The next morning, Tim, who was a morning person, woke up at eight o’clock. He walked into Rebekah’s room to get the CD player. He was surprised to find that it was already on. While the girls were still asleep, he set the Hanson CD on the carpet and brought the CD player to his room. Seconds later, Mighty Mighty Bosstones blasted out of the speakers. Tim popped a basketball game into his Sony Playstation and continued his season.
In the guest bedroom, Zac awoke to Tim’s music. He got up, glancing at his sleeping brothers, and walked over to Tim’s room.
“What?” Tim said rudely after Zac knocked. He thought it was his sister at the door, demanding her CD player back.
“It’s me, Zac. I heard your music.”
Tim opened the door and let Zac in. “Do you want to play basketball?” Tim asked, pointing to his Playstation.
“Sure!” Zac loved video games and was thrilled that Tim had such a cool system.
Tim crept across the hall to Rebekah’s room, this time to steal the chair. Zac peeked in behind him. Relieved to find the girls sound asleep, he grabbed the folding chair from in front of Rebekah’s computer. He and Zac scurried back into Tim’s room, leaving the door on the other side of the hall open. Setting up a new game, Tim chose to play as the Golden State Warriors. Zac picked the L.A. Lakers. During the game, Zac glued his eyes on the screen and jerked the controller around subconsciously, as if that would help. After a tough twelve-minute match, the Lakers finally won. Although Tim had mastered this game the first day he got it, Zac was really good at video games since he had been playing since he was three. He even kicked both his brothers’ butts when he played against them. Tim turned off the Playstation and CD player and led Zac downstairs to watch TV.
“Have you ever seen ‘Dr. Katz?’” wondered Tim.
“Uh uh. What’s it about?”
“It’s a funny cartoon—“
“Like ‘Beavis and Butthead?’” interrupted Zac.
“No, it’s about a psychiatrist,” Tim clarified. He popped his videotape of ‘Dr. Katz’ shows into the VCR. Usually, Tim fast-forwards through half of the show, but since Zac wanted to see the whole thing, he didn’t.
“Well, you know what the music means,” said the bald psychiatrist. The credits flashed across the screen, and Tim jumped up to stop the tape.
“That was cool,” commented Zac. “I should watch that more often.” As Tim turned on “ESPN Sportscenter,” Zac pulled his cold, bare legs under himself and shifted his position. Tim also sat down in the corner of the couch and scrunched himself into a ball. Reaching around Zac uncomfortably, he grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around himself. They watched TV in silence and waited for someone else to join them.
Katie woke up and looked at the clock. It was nine o'clock. Since Rebekah appeared to be asleep, Katie lay back down and glanced at the posters around Rebekah’s room. Rebekah looked over and saw Katie awake. "Did you dream about Hanson last night?" Rebekah asked her.
"No," Katie responded," But I almost forgot that Hanson is here."
"Oh yeah," Rebekah expressed," I thought that was a dream—a very good dream. Hey, why is the door open?” wondered Rebekah, noticing the door for the first time.
“I don’t know. Do you think they're awake yet?"
"Ike probably isn't. He was so tired last night. Let's go downstairs and see who's up." The girls walked downstairs to find Tim and Zac watching TV on the couch. Tim was scrunched up into a ball on the side of the couch, wrapped in a blanket. He must have been cold. Zac was next to him so Katie sat on the other half of the couch. Rebekah took the chair.
"Let's find a cooking show," Rebekah teased.
"No!" Zac exclaimed covering his face, "Don't do this to me!" Rebekah smiled. She stole the remote from Tim and turned on the preview channel. As they waited for Isaac and Taylor to wake up, they watched “Price is Right.”
Isaac slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't recognize the pink and purple room or the bed he was in. He was more confused when he saw Taylor still asleep next to him. Then he remembered. He was at the Castro house. He and his brothers were leaving to set up for their concert at about 4:30. He, Zac, and Taylor had a great time last night. Isaac expected this day to be just as fun. He looked at his watch and saw that it was 10:25. He shook Taylor awake and climbed out of bed.
Taylor sleepily woke up to Isaac shaking him. He remembered immediately where he was. Sitting up, he asked, "Where is Zac?"
"I'm not sure," responded Isaac. He walked out the door with Taylor close behind. Since the door to Rebekah's room was open, he peeked in. Taylor put his ear up to Tim's door but only heard silence. Then they both heard talking from downstairs. The two of them walked down the stairs and into the family room to find Tim, Zac, and Katie on the couch and Rebekah in the leather chair.
Katie looked up at Isaac and Taylor. She tried not to laugh when she saw how messed up their hair was. Zac's hair hadn't been that bad. "He probably smoothed it down," she thought.
Isaac walked over and sat down next to Katie.
"How was your night? Sleep well?" asked Rebekah, also holding back laughter.
"Yeah," Hanson said at the same time. "I'm not tired this morning," Ike went on to say. Taylor didn't know where to go so he stretched out on his stomach on the floor in front of the TV.
"Let me guess," Isaac said, "Rebekah chose what program to watch."
Rebekah looked at him innocently, "Katie likes this show, too." After about fifteen minutes of "Price is Right," Rebekah asked, "Who wants breakfast?"
"Mom bought donuts," Tim said.
"OK, we have donuts or cereal or we could make pancakes," Rebekah suggested, listing all the breakfast possibilities.
"I'll have pancakes," Taylor said. Both his brothers agreed with him.
Tim wanted both but decided on donuts. The girls and Hanson headed into the kitchen, leaving Tim in the family room. Rebekah took out the pancake mix and a large bowl. She got out all the other ingredients and asked, "Does anyone want any butterscotch or chocolate chips on their pancakes?"
"I want butterscotch," Katie said.
"Is that any good?" Zac asked, scrunching up his nose.
"Yeah, it's da bomb," Rebekah remarked. The guys shrugged their shoulders and decided to give it a try.
"We'll help," Isaac volunteered as Rebekah dumped the mix into the bowl.
"OK, you can put the water in," she said, handing the measuring cup to Isaac. He measured out the water and poured it in. She handed the spoon to Katie. She mixed the ingredients spilling some of the mix. Zac was leaning against the counter and got some batter on the front of his shirt. Rebekah giggled and handed him a paper towel.
"Sorry, Zac," Katie apologized.
"That's OK," said Zac. He went over to the sink, got the paper towel wet, and wiped his shirt off. "I don't like this shirt much anyway."
"Taylor, do you wanna pour the batter in the griddle?" asked Rebekah, remembering that they wanted to help.
"Sure," he said, taking the bowl from Katie. Taylor slowly poured the batter onto the hot griddle, making circles about four inches in diameter.
Rebekah handed the butterscotch and chocolate chips to Zac, "Go for it." Zac was about to dump the whole bag of chocolate chips on one pancake. He paused, glancing mischievously at the others. When no one said anything, he tipped the bag a little more. They knew he wouldn't dare. They were right.
"I would have done it," Zac said, "but I wanted butterscotch instead."
They all nodded, "Uh huh, sure." He reached into the butterscotch bag and took out five chips for each pancake. He meticulously positioned each chip. “OK, Zac, don’t burn the pancakes,” said Taylor. They went on like that—Taylor pouring the batter, Zac placing the chips, then Katie flipping each one. When Katie bent a pancake in half while trying to flip it, Isaac offered to take the position as “head flipper.” She handed Isaac the spatula and stood back with Rebekah. Although she felt bad for not helping, Katie enjoyed watching Hanson do it. Even with making pancakes, they cooperated perfectly.
After they had about fifteen pancakes on the plate, they sat at the kitchen table, because there weren't enough seats in the family room. This would give them a chance to talk. Isaac took the chair in the corner with Katie next to him. Across from Ike was Taylor. Zac sat down at the end of the table, leaving the seat empty for Rebekah to sit in. Rebekah grabbed syrup and butter and poured everyone milk. She passed the milk around and sat down by Taylor.
“It’s cold down here,” commented Katie.
“Yeah, it is,” Isaac agreed. Rebekah glanced at Isaac’s tank top and understood why he was chilled.
“Katie, you’re always cold,” observed Taylor.
Rebekah cracked up, almost choking on her milk even though nothing was funny. “Sorry, I must be hyper. Andy complained about her having cold hands.” Zac grinned at Katie and shoved a forkful of butterscotch pancake into his mouth. He looked up at Rebekah as she stepped out of the kitchen to turn up the heat.
"How's the food?" Rebekah asked the guys when she sat back down.
"Good," Isaac said.
“Hey, Katie,” said Zac, “I think you made this one.” He held up a demented pancake, spilling syrup on the table.
“Shut up. I did my best,” she retorted.
"I heard you playing our CD last night. I went to the bathroom and heard ‘Yearbook’," Taylor told the girls. Isaac and Zac looked at them in amusement.
"Really?" said Katie.
"How did you hear it all the way from the bathroom?" questioned Rebekah suspiciously.
Taylor blushed, "Well, I took a little detour."
"I think I was still awake then," Katie said.
"Yeah," added Rebekah, "I’m surprised we didn’t hear you."
"You know what part I heard?" Taylor paused, building suspense. "Poor Katie she won’t even speak his name..." he sang.
"Really? Cool," Rebekah said, smiling.
"When I walked out of the room," Taylor continued, talking to Isaac, "You and Zac were asleep with smiles on your faces. What were you dreaming about?"
Isaac laughed, "I have no idea."
"I do!" Zac exclaimed, "I remember what I dreamed. It was kind of weird. We were at our concert. I was behind my drums and my bass drum rolled away again. This time, we didn’t catch it in time and it rolled right off the stage. Katie, you and Rebekah were there and you two caught it. That’s all I remember."
"Our siblings weren’t there?" Rebekah wondered as she cut her third pancake.
"I think they were there. In fact, I think one of them got their hand pinched under the drum, but I don’t remember who." Everyone nodded, trying to remember if they had any good dreams. "Did you guys ever dream about us?" asked Zac, batting his eyelashes.
Rebekah and Katie laughed. "Yeah," Rebekah said, "but mine were pretty boring."
"I didn’t have any really good ones either," Katie informed them.
"I had a dream about you guys the night before I met you," Taylor admitted, bowing his head. "I was really worried that all you two would do was stare at us and whisper. In my dream, Rebekah was really tall and skinny, like a stick." His face reddened as he continued, "And Katie was short and fat. Rebekah had these dorky glasses that she kept pushing up on her face.
“Like Graham,” Rebekah interrupted. They all laughed, even Taylor.
“In my dream,” he continued, “Katie even fainted when I walked by her. It was pretty bad." Taylor hoped the girls didn’t hate him for having such an insulting dream. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t know them.
"Wow, Tay, you have such flattering dreams," Rebekah remarked dryly. He looked up guiltily but smiled when he saw that everyone was grinning at him.
Rebekah looked around the table. Everyone had stopped eating and talking. Zac had his elbows on the table. The others had their arms in their laps. "We should probably get dressed now," she said, breaking the silence.
They all went to their rooms. They dressed, washed their faces, brushed their hair and teeth, Katie put her contacts in, and everybody went downstairs to plan their day.
"So, what’s the plan for today?" Zac wondered.
Rebekah squirmed. She wanted so much for Hanson to like her idea of playing laser tag. She would absolutely die if they reacted like Katie did.
Isaac looked at Rebekah. He could tell she had an idea, but was uncomfortable about sharing it, "What did you have in mind, Rebekah. You can tell us. We’re all friends," he said warmly.
Now she really didn’t want to tell them. Unfortunately, she had no choice. "Uh, well, I was kinda thinking that maybe, if you want to, you can say no," she stuttered.
"Spit it out already!" Zac shouted.
"Maybe we could go play laser tag at the arcade sometime today," she spat out before she could chicken out. Rebekah immediately studied her hands, worried what they would say.
"That would be awesome! Yeah, good idea!" Hanson exclaimed. A small smile slowly crept across Rebekah’s face. They planned to go in a couple of hours.
"So, what should we do until then?" wondered Taylor. He thought that the eight of them going to play laser tag would be really fun. He knew that he and his brothers would have to wear their hats, so they could keep a low profile. Maybe they could take them off when they played laser tag since it is played in the dark.
"I don’t have any other ideas," Rebekah said truthfully. She looked at the others, hoping they had some good ideas. Tim came into the room. Rebekah noticed and said, "Tim, what do you think we should do?"
"I don’t know," he snapped. Tim hadn’t gotten much sleep last night and was cranky.
"What time do you guys have to leave?" questioned Katie.
"Four thirty," said Zac. He wondered if they would ever see the Castros or Hadlers again. After the concert, they would definitely have to make an effort if they wanted to ever see each other. It might be cool having a little reunion in a little while with them. Zac didn’t know about his brothers, but he thought that the Castros and Hadlers would be good friends to have. Maybe when they get to know each other better, they would even be able to tell them about personal stuff and confide in them with their problems. By the looks of things, it appeared that the girls and their families thought like he did, not just because Hanson is famous or cute, but because of personalities.
“Do you guys have any good board games?” Ike asked.
“No,” Rebekah answered quickly.
“Well, what do you have?” wondered Taylor.
“Quicksand!” Katie suggested. She knew that Rebekah hated that game.
“No!” shouted Rebekah. “Besides,” she added, a little calmer, “it only has four pieces.” Rebekah walked to their game closet. The others followed.
Because Tim was so bored, he gazed out the window at the dark clouds. It unexpectedly started raining. Tim looked at Rebekah and Katie and ran to the door. "Forget the stupid board game! Let's go outside! It’s pouring!" Tim shouted. They loved going outside in the rain. Isaac, Taylor, and Zac looked at them like they were crazy, but then decided it would be fun.
They all ran out the door and into the rain. Luckily, it wasn't thundering, yet. They ran to Katie's driveway. Kristen and Sarah came out soon after they saw everybody outside. Katie went for the Hadler's Mongo bat in a big box in the Hadler’s garage. The Mongo bat was big and yellow. It had a huge opening at the top, which was useful in situations like that. Katie noticed the water draining from the gutter. She adjusted the end of the gutter and stuck the bat under it. Ike, Taylor, and Zac stood there, wondering what she was doing. Rebekah and the rest of them knew, because they had done this before. They didn’t warn Hanson of what was about to happen. After it had filled up with water, Katie swung the bat. The water escaped the bat and soaked everybody.
Hanson finally got the idea and couldn’t wait until their turn at bat.
“My turn!" Rebekah said, snatching the bat from Katie.
She snuck up behind Tim and dumped the water on him. He knew it was coming, but froze in his position anyway. He squealed, not expecting the water to be so cold and grabbed the bat from her. He wondered if he should try and get one of the Hanson’s with the water. “Nah!” he thought, “Why waste water on them?” He pushed the bat up into the air with great force so the water would fly in the air and ran under it. The girls raced over to catch some of the water also. Unexpectedly, a loud clap of thunder filled the sky. Katie and Rebekah screamed. They loved screaming. Tim ran into the garage.
“Oh, come on! You wuss!” Taylor yelled to Tim from the driveway. He figured it was his turn for some fun. Taylor filled up the bat with water and turned around, devilishly scheming whom his victim would be. The others waited, not knowing what to expect. He noticed Katie hadn’t gotten as wet as the others (she wasn’t completely soaked) so he flung the water at her. She subconsciously turned her head to the right and the water went in her left ear.
"You're dying for that one!" Katie quickly filled the bat up. She turned around and scanned the yard for Taylor, like a large cat searching an empty field for its prey. She noticed him poised behind Zac, hiding as best he could. “Nice try,” Katie breathed.
“Uh-oh,” Taylor ran from his hiding spot. Katie chased Taylor around the yard. The grass was slippery and muddy. Also, it was hard making the sharp turns around the poor excuse for pine trees that were in the Hadler’s yard. Taylor slipped in the grass and Katie poured the water slowly and painfully on his head. She held out her hand and helped him up. They walked back to the group to find Rebekah and Tim singing "Dark clouds all around, lightning rain pouring down...."
Katie handed the bat to Isaac. "Go ahead, Ike," she said.
“Um, ok,” Ike personally thought they were acting really strange, but knew he shouldn’t say anything about it. He took the water from the bat and flung it at Kristen to make her shut up. The whole time she had been singing "Isn't it hard, standing in the rain..." Then she would say "No Taylor, it's not hard standing in the rain, it's fun." She was beginning to annoy him.
More thunder startled the eight crazed kids. Katie and Rebekah screamed again. They weren't worried, though, because they didn't see any lightning, which they thought was the only real dangerous part of a thunderstorm.
Zac hadn't had the chance to splash anybody yet, so he took the bat. Sarah was yelling, "Get me! Get me!" so he took the water and poured it all over her. He though she would yell at him if he didn’t.
"Now me!" she said, snatching the bat from him. She filled the bat up and tried to swing it, but it was too heavy for her and most of the water splashed on the ground in front of them.
Kristen was the only one who hadn't gone yet. "Get closer together!" she yelled after filling up the bat. They all huddled together and she splashed all of them. They had all gotten a chance with the bat and didn’t want to stop. They continued taking turns in a pattern. At one point the rain died down. They all complained and yelled at the sky until it started up again.
Katie and Rebekah were so excited they were jumping up and down. Some of the guys looked at them like they were lunatics, but they continued. They were having too much fun to worry about that right now. They weren’t worried if anyone was bored. They could tell by the expression on everyone’s faces that they were having a ton of fun, even Ike, who hadn’t looked too sure at first.
They all sang songs about rain, mostly "Weird" and "Where's the Love.” They also sang some non-Hanson songs like “Singing in the Rain” etc.
“Hey,” Zac tried to get someone’s attention. “How come these spots aren’t wet?” he asked, rubbing his shoe on one of the white spots on the driveway.
Katie stopped singing and watched Zac desperately try to cover the white spots with water. “No matter how hard you try,” Katie explained, “you’re never going to make those spots wet.”
“Well, why not?” Zac wondered, getting a little discouraged.
“Those spots have never been wet. Believe me, we’ve tried,” Katie said.
“Why not?” Zac repeated.
“Because once, a long time ago,” she started, “my dad sprayed some stuff on his tires. Whatever it was must really work well, because ever since then, those spots on the driveway are water-resistant. I’m guessing it was some water resistant stuff he put on his tires.”
“Good guess,” Taylor voiced.
“It’s just a good thing your driveway is white! Otherwise these spots would show all the time!” Zac said. For some reason, he was really interested in those spots.
They all forgot about the spots on the driveway and continued singing and playing in the rain. To their dismay, the rain stopped. This time, it didn’t come back. They were totally soaked and freezing cold.
Following Rebekah and Katie, the group went to the backyard to feel the pool water. Though it was only seventy four degrees, it felt like bath water since they were all so cold. They wanted to go swimming but knew they wouldn't have time if they wanted to make it to Fun World before Hanson had to leave. They went to their rooms to change out of their wet clothes. Zac raced Ike into the house. They both wanted a bathroom first. Accidentally slamming his older brother against the wall, Zac dove into the downstairs bathroom. Ike sighed, rubbing his arm and claimed the upstairs bathroom. Stepping into the room, he inspected his long wet hair in the mirror. He ran his comb down the center of his scalp, trying to make his part perfect. He tucked his stubborn hair behind his ears and gave up the bathroom. Tim walked in as Ike left. Isaac noticed Tim’s short, blond hair was perfect. “That’s what you get for having long hair,” he thought bitterly. Grabbing some money, he descended the stairs to where he heard Zac’s loud voice. When everyone finished changing, they met in the middle of the two yards to talk to Rebekah’s mom.
