Chapter Nine
Tracy and Chloe banged on the door of Morgan’s house. The Klerc family lived a few miles east of town. Their house was a century home, a former farm that was painted a pleasant shade of yellow with white trim, but the paint was peeling and the weeds were a little out of control in the lawn and a few carcasses of vehicles were around the yard. However, in spite of the clutter, the place had a charm and positive energy in contrast to the housing developments that surrounded the property. The big old trees in the yard swayed in the afternoon breeze and the gold leaves dropped off and spun to the ground. Big yellow sunflowers lazily bobbed in the weedy garden.
Morgan’s father was almost always in disputes, with the neighbors or the township about the cluttered property, or the state or the city about his business taxes. He’d been arrested several times over the years during more strident disputes and ended up in jail for a month for contempt of court when he refused to comply with a court order. The perpetual conflict eventually turned him into a human porcupine and drained away the family’s savings. He was typically unpleasant to be around and tended to blow up about even trivial things. Tracy hoped Mr. Klerc wasn’t home. Ever since she returned to Chardon High, she’d been hanging out with Morgan and his friend Steve Polloy, but they rarely went to Morgan’s house.
Tracy and Chloe decided they needed to go see how he was doing so they baked some brownies, his favorite, and took the phone he could use to talk to Demetria and went to visit.
Mr. Klerc answered the door. “Tracy!” he grabbed her in a bear hug. He looked at Chloe and said, “And this must be Chloe!” He hugged her too.
“Hi Mr. Klerc!” Chloe said.
He smiled broadly, “Hello! Pleasure to meet you, Chloe.” He looked at Tracy and said, “Hey Tracy, I just want to apologize for being a jerk at times over the years, ya know. Thank you for helping my son, not only these past few days, but really for years now. It means so much to us.”
Tracy was stunned. “You’re welcome! Morgan’s been like my brother. I hope I can get to know you better too.”
“I better get to work. He’s inside, go on in.” He trotted down the porch steps and climbed into his old pickup. He carefully maneuvered around the Austin Healey and exited the front drive. Tracy just watched him go.
Chloe snapped her fingers in Tracy’s face. “Hello?”
Tracy said, “He’s completely different! I’m just stunned.”
Chloe said, “That’s good! I guess people can change. Maybe seeing his son in the hospital really put things in a new perspective for him.”
They went inside the house. Tracy called out, “Yo! Morgan!”
He came out of his room. He was wearing a pair of baggy shorts and had an old Chardon sweatshirt on, but the sleeve had been cut off to make room for the cast. He said, “Hey watch these dance moves,” and did a little robot dance to show off the awkwardness of the full arm cast.
The girls both laughed. Tracy hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. She kept her arm around his waist and Chloe checked out the cast.
Chloe said, “Dude, where’s a Sharpie?”
He pointed over to a “The World’s Ruff” mug on the counter in the kitchen. “There’s a Sharpie in that puppy dog mug.” Chloe grabbed it and handed it to Tracy. They all sat on the couch.
Chloe said, “According to the ancient scrolls of cast signing law, you need to write something endearing, but not too smarmy.”
Tracy tapped the pen on her chin and thought for a few moments, then wrote, “Lucky for you chicks dig scars!” She drew a baby chicken scratching at the ground and signed her name with a few X’s and O’s. She turned the pen over to Chloe.
“Oh man! That is a cute one.” Chloe said. “I have no art skills, so I’ll write from the heart.” She giggled and wrote. “Good thing you’ve got a girlfriend since your right hand is out of service.” She put her lip prints on the cast.
“Do you always have to work blue?!” Tracy asked with mock indignation and shoved her. She handed the plate of brownies to Morgan. He chowed one down.
“Delicious!” he said and smiled with a mouth full of brownie. The girls both laughed. He swallowed and said, “If I knew people would treat me this well, I would have gotten shot years ago.”
Tracy frowned, “Oh come on!”
Morgan smiled, “Well, I exaggerate, but only a little. Did you talk to my dad?! He’s a new man.”
Tracy nodded, “You’re right about that, anyway! He was so nice to me just now.”
Morgan said, “I mean, he’s treating me like a human being, now. And frankly, if you think about it, I was basically just a really bad action hero. My only super power is jumping in front of a gun that’s about to go off.”
Tracy guffawed. “I hadn’t looked at it that way, but don’t sell yourself short, Dude. Everybody else in that room pissed themselves and ran, well, except for Chloe and Richard. And me, I just watched.”
Morgan continued, “It was Chloe who kicked all the ass! Then you played medic.”
Chloe said, “Seriously Morgan, what you did took real courage. It’s like I become someone else when that happens. Everything slows down. Normal people just seem like they’re moving in slow motion.”
Morgan said, “I don’t know if it was courage. I just reacted, too.”
Tracy said, “Well, to me, it was valiant. You did not think of yourself. Maybe Chloe can teach us some moves and we won’t be so lame.”
Chloe nodded and took a brownie. “Sure! It can’t hurt, but you guys are like the brains of this little operation. I guess I’m the brawn.”
Morgan laughed, “Yeah, you’re just trying to make us feel good, Chloe. How many Calculus A’s have you racked up?”
Chloe smirked and held her hands up. “Yeah, more than one.”
Tracy pulled the phone out of her pocket and tossed it on Morgan’s lap.
Morgan asked, “What’s this?”
Chloe put on a sexy voice and said, “The direct line to your love muffin.”
Tracy said, “Uncle Robbie gave one to Demetria too. They think the bad guys could be tracing your calls and emails and stuff, so the new phone should be a safer way to stay in touch. Robbie said she’d contact you once she’s settled in.”
Morgan scanned through the phone’s messages and opened one of the texts. He laughed. “Yeah, that’s her.”
Chloe took the phone and laughed. “She’s not a shy one! Nice ass.” She gave the phone to Tracy. Tracy’s face turned red. She handed the phone back to Morgan.
Tracy was completely flustered. She put her hand on her head and said, “Everything that’s happened makes my life seem completely ridiculous! I can’t stand it!”
Chloe rolled her eyes and asked, “What?! That statement was clear as mud, Lady.”
Tracy said, “I mean all the bullshit I worried about in my life: what people think of me, what clothes to wear, what things to say to seem smart, or seem funny, it’s all just incredibly trivial. I’ve literally wallowed in trivia.”
Chloe dismissed it with a casual wave of her hand and imitated an old lady voice, “You’re just a youngin’! Don’t worry about it.”
Tracy sighed, “Richard kind of gets it. He’s very free, a little like Demetria. Well more than I am anyway.”
Chloe had a devilish look, “Oh really? How so? Don’t spare the details.”
Tracy said emphatically, “You’re more like that, too, Chloe. I edit myself all the time instead of going with the flow. It’s so stupid, too, as if I couldn’t tell you guys anything.”
Chloe started rubbing her fingers through Tracy’s hair. “This is when we need Dana. It’s too bad they left.”
Tracy chuckled. “I think I understand her better, too. She’s always nudging and pulling people out of themselves. Robbie too.”
Morgan’s eyes opened wide. “You’re right. I hadn’t really put that together. He’s always pushing me, literally knocking on my head sometimes.”
Tracy stood up. Her f
ace was flushed and her cheeks were red. She went and looked out the windows and locked the door. Chloe was startled, “What’s up?”
Tracy’s voice was shaky. She handed her phone to Chloe and said, “Get ready to take pictures. How’s my hair?”
Morgan was puzzled and said, “It’s good. Normal Tracy hair.” He ate another brownie.
“Okay. Here goes.” Tracy said. She tossed her coat onto an empty arm chair. She was wearing jeans and a gold and black flannel shirt over a white T-Shirt. She kicked off her shoes and socks.
“What are you doing?” Chloe asked. She was filming with Tracy’s phone.
“I’m doing a Demetria.” Tracy’s voice trembled. She cleared her throat and shook her arms and her head and tousled her hair.
“What’s a Demetria?” Morgan asked.
“Shut up, dummy! You’re ruining my moment.” Tracy said. She took her flannel shirt off and tossed it on the coat.
Chloe laughed and said, “Go for it!”
Tracy unbuttoned her pants and paused. She breathed out. She slipped them to the floor. Morgan’s mouth was open. She kicked the pants onto him. She slipped off the T-Shirt and threw it on Chloe’s lap. Tracy started giggling. She danced around the room. She slipped her hand over Morgan’s shoulders, then sat on Chloe’s lap.
Tracy smiled. She said, “I get why Demetria is like this. You should see your faces. You are frozen by the power of my boobs! Undo my bra, Chica.”
Chloe said, “You sure?”
Tracy nodded. Chloe fumbled with the clasp until the bra popped open. She said, “It’s much harder to do from this angle.” Tracy crossed her arms and stood up. She said, “Tadaa!” and slipped the bra off. She loved feeling the air on her naked chest. Chloe kept the camera going.
Morgan finally managed to say something. He deadpanned, “I always wondered what they look like.” That broke the tension in the room and they all laughed.
Tracy kicked her panties off. “Smack it.” She ordered Morgan. He complied and swatted her fleshy butt cheek. She went and sat on Chloe’s lap and put her arms around her head and kissed her hair.
“Oh good gods! This is my first boobs in the face experience! I always thought it’d happen at college.” Chloe stopped the camera.
“I feel completely free.” Tracy said. “It is very weird, and I highly recommend it, but not today, this is my moment to shine.”
Morgan said, “I’d join you, but I’d feel stupid in just my sweatshirt.”
“No. It’s my moment. You stay clothed, boy.” Tracy smiled then stood up and put her clothes back on. “I’ll send you some pics, though. Forward them to Demetria, too, let her know I was inspired by her.”
“What’s gotten into you, wild woman?” Chloe said. “By the way, this is some serious peer pressure, here. Now do I have to run around the Square in pasties to keep up?!”
Tracy put her hand on Chloe’s chest like Dana. “I never tried this. Whoa! Wow! I always thought she was pulling my leg or just making things up, but no, I see you.” Tracy growled and made a fake paw gesture. “You’re a lioness, but you’re also so gentle and sweet. I see it in my mind.” She put her arm around Chloe’s shoulders and started to lead her out of the house.
“We gotta get going, Morgan. Let us know if you need anything.” Tracy said.
“I’m good. Thanks for the brownies.”
She kissed him and waved goodbye. Chloe blew him a kiss and they left.