it was time for me to do the show.  I was 5 hours early but I was getting fidgety at home.  I noticed my Mom in the park, I think I knew what I was going to do.

Lyric:  "Mom, Do you mind if I sit down?"
Amber:  "No carry on, what's wrong Lyric?"
Lyric:   "What makes you think that there is something wrong?"
Amber:  "You usually avoid me and you haven't spoken to me that pleasantly for years!!"
Lyric:  "Why didn't I know that Grandma Apricot was not your real mother?"
Amber:  "Where did that come from Lyric?"
Lyric:   "Just an article I read about Granddad on the net."
Amber:  "Lyric you are not reading newspaper rubbish are you - you know most of it is just that don't you - rubbish, if you want to know anything about your Granddad just ask him!!"
Lyric:  "So none of that stuff is true about two sets of triplets, two different mothers, him not knowing one set existed till they turned up on his doorstep as teenagers, one of those teenagers being you!?"
Amber:  "Actually all of what you just said is true, I don't know what you have read, but if you want to know the truth about these things you should ask us not go reading rubbish written by someone who probably doesn't know the facts or the truth.  They exaggerate things to make a better story - anyway why are you digging up such stuff??"
Lyric:  "Curiosity when a total stranger can tell me more about my own family than I know myself, it makes me wander what else I don't know,  then I stumble on the fact that Apricot was not your mother, why didn't I know that, what sort of family are we when I even had to have a total stranger tell me my own twin sister is gay!!!!"
Amber:  "That's a sore subject at the moment which I don't want to talk about!!!"
Lyric:  "Why am I not surprised, and in Ugli family tradition lets hide it in the closet, sweep it under the carpet and hopefully it will go away!!"
Amber:  "Its not like that at all Lyric!!"
Lyric:  "Well it is from where I am standing!!  Like this family heir thing - you chose me - I'm gay - what the hell am I supposed to do with it??"
Amber:  "Your Granddad is supposed to be helping you figure that out!!"
Lyric: "Your my Mother, its your responsibility not Granddads, you were the one that chose me, why me?  why not one of the others - surely you can change your mind, why not Piper?  He has a girlfriend - let him do it instead of me."
Amber:  "You know that boy's no good, he would just ....
Lyric:  "You don't have a clue do you, you don't know anything about Piper, you have got him all wrong, I've already tried to tell you this once before and you didn't listen."
Amber:  "You don't need to cover for him, you and your Granddad protect that boy too much, he is a bad boy and that will never change."
Lyric:  "You know what, JUST FORGET IT, I should have known better than to try and talk to you about anything - your are impossible!!!"

For once I was happy to be disturbed by an autograph hunter.  I was never going to be able to talk to her about anything she just wasn't interested.  She got up and sat on the bench close by and started reading a book - that said it all really, so I didn't bother to carry on with our conversation.

I still had time to kill before the show started so I decided to do a little singing for tips while I waited.  She stopped reading her book then and came over to watch me again like she had last night.  I don't think I will ever be able to figure that woman out!!

Show time came and went pretty quickly, I wasn't nervous like I thought I might be, and I enjoyed being up on that stage and singing, my 2 hours was over far too soon.

I didn't realise that Piper and Dixie had turned up as well as Melody.  Mom was still hanging around but she didn't attempt to talk to me again, or Piper who got upset just at the sight of her.  He was out after curfew so had to wait for me, if he could have gone home alone I think he would have done.

 

Melody had kept her promise and turned up to watch me singing,  I couldn't believe how big her baby bump was.

Lyric:  "There is more than one in there!!"
Melody:  "There better not be!!"
Lyric:  "Dad's a twin, Mom's a triplet - odds on you are having more than one!!"
Melody:  "You sound just like Dad that's what he keeps telling me, he's pretty excited about getting Grandchildren, I have to keep telling him its Grandchild not Grandchildren he keeps talking in multiples!!"
Lyric:  "Just don't be like HER Melody,  babies need Mothers!!"
Melody:  "Oh don't you worry, you forget or maybe you were too young to notice, I spent a lot of time with Piper when he was a toddler and the younger twins from when they were babies, My baby will have a mother don't you worry about that!!!"

When we got home Piper went straight to bed as he had school in the morning.  I suddenly remembered something that had happened while I was singing my Mother did something very strange.  She had thrown onto the stage a pink fluffy bunny, which I picked up without even thinking about it.

Why would she even have done that??!!

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Chapter 5

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