AUTHOR'S NOTE: In this short series, Tyler & Trevor explore what make them tick as they discover their "grandfathers" and begin to see their father, "Todd Manning" in a whole new light. The story is rich in the Manning Teens and if you haven't been exposed to them yet, I suggest catching up on their history with "Gifts" "For Her Love" & "His Lonely Heart." All The Best, Dim!

Sins of the Son

Tyler Manning was furious! He slammed Brady Buchanan up against the side of the school’s wall and spit in his face.

“You bastard! Leave my sister alone!” he cried.

Brady was like a rag doll in Tyler’s strong hands. Taylor Manning stayed in back of her brother but urged him to do the right thing.

“Tyler! Back off! Brady isn’t worth it!” cried Taylor.

The Manning twins were fourteen, in high school and extremely protective of each other. Taylor had just recently broken up with Tyler’s best friend and Brady’s brother, Troy Buchanan. Troy wasn’t taking it well. And everyone was aware of the unexplored chemistry between Taylor and Troy’s obnoxious older brother Brady. In fact, Tyler had caught Brady and Taylor in a rather “intimate” embrace. Brady had one hand on Taylor’s arm, another running his fingers through her hair and Taylor was sneering at Brady. A sensual sneer as if daring him to go further with her and when Tyler saw them, he lost his cool. Brady was an obnoxious and spoiled kid who thought he could get away with everything because he was the police commissioner’s son. Tyler hated Brady for a combination of things – since before Brady developed an infatuation for his twin sister, Taylor, Brady had an annoying habit of beating his brother, Trevor, to within inches of his life on several occasions. Tyler’s older brother Trevor, suffered from hemophilia, a bleeding disorder he inherited from their mother.

“Go on you punk!” goaded Brady, “Hit me! I can take a punch unlike your wimpy ass brother.”

“Shut up Brady!!” yelled Taylor, “Tyler – don’t do it!!” she protested.

Taylor had inherited her mother’s exotic looks and was blossoming into a very attractive young woman. It was easy to see how Brady could be attracted to her. Tyler resembled his father, Todd Manning. Tyler was growing into a strong and handsome young man. He lifted weights and was very athletic. He had his father’s nose, chin, and hair but his mother’s deep brown eyes. What Tyler had also inherited form his father was his temper. A temper that left unchecked could get him into as much trouble as it had his own father when he was younger and right now Tyler’s fury over catching Brady and Taylor was threatening to overstep it’s bounds.

As if trying to hang on to his common sense Tyler glanced at Taylor.

“Why?” he emotionally whispered, “Why do you encourage this clown Taylor?! What do you see in him?!”

“Tyler, just please, don’t hit him,” said Taylor avoiding the question. That was one thing Taylor had in common with her mother. Avoiding confrontational issues.

“Tyler, you’re as a big a wuss as your brother!” goaded Brady.

Tyler didn’t give Brady a chance to finish. His hard fist connected with his nemesis’s stomach and Brady doubled over in pain.

“Tyler!” cried Taylor.

Tyler pounced on Brady and they proceeded to fist fight. Brady landed a lucky punch to the side of Tyler’s face, cutting the skin near his left eyebrow. Tyler was unfazed He lashed out at Brady with all his strength, landing a lucky punch to Brady’s nose.

Taylor ran off and found Trevor who was putting his school books into his car. Trevor was with Amy Karolities, his girlfriend and both immediately answered Taylor’s request. When they found Tyler and Brady, Troy was separating the fighting boys. Trevor grabbed his brother. Tyler was gasping for breath, blood tricking down his temple. Blood was dribbling out of Brady’s nose.

“I am not a wuss! I’m a man!” cried Tyler as Trevor and Amy held his strong arms.

Several teachers approached them and Tyler, still in a rage, didn’t register the consequences of his actions. He didn’t realize just how much like his father he was. Especially at this young age.

**********************

Tyler Manning was suspended for his action as was Brady Buchanan. His disappointed parents picked him up at school and a somber Tyler had very little to say only insisting the fight had been Brady’s fault. Taylor provided her parents with a little insight on the car ride home about how her actions with Brady had provoked Tyler’s behavior. And Taylor’s father hit the roof. His own anger provoked. Taylor was his daughter and he still saw her as vulnerable and fragile still – especially now when he was realizing she was growing up and becoming a young woman.

When they got home Todd chewed Taylor out for her promiscuous behavior and while he attempted to deal with Taylor, Téa found her son pouting in his room.

Téa closed the door behind her as Tyler’s grunt had given her permission to enter. A bandage adorned his cut. She crossed her arms, visibly pregnant, expecting a new baby only weeks from now.

“Go ahead and say it,” said Tyler finally turning his eyes up and towards his mother.

“I don’t know where your temper comes form It’s like some fuel in you Tyler. And you haven’t learned to harness it yet,” said Téa.

“Isn’t it obvious Mom? Not only did I inherit dad’s looks, I got his violence too,” said Tyler a bit sarcastically.

“Your father and I have provided you with a loving example and a stable home environment. Your father has struggled to overcome his own demons which he was given good reason to have and you – you have them for no reason.”

“Still, Dad’s a rapist, isn’t he? The father I love is a rapist,” said Tyler, “He did something really mean when he was my age.”

“Yes, he did that Tyler. He admitted it to you. He was honest about what he’d done years ago but he’s changed and we’ve tried hard to set a good example for you,” said Téa forthrightly.

“Maybe it’s in the genes,” said Tyler looking up at his mother sadly.

She decided to play his game, “All right Tyler. Maybe this uncontrollable temper of yours is in your father’s genes. The “Lord” genes. I challenge you to find out what you need to do to overcome it. I dare you to be a real man and not a boy and learn how to deal with it. Like how your father has.”

“I’m…I’m a teenager mom!”

“Who does grown up things to hurt people Tyler,” she quickly shot back.

“Tell me about Dad’s father,” said Tyler.

She shivered. She knew Tyler had a good healthy dose of the Manning pride and that once challenged or dared to do something he would tackle it head on but looking into the past, she wasn’t sure that was the right thing to do.

“His adopted one or his real once?” she asked.

“Both. I wanna know about my father,” said Tyler.

“It’s not pretty Tyler. Are you prepared to find out?” she asked.

Tyler sat there, his hands in his lap, a bit slouched and got the saddest look in his eyes. Then he looked up and spoke from the heart.

“I hate that my sister has some strange interest in Brady Buchanan. I hate to lose. I hate that people pick on my older brother because he can’t do the things I can. I hate that girls hit on me ‘cos I’m good looking and don’t necessarily like me for me,” he paused.

Téa was glad to know that Tyler was full of anxiety. Anxiety a normal teenage his age faces. It was her job to set him on the right path to deal with it.

“I think if you want to learn about Victor Lord, your father’s biological father, you’ll probably find your Aunt Viki a wealth of information. If you want to learn about Peter Manning, your father’s adopted father, best to talk to your father.”

“Okay,” said Tyler.

Téa softened, walked up to Tyler and sat down next to him, intently making eye contact.

“Tyler, your worries, trust me, everyone your age has similar worries about their lives. But you can’t just get so worked up you hit someone. That’s not the answer.”

“Are you afraid that one day I’ll rape someone?” asked Tyler.

“What I’m afraid of,” said Téa sternly, Is that one day your temper will work you up into a blind rage and you will lash out and hurt someone. As for hurting someone, sexually, Tyler, I know that you’ve seen the loving example your father and I set on a day to day basis and when you think the time is right to explore that, I know the example you’ve been given will be the one you follow.”

He said nothing as he stared at his mother but he realized he did have a lot of energy pulsing through his body, energy that very easily expressed itself aggressively. And maybe learning where it came from and how his own father dealt with his energy, would help him to deal with his.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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