John can't believe Gordon got sick 2 days before his graduation. The one day that was meant to be his and his little brother has ruined it for him. Now he's having to choose a babysitter for the brat while he whines and complains about being ill.
Giving the pale, skinny blonde asleep on the sofa one last look of resentment, John goes up to his room. Claiming he is working. But he knows the truth; he's sulking.
Johns room is his sanctuary, the huge "keep out or else" sign on his door shows he means business.
Inside it is neat, everything in its place. His sock draw is home to neatly folded paired socks, no odd socks are tolerated In his shrine to organisation! The shirts in his wardrobe are hung according to colour. His books arranged alphabetically. Even the stationary on his desk is always tidy. Gordon knows the best way to annoy John is to move something in his room.
The light blue walls are home to his posters, all professionally mounted and framed. There is a single family portrait, above his bed.
The last family portrait before his mom died, taken shortly after Alan was born. And none of the faces have any idea that their world will be torn apart in just weeks.
His mom, his double. Same hair, same eyes but hers have a loving warmth to them he is missing.
She is standing at the back with his father. Alan in her arms. Still without any hair, his blue eyes looking at the camera, gazing at the photographer with interest.
His dad next to her, one arm around her shoulders, the other around Scott, who is standing directly in front of him. Barely up to his dads chest. His dark hair spiked up at the front a grin on his face that John can't recall seeing anymore.
John is in the middle. His arms around Gordon in front of him. Johns just lost two of his teeth and his gap toothed smile is self conscious and shy.
Virgil dwarfing him on his other side, almost as tall as Scott already.
His polar opposite has a wide grin on his face, that lights up His whole face, bright amber eyes shining with the merriment of a new prank idea.
And it is that face that John is focusing on, he knows Gordon didn't do this on purpose, it was just bad timing.
He resolves not to make a big deal about it, and devises a fool proof method to choose who to bring with him and who to stay home with Gordon.
His mind made up, he goes back downstairs. His dad is in his office, John doesn't know it but he is going over the preliminary designs for the thunderbirds.
Bracing himself John knocks on the door three times.
"Come in" the voice on the other side tells him. John pushes the door open, and approaches the desk.
"John" His dad smiles warmly at him. "Have you decided who is coming with you tomorrow?"
John grins. "Nope. You're deciding for me"
He laughs at the confused look on Johns face, so John continues quickly.
"Well I couldn't decide without hurting one of the people I love the most in the world if I chose you then grandmas feelings would be Hurt, but you're my dad. I thought about nothing else all day, nearly ended up getting a question wrong in my algebra class" John breaks off shuddering at the potential humiliation.
"So pick a hand!" John tells his dad, getting to the point.
"Right" Jeff replies, playing along.
John gives him the paper clutches inside his fist.
Opening it up he reads it aloud.
"Graduation ceremony"
"Congratulations dad, you are coming to the ceremony, I will go and break the news to grandma. I just thought this way, it's fair". He tells him sincerely.
"I agree John, good job son. If you want me to be there though you'll have to give me some time to finish up this paperwork!" Jeff tells him.
"That's okay, I know where I'm not wanted!" John replies laughing.
"You're always wanted Johnny, never forget that. You and your brothers are my whole world" Jeff replies, smiling.
"I love you dad" John tells him, on his way out.
"I love you too son." Jeff tells him, watching his retreat from the room, as he silently closes the door.
*TB*
"Now to break the news to grandma" he thinks. Dreading her reaction.
"Hey grandma?" He calls out.
"Through here John, and keep your voice down or you'll wake your brother up" she tells him from the kitchen.
"Grandma. I kind of made my mind up about tomorrow and I'm sorry but dad is coming with me. I used a scientific method to choose and please don't hate me" He tells her.
"Oh Johnny, you know I could never hate you. How did you decide?" She asks curiously.
"Put the options on paper and asked dad to choose! I couldn't do it any other way" John tells her.
"That's a very fair method John, and you will have a great time tomorrow with your dad and brothers. Virgil and Scott are all leaving school early to join you and your dad will bring Alan. It's going to be a beautiful day tomorrow. Perfect for an outdoor ceremony, and your dad is planning something special for tomorrow, but it's a surprise, you didn't hear it from me!" She tells him smiling.
She slides her chair over to him and wraps her arms around his shoulders. Proud of the mature way he handled that. John has never been a hugger, not like Alan and Gordon, but this is nice, even he can't deny that.
They sit there comfortably for a few minutes until they're interrupted by Virgil.
"Hey grandma? Is this goo supposed to be on fire?" He asks poking the contents of the sauce pan on the hob with a wooden spoon.
"My spaghetti sauce" she groans grabbing the pan with both hands and pouring cold water over it. "It's not supposed to be flammable. I read the ingredients list and nothing on there set it would catch fire!"
John and Virgil can't stop themselves from laughing. Grandma grabs the spoon and chases them from the kitchen using it as a weapon. And they run screeching out into the hall way.
Gordon is standing in the doorway. His arms wrapped around his plush squid.
"Virgy what's going on?" He asks sleepily.
"Nothing Gordy, grandma just set dinner on fire again. Come on, let's get you back to the sofa." Virgil tells him, placing his hand on his shoulder and turning him back into the lounge.
"How are you feeling?" Virgil asks, as this is the first time Gordon has been awake since he got home from school.
"Like someone has been sandpapering my throat, and my head hurts again" Gordon tells him miserably, as he lies back down, and allows Virgil to cover him up with the blanket.
"Want me to go and ask grandma if you can have anymore Tylenol?" Virgil asks him sympathetically.
"Yeah" Gordon replies.
"Be back in minute Squid."
Virgil goes back into the kitchen where grandma is trying to salvage the sauce. Mumbling under her breathe about sieving out the water then warming it back up and serving it.
"Grandma?" He asks.
"Not now Virgil. I'm busy" she snaps.
"But it's Gordon. He's in pain" Virgil tells her.
"Okay. Stir this for me and I will be back soon" she tells him, refusing to let her mood over the ruined dinner get in the way of looking after the little boy who needs her.
"Gordy?" She asks, approaching him cautiously. Placing her hand on his forehead to feel for a temperature. He looks up at her and starts to cry.
"Oh Gordy" she sighs. Her heart breaking for him. "Come on let get you sat up and get some medicine in you."
Weakly Gordon does has he's told and doesn't put up a fight as she sits him up and gives him more Tylenol and a fresh dose of the antibiotics, wishing, not for the first time that day that there was more she could do for him.
"Try and get some rest, and if you're hungry later let me know" she tells him once he's lying back down again, Watching him as he falls asleep, he's been asleep for most of the day.
Virgil is still stirring the pan. He knows deep down that the spaghetti sauce is unsalvageable, but at least he tried.
"Grandma I think it's time for plan B!" He tells her when she walks back in.
"Plan B?" She asks.
"Yeah, pizza!" Virgil replies laughing.
"Go and order it and I will get rid of this, you're probably right. Even I think it looks disgusting!" She tells him.
*TB*
Jeff sighs as there is another knock on door. He's never going to get this business venture off the ground at this rate!
"Come in" He finds himself calling again.
"Hey dad, grandma set the kitchen on fire so I am ordering pizza. Do you want anything specific on yours?" Virgil asks, poking his head round the door.
"Ham and mushroom please Virg. Come and get me when it's here and we will eat together okay".
"Sure. I'm just going to round up my brothers, I haven't seen Alan and Scott since I got home. Not sure if I should be concerned or not!" Virgil replies laughing.
He knows John will be back up in his room.
"Oi. I am ordering pizza. What do you want?" Virgil asks, barging into the room Dropping his manners for his younger brother.
"Double cheese burger with extra pickles please" John replies. "Guessing grandma gave up with the spaghetti?"
"Yeah. She put up a good fight though!" Virgil tells him, before going to find Scott.
Scott is in his room with Alan. He's trying to do his last essay for history which is due in tomorrow but Alan who has been forced to play quietly all day wants attention. He's sitting on the floor under Scott's desk asking him multitudes of silly questions.
"Hey scotty why does it go dark early in the winter? Why didn't the tornado last week destroy the school so I don't have to go in September? What is the meaning of life? Scotty why are you ignoring me?" Scotty? Scooooottttty?" Alan calls.
He's saved from answering by Virgil entering the room.
"Knock Virgil for gods sake" Scott tells him exasperated.
"Like this?" Alan replies knocking on the side of the desk.
"Yes. What do you want anyway?" Scott asks.
"Your pizza order, grandma ruined dinner" Virgil tells him.
"Ham, mushroom, peppers, onions and broccoli please" Scott replies. "And I will pay you 5 dollars to take Alan down stairs with you"
"Broccly? Euw Scotty!" Alan replies gagging. "I want pepperoni on mine Virgy"
"Come and help me order it then sprout. Or you'll end up sharing Scott's!" Virgil tells him.
"No. No broccly. It's gross" Alan insists.
"And I'm not sharing, so you'll end up starving!" Scott tells him as Alan crawls out from under the desk and leaps up on to his feet.
"C'mon" Virgy lets go and order the pizza. I want what Gordys having" Alan tells him changing his mind.
"Gordy isn't well Allie, he isn't having any pizza" Virgil tells him.
"Still? But he was sick this morning too" Alan reminds him pouting. Before brightening again. "Does this mean I get his Pizza too?"
"No! Come into my room and we will order the food." Virgil grabs his hand and brings him into his and Gordon's room.
"Virgy when are you going back to your own room?" Alan asks.
"When Gordon and I decide it's the right time, you know he doesn't like sleeping on his own at the moment" Virgil reminds him patiently.
"Gordy is no fun anymore" Alan tells him.
"Oh? And why not?" Virgil asks. Looking up from the app where he is ordering the takeaway.
"I wanted to play with him earlier but he wouldn't play with me, so I told grandma that he was being mean and she started shouting at me and telling me that I should leave him alone" Alan says sadly.
"He isn't well Alan, when you're ill you don't like being disturbed do you?" Virgil asks.
"Suppose." Alan says, which is the closest thing to an apology that he is going to make.
Virgil is tapping away at his tablet until a ping tells him that the order has been received.
"What do you want to do until the food gets here?" Virgil asks.
"Play dragon world 5" Alan replies instantly, eyeing up Virgil's tablet.
Virgil gives it to him without a fuss, anything for some peace and quiet!
*TB*
The rest of the evening passes peacefully and pleasantly. Gordon barely stirs all evening, even when his dad puts him to bed. Or when Virgil comes to bed, stopping to check on him, satisfied that he is just asleep.
Alan tries to put up a fight, which was stopped in its tracks by a look from Grandma which had him scurrying for cover instantly!
Scott, once left alone, finally got the essay finished, and yawning heavily got into bed, falling into a deep and peaceful sleep instantly.
John is quiet, and nervous about tomorrow. But he knows he has 3 of his brothers there in person, and his other brother in spirit. And he is finally realising that family is everything to him. Lying awake, hours after everyone else is asleep, looking up at the portrait. More determined than ever to make him mom proud of him, he finally drifts off to sleep.