The McEntire Legacy: 3.4

As Katie and Timothy worked towards completing their aspirations of Rambunctious Scamp, they became very close. They spent hours playing on the monkey bars, and she made him open up and have fun.

“My glasses!” Timothy cried as his glasses fell from his face onto the ground during an upside-down monkey bar maneuver. “Katie, I can’t see! I’m scared to move!” he said, holding on for dear life. “Will you get my glass for me?”

“C’mon Timothy, you can do it. Just jump down!” Katie urged as she climbed from bar to bar with ease. Timothy twisted his head around to look towards the ground. It wasn’t that far, and if he fell, it wouldn’t be too painful. “Go on,” Katie said impatiently. Timothy pulled himself up and jumped down, landing on his feet, but right on top of his glasses.

“They broke!” Timothy cried as he removed his foot from the shattered glasses. “Mom and Dad are gonna kill me!” Katie jumped down gracefully and stared at the broken glasses.

“Well, at least no one at school will call you four-eyes,” she said, stifling a laugh. Timothy glared at her. He didn’t find it funny. “Well, at least you got over your fear and jumped down,” she offered. “Didn’t you have fun?” she asked. Although she was younger than Timothy, she often fancied herself the big sister since she was more outgoing and physically gifted. In addition, because of his shy and quiet demeanor, everyone in the family called him Little Timothy, so he was very much the “baby” of the family. Timothy smiled.

“I guess I did,” he said proudly.

When Timothy became a teenager, he surprised everyone with his newly developed style. He had become a bro like his father, so he was closer to Tyler than anyone else. He got contact lenses, and although still a loner, made more friends at school. The McEntire family was taken aback by quiet little Timothy’s baggy pants, chains, baseball cap and hoodie, but loved him nonetheless. He began to go by Tim because he thought it sounded cooler, but he was still quiet, shy, Little Timothy to everyone at the McEntire residence.

Alex had become an adult, and like his grandfather, Ronaldo, spent most of his time behind an easel. He eventually got a job as a painter and excelled. Shirley continued dedicating most of her time to gardening, and as an adult had more free time to tend to her beloved garden. Colin, too, was close to becoming an adult, and spent his time practicing violin and daydreaming about finding love.

“Why are you dressed like that?” Katie asked Tim, who she still remembered as a timid child.

“I look cool,” Tim told his sister. “You’ll understand when you’re a teenager.” Sometimes he liked to remind her that he was actually older.

“You wear a lot of jewelry.” Katie commented. “You have earrings and necklaces...and your beard looks really silly.” Tim scowled at his younger sister. Sometimes she annoyed him so much.

“Well, you’re only a dumb kid,” he retorted. Later he felt bad, and Katie begrudgingly accepted his apology under the condition that she occasionally got to make fun of him.

“Why do you spend so much time with your plants?” Katie asked Shirley one afternoon.

“Plants are so beautiful!” Shirley explained enthusiastically. They grow and change, and you never know what they’re going to turn into! Kind of like you,” she said, winking at her sister. Katie giggled.

“I’m going to turn into a beautiful flower!” she said striking a pose. Shirley laughed too.

“I’m sure you will!” she said.

As a teenager, Katie did indeed grow into a beautiful flower, although like her mother, she had her thorns. She had become quite mischievous like her mother, and the two became very close.

Astro, too, became a teenager and spent more and more time in his disguise since he had a stronger desire to fit in. Tim was coming into himself as a teenager, and began spending more time with is siblings.

“So I told her, that’s not a bike, that’s my car!” Tim said laughing. He kept asking for a “pimped-out” car, but his parents refused, so he always had to go everywhere on his bike. His siblings all laughed at his joke.

“You’ll get a car someday, Little Timothy,” Alex reassured him.

“It’s Tim,” Tim reminded him, slightly annoyed. “Call me Little Tim if you must. At least that makes me sound like a rapper.” Katie laughed derisively.

“You? A rapper?!” she scoffed. “Under all those clothes, you’re just a nerdy little boy!”

“Calm down everyone,” Astro said to his siblings. You’re making my disguise malfunction with all of these emotions!”

Meanwhile, Allyson was still seeing the bartender, but had also found many other boyfriends. Even her fear of getting caught didn’t stop her from public displays of affection.

Benny had become her favorite flame, and although he was a frequent visitor at the McEntire house, Tyler still had no idea of his wife’s indiscretions.

Exterior

Basement

First Floor

Second Floor

The McEntire family had become quite wealthy, and decided to renovate. The house now had a basement and an array of fine furniture.

Soon, Colin became an adult, and he began to look for romance. He had not come out yet, but had known for a long time that he was interested in men. His first date went horribly, and his date ended up running away with a man in a stained undershirt.

It didn’t take long, however, for Colin to meet Quinton. He saw him sitting and playing chess at the park and went over to compliment his outfit.

“Your outfit is very stylish,” Colin said shyly.

“Thank you,” said Quinton “Take a seat,” he offered. “I’m Quinton.” Colin sat down nervously and muttered that his name was Colin. “That’s a nice name,”

“I like your hat too,” Colin said trying his best to be smooth. “And your facial hair.” Quinton laughed.

“That’s a lot of compliments!” Quinton exclaimed, flattered. “Are you flirting with me?” Colin nodded shyly. Quinton smiled. “I love your hair,” he said, flirtatiously “It’s so wavy and blonde.” Colin laughed, feeling his nerves starting to disappear.

Colin and Quinton hit it off, and soon started dating. One day, Colin scheduled a date at the park where they had first met. He offered Quinton a single rose, and asked if he would move in with him. Quinton was overjoyed and said yes.

Colin was nervous to tell his family about his boyfriend.

“I’m kind of moving in with someone,” Colin said nervously.

“That’s great, Colin! Who’s the lucky girl?” Alex asked, happy for his brother.

“Actually, it’s not really a girl...I’m gay,” Colin said point-blank. Alex looked slightly surprised, but then laughed and hugged his brother.

“You could have told us, you know.” he said. “I’m really happy for you.” Colin laughed and cried onto his brother’s shoulder. He felt lucky to be accepted for who he truly was.

“Mom, I like men,” Colin said, slowly becoming braver as he told his family members.

“I like men too!” Allyson said laughing.

“I’m moving in with my boyfriend,” he said. Allyson smiled.

“I always had a feeling,” she said hugging him. “Congratulations,” she whispered.

When Colin told Tyler, Tyler gave him a big hug and squeezed him.

“You didn’t need to hide who you were from me, son” he said lovingly. “I love you. I will always be your father.” Colin had thought he was done crying on the shoulders of family members for the day, but the tears just came pouring out.

“I love you too, Dad,” he said.