“So no Tracy?” Shelly asked.

Maggie nodded. “Tracy was so lively on the way down here. I think she talked from home to Tracy, the town, where she changed. Once she changed, Troy was miserable.” She shook her head. “Maybe I shouldn't have let her be Tracy for the ride.”

Open Your Heart
by Abigail Drew

Chapter One

“Open your heart!” Rang out from a tenor voice that was well off-key but enthusiastic just as lightning flashed nearby. “Open your heart!” it rang again as the peal of thunder roared loud enough as to, almost, drown out the singers voice. “Open your heart! To eternal dimension!” It sang again, and then grunted as, synchronously, the soft metallic thud of a shovel hitting dirt could be heard. “Open your heart! For love and affection,” the distinctive sound of dirt being thrown into a trash can. “Open your heart! Your every emotion,” and a flash of lightning. “Open your heart! For tears and rejection!” Thunder crashed as the “n” could be heard.

A frown appeared on William's face. His voice was a whisper again. “I have been pretty bad to him, Vance too. Hell, I'd be surprised if he doesn't hate me by now.”

“A few months back, before mom called me on it at her place, I would have. But I'm trying to get better.” He squeezed his wife once more. “So, no letting on that I know. I think I can do that.”

“And you're worried that you're doing something that may hurt him later?” Shelly asked.

“He's only eleven. He doesn't even know about that yet.” Maggie groaned. “At least I hope he doesn't. I'm not ready for my baby to grow up that soon.”

“I hear there was some trouble at school today. Would you like to tell me what happened?” William asked as Troy took a seat. His face showed no emotions, but the boys could tell how he forced himself to speak in a calm to that he wasn't pleased. The big man shut off the TV, forcing Vance to pay attention to him. He stood in front of them, arms crossed and looking none to happy.

William looked at Vance. “I thought they were your friends.”

Only the Lonely….

It was the song that was playing on the radio when she woke up in the morning and already saw the start of another hot day. That became a promise as she slipped out of the sheet she had draped over herself last night and had tried to curl up to another night alone.

He slipped into the nightgown and slowly Tracy began to be emerge. When she was fully there, she went into the kitchen where her grandmother was waiting, already working on her crossword. Tracy stopped by her grandmother long enough to give her a light kiss on the cheek. “Morning Grandma.” She said as she moved to the cupboard that held the skillets.

“Sure thing sweetie. You just let me know when you need help.”

“Joy.” Troy's sarcastic tone wasn't lost on Peter. Together the two boys walked up to the line, waiting to get on to the ride home. Peter moved off and got on his bus, leaving Troy alone with his jerk brother. Steps away from the bus, Troy felt someone shove his side and he fell to the ground.

His brother stood half a foot taller, which gave him the ability to loom over the smaller Patterson boy. Vance's arm cocked back as though he were going to throw a punch, making Troy bring up his arms to block. “Fag.” His brother laughed at him before getting on the bus. At the top of the steps he stopped and looked at his brother who was just watching him. “Come on little baby. Maybe we should get you home and change your diapers!” The kids on the bus started to laugh loudly.