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Image Credit: For a Special Twin Sister

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Chapter 4
 
Taylor went to distract mum whilst I slipped outside and rang the doorbell. She just had to tease me and make me stand outside waiting. She was laughing as she opened the door so I whispered ‘I’ll get you for that!’

I was sent straight to wash my hands with a flea in my ear from mum. ‘tyler that’s the last straw. Don’t you think you could help your sister once in a while. Where have you been until now.’

I said sorry but it didn’t seem to have much impact so there wasn’t much chat over dinner. Mum eventually spoke out and said I had to start pulling my weight or I’d be grounded. Then she said I should take my turn and she’d find me some jobs on Saturday morning and I had to stay in all day as my penance.

I waited for Taylor to speak out in my defence and gave her a look. Then as she expertly gathered the last piece of cheesecake onto her fork she turned to mum. “ Mum please don’t be so hard on Tyler. It was my fault and he did offer but since he is trying to get into the soccer team I told him I’d do his share of the chores. He scored 3 goals tonight and they want him to play in the team”

“How do you know and anyway he has to work even harder if he wants to do well at school and play sport. Jobs don’t do themselves you know.’

“Yes mum but it’s important and he has to train Saturday if he wants to get in the team don’t you bro?”

Here we go again. Tyler bail me out time.”

So I helped. ‘I sent a text to sis and it’s true. I have a great chance to play on Sunday afternoon if I turn up for training. If I don’t then just forget it. At the moment somebody is injured and they need a goal scorer. It’s my chance.”

Mum frowned and looked me up and down. “Well you’re hardly big enough to play let alone score goals. You’ll end up hurting yourself and maybe even I’ll have to rush to the hospital to try to find you. It’s a stupid game. Then you’ll be sorry.”

Sis chipped in and she was obviously not listening to mum. ‘Mom how can Tyler grow stronger and build up his muscles if he doesn’t join in contact sports games. At least he’s trying and we should help him. They’ve asked him so they must be confident in his ability.”

Mum turned to me for once ignoring what Taylor had said. “Can’t you speak for yourself Tyler? Do you really think you’re strong enough to play? I don’t want you to break your leg or an arm or dislocate a shoulder. What happens if you end up lame for life or even if you break your nose. There are some ugly football players who were good looking before they bashed into each other. We can’t have you missing school for a broken limb. Not with your grades.”

So there I was in at the deep end again. “ I’ll be OK mum since I have more speed than the others that keeps me out of trouble. Nobody can catch me.” It was a joke really since I had no speed at all. But Taylor was pretty nippy and she was certainly not scared.

“But what about your sister here? What’s she going to do if you go off training and playing soccer?”

I went quiet. “ Mom don’t worry about me I’ll be fine.” At least Taylor was speaking out and not leaving me to dig our way out of the mess. It was her game of soccer not mine and obviously she wanted to play.

“Well I don’t know because I already told you both that I’m visiting Gran this weekend and I was intending taking you both with me. She hasn’t seen you for ages and neither has Grandad. With dad away I don’t like leaving you both on your own. Who’s going to do the shopping and the cooking if I’m away? Think about it Taylor. If Tyler is training and playing soccer what will you do with yourself? Are you OK to look after the pair of you and make sure you let me know that Tyler is OK?”

“Sure I am mum. Sure I will. I’d be happy to help and it will give you some free time and it’s not like Tyler needs 3 course meals or anything is it bro? I could easily make us a few snacks and keep the place tidy. I’m even happy to change all the beds and do the heavy laundry so you don’t have it to do when you come home.”

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Here we go again. Taylor is too quick to answer for both of us and no doubt she will do nothing and leave it all to me. As if I was going to let her get away with it. Just one bridge too far this time.

So I spoke out. “It’s OK with me mum I will do my share. I even don’t mind to cut the grass and if you trust me to drive dad’s car I’ll take it down to the car wash and polish it afterwards. I can even deliver your Avon cosmetics if you leave me the list and collect the money.” That’ll tech her!!

“OK if you are both willing to chip in I’d like to go see my mum. She needs some help.” That was my revenge. The look on Taylors face was a picture.

“Come on you too now help me clear everything away and fill the dishwasher. I suppose you both have homework to do and I want to skype mum and see where your dad is. I haven’t heard from him for 3 days.”

So we tidied up and whilst I felt I had got some revenge on Taylor as I reflected I seemed to be getting in deeper that was worrying me. On the other hand Taylors glass was half full. She was already planning a party with the team and thinking what we might do for food.

It seems whatever I do these days I end up with the dirty end of the stick.

Saturday came with nothing eventful having occurred except that we walked home from school each day having swopped bags and making out as each other. Darren had approached me during a break but hadn’t realised he was talking to Tyler not Taylor. It’s a good job that my mate Robin didn’t realise what was happening so I played a long a bit so that Darren wouldn’t give the game away. How could he not realise. Stupid Boy!!

I saw Taylor a few times through the day but she didn’t seem to care when I told her. As I said earlier it’s different for a girl who likes to present as a boy than it is for a boy who looks like a girl. The only way I can get her to listen is when it affects her image with her friends or it spoils her chances to play football.

Come Friday night mum packed a bag after work, had a quick sandwich and was off. By 7pm we had the house to ourselves. Taylor disappeared upstairs and I cleared up in the kitchen. I didn’t mind really since it gave me chance to polish everything.

Then Taylor appeared at the door.

“My God Taylor you aren’t going out are you. You aren’t going out looking like that as well are you?’

‘What’s up bro. I want to see the guys and they think I’m you so why not dress for the part?”

“yes but Taylor you don’t look like yourself. You look a bit OTT if you don’t mind me saying.”

Look Ty I this is the modern look. I won’t be long but I’ve some bonding to do if I’m going to make the team so it’s just a game as far as I’m concerned. Nothing too serious even though I think I do look a bit of a hunk don’t you think?’

“no comment”. Actually she did look more like the guy people expected me to be and I was sure that a few girls at school would be chasing ‘him’.

So ‘he’ disappeared whilst I carried on tidying around. I must have been absorbed in what I was doing because I never sat down and I heard the key in the lock. It was Taylor with a couple of the football team. They’d been drinking something and Taylor was encouraging them. She opened some can of beer and when I gave her a look she just said “Ok sis, this is Fabio and Earl.” They seemed past their best. “ how about a snack sis. Have we anything left over?’

Who was this person. Had she suddenly grown horns and something between her legs to make her sound such a pratt?

“Look Tyler if mum finds out you are in deep do do. I thought you were in training? No professional soccer places drink alchohol these days during training or before a game.”

“ Yes but we are young and fit. Anyway mum is away so the boys will play.”

“Not whilst I’m here you won’t so come on and clear off and you go to bed.”

Surprisingly the 2 guys stood up and headed for the front door. One of them whispered “ your sis is a bit bossy but she’s a bit cute. I’d give her one.”

Good for Taylor she soon shut him up with a punch to the stomach and “don’t you ever say that again about my sister again.”

What could I say? “Thanks Taylor but I can take care of myself thank you. It was your fault for bringing them home. Mum will kill you if she finds out. What am I saying? She will kill me!!!”

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To Be Continued...