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The Flocking!
Sparrow's POV
Flockings. They are the one constant in my life. Every month my family regroups at my sister's café, The Bird's Birch in New York City. We tell people that ask that it's just are way to stay in contact with one and other, much like there own family reunions. But the reality is quite different you see. For the "Flocking" is really just an excuse to find out dirt about your siblings. Which is then used to interfere in each other's lives with. Jay my eldest brother says it's "to keep our lives interesting." And here I was about to go into this festering gossip pit of family with Mac, daughter of Charlie. Charlie whom my family feels is engaged to me. Charlie who they feel is perfect for me. Charlie of whom they have never met, but somehow think they know everything about. Charlie of such great character that he is even willing to put up with me. When Kristy asked if I could look after the kid, I was so flustered I actually agreed. And so here I am bringing them even more ammo to shoot me with. But why dwell on it? I can't change it. Sort of like those kisses
Oh Charlie not of their delusions, thank God they don't know about those kisses. They'd have a field day. You smelled nice. Like the autumn and strawberry lip palm. Your sparkling eyes like the sun reflecting off water looked deep into my own. Your arms that guided me as we danced were the only things holding me up. Your long elegant fingers (that I was tempted to break after you helped me out of the pond you threw me in) messed up my hair. Sigh.
"Uh, Sparrow? You all right?" I came out of my daydream/memories and realized I was in a taxi with Mac, daughter of Charlie. The man I had just been fantasying about. I smiled at her in a way I'm sure made me look insane and desperately tried to come up with a reason for the sigh.
"Fantastic! How about you?" I said deciding to evade the question all together. I lightly hit her knee and chuckled.
"Uh, good. Anyway, are you going to explain about the Flocking or am I just going to have to wing it?"
"No, I suppose I can't be that cruel. You Mac are sadly being bestowed the unlucky luck of meeting my family."
"COOL!"
"Yes, you say that now. But just you wait."
"That sounds ominous."
"It was meant to and who taught you that word?" '
"Grandma."
"SPARROW! Did you do something with your hair?" my poor hairstylist sister- in-law. I think she thinks if she says that enough times it will actually be true.
"No, still that same mess as ever."
"Sparrow, Dr. Seuss or Shakespeare? Dr. Seuss right?" This argument has been going on for a very long time between Lark and Robin. Most times everyone ignores that question, for if you don't either Lark or Robin will argue with you until you threatened to smash their heads in with a frying pan. But as I was trying to create as much distraction as I could, I answered for once.
"Dr. Seuss of course!"
"Uncle Sparrow, I lost another tooth!" That'd be Andrea, who always calls me Uncle for some reason.
"Wow! Let me see."
Hello, sister dear, who's this?" Oriole the younger mini-clone of my Mother asked while appraising Mac.
"A friends daughter. I volunteered to baby-sit."
"Well let me tell you something about that," was Lark's greeting to me. I'm assuming he was talking about the Dr. Seuss comment. Fortunately another family member cut him off from speaking further. Unfortunately it was my Mother.
"My baby, your finally here! Why are you late? Who's this? Is it Mac? Did you bring Charlie? Where is he?" It occurred to me that Oriole still had a lot to learn from my mother. But that would come in the years. She'd slowly start losing her sanity and then it'd finally go in one fallow swoop when she turned fifty.
"Drink?" asked Jay my savior. I happily accepted the martini from him. Taking a sip, I surveyed the room. Everyone was there, every last one of my nosy, loud and insane siblings. As well as their significant others and their leader and God. My Mother.
"Who's the kid and what's she doing here?" Lark asked ever so eloquently.
"Who her?"
"Who else could I mean?"
"Someone on the street?"
"Sparrow for once in your life directly answer a question I ask you."
"No." That confused him. One second he looked appeased and then the next mad. Then he just got more confused. He didn't know what to do. It was highly amusing. His face finally contorted into an ugly sneer and went purple, which was less amusing.
"MOTHER!" Now that was frightening. Time to leave, I believe. Sheesh for someone named after a Lark; he sure didn't have the disposition of one. He was glaring daggers at Mac and I, while my Mother had that crazed seen red look in her eyes. And Mac was the red.
"Come on, Ma-kid. Let me introduce you to Raven who just happens to be over on the other side of the room." I meant to push her in that direction, but she wouldn't move. I looked down. Mac was glaring right at Lark. And if looks could kill, Lark would have been dead, mashed up and sold as Soylent Green to the masses, I should think.
"My name is Michaela, sir. I suggest you use it." And once again my dear brother had made himself an enemy. And if the stories I had heard were true, a powerful one at that. She let me steer her away this time. I gave Lark and my Mother a warning look, which I'm pretty sure, went unheeded.
Raven was sitting in a booth working on a crossword puzzle with his wife, Lily. He was dressed in a black suit that matched his black hair. He looked every inch the professional and successful lawyer he was. Raven was the head of the O'Connelly law firm in New York City. He had started with Jay after he had graduated from Harvard. Lily smiled as we approached giving a clear view of her pierced tongue and motioned for us to sit down.
"Greetings kid and other kid. Who might you be dear?" asked Raven whose head was still behind his newspaper that had the crossword in it.
"Mac, sir."
"Nice to meet you. Do you know the middle name of the lead actress in the movie Soul's Core?"
"Can't say as though I do sir." SLAM went the newspaper onto the table. Mac and I jumped about three feet in the air.
"Damn." There was a pause. "Don't call me sir. I'm not my father. Yet."
"What do you want me to call you then?"
"Anything but annoying."
"So basically anything but the truth." I said to Mac while taking another sip of my drink.
"With such a tongue like yours Sparrow and your ability to never give a straight answer, you really should have become a politician."
"Then I would have had to shoot myself."
"Wait a second. Mac did you say? As in daughter of Charlie?" It was unfortunately at this moment I had taken a more then polite swallow of my martini. I choked on it and began coughing.
"Yah, how do you know about my Dad?" asked Mac quite rightly surprised. I started coughing real loud at this point, but sadly to no avail.
"Honey everyone knows about your Dad." Red alert, red alert! Danger, Sparrow O'Connelly, danger!
"Why is that?"
"Because-," and with a great deal of effort I croaked out,
"Because of your Aunt Kristy, Mac. She came with me once and talked about you guys."
"Oh." I collapsed my head on the table. My relief was short lived though.
"Does she not know yet Sparrow?" God damn stupid and dumb brothers that can't take the hint!
"Know what?" asked Mac curiously.
"Nothing kid, come on let's find a booth."
"Why?" was the only protest she got out before I hauled her off to another booth.
"Nice and quiet here isn't it? Want something to drink?" I tried to distract her from the question I knew was coming.
"What was he talking about? What haven't you told me?"
"Indeed what haven't I told you." I let the sentence hang in the air.
"Does this have to do with my Dad?" I choked on my own spit, didn't even need the drink this time.
"I haven't told you about my family," was the answer I came up with.
"Huh?"
"It has to do with everything."
"What does that mean?"
"Let's start at the beginning shall we?"
"What beginning?" I ignored her, puled out a mint and popped it into my mouth.
"I was born the youngest of a brood of eight," I began. " My father was a photographer like me and my mother was the stay at home type. We were those neighbors everybody avoided. Life was good. That was until Jay, my eldest brother became of marrying age. My brother is the guy over there serving out the drinks. He's a lawyer in a firm with Raven. On the side he writes romance novels. Hasn't sold one story yet, but still has hope. Anyway, Jay became the marrying age of 24. It turns out my Mother's mission in life was to see us married and with kids. Forget happiness forget success. She wanted grandkids. And we were going to provide or suffer the consequences. He got married when he was 25 dutifully. His wife is the one beside him. Her names Jane and they have two children, Andrea and Martin. Raven soon enough became of marrying age and the vicious cycle started all over again. Raven met Lily who was a struggling musician with blue hair and more then one piercing. My mother loved her. They were married at 25 as well. By 27 they had Phil. Then came Lark and Diana, Robin and Cheryl, Crane and Rinn, Oriole and Mark. They all have kids. But it wasn't enough for my Mother. She still had two more of her own kids to go. Kea succumbed, to my horror and married Maria at 25 as well. I soon found myself the soul receiver of my mother's attentions. My 24th birthday came and went then my 25, 26, 27, 28 and finally my 29th. My Mother was heartbroken and getting desperate. At every wedding she would nag that that could be me, on the phone whenever I mentioned a man's name she asked if we were dating. It's been terrible."
"Your Mother thinks you're with Dad doesn't she?"
"You're a smart kid and right."
"Well are you?" Again unfortunately had drink in mouth. This time though it didn't stay in my mouth or throat. I sprayed Mac right in the face. To her credit she didn't scream bloody murder (must have got her fathers calm gene).
"Is that a yes?"
"No! Maybe. No" Using a napkin and not looking at Mac, I wiped up the spill.
"Are you sure? Cause what was going on in Aunt Kristy's office?"
"Nothing exactly."
"I think you should think about this more and then tell me your answer."
"Good idea, I think. Who told you that anyway?"
"My Dad says that all the time."
"The understanding stereotype, I see." I couldn't help smiling when I said this.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Later that evening Mac introduced herself to my nieces and nephews and they all scampered off to play and talk. I visited the rest of my family and was having a pleasant time of it.
Around 7 I found myself sitting with Kea.
"So, anything going on with you and this Charlie bloke?"
"Oh Kea not you to. I thought you were above Mothers control."
"First off kid, no one is above Mum's control not even you. And second I'm only asking to get the story straight. If you tell me that absolutely nothing is going on, then I will believe you and I'll drop the subject."
"Yes."
"REALLY?!" Oh Lord, I shouldn't have said that.
"Maybe."
"What exactly does that mean?"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"Huh?" And I spilled my guts. Hysterical like.
"We were just good friends Kea! Then we got folding chairs and he threw me in a pond. And there was a second there, just a second. But then he pulled away. And I just brushed it aside as a one-time thing. But then there was the dance and the almost kiss. Then there was the actual kiss at the train station. And I kissed him back. And it was just WOW.
"Start from the being Sparrow." So I did. When I finished the whole tale he had the biggest smile I had ever seen on his face.
"Well who'd have thunk it? Sparrow the anti-serious relationship girl is in love! With a single father at that! It sounds like one of Jay's romance stories!" I half expected myself to start screaming denials, but I didn't. Instead I admitted the truth.
"Yah, I know."
"Wow. This is serious," his tone was awed. I gave him a withering look.
"How do you deduce that? I barely know the guy."
"You gave a straight answer to a personal question." That was both true and startling. "You have to call this guy, Sparrow." I could think of only one word to say to that.
"Oih."
"Oih nothing!"
"Look I don't even know what he thinks of this relationship."
"Sparrow, I quote " I have wanted to do that for a long time now." And then he kissed you! People do not say things such as that and kiss people when they feel nothing!
"Yes, they do!"
"True, but from what I can figure from how you've described this guy, he doesn't seem like the type that whispers sweet nothing into girls ears and kisses them when he isn't serious about it."
"Oih."
"Quit saying that! Now phone this guy up before it's too late and tell him you want to go for cocktails or something"
"He's out shopping with Kristy."
"Phone his cell phone."
"He doesn't have a cell phone." That blew him away more then anything else I said that night.
As it turned out, a certain someone came to pick up his daughter half an hour I said that. When Kea heard my gulp he turned to where I was looking.
"Is that him?"
"Yes." For some reason I couldn't get up to meet him.
My mother stopped in mid-conversation with Oriole and went pelting for the door when she caught site of him.
"Are you Charlie Thomas, dear?" she asked approaching him.
"It depends on who wants to know." And you don't want her to know Charlie, I thought panicky to myself.
"Dad!" Mac ran to her father and hugged him. "What did you buy me?"
"Isn't that suppose to be a surprise?"
"No," he laughed and to my horror so did my Mother. When she stopped she smiled up at him with an almost calculating look. Then she got another look on her face and she directed that look at me. It could only be defined as, What a Perfect Man and Why aren't YOU Married Producing Other Kids With said Perfect Man Yet look. As well as a little bit of Good Catch Dear and He MUST be a Complete Saint to take you. I was horrified. "Thanks for letting her come to your Flocking was it?" he said being the polite person he was.
"Oh it was no problem dear. We loved having her here. We hope she'll stop by again, she fit in so well. Isn't that right everyone." To my ever- lasting horror everyone hastily agreed with her, even Kea and Jay.
"Great," said Charlie who then shot me a, What The Hell is Going On look.
"Charlie," I said. " You must be real tired, so we won't keep you. Mac it was lovely seeing you." And with that I tried to shove both of them out the door while trying not to make it seem like I was rudely shoving them out the door. I didn't even try to talk to Charlie.
"Nonsense! Come in and have a drink! I don't even think poor Mac here got to finish her game with Conrad!"
"Please Dad?"
"All right." I desperately tried to come up with an excuse of why they couldn't stay, but couldn't come up with anything that was not complete ludicrous. Before I knew it my Mother had her talons in Charlie's arm and was dragging him over to Kea and I. The rest of my family followed them.
"Jay make this man a martini! Have a seat, have a seat. So tell us about yourself." Charlie hesitantly took a seat and shot me that what the hell is going on look again, while surveying my family as they swarmed around us.
"What would you like to know?"
"What do you do for a living?
"I'm a High school English teacher."
"Wonderful!" I cringed at the pitch. I felt real bad for any dogs in a five-mile radius of us.
"What do you do in your spare time?"
"I coach a kids soft ball team."
My Mothers smile to that statement provided some competition for the sun. The next question my Mother asked was in her typical nosy blunt style. It also caused me both a major and minor heart attack.
"When did you and Sparrow get together? And how? My daughter has been ridiculously tight lipped about it!" I'll admit this was not the most embarrassing moment in my life, but it sure had to be in the top ten. Maybe right between the falling from the water tower incident and setting fire to the Brewer's house. Now the next thing that happened maybe was.
(A/N It's an unexpected perspective switch! Oh Yah! Let's see what's going on in Charlie's head! )
Charlie's POV
I swirled my head to look at Sparrow so quickly I think I pulled a muscle. What the hell had she told her mother? Under my stare she turned bright red and I really began to wonder. I had never seen Sparrow blush before. Did Sparrow think we were together? How the hell did she get that? We'd kissed, she'd left and we hadn't seen or talked to one and other for a month. But that last kiss. I realized while I had been thinking everyone had been looking at me, waiting for a reply. I couldn't answer them. And I suddenly realized I wanted to. Ignoring everyone else I bluntly asked,
"Are we together?" Sparrow turned as red as her hair.
"I don't know. Are we?" she answered. One of her brothers sighed loudly and put his head in his hands. I would have wondered what that was about, but was too nervous about what I was about to say.
"Do you want to be?" She just looked at me. And looked and looked. A full two minutes went by without her saying something. Everyone in the room was looking at her now. I guess that was my answer. "Mac, come on we have to go." I got up and left with a protesting Mac. That last bit of hope I had for us finally died.
Back to Sparrow.
I watched him walk out. I didn't try to stop him. I don't know why. I should have.
"SPARROW! What the heck!" I turned my gaze away from the now closed door and turned it to Kea.
"Yes?" Kea's green eyes flashed.
"What do you mean yes? Go out and tell him the truth!"
"What's the truth?" asked my Mother.
"That she does like him."
"I knew it!" My eyes snapping in anger glared at my mother.
"Mother, don't even say anything."
"I will say something! You're being ten kinds of idiot. Some gorgeous single father wants to know if you would like to go out with him! And YOU sat there looking as dumb as a goldfish Sparrow! Do you want to be happy?"
"I am happy!"
"You could be happier. With him." The rest of my family was watching this drama unfold like a ping pong match. Their heads kept turning toward mother and I with each exchange of words.
"Mother you really are delusional."
"Stop it Sparrow and listen to me for once."
"No," and with that I grabbed my coat and headed out the door. I got back to my apartment and was met with a snore from Robin. Sighing, I got ready for bed. As I was brushing my teeth I couldn't help not regretting listening. Actually I regretted a lot of things I did that night and bringing Mac was not one of them. Disgusted with myself I quickly popped a mint into my mouth, grabbed my coat and headed for the train station.
Charlie's POV.
Mac and I were about to board the train when I heard someone call out my name. I turned and saw something that made my heart leap. Sparrow was plowing her way towards us with a frantic look on her face.
"Charlie I have tell you something."
"What?" She kissed me instead of answering. And this wasn't just any kiss folk's. This was a fire works going off, blurring colors, weak in the knee's kiss. Breaking away she whispered in my ear.
"Yes, I do. If you still want to of course." Well better late then never I suppose. My answer to her was to lay another kiss on her.
"Why didn't you answer me at the restaurant?"
"You know how Kristy is as cool as a cucumber when it comes to the professional, but not so much with the personal? The same can be said for me. It's one of the reasons why we stayed friends for so long and not enemies well, that and the Mets. Go Mets! I couldn't help it I laughed.
"Sparrow?" We both turned to my daughter who was looking at us (to my relief) with a smile, though a little dazed and surprised one. "I guess you thought some more."
"Yah. I did. Thanks for the advice kid."
"Your welcome."
"What was that about?" I asked
"Nothing. Look you have to catch your train. I'll come out this next coming weekend." Reluctantly I agreed. Giving one last kiss to Sparrow, Mac and I boarded the train and waved as the train pulled away. We didn't stop until we couldn't see her anymore.
End of whatever chapter this is.
Disclaimer: Own nothing.
The Flocking!
Sparrow's POV
Flockings. They are the one constant in my life. Every month my family regroups at my sister's café, The Bird's Birch in New York City. We tell people that ask that it's just are way to stay in contact with one and other, much like there own family reunions. But the reality is quite different you see. For the "Flocking" is really just an excuse to find out dirt about your siblings. Which is then used to interfere in each other's lives with. Jay my eldest brother says it's "to keep our lives interesting." And here I was about to go into this festering gossip pit of family with Mac, daughter of Charlie. Charlie whom my family feels is engaged to me. Charlie who they feel is perfect for me. Charlie of whom they have never met, but somehow think they know everything about. Charlie of such great character that he is even willing to put up with me. When Kristy asked if I could look after the kid, I was so flustered I actually agreed. And so here I am bringing them even more ammo to shoot me with. But why dwell on it? I can't change it. Sort of like those kisses
Oh Charlie not of their delusions, thank God they don't know about those kisses. They'd have a field day. You smelled nice. Like the autumn and strawberry lip palm. Your sparkling eyes like the sun reflecting off water looked deep into my own. Your arms that guided me as we danced were the only things holding me up. Your long elegant fingers (that I was tempted to break after you helped me out of the pond you threw me in) messed up my hair. Sigh.
"Uh, Sparrow? You all right?" I came out of my daydream/memories and realized I was in a taxi with Mac, daughter of Charlie. The man I had just been fantasying about. I smiled at her in a way I'm sure made me look insane and desperately tried to come up with a reason for the sigh.
"Fantastic! How about you?" I said deciding to evade the question all together. I lightly hit her knee and chuckled.
"Uh, good. Anyway, are you going to explain about the Flocking or am I just going to have to wing it?"
"No, I suppose I can't be that cruel. You Mac are sadly being bestowed the unlucky luck of meeting my family."
"COOL!"
"Yes, you say that now. But just you wait."
"That sounds ominous."
"It was meant to and who taught you that word?" '
"Grandma."
"SPARROW! Did you do something with your hair?" my poor hairstylist sister- in-law. I think she thinks if she says that enough times it will actually be true.
"No, still that same mess as ever."
"Sparrow, Dr. Seuss or Shakespeare? Dr. Seuss right?" This argument has been going on for a very long time between Lark and Robin. Most times everyone ignores that question, for if you don't either Lark or Robin will argue with you until you threatened to smash their heads in with a frying pan. But as I was trying to create as much distraction as I could, I answered for once.
"Dr. Seuss of course!"
"Uncle Sparrow, I lost another tooth!" That'd be Andrea, who always calls me Uncle for some reason.
"Wow! Let me see."
Hello, sister dear, who's this?" Oriole the younger mini-clone of my Mother asked while appraising Mac.
"A friends daughter. I volunteered to baby-sit."
"Well let me tell you something about that," was Lark's greeting to me. I'm assuming he was talking about the Dr. Seuss comment. Fortunately another family member cut him off from speaking further. Unfortunately it was my Mother.
"My baby, your finally here! Why are you late? Who's this? Is it Mac? Did you bring Charlie? Where is he?" It occurred to me that Oriole still had a lot to learn from my mother. But that would come in the years. She'd slowly start losing her sanity and then it'd finally go in one fallow swoop when she turned fifty.
"Drink?" asked Jay my savior. I happily accepted the martini from him. Taking a sip, I surveyed the room. Everyone was there, every last one of my nosy, loud and insane siblings. As well as their significant others and their leader and God. My Mother.
"Who's the kid and what's she doing here?" Lark asked ever so eloquently.
"Who her?"
"Who else could I mean?"
"Someone on the street?"
"Sparrow for once in your life directly answer a question I ask you."
"No." That confused him. One second he looked appeased and then the next mad. Then he just got more confused. He didn't know what to do. It was highly amusing. His face finally contorted into an ugly sneer and went purple, which was less amusing.
"MOTHER!" Now that was frightening. Time to leave, I believe. Sheesh for someone named after a Lark; he sure didn't have the disposition of one. He was glaring daggers at Mac and I, while my Mother had that crazed seen red look in her eyes. And Mac was the red.
"Come on, Ma-kid. Let me introduce you to Raven who just happens to be over on the other side of the room." I meant to push her in that direction, but she wouldn't move. I looked down. Mac was glaring right at Lark. And if looks could kill, Lark would have been dead, mashed up and sold as Soylent Green to the masses, I should think.
"My name is Michaela, sir. I suggest you use it." And once again my dear brother had made himself an enemy. And if the stories I had heard were true, a powerful one at that. She let me steer her away this time. I gave Lark and my Mother a warning look, which I'm pretty sure, went unheeded.
Raven was sitting in a booth working on a crossword puzzle with his wife, Lily. He was dressed in a black suit that matched his black hair. He looked every inch the professional and successful lawyer he was. Raven was the head of the O'Connelly law firm in New York City. He had started with Jay after he had graduated from Harvard. Lily smiled as we approached giving a clear view of her pierced tongue and motioned for us to sit down.
"Greetings kid and other kid. Who might you be dear?" asked Raven whose head was still behind his newspaper that had the crossword in it.
"Mac, sir."
"Nice to meet you. Do you know the middle name of the lead actress in the movie Soul's Core?"
"Can't say as though I do sir." SLAM went the newspaper onto the table. Mac and I jumped about three feet in the air.
"Damn." There was a pause. "Don't call me sir. I'm not my father. Yet."
"What do you want me to call you then?"
"Anything but annoying."
"So basically anything but the truth." I said to Mac while taking another sip of my drink.
"With such a tongue like yours Sparrow and your ability to never give a straight answer, you really should have become a politician."
"Then I would have had to shoot myself."
"Wait a second. Mac did you say? As in daughter of Charlie?" It was unfortunately at this moment I had taken a more then polite swallow of my martini. I choked on it and began coughing.
"Yah, how do you know about my Dad?" asked Mac quite rightly surprised. I started coughing real loud at this point, but sadly to no avail.
"Honey everyone knows about your Dad." Red alert, red alert! Danger, Sparrow O'Connelly, danger!
"Why is that?"
"Because-," and with a great deal of effort I croaked out,
"Because of your Aunt Kristy, Mac. She came with me once and talked about you guys."
"Oh." I collapsed my head on the table. My relief was short lived though.
"Does she not know yet Sparrow?" God damn stupid and dumb brothers that can't take the hint!
"Know what?" asked Mac curiously.
"Nothing kid, come on let's find a booth."
"Why?" was the only protest she got out before I hauled her off to another booth.
"Nice and quiet here isn't it? Want something to drink?" I tried to distract her from the question I knew was coming.
"What was he talking about? What haven't you told me?"
"Indeed what haven't I told you." I let the sentence hang in the air.
"Does this have to do with my Dad?" I choked on my own spit, didn't even need the drink this time.
"I haven't told you about my family," was the answer I came up with.
"Huh?"
"It has to do with everything."
"What does that mean?"
"Let's start at the beginning shall we?"
"What beginning?" I ignored her, puled out a mint and popped it into my mouth.
"I was born the youngest of a brood of eight," I began. " My father was a photographer like me and my mother was the stay at home type. We were those neighbors everybody avoided. Life was good. That was until Jay, my eldest brother became of marrying age. My brother is the guy over there serving out the drinks. He's a lawyer in a firm with Raven. On the side he writes romance novels. Hasn't sold one story yet, but still has hope. Anyway, Jay became the marrying age of 24. It turns out my Mother's mission in life was to see us married and with kids. Forget happiness forget success. She wanted grandkids. And we were going to provide or suffer the consequences. He got married when he was 25 dutifully. His wife is the one beside him. Her names Jane and they have two children, Andrea and Martin. Raven soon enough became of marrying age and the vicious cycle started all over again. Raven met Lily who was a struggling musician with blue hair and more then one piercing. My mother loved her. They were married at 25 as well. By 27 they had Phil. Then came Lark and Diana, Robin and Cheryl, Crane and Rinn, Oriole and Mark. They all have kids. But it wasn't enough for my Mother. She still had two more of her own kids to go. Kea succumbed, to my horror and married Maria at 25 as well. I soon found myself the soul receiver of my mother's attentions. My 24th birthday came and went then my 25, 26, 27, 28 and finally my 29th. My Mother was heartbroken and getting desperate. At every wedding she would nag that that could be me, on the phone whenever I mentioned a man's name she asked if we were dating. It's been terrible."
"Your Mother thinks you're with Dad doesn't she?"
"You're a smart kid and right."
"Well are you?" Again unfortunately had drink in mouth. This time though it didn't stay in my mouth or throat. I sprayed Mac right in the face. To her credit she didn't scream bloody murder (must have got her fathers calm gene).
"Is that a yes?"
"No! Maybe. No" Using a napkin and not looking at Mac, I wiped up the spill.
"Are you sure? Cause what was going on in Aunt Kristy's office?"
"Nothing exactly."
"I think you should think about this more and then tell me your answer."
"Good idea, I think. Who told you that anyway?"
"My Dad says that all the time."
"The understanding stereotype, I see." I couldn't help smiling when I said this.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Later that evening Mac introduced herself to my nieces and nephews and they all scampered off to play and talk. I visited the rest of my family and was having a pleasant time of it.
Around 7 I found myself sitting with Kea.
"So, anything going on with you and this Charlie bloke?"
"Oh Kea not you to. I thought you were above Mothers control."
"First off kid, no one is above Mum's control not even you. And second I'm only asking to get the story straight. If you tell me that absolutely nothing is going on, then I will believe you and I'll drop the subject."
"Yes."
"REALLY?!" Oh Lord, I shouldn't have said that.
"Maybe."
"What exactly does that mean?"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"Huh?" And I spilled my guts. Hysterical like.
"We were just good friends Kea! Then we got folding chairs and he threw me in a pond. And there was a second there, just a second. But then he pulled away. And I just brushed it aside as a one-time thing. But then there was the dance and the almost kiss. Then there was the actual kiss at the train station. And I kissed him back. And it was just WOW.
"Start from the being Sparrow." So I did. When I finished the whole tale he had the biggest smile I had ever seen on his face.
"Well who'd have thunk it? Sparrow the anti-serious relationship girl is in love! With a single father at that! It sounds like one of Jay's romance stories!" I half expected myself to start screaming denials, but I didn't. Instead I admitted the truth.
"Yah, I know."
"Wow. This is serious," his tone was awed. I gave him a withering look.
"How do you deduce that? I barely know the guy."
"You gave a straight answer to a personal question." That was both true and startling. "You have to call this guy, Sparrow." I could think of only one word to say to that.
"Oih."
"Oih nothing!"
"Look I don't even know what he thinks of this relationship."
"Sparrow, I quote " I have wanted to do that for a long time now." And then he kissed you! People do not say things such as that and kiss people when they feel nothing!
"Yes, they do!"
"True, but from what I can figure from how you've described this guy, he doesn't seem like the type that whispers sweet nothing into girls ears and kisses them when he isn't serious about it."
"Oih."
"Quit saying that! Now phone this guy up before it's too late and tell him you want to go for cocktails or something"
"He's out shopping with Kristy."
"Phone his cell phone."
"He doesn't have a cell phone." That blew him away more then anything else I said that night.
As it turned out, a certain someone came to pick up his daughter half an hour I said that. When Kea heard my gulp he turned to where I was looking.
"Is that him?"
"Yes." For some reason I couldn't get up to meet him.
My mother stopped in mid-conversation with Oriole and went pelting for the door when she caught site of him.
"Are you Charlie Thomas, dear?" she asked approaching him.
"It depends on who wants to know." And you don't want her to know Charlie, I thought panicky to myself.
"Dad!" Mac ran to her father and hugged him. "What did you buy me?"
"Isn't that suppose to be a surprise?"
"No," he laughed and to my horror so did my Mother. When she stopped she smiled up at him with an almost calculating look. Then she got another look on her face and she directed that look at me. It could only be defined as, What a Perfect Man and Why aren't YOU Married Producing Other Kids With said Perfect Man Yet look. As well as a little bit of Good Catch Dear and He MUST be a Complete Saint to take you. I was horrified. "Thanks for letting her come to your Flocking was it?" he said being the polite person he was.
"Oh it was no problem dear. We loved having her here. We hope she'll stop by again, she fit in so well. Isn't that right everyone." To my ever- lasting horror everyone hastily agreed with her, even Kea and Jay.
"Great," said Charlie who then shot me a, What The Hell is Going On look.
"Charlie," I said. " You must be real tired, so we won't keep you. Mac it was lovely seeing you." And with that I tried to shove both of them out the door while trying not to make it seem like I was rudely shoving them out the door. I didn't even try to talk to Charlie.
"Nonsense! Come in and have a drink! I don't even think poor Mac here got to finish her game with Conrad!"
"Please Dad?"
"All right." I desperately tried to come up with an excuse of why they couldn't stay, but couldn't come up with anything that was not complete ludicrous. Before I knew it my Mother had her talons in Charlie's arm and was dragging him over to Kea and I. The rest of my family followed them.
"Jay make this man a martini! Have a seat, have a seat. So tell us about yourself." Charlie hesitantly took a seat and shot me that what the hell is going on look again, while surveying my family as they swarmed around us.
"What would you like to know?"
"What do you do for a living?
"I'm a High school English teacher."
"Wonderful!" I cringed at the pitch. I felt real bad for any dogs in a five-mile radius of us.
"What do you do in your spare time?"
"I coach a kids soft ball team."
My Mothers smile to that statement provided some competition for the sun. The next question my Mother asked was in her typical nosy blunt style. It also caused me both a major and minor heart attack.
"When did you and Sparrow get together? And how? My daughter has been ridiculously tight lipped about it!" I'll admit this was not the most embarrassing moment in my life, but it sure had to be in the top ten. Maybe right between the falling from the water tower incident and setting fire to the Brewer's house. Now the next thing that happened maybe was.
(A/N It's an unexpected perspective switch! Oh Yah! Let's see what's going on in Charlie's head! )
Charlie's POV
I swirled my head to look at Sparrow so quickly I think I pulled a muscle. What the hell had she told her mother? Under my stare she turned bright red and I really began to wonder. I had never seen Sparrow blush before. Did Sparrow think we were together? How the hell did she get that? We'd kissed, she'd left and we hadn't seen or talked to one and other for a month. But that last kiss. I realized while I had been thinking everyone had been looking at me, waiting for a reply. I couldn't answer them. And I suddenly realized I wanted to. Ignoring everyone else I bluntly asked,
"Are we together?" Sparrow turned as red as her hair.
"I don't know. Are we?" she answered. One of her brothers sighed loudly and put his head in his hands. I would have wondered what that was about, but was too nervous about what I was about to say.
"Do you want to be?" She just looked at me. And looked and looked. A full two minutes went by without her saying something. Everyone in the room was looking at her now. I guess that was my answer. "Mac, come on we have to go." I got up and left with a protesting Mac. That last bit of hope I had for us finally died.
Back to Sparrow.
I watched him walk out. I didn't try to stop him. I don't know why. I should have.
"SPARROW! What the heck!" I turned my gaze away from the now closed door and turned it to Kea.
"Yes?" Kea's green eyes flashed.
"What do you mean yes? Go out and tell him the truth!"
"What's the truth?" asked my Mother.
"That she does like him."
"I knew it!" My eyes snapping in anger glared at my mother.
"Mother, don't even say anything."
"I will say something! You're being ten kinds of idiot. Some gorgeous single father wants to know if you would like to go out with him! And YOU sat there looking as dumb as a goldfish Sparrow! Do you want to be happy?"
"I am happy!"
"You could be happier. With him." The rest of my family was watching this drama unfold like a ping pong match. Their heads kept turning toward mother and I with each exchange of words.
"Mother you really are delusional."
"Stop it Sparrow and listen to me for once."
"No," and with that I grabbed my coat and headed out the door. I got back to my apartment and was met with a snore from Robin. Sighing, I got ready for bed. As I was brushing my teeth I couldn't help not regretting listening. Actually I regretted a lot of things I did that night and bringing Mac was not one of them. Disgusted with myself I quickly popped a mint into my mouth, grabbed my coat and headed for the train station.
Charlie's POV.
Mac and I were about to board the train when I heard someone call out my name. I turned and saw something that made my heart leap. Sparrow was plowing her way towards us with a frantic look on her face.
"Charlie I have tell you something."
"What?" She kissed me instead of answering. And this wasn't just any kiss folk's. This was a fire works going off, blurring colors, weak in the knee's kiss. Breaking away she whispered in my ear.
"Yes, I do. If you still want to of course." Well better late then never I suppose. My answer to her was to lay another kiss on her.
"Why didn't you answer me at the restaurant?"
"You know how Kristy is as cool as a cucumber when it comes to the professional, but not so much with the personal? The same can be said for me. It's one of the reasons why we stayed friends for so long and not enemies well, that and the Mets. Go Mets! I couldn't help it I laughed.
"Sparrow?" We both turned to my daughter who was looking at us (to my relief) with a smile, though a little dazed and surprised one. "I guess you thought some more."
"Yah. I did. Thanks for the advice kid."
"Your welcome."
"What was that about?" I asked
"Nothing. Look you have to catch your train. I'll come out this next coming weekend." Reluctantly I agreed. Giving one last kiss to Sparrow, Mac and I boarded the train and waved as the train pulled away. We didn't stop until we couldn't see her anymore.
End of whatever chapter this is.
