All recognizable characters and copyright belong to their creators.

Charlie's Pov

The proposition or the gift

Once a week my friends and their wives would come over. They used the excuse of coming over for pizza night and the game. Whatever sports game that might be on at that time. Today that was football. They always brought leftovers saying how they made too much. I knew, in reality, they just wanted to make sure my parents and I had good food to eat. My parents were no longer up to the task, and I was terrible at cooking and they all knew it. Even following recipes nothing seemed to come out right.

The ladies made their excuses and took over my kitchen. Being Avid sports fans themselves they would soon rejoin us in the living room. The guys and I went to take our seats and wait for the game to start.

I sat down in my chair then looked up. The guys were standing there all staring at me. "What?" I asked feeling boxed in.

"It's your birthday this week," Billy announced. Uh oh, they were up to something.

"Um, ok." I said not being able to deny it.

Quil was practically hopping with a huge smile on his face. He was rubbing his hands together in excitement. "You're going to be 21."

Again I couldn't disagree. "Yes." I sounded like I was asking.

"It's tradition," Harry announced as if it was his birthday.

I was feeling very apprehensive. "What is?" I asked. Not really sure if I wanted to know the answer.

" Vegas." All three of them announced as if they rehearsed it.

Quil was especially animated as he proclaimed. "That's right, Vegas baby. Three days and two nights of Sin City itself. The lights, the shows, the games, gambling, drinking, eating, and you have to be 21 for all that fun. And you my friend will be that very age by the end of this week."

Billy continued. "So, it is for that very reason we obtained four round-trip tickets and two hotel rooms for next weekend."

Harry rounded off their dialogue with. "Yes, that's right my friend we are taking you to Vegas."

I stared wide eyed. My jaw dropped to the floor. "What?" I asked dumbfounded.

Quil Crouch down in front of me. Speaking each word slowly he stated. "We... Are… taking... You... To... Vegas." He gingerly nodded his head like that would make things more clear.

" I can't" I spluttered out.

" yes, you can." Billy asserted.

"No, really I can't. I have too much to do. I have responsibilities and obligations. Not to mention work."

Harry noted. "We all have responsibilities and obligations. but we also know that we could take a little time away from that to live our lives and have some fun every now and then. As for your job you are not the only cop at that station. I am sure they will give you a couple of days off for this special occasion."

"Come on Charlie. It's just one weekend and we have a lot to celebrate. Besides you only turn 21 once. Since you are the youngest out of our group we will never have this opportunity again." Quil whined.

"That's not true. We will have plenty of opportunities to go. I'm not aging backward." I pointed out.

Harry stated, more adult-like. "What he means is you will never be able to celebrate this particular birthday again."

Billy through in. "And the three of us will have more responsibilities very soon. responsibilities that deserve celebrating as much as your 21st birthday does. So you see Charlie it's not only for you but for all four of us. What do you say you come with us for what could be our last hurrah for a while."

They were wearing me down. We did have a lot to celebrate. My friend Billy just had his third child. A boy they named Jacob. My friend Harry just found out his wife's about to give birth to a girl. My friend Quil 4 and his wife have finally gotten pregnant. And me, Charlie Swan, I was turning 21. They all have a few years on me, but I envied where their lives were at.

I know I'm young but I always wanted a family. A wife and child of my own as soon as I can. However, I can't see that dream happening anytime soon.

My parents had me late in life and they have not aged well since. My mother has been getting worse with her Alzheimer's. My father's arthritis is so bad sometimes he could hardly move.

I negated going to college so that I could stay home and take care of them. I opted for the police academy. I've been a police officer for a year now. And leaving my parents each morning to go to work is hard enough. I'm not sure I can leave them for a whole weekend. The most time I will leave them for recreation is leaving early in the morning to go fishing with my friends, and I always try to be home before they wake up.

I sighed a heavy breath "I'm sorry guys I can't leave my parents alone for that long."

Harry and Billy turned toward each other with a big smile and in unison said: " no problem" they seemed to be convinced that Sarah and Sue would be willing to help out with my parents.

I was not so sure. Sarah had 2-year-old twin girls and a newborn baby boy to take care of. Sue was so pregnant she looked like she could give birth at any moment. Which is another reason we should not go. I stated my concerns but they brushed them off.

Quil spoke up. " Joy will help them. Charlie, it won't be a problem you deserve a weekend to let loose."

After I talked to all three women and they assured me everything would be fine and this would be their birthday present to me I finally gave in.