CHAPTER 4
Alisha woke up in the morning with an excited smile on her face. It was Saturday, and it was Grandpa's birthday. She quickly got up and went to her closet, putting on a white flowy skirt with a neon green tank top and a white camisole.
Alisha went to her mirror and fixed her hair. She smiled, seeing that her hair was in perfect waves since she didn't dry her hair the other night. She put on pink lip gloss and put on sandals. She went outside and saw everyone was at the breakfast table.
She saw her mother was making her grandpa's favorite breakfast. Eggs, hash-browns, and blood sausage. Alisha snuck up behind her grandpa and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, giving him a loud kiss on the cheek.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" She cheered.
He chuckled and tenderly brushed her bangs away from her face. "Thank you, sweet heart."
She beamed and sat beside him, grabbing her knife and fork, playfully banging them onto the table, begging for food.
They all chuckled at her playful behavior. Her grandpa ruffled her hair, making her yelp and slap his hand away.
"My hair is perfect today for once!" She exclaimed.
Her grandpa's eyes shined with amusement. "Who are you all dolled up for?"
She smiled and poked his cheek. "You of course."
He put his hand to his chest, pretending to be surprised. "For me?!"
She giggled and nodded. "You only turn 75 once!"
"What is it that you kids say these days? Yoda?"
Alisha laughed loudly at that. "YOLO."
Her mother and father looked at her weirdly. "What on earth is that?!" Her mother exclaimed.
"It means You Only Live Once." Alisha informed, shrugging.
"Wait what does that really mean?" Her father asked.
She blinked. "It says it, Dad. You Only Live Once."
"But in what context?" Her grandpa asked. "I've read so many books and lived all of their lives. So that does not imply to me."
Alisha smirked. "Of course not. You're grandpa."
"Are you saying your father and I are boring?" Her mother demanded, but her eyes were bright.
"The most boring people in the world." She teased.
Her mother squawked. "NO BREAKFAST FOR YOU!" That made everyone laugh.
Her mother did give her daughter breakfast however. Her mother told her she was lucky to be fed.
They all soon finished breakfast. Although they would take bits of the blood sausage and throw it into each others mouths.
They all left the kitchen laughing. Alisha just noticed that most of the house was decorated for the occasion. She felt at ease. She was with her family and it was the day to celebrate her grandpa's life. She wouldn't know what she would do without him.
He was her rock. He was always there when she couldn't talk with her parents. Her shoulder to cry on. Only with him she could be weak. Only with him she could cry. They were kindred spirits.
Her grandpa called for her, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Come watch some TV with me, green bean."
Alisha sent him a playful glare before walking over to sit beside him on the couch in the living room. He took his small hand in hers, giving it a squeeze.
"I'm not a green bean." She muttered.
He chuckled. "I think it suits you."
She scrunched up her nose. "If I'm green bean then you are..." She looked at him.
She studied his features. He had a few wrinkles, but he did not look 75. He actually looked 10 years younger. His hair is a long, messy gray that once was a midnight black. His eyes were also dark, almost black. That was where she got her eye color from. His face was almost square, and yet it was round. Many older women found him attractive. His nose was straight, but the tip was slightly larger than normal. His shoulders were wide. She then grinned.
"You shall be turnip!"
Her grandfather tilted his head back and laughed, his laughter echoing throughout the home.
"Alright, green bean. That's a deal." He said, grinning. They shook on it. She tried to shake his hand harder, but she yelped when he nearly crushed her hand.
"GRANDPA!" She whined. He kissed her hand.
"Sorry, green bean. But I will always be stronger than you." He winked.
She pouted and huffed. "Well, I'll get stronger! I'm only 12!"
He patted her back, his smile widening. "Hey! In a matter of weeks you'll be 13! You excited? That is my lucky number after all."
Alisha shrugged. She could think about that later. Today was her grandpa's day. She rested her head against his shoulder. "Yeah. I am. However we can talk about this tomorrow. Today is your birthday."
He kissed her head. "Alright. Tomorrow."
She looked up at him. "What do you want to do today?"
He let out a small laugh. "I just want to enjoy my day with my family."
"Do you want to go out somewhere later?" She asked.
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. He saw her mischievous smile and his lips twitched into his own mischievous smile. "What do you have planned?"
She blinked innocently. "You'll have to see later. It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you."
"Should I be worried?" He asked.
Alisha laughed and shook her head. "No, grandpa. I think you'll love it." She said, meaning it.
She really hoped that he would love it. That it didn't just bring back bad memories. She had two presents. She wondered if she should give it to him now.
He studied her. "Penny for your thoughts?"
"I sell them for a dollar." She said.
He smiled. "I taught you well."
She bit her lip and looked at him. She shifted her feet nervously. "Do you want to see one of your presents right now?"
Her grandpa blinked. "Are you sure? Don't you want to wait until dinner?"
"Well, I actually have two presents for you." She admitted.
His dark eyes widened in surprise. "H-how? What-"
"I made it myself. The other one is a huge surprise. But I really want to give you this present here. I worked on it for over a month, trying to get it just right."
He softened. "Alright. Bring your parents in here." She nodded and got up to get her present.
She grabbed the collage and call her parents to go sit in the living room.
They all sat down her her grandpa, looking at her curiously.
"Here is my present for Grandpa." She said proudly.
She turned the collage over to show them what she had created. They all gasped. It was pictures starting from when her grandpa was a baby, to him being a teen, to his gymnast days, and then when he married grandma, then when they had kids, then when Alisha was born, and then there were pictures of Alisha and her grandpa together, then with her parents, and then there was the family portrait of all four of them together in the middle.
She even added dates and drew delicate vines on the sides. Her mother and father looked touched. Her grandpa was touched as well, however he looked a little more emotional. Especially looking at the picture of him and grandma. He must be remembering the time when she was alive. Before she died of lung cancer. Alisha shifted her feet and softly called, "Grandpa?"
He looked at her and gave her a watery smile. "It's beautiful, darling. I love it."
She could tell he meant it. However now she felt terrible for bringing up sad memories. Now she was beginning to re-think about her other present. He must have known what she was thinking before he wheeled over to her.
"It's okay, green bean. I love it. I am going to treasure it forever." He gently took the collage from her hands. "I'm going to go hang it on my wall in front of my bed, so I can see it whenever I wake up and before I go to sleep."
"I'll help you put it up." Her dad said, getting up from the couch.
"Thanks, son." Her grandpa said.
Her dad went into her grandpa's room and hung it up, making Grandpa smile. He whispered to her, "This is the best gift I have ever gotten."
She felt relieved. "I'm glad."
He patted her back. He then looked at my mother and asked,
"So, what did you guys get me, huh?"
Well aren't you greedy today!" Her mother said teasingly.
He shrugged. "I'm an old man. Time is ticking!"
"Oh shush." She said, waving a hand.
"You're going to live forever. After all, YOLO does not represent you at all, right?" Alisha said.
He shrugged and wheeled himself back into the living room. Alisha scowled. She hated thinking about him someday passing away. She wanted to believe that it would never happen. At least not until she would be 6 feet under. Which would be awhile.
Her father walked from her grandpa's bed room and playfully pushed her. "Get a move on!"
She lightly kicked his leg and ran toward her mom. "HEY GET BACK HERE YOUNG LADY!"
She squealed and hid behind her mom. "SAVE ME FROM THE BIG APE!"
"BIG APE?! I DON'T EVEN LIKE BANANAS." He exclaimed before making monkey noises.
He then knocked his fists against his chest, whooping before lunging at Alisha.
Alisha let out a scream and ran from the 'big ape'. "RAWWRR GET BACK HERE YOU BIG BANANA I CRUSH BANANAS."
"I'm a green bean! Not a banana!"
"I HATE GREEN BEANS TOO!" He grabbed her.
Alisha laughed and squealed as her father tickled her relentlessly. Her grandpa watched with soft eyes. He was happy to have such a wonderful family. He was happy that they were happy. He felt so lucky.
"GET TURNIP! GET TURNIP!" She exclaimed, pointing at her grandpa.
Her father looked at him to her. "Big Ape like turnips." He said in a deep, gravely voice. He began to tickle her again, putting her into another fit of laughter. Her mother went over to her grandpa and handed him a Yankees hat and a regular old black and blue hat. "Happy birthday, father in law." She said, kissing his cheek.
He smiled and put the Yankees hat on his head. "Fits like a glove." He said, beaming. He already knew what his son had gotten him. A golden watch with obsidian arms. Gorgeous. However he didn't feel like he deserved it. When his son would present it to him, he would act surprised. They later had lunch and then soon it was nearing night time.
Alisha was ready too jump out of her skin. She was so nervous. She wanted to show her Grandpa what she did for his other present before dinner.
Her Grandpa noticed her nervousness and raised an eyebrow. "What has gotten you so nervous?"
"Nothing." She said quickly.
He smiled knowingly. "Is it a boy?"
Alisha gawked. She thought of the boy from the night before but instantly scrunched up her nose in distaste. "NO! BOYS ARE GROSS!"
He shook his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Just wait in a few years. That will change."
Alisha huffed and raised her nose high in the air. "No way. None of the boys at my school interest me."
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Because all they do is chase after the girls they like, tease them endlessly, and then when they get together the boy has to act all tough with his friends. Leaving the girlfriend by herself most of the time."
"Ahh young love." Her grandpa mused.
She rolled her eyes. "That isn't love."
"And since when are you an expert on love?" He teased.
She smiled with a shrug. "Because Mom and Dad love each other. You can tell they mean it. Not many families have this kind of family."
Her grandpa smiled, nodding. "Even you and grandma." She added. "I know you loved each other very much. And that you still love her."
Her grandpa's eyes watered. "She is the love of my life." He said, his voice filled with emotion.
Alisha took his hand and squeezed it. He kissed her hand, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Enough of that now. So, tell me, what are you nervous about?"
She sighed and played with one of the rings on his fingers. "My second present... I really hope you'll like it."
"If it is from you, green bean, I will love it." He said.
Her mother came into the living room. "I'm making dinner. Take Grandpa over to see your present, darling. It will be ready in an hour."
Alisha nodded and stood, looking down at her grandpa. "Ready for an adventure?"
He nodded with a grin. Alisha used one of his ties to blind fold him. At first he had many complaints, but when they started going he enjoyed it. He would pretend to be a zombie or a mummy who was blind, making Aisha chuckle.
They soon made it to the gym. Alisha took a deep breath before opening the door and pushing him inside.
RICHARD'S POV
I hid in the shadows, preparing the scare the girl when she would come in. I wonder what she would do when I'd come from behind her and grab her shoulders. Was she a screamer? Or was she a hitter? What if she was both? Well... I know one thing for sure, I would be ready for a punch.
I heard the door open, making me stand up straight, ready to pounce. However who I saw first enter was not someone I expected. An older man in a wheel chair blindfolded. I wondered who was with him.
Why were they blind folding him? Was this a kidnapping? But his wrists were not tied. The man seemed calm, happy even. So then what was going on? I then saw someone wheeling him in. It was none other than the girl with the green hair.
"Can I take this thing off now, green bean?" I heard the man ask.
The girl with the green hair smiled fondly at the other man. "Of course, turnip. At your own risk."
I blinked at the nicknames. What? What kind off nicknames are those?! I mean I get the green bean one... Although her hair looked more like a highlighter rather than a dark shade of a green bean. Turnip... Why? That I did not understand.
I saw the girl slowly take off the tie from his face. I heard the man choke back a sob. "Wh-what-"
The girl gently brushed his hair from his face. "I cleaned up the gym. I put everything where it was supposed to be. I even added some posters."
I saw the man swallow hard, trying to hold back his tears. "Y-You did this... For me?"
I knew this was a very important moment for them. I slowly backed away.
"Of course I did. Plus I can't work out or do much with a ton of trash and everything thrown over." She said, smiling.
I smiled. So she did have a heart after all. That must be her grandfather. I could tell how much she loved him. That he was the reason why she worked so hard. He was her inspiration. My heart warmed at the sight of them hugging each other.
I quickly left the gym, knowing they really needed to be alone. I had some respect. Although I still wish I could catch her name. Next time, maybe.
I started to walk before making it to the bus stop. I soon made it back to the Wayne Mansion. I quickly went up the spiral stair case. At one point I nearly tripped, but thankfully caught myself. I made it to my door. Just as I was about to reach for the handle, a deep voice asked,
"Are you going to tell me where you have been going for the past week or do I need to answer for you?"
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is one of my longest chapters so far! As I shall continue to write this story, the chapters will get longer and longer. At least I hope. Who knows what I will come up with! Now, what did you all think over the family? Tell me your thoughts! There will be trouble brewing. But with WHOM? I hope you are all having a nice day and thank you for reading. Blazing Inspirit over and out)