Chapter 4.38

Every morning since David's birthday, he spends about an hour checking over himself in the mirror before taking a shower and coming down for breakfast.  This particular day, about a week after he turned into a teen, after he had eaten his fill, David was on his way back up to his room so he could study on his Charisma skills when his dad stopped him in the foyer.

"Heya kid." Brian said, "I was just wondering, now that you're old enough, would you like to learn to drive? I'll even let you learn in my Compensator."

David's eye lit up with expectant joy, "Really? Oh man, that would be awesome! When? Can we go now? I'm all for it, I'm ready!" Not that he tried, but he really couldn't contain his excitement. Learning to drive was the next step to becoming a man. He could just imagine the jealousy written on the faces of his peers when he rolled into the school parking lot in his own car. The smile he already held grew wider with that thought.

Brian laughed aloud at his son's humorous expressions, "Okay okay, let's go. I'm ready too."

The two of them, David nearly jumping out of his skin when handed the keys, made their way to the car. They spent the next few hours slowly driving the small blocks of Sunset Valley. David took to it pretty quickly, having watched both of his parents drive for most of his life, but would still need a lot of practice before feeling at home behind the wheel. Brian drove more often than Adelaide, so David was glad that his father was the one helping him to learn.

Logan was at work early this day, working on the alarm and keeping up the engine. Finally having reached the top of the career, he found that it was not much different than being at the bottom of the ladder. He was still responding to every emergency and maintaining the items that needed it in the building. Spite all the work he put into his job, Logan loved it. He was working on the alarm when, from behind him, he heard a squeal followed directly by a thump. Slightly startled he turned to see what it was.

"Dear spirits are you alright?" Logan asked his best friend.

"Oi. That smarts. Yes yes, I'm fine, thank you Logan." Lauren said as she looked up from the floor. It stung. She wasn't going to admit that to Logan though, not to a man seemingly as tough as nails. Water began forming in her eyes when the pain deepened as she stood. She blinked furiously to banish the wetness, not wanting to embarrass herself further.

Logan analyzed her look before smiling a little. "Those things should come with a 'hang on tight' sign yeah?" He couldn't resists a small chuckle, though he did try. He didn't want to laugh at her if she really did get hurt, but it was kind of funny to see the look on her face.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Logan was sincere in his question because he doubted her initial answer. Not that he would be able to do much to help if she wasn't.

"I'm fine Logan. Nothing hurt but my pride." She said a little too quickly, a slight edge to her voice. Lauren turned away and mumbled a 'thanks for asking' before walking, as straight and steady as she could, toward the small kitchen. It did hurt, and she was on the verge of letting a few tears fall because of it, which is why she had walked away so quickly. She didn't want him to see her cry. When she thought about it, the tears that came weren't just for the pain, but probably more so for the embarrassment. 'Why did it have to be him standing there to witness it? He probably already thinks I'm a dork. That didn't help.' After wiping her eyes dry, she opened the freezer and pulled out a tub of ice cream, then sat down with a spoon -  not bothering with a bowl.

Logan watched her walk away only for a second before returning to his work. He couldn't help but think that she had lied to him about being alright. It made him wonder why. She was his best friend after all. He had thought that the feeling was mutual, and that he was hers too. She had changed over the last few months, had become a little more distant. They still talked and laughed everyday at work, but there was something different about her, like she was more detached than normal. He shrugged, thinking that he would never figure out the woman anyway, and finished maintaining the alarm.

After he had gotten back from giving David his first driving lesson, Brian had decided to put his stone sculptures to rest - even though he was making great money selling them out - and make a few things for Adelaide's garden. Something that looked good but she didn't have to tend. He had purchased some square topiary bushes, and wanted to carve them out for her. Working with a bush was completely different than a stone such as marble and he actually had a hard time with the change. The first few he made he accidentally chopped the head off, or made a huge mistake in some way, and had to throw them out to start over. Eventually he made his first one - just a small penguin, but Brian knew that his wife would love it.

David had gotten a call on his mobile phone from the Science lab. They offered him some cash if he were to bring in a few freshly caught fish from any park nearby. He agreed to it, thinking it would be a good way to spend the afternoon before he had to do his homework from last Friday.

At the park, as he cast the line into the water, he realised that he didn't have much knowledge in the fishing department though he did have a little practice. He hoped he would catch a fish big enough for what the lab needed. He stayed for a few good hours pulling his catch out and storing it away. He would pick the biggest two to give the scientists.

When he finished his water hunting, he threw the fish he didn't want back in the pond and put the two he chose into a cooler to take with him. He only earned about §50, but it was well worth it for a few hours of relaxed fishing.

When he left the facility the sun was starting to set. He really didn't want to go home quite yet, and didn't want to do homework either. Lately he had made a habit of leaving school and going directly to the park across the street to do his homework. It was more interesting to do his work outdoors. There were more people to see and things to do after he was done. He hadn't done Friday so he still had his homework to do.

Not wanting to go home, David needed something else to do. His eyes scanned the streets and stores, trying to find something as he rode his bike back toward the house. Finally, he saw exactly what he wanted to keep him occupied.

Mikes Karaoke bar. It was a new place in town and he had only seen it from the outside. It wasn't even a bar really but more like a place for new performers to start out. There was (obviously) a karaoke machine, with mostly new and popular songs stored on it but also some old ones - great for people thinking of becoming singers in the future. A stage, for upcoming performers such as magicians or acrobats, took up most of the floor space.

David walked in and looked around, taking in his surroundings. There were not that many people there, but enough for him to feel comfortable. David liked being around people, especially when he was in the center of the crowd. He had been like that since he was a child, and it carried over into teen-hood. He relished any attention, and loved making a show of himself. He glanced at the stage. 'Someday I'll be up there doing something. Performing for my town. People cheering for me. That would be so cool.'

His eyes continued around then came to rest on the karaoke machine and he fell into a smile. Before he knew it he was signing his heart out into that microphone, and people were listening. He wasn't that great to start, but he wasn't nervous and by the next song he was totally into it and doing it well. The few people that were there gathered around and clapped for him, making him want to continue well into the night, but it was late and he had to get home, curfew was soon. He only sang about four songs before leaving the bar, waving good-bye to all his new-found fans.

The next morning, the head of the family had grave news to discuss. Brian waited until everyone was seated at the table over a stack of steaming pancakes before speaking.

"I got a phone call last night, about eleven. You know good news never comes that late at night."

Everybody's face took on a worried and puzzled expression. Adelaide felt the urge to reach out and comfort her love, but resisted until she knew the reason for his distress. Logan looked at his fathers eyes and noted that they were red. He had been crying. That worried Logan, he had never seen his father cry. David set his plate on the table with a thump that echoed through the tense silence in the dining room. At first he stood and stared at his father, then he fell into the chair and waited.

"I'm sorry, I know this is going to be a shock. Your... it's your uncle. Uncle Dylan has died. They said heart attack." Brian said to his awaiting family, his voice broke at the end and it was all he could say for now, he swallowed back the lump in his troat and sat quietly letting his them absorb the information.

At first there was stunned silence, then Logan and Adelaide both said, "What?" at the same time David said, "No way." Brian's eyes started to water, but he blinked the tears away. He had spilled his fair share of tears in the night, he hadn't thought that he had any left, but there they were again.

"I know. He will be missed. I miss him already, and feel bad that I didn't visit him more often." His eyes sank to his pancakes which were getting soggy from they melted butter and syrup.

Two days later David was answering the door, letting people in to attend the funeral they were hosting. Many of Dylan's friends came, and mutual friends of his and the family's. Velina came for Logan, she didn't know Dylan personally, but knew of him through Logan. She had only seen him once in the karaoke place down the road.

David greeted the guests at the door before going to the living room. Brian stood in the foyer to welcome them in. Logan waited in the living room, giving the option to everyone to sit down. Laquita had come over too, to support David, and she was the first to ask to play a game. She figured it might break a little of the tension. She was right, David soon joined her, and many came to watch because they weren't sure what to say.

After Brian had greeted mostly everyone, he went to serve the food they had prepared. The buffet table sat in the dining room. Many people followed him, and got a plate for themselves or a friend.

Velina was the one to welcome Agnes, since no one else was around when the lady walked through the door.

Agnes's eyes were very red, and very swollen. She had obviously been crying for a long time. Velina half expected her to collapse as soon as she caught sight of the urn that held her beloved. She didn't, but she did have to turn away. Logan then came up to say  hello, he shook her hand and offered his condolences. Since he worked with her, he knew her probably better than anyone else here.

"How are you holding up Agnes?" It was a silly question really, but he couldn't think of how else to start the conversation.

Agnes looked into Logan's eyes, "As good as I can. I loved him a lot, he was the first man in my life to make me feel this way." Her eyes started to bring up tears, she tried hard to fight them off.

Logan nodded his understanding and offered her some dinner, "I'll go get you a plate, you just wait there on that couch, okay?" He gestured to the love seat sitting in the foyer, by the stairs.

She muttered her thanks and watched him go. Her gaze drifted to David and Laquita, standing close by chatting.

'Look at them, it's so obvious. They like each other.' Thought Agnes as she watched the teens talk. She thought of her and Dylan, their conversations and times together. Her emotions overtook her then and she threw her head back in a wail of anguish. She didn't want to deal with this, she wanted Dylan back.

Velina, who was standing close by, caught and comforted Agnes. Velina didn't know first hand about grief such as this, but she figured Agnes wouldn't want to be alone and needed some company. She was right, Agnes fell onto her shoulder and wept fresh tears.

Dylan's urn was left where it was for two more days, in preparation for him being moved to the family cemetery. It was a horrible thing for Brian to have to do, bury his own brother, but he did it, albeit through a fog of tears and sorrow. His mind was filled with thoughts of their time with each other, the sparring matches they held together and the trip to China the two of them took with Johanna. He was comforted slightly that at least he wasn't alone, and was now with their Jo-Jo.




To be continued...