A growling stomach made Taylor put his paint brush down and look down at his sisters who were working steadily on the musical notes along the bottom part of the wall. 

"You guys hungry?"

"I smelled brownies earlier," Avie said hopefully.

"All right, let’s check it out," Taylor exclaimed leading the way to the kitchen.

"Only one a piece," Diana warned as some of her children crowded around the covered cake plate.

"Where’s Ike and Zac?" Taylor asked with his mouth full.

"Ike went to the mall with Carrie and some of his friends and Zac is still in bed," she reported.

"I thought Carrie was under quarantine or something," Taylor questioned.

"She hasn’t shown any signs of chicken pox yet," Diana said. "Hey, I said only one each."

With his second brownie in his mouth, Taylor grinned. "Zac is STILL in bed? It’s almost lunch time!"

Diana smiled. "It’s the first morning in a long time that he’s slept late. But, if we’re going to go to the Toy Emporium he’s going to have to get up soon."

"I’ll get him," Taylor suggested.

"Thanks, honey," Diana exclaimed absently as she picked Zoe up out of her high chair. "Are you doing anything this afternoon?"

"Baby-sitting again?" Taylor moaned.

Diana didn’t even respond. She just looked at her son, giving him ‘that mother look’ and Taylor rolled his eyes and surrendered immediately. 

"Okay, okay. But, Eric and Mike are coming over this afternoon to play basketball, so Dad’s going to have to watch them while they’re here. And, then when Ike and Zac get back we have to practice for tonight’s show."

"If you don’t get Zac up, we can’t get started," Diana warned.

"Going," Taylor promised as his mother left the room. He rummaged through a kitchen drawer until he found what he was looking for, a small red balloon. Slipping the lip of the balloon over the faucet spigot he carefully filled it with water. 

"Is that to wake Zac up?" Jessica asked with a devilish grin.

"Uh huh," Taylor nodded.

"Ice water would be more shocking," she suggested going over to the refrigerator and filling a glass from the door dispenser.

Taylor dumped the water out of the balloon and held the neck open as Jessica poured the ice water into it and Avie watched with a gleam of delight in her eyes.

"Stay out here," Taylor whispered when they got to Zac’s bedroom door. "I owe him this, and you guys don’t want to get blamed."

"I just want to watch," Jessica said as she and her sister giggled and hid behind the door.

Taylor tiptoed into Zac’s bedroom and leaned over his brother. "Zac," he intoned into his brother's ear. "Zac," he repeated slightly louder in a sing-song voice.

Zac grunted and burrowed into his covers further. "Go away," he mumbled.

Taylor pulled the covers off his brothers’ head, persistently calling his name.

"What?" Zac mumbled slightly coherent.

"Your day has come!" Taylor exclaimed loudly and popped the balloon.

Zac bolted out of the bed with a loud bellow, gasping for breath as the cold water splattered over his face and chest and soaked him.

Taylor made a run for it, staying ahead of his younger brother, laughing and taunting him.

Zac followed Taylor with a murderous look in his eye, but he only got as far as the downstairs hallway when he was captured by his mother.

Totally unaware of why her son was standing in the hallway dripping, Diana looked at her son with exasperation. "Zac, if you want to go shopping this morning, you’d better get moving. And, why are you wet? You can’t go out in this weather with wet hair, you’ll catch cold. Go get dried off. Hurry up, now! We have a lot do today."

While Zac glared at Taylor he didn’t tell on his brother. They never told on each other. It was part of the fun of their on-going practical jokes. Zac grinned and shook his wet hair, like a dog shaking his fur, and water flew in all directions, making his sisters giggle and then took off at a run up the stairs when his mother started to admonish him.

* * * *

"Dad, I’m absolutely sure, I’m sure," Taylor exclaimed for the fourth time in the last twenty minutes. 

"Tay, I just want to make sure," Walker commented patiently.

"Can I go now?" Taylor asked and at his father’s nod, made his escape from the den.

Taylor snagged a jacket out of the hall closet and headed for the driveway to practice jump shots. A few minutes later a blue Toyota honked outside the main gate and Taylor jogged up to the gate to push the manual release to let them in. He waved at the two car loads of fans that were parked outside their driveway and hopped onto the hood of his friends car for the ride back to the house.

Friends for years Eric and Mike got out of car teasing their friend about his ‘legends’ of fans. Taylor gave as good as he got in the game of teasing and taunting. The boys played a solid hour and a half of ball before they called it quits to raid the refrigerator. They were sitting around the kitchen table polishing off an apple pie when Ike came home. 

"Want to play a game?" Taylor offered bouncing the basketball on the kitchen floor.

Ike grabbed the ball and set it up on the counter. "Nope, but I’ll take some of that pie." 

"Going soft on us?" Mike taunted.

Ike smiled. "No, I just spent four hours racing around the mall with a crazed last minute Christmas shopper. Carrie was in Marathon shopping mode today. We must have walked ten miles."

"Are you going to Ray’s party tonight?" Eric asked. "It’s going to be a blast!"

"We have a performance tonight," Taylor said shaking his head.

"Man, I thought you were taking a break!" 

"We are, but we kinda volunteered to do this show," Taylor explained.

"Why? Man, you’re going to miss a great party! Can’t you get out of it?" Eric exclaimed.

"This performance is for kids at a hospice," Ike explained.

"What’s a hospice?" Mike asked.

Ike and Taylor exchanged glances. "It’s like a hospital, but this one is for children only," Ike explained. "This place is for terminally ill children."

"Bummer!" Eric mumbled.

"How about a game of soccer?" Taylor suggested.

"I’m in," Eric exclaimed.

"Me too!" Mike agreed. 

"Me too," Ike agreed and they headed out the door excited to be playing with their friends. Forty-five minutes later, exhausted and sweaty, they trouped back into the house. 

"We’ve got to go, man" Eric exclaimed. "I got to run an errand for my mom and we have a party to go to tonight."

Taylor headed out the door behind Eric. Mike lingered behind slightly causing Ike to look up from the refrigerator where he was searching for a bottle of juice. "What’s up?"

"This place you’re going to tonight," Mike stuttered. "Is it like a professional show? For show biz guys like you only?"

"No," Ike said shaking his head. "We’re just doing the show to be nice to the kids. Why?"

Mike stared down at his shoe with intense interest. "I kinda do a magic act. Just fun stuff but I’m pretty good. I’ve done a couple of shows downtown at the Roxie Amateur Stage."

"I didn’t even know you were interested in show business," Ike exclaimed.

"Well, I’m not," Mike protested. "It’s strictly amateur stuff, but the kids might enjoy it."

"We’d be glad to have you. You have to clear it with your parents, but if you can meet us here at 5:00 p.m., we’ll be glad to take you with us."

"Terrific," Mike smiled. ‘I’ll be here."

"What about Ray’s party?" Ike asked.

They turned as they heard Erie shout at Mike to hurry up.

Mike shrugged. "No big loss, Shawn’s getting a little too heavy into some nasty stuff. I’d kinda rather stay clear of it."

"Is Eric into the same stuff?" Ike demanded wanting to know what Taylor friends were getting into.

"Naw," Mike shrugged again. "He talks big, but he’s just as chicken as me to try anything."

"Good. Keep it that way," Ike said seriously. "We’ve seen some really nice guys get messed up really bad. It’s not fun to watch when it happens to your friends."

"I got ya," Mike exclaimed. "I’ll see you later."

"Hey," Taylor yelled opening the back door. "If you don’t get out here, your ride is going to depend on your thumb!"

"Enjoyed the game, man. See you at later," Mike exclaimed over his shoulder as he ran out the door.

Taylor watched his friend leave and then he turned to his brother. "What did he mean, see you later?" he asked.

Ike grinned. "Mike wants to come with us tonight and do some magic tricks for the kids. I told him, okay."

"Mike’s been playing with card tricks and disappearing coins for as long as I can remember." Taylor explained. "I guess he’s taking it more seriously now."

"No matter how good or bad he is, the kids won’t mind," Ike said. "When is Zac getting home? We need to practice."

Taylor shrugged and helped himself to the last of the brownies left on the cake plate. "I’m gonna go shower."

"Then use, Zac’s bathroom ‘cause I’m using ours!" Ike warned.

"Gross, I’m not using Zac and Mackie’s bathroom, who knows the last time even Mom had the nerve to go in there," Taylor claimed as he headed for the stairs. But he was waylaid by his father. Walker asked his son to join him in the den and Taylor watched as Ike took the steps two at a time heading for his room.

* * * *

Twenty minutes later Taylor followed his brothers footsteps. He went straight to his room and made a flying dive into the center of his bed, landed on his stomach and pulled a pillow over his head.

Ike appeared in the doorway toweling his wet hair and freshly dressed. "Are you trying to sleep or hiding?" he asked with a grin.

Taylor uncovered his head and grinned, knowing Ike was referring to his habit as a child of covering his head and believing that no one could see him. "I wish it was that easy," he grumbled.

"What?"

"They’re going to make me do it, Ike. I just know they are!" Taylor moaned.

Ike eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Tay, no one is going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do."

"Then why can’t Dad take No for an answer?" Taylor demanded. "We’ve had four conversations about it already. Christopher is calling Dad. Dad is calling Mr. Spielberg’s producer. Mr. Spielberg’s producer is calling Christopher. And, I keep saying No and no one is listening!"

"Well, maybe Dad thinks it’s a terrific opportunity. Maybe you should give it more consideration." Ike suggested.

"He got to you!" Taylor exclaimed in an accusatory tone.

"He talked to me about it," Ike admitted. "Why are you so against it?"

Taylor flopped back on the bed and covered his head again.

"Hey!" Zac slammed through the bedroom door and announcing his entrance loudly at the same time.

"Why didn’t you tell me!" Zac demanded in his own exuberant way. "You’re keeping secrets from me again. Why didn’t you tell me you were going to be in a movie? Mom said it’s a Stephen Spielberg movie. Wow! Is it the next Star Wars?" Zac began to jump around the room like he fighting with a light saber. "Or maybe the next Indiana Jones movie? How come you didn’t tell me?" Zac jumped on his brothers bed and was jumping on it like a trampoline.

Taylor had uncovered his head just to watch his brothers antics but when he jumped on his bed, he scissored him between his legs and threw him off his feet and they rolled off onto the floor.

"Zac, I’m not doing a movie!" Taylor exclaimed. "And, George Lucus does the Star Wars movies, not Stephen Spielberg."

"I knew that," Zac claimed. "Why not?" 

"Zac, I’m a musician. Not a actor."

"Well, you’re not to stupid to learn are you?" Zac demanded. "You’d be good at it."

"How do you know that?" Taylor asked. 

"Tay, you said if we wanted to try something different it would be okay. You said, that we’d all stand behind each other and help in anyway we could."

"Zac, I know what I told you, but I wasn’t talking about me. I was talking about you," Taylor exclaimed.

"Like it don’t go both way!" Zac demanded.

Taylor was caught in his own words. "Of course, it works both ways."

"Then why don’t you want to want to do a movie?" Zac demanded.

"Yeah, clue me in too," Ike added.

"Well, for one thing we won’t have time," Taylor stalled. "We’ll be starting a new album in a couple of weeks."

"That isn’t a reason," Zac said doggedly.

"Well, why me?" Taylor demanded. "Why not you, or Ike?"

"Because, obviously he wasn’t interested in us," Ike reasoned. "Fess up, Tay. Why aren’t you even considering this?"

Taylor sat down on his bed, and pulled his knees up, wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin on the top of his kneecaps and was quiet for a minute. Zac sat down on the end of his bed, and Ike pulled out his desk chair and sat down in it. Both, watching him. Waiting for an answer.

"What if I can’t do it? What if I can’t act? I could be awful."

"You won’t know until you try," Ike suggested. "Tay, there are usually millions of dollars at stake in producing a movie, even a little one. Believe me, if you can’t cut it, they’ll replace you in a second."

"Great, that’s all the tabloids need. Do you have any idea how much they are going to come gunning for me. Another musician trying to be actor?"

"Well, the worst they’ve come up with in three years has been a picture of our old house and one story that we were rude at the airport. And, considering what the airline put us through that day, we had a right to be upset but the tabloids never care about that anyway," Ike commended.

"Then they didn’t even get the story right because the stupid airline kept canceling our flights and delaying us and we were due in Washington to play for the President of the United States," Zac exclaimed. "Course, they didn’t mention that part!"

"Exactly my point," Taylor said. "If I try out for this and flub it, God knows what they’ll say."

"They’ll say what they want to say, true or false anyway," Ike said.

"And, if you don’t try, how will you know if you’re any good?" Zac asked. "You guys did that little movie about David and Goliath and that was kinda cute."

Taylor rolled his eyes. "This isn’t a church video, Zac."

"Exactly," Zac rolling his eyes right back. "If you’re too chicken to try, you’ll never find out if you’re any good at it!"

"Shut up, I’m not chicken!" Taylor denied.

"If you’re worried about Tabloids and gossips you are," Ike agreed. "Since when have you cared what they write or say?"

"I don’t," Taylor denied. "But, with music I know what I’m doing. No matter what they write or say, I know I’m putting my best effort out there! I don’t know if I can act!"

"With our music you feel safe," Ike countered. "It’s not just you, it’s the three of us on the line. If you take up acting, it will only be you. On your own. That scares you."

"Damn straight it does," Taylor agreed and Zac’s eyes got round because his brother rarely swore. The consequences, were just too great.

"Well, it is your decision," Ike said. "But, for my opinion, I think you should do it. You don’t have anything to lose, Tay. Try it. You may like it."

"Yeah," Zac agreed.

Taylor got off his bed and rummaged through his closet for some clean clothes. "I’ll think about it," he promised and then he disappeared into the bathroom.

Zac looked over at his older brother. He was disappointed. "Is he chicken?"

Ike shook his head. "No. Tay just doesn’t like things to change and he’s kinda dependent on us. He’s used to us being around all the time. We’re his safety net, just like he’s ours. If he screws up a chord, we cover for him. If we screw up, he covers for us. That’s the way it’s always been. Dad thinks he just needs a little push. I actually think he’d be real good at acting. He’s got that ‘sensitive’ side of him that he tries to cover up, but it’s there. He probably doesn’t want to leave us behind either, so we need to encourage him. Gently, don’t be pushy. Dad’s keeping the communication lines open with the producers and he’s giving Tay time to think about it. He doesn’t have to give them answer until after the New Year."

"Would you do it?" Zac asked.

Ike shook his head and grimaced. "Not me, but I’d make a lousy actor. I’m more interested in the production end of things. Maybe, musical scores. How about you?"

"Not me either," Zac giggled. "Unless it was a real cool part, like in Star Wars or something! Then I’d take it in a heartbeat! I guess he’s going to hide out in the shower all afternoon now."

"Probably," Ike agreed. "Hey, how did your shopping trip go?"

"Grueling," Zac groaned. "But, we got a ton of stuff. We got everything that was on the list that Mom was given. We filled up four carts, and wiped the store out of crayons and coloring books and puzzles and cheap cassette players. It was real cool and we’d better be glad that we’re not giving them out as Christmas gifts because we’d never get them all wrapped. Mom asked the store to deliver all the stuff out to the Center and when she talked to the store manager he offered to do it for free. He was a cool guy."

"That reminds me that I’ve still got to wrap our presents," Ike exclaimed. "If Tay ever surfaces, tell him we still need to practice before we leave for tonight’s performance. Just because it’s for the kids doesn’t mean we can slack off."

Zac rolled his eyes. "We can play those songs in our sleep!" he complained.

"You need practice!" Ike ordered over his shoulder. "The way you were playing the piano yesterday, you sounded like you were asleep!"

Ike didn’t see his younger brother sticking his two index fingers at each side of his mouth, pulling his lips apart, sticking out his tongue and rolling his eyes all the same time.

* * * *

Total chaos’s accompanied the Hanson family as they tried to get all their equipment packed, and get ready to go to the Pascall Center that evening. It was normal agenda for them. Mike arrived exactly at 4:45, dressed in a black Magicians costume, complete with cape and top hat, and watched all the activity in amazement. Walker and Ike were carrying equipment out to the van. Diana was dressing Zoe and fixing the hair of both of her daughters at the same time. Mike helped Taylor capture an elusive Mackie and get him fitted into this winter coat and boots which he was objecting to loudly. 

Just when it looked like they would never get their act together and be ready, Walker stood at the front back door and yelled. "We’ve leaving now!"

More magical than his own act, everyone headed for the door at the same time. Zac hoisted a black duffel bag over his shoulder that contained their music sheets, extra guitar strings, picks, and drumsticks and he hoisted a diaper bag over the other to balance out his load. They were taking two vehicles. One van was completely loaded with over a hundred Christmas bags, filled with Hanson CD’s and tee shirts and merchandise that they were giving to the kids for gifts. Walker had tried to get a headcount of patients and attendees but the count kept growing. At the final count, he’d been told there would be about sixty-five people attending, so he’d added a few extra for good measure. Ike would drive the van with his brothers and Mike along with the gifts and musical instruments and an accurate map to find his way to the Pascall Center. Walkers was driving the rest of family in the second van. The decision had been made to take Zoe, Mackie and Avery to their Aunt’s house for the evening. That way, the rest of the family members could help with the party and not spend all their time watching the younger ones.

The Pascell Center was prepared for the Hanson’s arrival. The staff had decorated the Activity Room with a Christmas tree loaded down with more tinsel than ornaments. There was a large table set up for refreshments and the table was loaded down with a punch bowl and platters of cookies and chips and dips. There were at least sixty excited children waiting for their arrival. Only thirty of them were patients of the Pascell Center. The rest were children of the staff members and siblings of the patients. There were a lot of parents also present. Walker did a quick head count and was relieved that he had just enough Christmas bags for all the children. 

Nurse Margaret Sullivan was thrilled with the arrival of the Hanson family. Working with terminally ill children in a non-profit organization, there were never enough funds to allow for many extras for the children. Even when Walker Hanson had contacted the Center about his sons giving a concert, many of the staff members were skeptical. Lots of people promised time and things to the center. Very few ever followed through with them. But the Hansons had followed through beautifully. They had even gone way beyond their promises. That afternoon, a whole truckload of toys had arrived, enough to keep the kids busy and active for months to come. Now the Hansons were unloading their vans of musical equipment and dozens and dozens and dozens of large Christmas bags were being stacked around the base of the Christmas tree. Mrs. Hanson even contributed to the snack table by carrying in several large trays of brownies. Margaret Sullivan couldn’t help but feel proud of the way that her chance encounter with three young brothers had exploded into this wonderful event for the children. Even her own two daughters were helping with the party preparations. 

Once the instruments were set up, and a quick sound check completed, it was time to begin the party. The recreation room was crowded with kids. Some of kids were in wheelchairs and some in beds and the children of the staff were sitting around in chairs and some on the floor. 

They decided to start the show with Mike’s magic act. Only Taylor had ever seen any of Mikes tricks so both Ike and Zac were surprised at how good he performed his tricks. Mike picked Jessica to be his assistant and she was thrilled to be able to help although she was just as surprised and mystified at his slight of hand. 

Watching the act from the back of the room, Taylor surveyed the room somewhat puzzled himself.

"Mrs. Sullivan?" Taylor said seeking out the only staff member he knew by name. "Where is Arleen?"

Nurse Sullivan motioned for him to follow her out of the room. 

"Is she all right?" Taylor asked.

"Yes," Margaret Sullivan reported. "But, Arleen won’t be able to attend the party tonight. She’s been moved into the Critical Care room."

Taylor eyebrows formed a straight line across his brow in concern. "Does that mean she getting sicker?"

"Yes. She is stable. But, she is very sick. I know she wanted to attend the party, but it would be too tiring."

"Can we visit her?" Taylor asked.

Margaret Sullivan smiled. "Yes. We hooked up the intercom so she’ll be able to hear the concert, and I know she will be thrilled to talk to you again."

"Great," Taylor exclaimed. "As soon, as we finish playing, we’ll go see her."

After Mike performed his last magic trick, even Walker was impressed. He also hoped he young man knew what he was doing, because his daughter had disappeared inside a box and he hadn’t made her reappear. With a flourish, Mike promised to make Jessica reappear at the end of the Hanson performance and with flip of his cape, and a puff of smoke he disappeared off the makeshift stage. 

After Mikes disappearance, Hanson took the stage. Mike it turned out was a great intro act. Ike, Taylor and Zac performed a half hour set of Christmas songs without a hitch, delighting the children with their perfect harmonies. Their performance was a smashing success. Just as Zac was doing a triple roll on the drums there was a flash of smoke and suddenly Jessica appeared on the stage in front of his drum set. Even Zac was startled by her sudden reappearance. He finished his last beat and gestured toward his younger sister with a flourish and a wild grin and yelled for Mike to come back to the stage.

Then for the one time performance, all five of them held hands and bowed to their clapping and cheering audience. 

"Where did you come from?" Zac demanded of his sister as soon as they got off the stage.

"I’m not telling!" Jessica exclaimed giggling.

"Mike!" Zac screamed chasing after his brothers friend for an answer.

"That was really cool!" Taylor admitted to Ike as they wove their way through the party crowd. 

"It was different!" Ike agreed with a grin. "Did you see Dad’s face when Jessica disappeared. I thought he was going to have a cow!"

"After the kids get a little settled, we need to go visit someone who’s in the critical care room," Taylor explained.

"Say when," Ike said and he went off to talk to the children. 

The Hanson family mingled among the kids and parents, shaking hands, talking and sometimes signing autographs. The party was in full swing, the children having a great time and parents and staff enjoying the smiles on young faces. When Santa made a surprise visit, Taylor decided it was time for him to visit Arleen. The younger children would be busy for few minutes and they wouldn’t be missed. He signaled his older brother and Ike collared Zac and they headed toward Nurse Sullivan. 

Margaret Sullivan led the Hanson brothers down a long corridor and through some double hospital-like doors. She handed each of them a green hospital gown and a face mask. 

"How serious is Arleen?" Taylor asked.

"She’s stable, but you have to remember why she is here," Margaret said gently. "This garb is just to protect her from germs and viruses. Her immune system is gone. Give me a minute to warn her that you’re coming. Every girl wants to look her best when gentlemen are calling."

She left the brothers staring at each others eyes since that was the only thing that was visible above the mask. Ike was watching Zac carefully. His younger brothers expressive brown eyes were full of unspoken worry and fear of the unknown. 

The door opened and Margaret Sullivan motioned them to follow her. They entered the room cautiously. Arleen wasn’t alone, there was a man and a woman and another teenage girl in the room. Arleen was lying in the bed, hooked up to IV’s and a lot of electronic monitoring devices. 

Arleen smiled weakly when they approached her bed. She introduced them to her parents and sister and just the action of talking seemed to exhaust her. 

Taylor took the girls hand carefully, trying not to touch the needles. He smiled at her. "Did you get our autographs?"

Arleen nodded and smiled but her smile faded and she brought her hand up to her hair nervously fingering the hair strands of her wig. 

"You must have seen me without my wig," she whispered sadly.

Taylor was grinning behind his mask, and you could tell my his sparkling eyes. "Hair," he said, "is very over rated stuff. Believe me I know."

"You would think differently if you didn’t have any," Arleen whispered back sarcastically.

"A girl likes to feel pretty," Arleens sister interjected speaking for her sister.

Taylor didn’t take his attention off of Arleen. "One of my most favorite girls is bald and practically toothless and it doesn’t change how I feel about her. I absolutely adore her and I think she’s a cute as a bug!" he declared.

Arleen smiled. "You’re talking about your baby sister aren’t you?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Yep," Taylor admitted. "Now I’ll just have two favorite girls that just happen not to have hair. Maybe you’ll start a new trend."

Margaret Sullivan was listening to the interchange between Arleen and Taylor and watching the girls reaction. 

"I think, Arleen is getting tired," she warned.

"No, wait," Arleen protested. "Sing for me, just a little bit."

"I’ll bet you like ‘I’ll Will Come To You’," Ike suggested.

Arleen nodded slightly.

Ike started the count and at the forth beat, Taylor began the song and Ike and Zac joined him on their harmonies. They sang the first full chorus and then Taylor tapered off as he noticed the girls eyes begin to close. 

Ike quietly said good-bye to the sleeping girl and Zac followed his lead. Taylor patted her hand gently and then he also said his good-bye. He lingered for a moment, noticing the differences in her appearance that had occurred over the last two weeks. Arleen was much thinner than before, and there were huge dark circles under her eyes. Her skin was pale, having a fragile almost translucent look to it, and she appeared so frail. Not at all the fearless, sarcastic young girl he’d talked to before.

Taylor felt Ikea’s hand on his arm and he turned and followed him out of the room. 

Margaret Sultan followed them out of the room and helped them out of their gowns. 

"That was tough. Thank you." 

"She doesn’t have much time left does she?" Taylor asked, his eyes searching Nurse Sultan’s face for the truth.

Margaret shook her head gently.

The brothers rejoined the party. They were confronted with dozens of children wearing Hanson shirts and Hanson baseball hats. The Christmas bags had been distributed and the children were ecstatic. Even, Brad, Ike’s guitar playing teenage friend, was wearing his Hanson shirt. 

Upon reentry into the recreation room, Margaret Sullivan noticed immediately the questioning looks that the boys received from their parents. She took it, as her own responsibility to explain the boys disappearance to their parents. 

Zac was observing Taylor. He knew that Ike had been watching and worrying about his reaction to visiting Arleen, but Zac knew that that he should have been worrying about his other brother. Taylor had made a instant connection to the girl. Having only talked to Arleen for a few minutes, he considered her a friend. Taylor was wandering around acting perfectly normal. But, Zac noticed that his smile was tight and he was nodding more and speaking less. Playing with the smaller children, Zac looked up just in time to notice his brother slip out of the recreation room. Zac was right on his heels, following at a safe distance. As soon as he was sure of his brothers destination, Zac doubled back and went to find Ike.

Siding up to older brother, Zac whispered into this ear. "Tay, needs you."

Ike looked down into Zac’s concerned eyes. "Where is he?"

"Down that hallway, turn right at the end. He’s out in the courtyard." Zac reported.

Ike followed his brothers instructions and his implied advise. He found Taylor standing against a wall, shivering, but not from the cold. 

"Tay, come back inside. It’s too cold to be out here without a jacket," Ike suggested.

Taylor nodded but he didn’t turn around immediately. Instead he wiped his face and took a deep breath and then he turned around, knowing that there would still be traces of tears on his face. They entered the building but only went a few feet when Taylor leaned back against the wall and then slid down and sat on the floor. 

Ike copied his movements, sat on the floor and just waited patiently. He knew his brother would talk when he was ready.

"Ike, Arleen is just fourteen," Taylor said finally. "Fourteen."

"Tay, I thought you understood. You were told from the beginning that most of these kids are terminal," Ike said gently.

"I know," Taylor agreed. "But, it’s just not fair. They’re kids. They haven’t had a chance. Arlene told me she’s been sick since she was seven years old. That’s half her life spent in hospitals, being sick, having all kinds of different treatments. And, they didn’t work. None of them worked!" 

Ike just let his brother vent. There was nothing he could say to comfort him. This was a cold hard fact that Taylor was having to face for the second time in his life. The only other death that he’d had to face was the loss of their grandmother and he’d dealt with that by writing the song ‘With You In Your Dreams’. Ike put his hand on his brothers shoulder and just sat beside him quietly as Taylor starred aimlessly across the hall at the painted cinder blocks. 

The brothers just sat and finally Taylor pulled himself together. With a tight smile at his brother, he got to his feet and Ike followed him again as they went to rejoin the party. Saddened by the reality of what his friend faced, Taylor determinedly kept a smile on his face for the benefit of the other children.

The party broke up early. Most of the children tired easily and the staff was keeping an cautious eye on all of their patients. Although the party had only lasted three hours, the Hansons and Mike climbed into the vans fairly tired themselves. They had accomplished their goal and they felt good. They had given just a little bit back.