What It Takes

My Girl

Steven

I nearly jumped out of my chair, leaving my loose papers falling to the floor. I ran to the phone and picked it up, hoping- praying this was nothing serious.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver.

A man's voice answered, and I didn't know who it was. "Mr. Tyler. Finally I'm able to get ahold of you!" he said, in a smart-ass type of tone.

"Is my daughter okay?" I just wanted to know if Jade was okay. If she was, I'd deal with whatever else this guy wanted.

"Of course, she's fine. But there's so much you don't know." I could hear him smiling through the receiver, and it freaked me out. If Jade was okay, what did this guy want?

"Who the hell are you and why are you calling me?" I spat angrily into the phone.

"Oh excuse me. Where's my manors? Of course, of course. We'll start with introductions. Well, my name is Ross. I'm a single dad raising my son. I live up here in New Hampshire." 

"So what can I do for you Ross? Cause I'm trying to record an album here, and your wasting my time." I was short, sweet, and to the point.

"Mr. Tyler, I wouldn't get so snippey. I would never bother you just to chit chat. There's a very good reason I called, and if I don't tell you, you may never hear it." he said.

"Well then say it. I don't have all day." I wasn't too worried. It seemed like another crazed fan that just wanted to talk to or meet Steven Tyler.

"You see, I can't really tell you this without giving you the background information. Without it, you would never believe me. I'm here to tell you now that everything I'm telling you is the complete truth." he took a deep breath and began to speak again.

"About seven years ago, my son and I were sitting outside playing some good old fashioned tag. We were having a great time when a little girl came across the street. She looked to be the same age as Gabe, my son. I thought to myself, 'Oh this is a great, a playmate'. She was the cutest little girl. My son and this little girl became very good friends. Not so long after they became friends, my son wanted to go over the little girl's house and have playdates. Now, knowing that they are only three years old, I was mostly okay with this. I just wanted to meet the girl's parents first- to make sure they were good people and ensure my son wouldn't be in danger if he went over to her house-" 

I interrupted the story, because this was totally irrelevant. "What the hell does any of this have to do with me? This is a story about your son! Congratulations, but I have an album to record." 

I debated on whether or not to hang up the phone, but I chose against it. His beginning words were lingering in my head- 'Everything that I'm telling you is the complete truth'.

"Mr. Tyler, I promise you this is more relevant to you then to me, you just haven't realized it yet. I told you, you need the background information to understand what I'm about to tell you. So if I may, I'd love to continue."

I looked around the studio and took a deep breath. Okay. I would hear him out, but then I was calling the police.

"Go ahead." I told him.

"Anyway. So I went to check out this little girls house, expecting to meet her parents and introduce myself. I went across the street, knocked on the door with Gabe in hand, and the door opened up. A smoking hot brunette opened the door. She had an apron on, because I guess she was cooking. I introduced myself and my son, and she invited us inside. She offered me some cookies and milk, and apologized that she had nothing else prepared. I told her I was there to introduce myself, since our children were good friends. She agreed that, she too would like to meet me. We sat and talked about ourselves for hours. I learned all about her and I told her all about me. She told me she was separated from her husband, and I told her my wife had left me alone to raise our daughter. She was kind and well-kept. Whoever she was with before took good care of her, and I couldn't understand why they would let her go. She had everything going for her. Needless to say, I shook her hand and started to leave. That was the last I saw her that night, but it wasn't the last time i'd ever see her- oh no, I saw her many times after that. I would see her outside gardening and catch her looking at me. Or she would stare out the living room window at me washing the dishes in the kitchen. About a week later, her daughter was over my house, having a playdate with my son. I asked the girl what time she had to be home, and she said her mother never told her. Around dinner time, I heard a knock on the door. The kids were in the basement playing with blocks and things, so I let her in."