AUTHOR'S NOTE:
It might seem a bit rushed regarding Cheryl's struggle with alcohol from last chapter, but I didn't want to lose focus of the story being about Casey. Cheryl will have a few setbacks in later chapters though.
Hope you all enjoy the next few fun chapters. This scene is split in two. :)
Chapter 21 Birthday memory Part 1
"Time to get up, Case; it's a special day today," Brax called, rushing over to Casey's bed and patting his fingers against the youngster's arms.
Casey let out a giggle and immediately woke, knowing exactly what day it was. January twenty-third had come around quick enough and it was Casey's seventh birthday and the first time the family would be able to celebrate without any fears of Danny coming home.
Cheryl had done as she promised and gotten herself sorted with her alcohol addiction, though still unable to give up the occassional drink for when she was stressed, this still allowed her time to sort out a special day for her youngest son.
"Happy birthday my baby boy," Cheryl announced, as Casey wandered into the kitchen after having been pushed out of bed by his oldest brother.
"Happy birthday, Kiddos; are ya happy to be another year older?" Heath added.
"Yeah," Casey smiled.
'You're a big boy now," Brax spoke from behind.
"Like you and Heath?" Casey spoke innocently.
"Not quite mate, but you will be soon," Brax reassured and gently ruffled Casey's hair.
"Can I open my presents?" Casey beamed, taking a seat at the table.
"Have breakfast first mate," Brax said.
"Ohh, but I wanna know what I got," Casey whined.
"It's more important to have food in your stomach to start the day; you don't want to be tired for your birthday, 'ey?" Heath joked, poking Casey on the arm.
"So what do you want for breakfast, my birthday boy?" Cheryl asked.
"Something quick, so I can open my presents sooner!" Casey exclaimed, causing everyone to laugh.
After breakfast, Casey sat eagerly awaiting the arrival of his presents; he was fidgeting in his chair and swinging his legs.
Cheryl walked out holding a large box shaped present with a few smaller packages; Brax was holding three small packages and Heath came running back from his room with Casey's present in a small square shaped package.
Cheryl placed her presents on the table and gave her youngest son a kiss on his cheek.
"Happy birthday, baby boy."
Casey smiled up at his Mum. Brax was next and placed his presents in front of Casey and hugged his baby brother tight, also giving him a kiss.
"Happy birthday little Champ."
Heath was last. "Here Case I hope you like it. Don't expect me to kiss ya though," Heath joked.
Everyone smiled at Heath's comment. Casey stared up at his brother and wrapped his arms tight around his waist.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome Shorty."
Heath ruffled Casey's hair and sat down at the table. "Well come on, open 'em up, let's see what you got then," Heath said playfully.
"I'm dying to find out what I got ya," Heath winked, causing Casey to laugh.
Casey greedily looked at the presents in front of him deciding which to open first; he opted for a smaller parcel first. Casey tore open the paper to find some new bright green dinosaur pajamas. He gave a smile and took another present to open.
Again tearing open the paper, this time it revealed some build it yourself set, where you could chose to build a sailing ship, a house or even a truck or plane.
"I thought we could do that together sometime. We could make some cool things, huh?" Brax said.
"Yeah!" Casey exclaimed, excited.
"Hey open mine next," Heath pressed, waving his present in Casey's face.
Casey took the present and un-wrapped it quickly, to reveal a music cd with some of Casey's favourite songs.
"Got my friend to make a special disc for ya so you can listen to some of those annoying songs of yours," Heath smiled.
Casey frowned at Heath then gave him a smile.
"That was nice of you mate," Brax commented, looking at Heath.
"Wasn't that nice Case?" Brax asked quietly.
"Yeah," Casey replied, nodding and grabbed the largest present on the table.
"That one's from all three of us," Brax explained.
Casey's eyes widened as the large parcel revealed a racing car equip with remote control and engine boosters. Casey gasped and his eye's glistened in surprise.
"It's the bestest present ever!"
Brax laughed and Cheryl smiled at her youngest's happy face.
"Figured we'd all chip in and get you something real nice this year," Brax said.
"You've been real spoilt Case," Heath joked.
Casey ignored Heath's comment and stared at his amazing gift.
"I love it and I wanna go play!" Casey exclaimed.
"You still got one more to open Shorty," Heath said, waving the last gift at Casey.
Casey took the present from Heath.
"You Doofus; you might be older but you're not wiser," Heath joked.
Brax gave a playful eye raise. "In that case he's not the only one with that problem."
"Hey: what you pickin' on me for?" Heath accused, jokingly.
"Hear that Case?" Heath asked.
Casey only giggled in response and Heath tsked at Brax.
"That kind of teasing is meant to be left for the birthday boy," Heath stated, matter-of-factly in a whisper.
"Hey: no it's not!" Casey protested as he kept preoccupied pulling the tape off of the paper on the last present.
Opening the final present there was a DVD of a new children's movie that Cheryl had picked out for Casey. Casey smiled proudly at his new presents.
Brax went to give Casey a hug but Casey beat him to it; scooting up on his chair and squeezing Brax around the neck.
"Thank you!" Casey exclaimed.
"That's alright: but sit down mate, I don't want you getting hurt," Brax said.
Casey pulled back and slipped back down into the chair before getting off to approach Cheryl where he hugged her around the waist.
"Thanks for my presents Mum."
"You're my special boy, you deserve the best."
Casey let go of his Mum and ran at Heath, grabbing him around the waist.
"Thank you Heath."
Heath ruffled Casey's hair. "No problem Shorty, glad you got some nice things."
Casey sat back down at the table glancing over his gifts.
"Okay photo time," Cheryl announced.
It was tradition that they got their photo taken with their presents; well at least until they protested they no longer wanted too, like Heath and Brax did after they turned twelve but Casey was the baby and never minded the photos, as it meant he was centre of attention.
Casey beamed excitedly as Cheryl took the photo.
"Can I play with my racing car now?" Casey asked; eagerly bouncing in his chair.
"Of course, just not near the road," Cheryl replied.
"I know Mum," Casey replied and grabbed his racing car off the table.
The racing car was pointed at the front and widened at the back with spoilers and was a shiny black, purple, and orange color; the perfect replica of a formula car. Casey approached Heath and tapped his back repeatedly.
"What Case?"
"Can you come play too?"
Heath smiled down at his little brother. "You bet I will!"
Heath rubbed Casey's neck, causing Casey to scrunch his shoulders up and laugh.
"Can you play too Brax?" Casey asked.
Brax was already clearing away the thrown about wrapping paper when Casey had asked him.
"Yeah sure Case, but just after I clean up a bit in here. You and Heath have a head start."
"You heard Case, come on." Casey and Heath raced towards the door.
"Keep an eye on ya brother Heath!" Cheryl yelled.
"Aw Mum; I'm not a baby!" Casey whined.
Heath laughed and ruffled Casey's hair before the two ran outside into the front yard to play with the car on the cement drive.
Brax smiled as he heard Casey's happy infectious laugh and the sound of the revving race car speeding along the driveway.
"Augh, watch out Casey! Turn! Turn! You're gonna smash!" Brax heard Heath yell, followed by a staggered, bang!
"I told ya, go easy," Heath laughed.
Brax shoved the paper in the bin and headed out into the front yard.
"Heath, what kind of car is this? It's really cool, not like a normal car," Casey commented; wrestling the remote control to waver around the corners.
Heath shrugged. "Not sure Case, maybe ask Brax."
"Ask Brax what?" Brax called out as he headed down the drive.
"Having fun?" Brax asked.
Casey nodded and greeted Brax with a smile.
"What kind of car is this?" Casey asked, turning to his oldest brother and getting distracted, crashing the car again.
"Whoa watch what you're doing Case," Heath joked.
"Thankfully an indestructible one," Brax laughed. "It's a formula car, like the ones you see on the TV car races," Brax explained.
"Cool!" Casey exclaimed.
"Yeah you wanna know what else is cool?" Brax asked in a sly tone.
"What?" Casey asked.
"Well while I was cleaning up I found something."
Casey furrowed his eyebrows and stopped playing.
"This!" Brax exclaimed and pulled a large object wrapped in the same paper Casey's presents had been wrapped in.
Casey's eyes widened. "Is that for me?"
"Yep, so you better open it and find out what it is," Brax encouraged.
In the excitement of another present Casey almost tossed the remote control of the racing car, though Heath caught it in time, raising his eyebrow at Brax.
"Good catch mate," Brax praised.
Casey beamed upon seeing his new present, it was something that with Brax's money Cheryl was able to buy, and it would fit perfect for the hot Summer weather and right at that moment it was getting hot.
"This is awesome, thanks Brax!" Casey smiled and pulled the wrapping paper clear off.
"Hey Mum bought it, I just helped out."
Casey looked up to Heath who was quietly playing with the race car.
"Heath, guess what? I got a super soaker!"
Heath smiled at Casey's excitement. "Yeah I see."
"Can we play with it?"
Brax nodded. "It has to be out back though so come inside and get in your boardies."
"Can you pack away my car and bring it inside, I don't want it ruined," Casey said, turning to Heath.
"Geez now I'm your slave am I?" Heath joked.
"Please Heath," Casey begged.
Heath twisted his lip. "Only because it's ya birthday and your my peewee little brother," Heath replied with a fake huff and picked up Casey's car.
Casey ran into the house and quickly changed his clothes.
Casey ran out of his bedroom in his swim boardies and a tee-shirt, passing Cheryl as he raced towards the backyard.
"Where you off to now?" Cheryl asked, holding a cup of strong coffee in her hand.
"Brax, Heath and me are gonna play with the supersoaker!" Casey exclaimed and realized he hadn't thanked his Mum for the present yet.
Casey ran towards her and hugged her waist. "Thanks Mum!"
Cheryl's coffee swished in the cup and she pulled it out of the way in case it spilt the scalding water on her son.
"Casey; watch out please," Cheryl lightly scolded.
Casey pulled away, feeling a little saddened. "Sorry Mum."
"It's alright Casey."
"It's ready!" Brax yelled from out in the garden. Casey's eyes lit up.
"You coming, Shorty?" Heath asked; having come out of his room dressed in his boardies with no shirt.
"Yeah!"
"Casey, have a drink first," Cheryl said and poured Casey a glass of juice.
Casey didn't want to stop for a drink, he wanted to play.
"Mum, I wanna go outside," Casey complained.
"I don't want you getting dehydrated out in the heat Casey," Cheryl explained.
Casey scowled.
"Hey I'll have one too," Heath said with a smile and slapped Casey on the back.
Cheryl poured another glass for Heath before taking her coffee and having a sip. Heath picked up his glass and Casey his.
"Cheers Case," Heath cheered and clinked his glass against Casey's.
Casey guzzled down his drink, coughing as the last bit went down the wrong way. Heath laughed and patted Casey's back.
"Too quick: huh? Let's get out there and have some fun," Heath smirked, while Casey nodded eagerly.
"Wait, did you boys put on your sunscreen?" Cheryl asked.
Heath rolled his eyes and Casey pouted; he just wanted to get out and play. Cheryl went and got the suncream and waved it at her boys.
"If you two are going out there without a shirt at this time of day, you put this on. It's far too sunny out there; I don't want you getting sunburn. Casey, come here."
Casey approached his Mum and allowed her to rub sunscreen over his back, chest, and arms. Heath groaned when Cheryl offered the tube to him.
"Mum, come on."
"Heath, put it on," Cheryl said sternly.
"Why aren't you telling him out there to put it on?" Heath complained, pointing outside towards Brax.
"Darryl is smart enough to look after himself."
Heath groaned but took the tube from his mother and roughly wiped it over his arms and chest, missing several spots and threw the tube back on the bench. Cheryl shook her head.
"Don't you whine to me if you get sunburnt, young man."
"Can we go out now," Casey pressed, as he jumped eagerly on his spot.
"I was ready ages ago if Mum hadn't made us put sunscreen on," Heath replied.
Cheryl slapped Heath on the arm, "Don't you smart mouth me."
Heath scowled and rubbed his arm. Heath turned and gave Casey a look that told Casey that he better start running because he was ready to grab him.
"Ya better get moving, Case; I'm coming for ya," Heath teased.
Casey let out an excited shriek and ran out the back door, with Heath running fast behind.