Alternative Tuck - Copyright 2002 Annie L (annie@justmail.de) This work is totally based on and around "The Tuck Saga" which is itself Copyright 1997-2002 by Ellen Hayes. No part of this work may be distributed as an original work by another person, persons or group. Permission is given to redistribute this by electronic means, as long as the entirety of the work is distributed, and credit is given to both the original author of "The Tuck Saga", Ellen Hayes, and the author of this derivative work, Annie L. Any resemblance between the writing in this work, and any actual persons or places, living or dead, are purely coincidental, except when used for satirical purposes. All rights reserved. Furthermore, This work contains adult situations, adult language, adult concepts, and possibly sex. If you are legally not allowed to read materials containing such things, then you will be breaking the law by reading this. I am not responsible. Continuing to read this document, or storing it or reproducing it in any format means that you explicitly affirm that you are legally allowed to possess and read such materials in your city, county/parish, state, and country. Constructive comments are actively sought to annie@justmail.de Flames and derision will be instantly zapped and forgotten. This Alternative Tuck is meant as a plug compatible alternative for events in "The Tuck Saga" for the weekend Friday 5 September to Sunday 7 September. It is not in any way whatsoever a criticism of the original excellent work by Ellen Hayes for the same weekend. It is simply an alternative. Please read it in that spirit. Alternative Tuck *** 18:20 5 Sep I'd convinced Miz Parker to let me invite Travis for dinner, particularly after I'd told her how he was going home for the weekend and leaving me all alone. *Awww*. She even got Mister Parker to get away from work on time to eat with us! I'd tried to cook something really special but I had to keep things simple so that Mister Parker would eat them. A pasta using eliche, tossed with lots of fresh wok cooked veges like capsicum, onion, clove garlic, aubergine as filler and some chopped tomatoes, tomato paste with a bit of secret spicing with basil and oregano plus seasoning of course. Plus a pretty straight green salad with a very simple lemon juice, olive oil sauce. I just kept smiling stupidly at Travis over the meal. "I don't see why you want to stare at him ALL the time" "Ricky!" warned Mister Parker. "'Kay, I know that she's nuts over him. I just don't see why is all." he mumbled to himself. "And don't point with your fork!", added Miz Parker. "Valerie, it's really delicious. I don't know you do it. I really don't." "I'm sure I could arrange cooking lessons if you wish, for a small, um, modest extra charge.". She laughed. "No, I think our current arrangement is just fine." *** 19:10 5 Sep We were sitting in Travis' car outside the Parker's "Travis, it was so sweet that you stayed late for me. You won't be there until really late I know. But I do appreciate it".. I demonstrated my appreciation by leaning into his arms and giving him a very long warm and sexy kiss. "I'd love to rip your clothes off but it'd probably spoil my pure image not to mention your clothes." I looked up at him. I felt so good deep down inside. His laugh rumbled against my body. "I'm going to miss you too Val. But I couldn't get out of this weekend. My grandma and pa's golden anniversary." "Wow! She must be positively ancient." He laughed. "She married when she was 18. So, she's ah 68. I'm really sorry Val but I've gotta go. It's a long drive and my folks are waiting up for me." Sure". I rearranged myself a bit and got out." Drive carefully, okay? I'm at home tonight. I need to catch up on heaps of sleep, but give me a ring when you arrive. Doesn't matter when, okay?" I blew him several kisses as he drove off. I went back inside to clean up the mess. *** 21:30 5 Sep Mike was on the pickle. , Tuck, you can't get around it mano. You've gotta tell Sheila about Valerie. Tomorrow would be good". "Why put off something until tomorrow when I can put it off until the day after". I quoted from Dad. "AAAAAHHHHH!!!". Mike screamed and I hit the volume fast. "I've got a sack of ears here Mike. Look, telling her about Travis used up all my bravery and dex points for the next 10 years". "OK. I'm just asking to put it very high on your list of things to tell her, 'kay?" "Okay Mike". I knew that Mike was right. I just didn't want to have to do it yet. Problem was that Sheila sure knew how to dig through my screwed up life. Damn!!! *** 22:39 5 Sep It was Travis! It was so good to hear his voice again. "I'm so glad that you arrived OK." *God, I'm sounding like my own Mum!* "I miss you too. Have fun and page me, huh?. Love you too." I sighed and got ready for bed. *** 1:06 5 Sep I was like one meter tall and Mum and Dad towered over me. "He wants to be a grrrl??? My son??? His face loomed into mine. "I'll squash you boy before I let you fag around as Valerie". Mum's face replaced his. "You don't really want to be a girl Eugene, do you? Think of those dreadful periods." The two of them broke up into maniacal laughter. I screamed, "No, no, I don't want to. It's not true!!!!". I woke up on the floor again. Yet another stack of bruises to my growing collection. Shit! I crawled back into bed. *** 10:05 6 Sep "I'd like to discuss Travis again, Sheila said. *Me. Not!!!* "I know that you're still keeping some very key facts to yourself. And in doing that you're making my job of helping you extremely difficult". I did my best to look innocent and pure. But she knows something. I thought about what Mike had said and put it on hold until next century. "We made our agreement in blood that I'd not pass on your private life to your parents except if I regarded you to be in immediate danger. And I'm sticking to that". *Diversion* "Don't you want to hear about my nightmares?" "Yes, but after this". So much for diversion. I was considering fainting or throwing up when Sheila said, "OK. I'll start. Let's run through the whole Travis relationship. You met Travis in a mall, right?" "Right". *now comes the hard stuff!* And apart from sex at his place *I blushed furiously*, you sometimes dine out, sometimes go somewhere to dance, often with friends or to parties": "Yes.". I felt like the rabbit in the spotlight. And I wasn't thinking of Bugs Bunny". For instance, you've been a couple of times to Marcianos?" I nodded. She couldn't possibly guess it. Unless she and Mike had a secret hotline or something. And I was not yet that paranoid. "And I remember you saying that the girls who know Travis were not surprised to see him in a gay relationship with you. Why was that now?" "Is this the water torture session?" Sheila smiled wanly. "If it's going to get at the truth, then , yes". *Geez, What did I say back then???* "Don't you have notes?" "I'm asking you". "Weeell, I s'pose that 'cos he was shy with girls. they probably thought he was gay anyway". "Fine" *Whew!*. She looked at her notes and back to me. "He asked you to share a table." *Is that what I said???* "And then invited you to dinner with him". I knew that "I-don't believe shit that you say" look that Shiela was wearing. "That's how it happened". *C'mon bitch, prove it wasn't!" "And you never go to gay bars or gay-friendly places?" "Once. Travis didn't like it". *stick to the truth ? lie by omission* Sheila leaned towards me. Her eyes bored into mine. "Are you lying by omission?" The blood was deserting my head rapidly and everything was going white. *Fucking hell. She's telepathic! God, she'd be a killer at gaming. Hang in there Valerie Tucker!!! Hang in!* Did I think Valerie??? Sheila came around the desk and sat on the sofa and indicated for me to do the same. Her secretary appeared with some water which I quickly grabbed on to." "Are you okay now?" Sheila was looking worried. "Um, can we please leave this until next week?" *or next year* "We've got the time and I'd really like to keep going. Okay?" I nodded. Gotta do this one day. I just didn't want it to be today. *** 10:20 6 Sep "Eugene. Your story just doesn't gel. I think your reaction shows that. However, something happened just after you left last week that gave me the possible missing link." Travis and I swinging through the jungle flashed through my damaged brain. I tried to look interested rather than just terrified. It wasn't working. I sucked noisily on my water hoping that she's just go away. "I had a temp in to cover for Angela. I went out to check my appointments when my temp said that she hoped that a pretty young woman like Miss Tucker didn't have any serious problems. I told her that it was MR. Tucker. She looked at me as if I was crazy. I corrected her again, but I could see in her eyes that she never really believed me. .Now, what I think is, is that Travis also thought that you were a girl". Pygmies had begun to play tom-toms in my head somewhere. "By that blush and look of panic," Sheila continued dryly, "I guess I'm close. Do you want to take over?" I suddenly had a coughing fit with my water." "I'll take that as a 'No'. I don't think that you corrected him knowing of your experiences of being bullied by large 'jocks', as you described them. I think that you'd have said nothing because of your fear of being attacked. Clearly he found out at some stage I assume?" I felt my head nod of it's own free will. *TRAITOR!* "I'm not going to be the one to tell your parents but I need to know the whole story and only the truth please." Her face softened. "Look, I know just how hard this is for you, but you must believe that I'm really here to help you." *** 10:40 6 Sep "Don't worry about the time. We've got an extra 30 minutes if we need it. This is just too important to wait another week." *She and Mike should be called the 'Psychic Duo' or the 'Telepathic Twins'. Shee!* "I don't have much choice do I?" My last shreds of bitterness were evaporating. I just had to trust her now. "There's always choice". I began in a defeated monotone but Sheila did not interrupt. "Well, it all began with Debbie and last Halloween and then her Mary Kay makeover sales parties?." *** 11:02 6 Sep "So," said Sheila, "if I understand you correctly, you're living a large part of your life as Valerie. And no-one's forcing you to do this." "No-one." I agreed. "So, who knows about Valerie?" "Mike, Susan, Amy and all of my close friends. Well, NOT Mum, Dad or *shudder* Brian." "Don't you think that they should know?" "Hell, never!! I'd be locked up and the key thrown away. They'd freak out big time!!!! I can't ever do it EVER!!!" "Well", replied Sheila calmly, "one day they will find out either from someone else or by accident. Don't you think it's better that they find out about Valerie from you directly?" "Nnnaa? maybe? one day.. but not now, I can't. Please don't ask me". I waded into the large tissue box that was always on the table as I broke down sobbing. *WHY ME???? Shit!* *** 11:12 6 Sep "And how much of your time is spent as Valerie?" I mumbled between the tissues, my nose blocked up. "Er, in vacation, I guess with babysitting and all, around 70% and now I guess about 30%". "You never mentioned that you babysat as Valerie. Why are you doing it?" Even Sheila was starting to look a bit worn out. Yay!. "That was Debbie's idea too. Miz Parker wanted a girl babysitter. I wanted the job and Debbie wanted her cut." "And your parents never asked to meet or even ring Miz Parker to make sure that the family was suitable for you to do babysitting?" "No. Debbie overwhelmed them with her family background research and book of babysitting rules and all the other organizational stuff. Debbie could sell sand to the Arabs." Sheila shook her head, in disbelief I guessed. *** 11:20 6 Sep "You're going to have to tell your parents." My head was spinning again. "Sip on your water. Just keep calm. It'll all be OK, really. I'm not going to tell them. You know that." *** 11:25 6 Sep Next week, I want you to come as Valerie." "Why?" "I want to see the differences between you and Valerie." I guess she saw my face. "Look, this is just so vital for your future and the decisions that will soon be coming up. You can change here if it's easier for you, but I guess you've sorted that little problem out a long time ago." Right again. I was NOT gonna win against Sheila. *** 12:10 6 Sep "You were right Mike." We were back in my bedroom. Mike was looking worried. "She wants me to tell Mum and Dad AND to come next week as Valerie." "So?" "So, I might as well just go to school as Valerie and sell my story to Seventeen and CNN?" "Do you read Seventeen???" screeched Mike. "Uh, the girls had it lying round at a sleepover once." "Sure, Tuck." "And I've got the tests this week. I hate doctors, 'specially those with sharp knives. I don't wanna be cutup!!!". I squealed and grabbed Mike in mock terror. He broke my hold and threw me on to the bed where I started to giggle crazily. He looked at me in disgust. "Stop it Tuck! It's just a test. They're not carving you up for organ parts or something. What d'ya wanna do? Wait until you've got breasts like Jill's?" "At least I could throw out the fake boobs.." Mike watched me narrowly. I burst into another fit of giggles. *** 13:06 6 Sep I'd talked Mike in grabbing a Chinese and continuing our chat in the Mall. Sadly, I told him about my Travis-free weekend. He was coming back Sunday late and of course I was paying off my laptop by cooking dinners. *sigh* We sat down and perused the menu, but by now, I knew the whole thing by heart. "Yes Miss?", asked the young waitress. I looked at Mike. He was quietly beating on his head with the sugar dispenser. "Ah, vegetarian lasagna small and side salad and mineral water please." Mike took hamburger and chips and salad. "Mike, how can you eat that stuff? You'll come to a sad end ? trampled to death by angry cows." "Right." *** 13:20 6 Sep "So, when are going to tell your parents?" "Ooh, let me see." I pulled out my diary from my backpack and rifled through it. "I could fit in September 20? 2010." Mike sighed. "After everything else you've done it can't be that hard. I mean, it's just, 'Hi Mum, Dad, like my new dress and hairdo?" He grinned like the madman he was. "Yay!" We slapped hands. Everyone in the restaurant was looking at us. Back to normality! "And you'd get the girls there to take photos?" "That's be so cool dude." Mike grinned. *** 15:00 6 Sep Having done the computer games shops we both staggered out with our usual load of books and stuff which we dumped into Mike's car. *** 15:20 6 Sep Julia, Kim, Mike, Kathy and Pam and I sat around a table in the mall. I'd scrambled as many friends as I could. I knew what they'd say and I really wanted to just forget about Sheila, Valerie and my body probs for today. "So, trust me. I just want to be with you guys and just hang out. If I think anymore about what's happening my CPU is gonna overload, okay?" I must have been looking miserable as the girls moved in and hugged me close. "Dr. Julia prescribes 'Retail Therapy', said Julia loftily. "Don't say that word!" I screamed in pain. "What word?", they all asked. I whispered, "T-h-e-r-a-p-y." *** 16:31 6 Sep Kim and Mike had disappeared to stare into each other's eyes I guessed. So, it was the girls and me doing the women's shops. "Ooh, Val, look at this!" Pam did a twirl. It was one of those "Grease" dance skirts with lots of tulle and in hot pink. "A bit girlie, don't you think?", I said. "Nah", said Julia. "Great for dancing and v-e-r-y sexy." You'd look good in it Val, really." "No way!" "Sure," said Kathy. "I can just see you dancing thru Miz Parker's house singing to the rug rats." Everyone laughed. "How much?." We all gathered around the price tag. "oooaaah". "Um, wanna go halvies Val?" 17:45 6 Sep I'd bought a few practical things like jeans to contain my ever-growing butt, a couple of sweaters I could wear in either mode *!!!* and a just-above-the-knee leather look skirt which I was already wearing. Plus make-up and boobs which just 'happened' to be in my back-pack. We met up with Mike and Kim. "Do I damage you now or later?" demanded Mike looking not very pleased. "I mean, Tuc..VAL! I thought you wanted to forget about all of that *pointing at me* today?" "Mmmm aah.." "Forget it. I can't cope that's all." Mike dropped to the ground and writhed in agony. "Here she is, brain the size of a planet and what is she doing? Being a Grrrl!!". We all attacked him viciously with our bags. *** 19:30 6 Sep I checked my pager. Nothing from Travis. Guess he was helping get the party happening. What sort of music do 68 year olds play at parties??? I guessed it wasn't techno. "Tonight, I wanna dance!" I announced. Jill gets off at 9:00, right. We can pick her up and find somewhere to snack and then go dancing!" "Sure", everyone nodded. Even Mike. "Soo, what if we all meet at Rachel's place in a couple of hours? I'll see if she can come too." *** 22:50 6 Sep The music was already going and I was just wanted to forget everything. Julia had gone back and bought THE DRESS and was looking good. I had on a mini skirt and body suit. I didn't want anything getting in the way of my legs. I'd done my face paint to look devilish using red and black. Awesome! I was really into it. using all my energy and thinking of nothing but the beat. I spun, kicked, leaped. Thank Ghu for the sports bra I was using. It held me plus fake tits really well. *** 1:50 6 Sep Travis had paged and I hadn't heard it in the disco. MISS YOU LOTS OF KISSES. *sigh* *** 10:00 7 Sep I woke up slowly remembering last night. Better than meditation. Travis! Damn! I couldn't even see him tonight. I'd sure like the gang over though. Arrakis went 'doop' and the light flashed. I grabbed it. I didn't recognize the caller id. "Hi, how's my girl?", came a deep sexy voice. I sighed. "Travis. Did anyone ever tell you you've got a very sexy voice?" He laughed. "So, what are you doing today Val?" "Lying in bed thinking of you. Miss you so much." "Me too" he rumbled back. "Oh, we went dancing last night. It was really really good. You would've loved it. And, um, I've got the tests this week, Thursday. I've got the whole day off for them." "What sort?" asked Travis. "Oh, endo something and genetic something else. It's gonna end with blood and sharp knives and I'm scared." "Don't be scared Val. We can meet up after, heh?" "Sure. If I'm still in one piece." He laughed. It warmed me right down to my toes. "Look, gotta go, I'll get back to you later, okay?" Love you." "Love you too." I gave him a big soppy kiss into the mike and flipped the disconnect. I hung on to that warm feeling as long as I could. *** 13:34 7 Sep I had my shopping list together for tonight. I figured for 14 of us which would only bust Mum's budget and not totally destroy it. *** 18:10 7 Sep I'd done a grain based menu ? cheaper and dangerously healthy. Creamy barley with tomatoes and mushrooms, saffron couscous with raisins and almonds and a minted salad with cucumber yoghurt. They could live without meat once and survive I figured. Dessert was crŠme caramels which I had done first of course so they had time to set in the fridge. I was going to add sliced apples around them for decoration later. *** 20:05 7 Sep "That was excellent son. You've just earned yourself another 200K of RAM and the Golden Garlic award." "Thanks Dad, me and my laptop thank you." "Yeah, you just get better and better Tuck." said Mike stretching his leg out on the porch. "Slave, hand me my TV remote control." Kim gave him a slap over the head with a nearby broomstick before collapsing next to him. "You should really consider becoming a chef and forget about engineering", said Rachel seriously. "You're quite a cook Tuck". "Hey not too much on the compliments", complained George. "He's becoming a big enough problem all ready." He burped loudly. "GEORGE!" moaned everyone. "Shaddup!" *** 22:30 7 Sep Travis was back home. "I'm really pooped Travis and I'm terrified about Thursday." "So, tomorrow at the Parkers, right?" "You betcha. Love you Travis." "You too Val. 'Nite".