Stave Six.
The difference.
It was 7:00 o'clock in the morning and Grant woke up with a huge headache. The sun was shining brightly and a pair of birds were standing in the window. It wasn't snowing at the moment. He looked at the apartment. Everything was normal. Just the way he remembered it.
"What day is today?" he asked to himself.
He stood up, look through the window and saw Nicolas, Peter and Monica hugging each other. "Today is Christmas..." he said as he opened the window.
"Oh, look who's there." said Monica looking up at the apartment.
"HEY! YOU!!" yelled Grant in an angry tone of voice.
"Here comes another one." said Peter raising his eyebrow.
"Merry Christmas!" he smiled to the three of them. All of them gasped.
"What did he said?" Nicolas asked.
"I'm not sure anymore." replied Monica smiling.
"I heard you Monica!! I said MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" he said yelling it loudly.
"Today is a great day to start a new life, don't you think little bird?" he said. He then went to the bathroom, took a quick bath, put on his coat and went outside.
"Merry Christmas Jason. Merry Christmas Chloe." he said to the administrator and official of the hotel. He then saw Nicolas approaching him.
"Nicolas... can you do me a favor?"
"Yes sir."
"Can you tell all my assitants that, they can go home for Christmas and they can all take a month off? I don't think I need them anymore... for now." he laughed.
"Sir?... are... are you sure?" asked Nicolas shocked.
"Yes Nicolas. I'm totally sure. That includes you."
"Than... Thanks sir. I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything. Just go with your family and... wish them all a Merry Christmas for me, would ya'? Thanks for everything. Merry Christmas." he said as he hugged him. "Well, I better get going. I have lots of things to do." he said as he stopped a taxi.
Monica and Peter came over to Nicolas when they saw what Grant had just done. Both of them were chewing gum.
"Did he just hug you?" asked Monica.
"I think he did." answered Nicolas.
"That was weird. Why did he do that?" asked Peter.
"I don't know, but he sure looks different. Guess what?"
"What?" answered both of them at the same time.
"We can go home for the rest of the holidays."
"You're kidding right?" smiled Monica.
"No I'm not. He wished us all a Merry Christmas and left."
"Oh my God!" said Monica happily and laughing.
While on the taxi...
"Take me to New York as soon as you can." he said to the driver while dialing a number. It rang four times and a man answered.
"Hello?" answered the man.
"Marius?"
"Yes, who's this?"
"It's me Grant."
"Grant? Oh yes, sorry. What can I do for you?" said Marius yawning.
"Wake up your wife and your daughter, I'll be there in a moment. I want you all to get dress and wait for me. I have a surprise for all of you."
"Sorry, what?" he said confused.
"See you in a few more minutes. And Marius..."
"Yes?"
"Merry Christmas, my friend."
Marius smiled. "Merry Christmas to you too Grant."
"See you in a bit."
"Ok." he said as he hung up.
After they hung up, Marius woke up his wife and told her to get ready.
"Why, what is it?" said Jenny with her eyes still closed.
"Grant is coming."
"Grant who?"
"The actor, Rayburn..."
"WHAT?" she stood up quick.
"He said he had a surprise for us. Come on!"
"Oh God...!" she said excited.
Traveling to New York from Nevada was a long way for Grant. He arrived there in like 3 hours and told the driver to get him to Moonvale Hotel. When they got there, Grant got out of the car and went upstairs to Marius' room. He knocked three times and Jenny opened the door.
"Mr. Rayburn!?" she said surprised.
"Hello dear, where's Marius?" Grant asked.
"He's in the bathroom, come on in."
"Thank you." said Grant.
Marius came out of the bathroom putting his coat on.
"Ahh there you are! It's been so long since we last saw each other. Where's your daughter?"
"Fixing her shoes. She's almost ready."
"Good! Well, the surprise that I told you over the cell in not really a surprise but... I want you to know, I'm doing this with all my heart and faith that Lourdes will get better. Here." he said as he handed them some sort of check. "I'm gonna support you in everything." said Grant happily.
"But sir..." said Marius worried.
"Nuh-uh, take it. It doesn't matter how much it is. Your daughter will live, I promise."
In that moment Jenny started to cry. "Thank you sir."
"Grant, this is..."
"It's ok Marius... you deserve it. That's the least I could do after all you've done for me."
"What do you mean?"
"You saved my life and Alexander's. I owe you big time."
"How did you know?" he asked confused.
"Let's just say I had some sort of premonition." he said almost laughing. "I'm doing too many fantasy movies, aren't I? all of them laughed.
"God Grant, I don't know what to say either. Thank you." he stretched out his hands to shake Grant's hand, but Grant hugged him instead.
"Don't worry about it."
Lourdes came out of her room.
"Ahhh here's little Lourdes... how are you sweetie?" asked Grant rubbing her head. "I hope you're feeling well sugarplum." he smiled to her. She was holding Kitty. "Well, come on, no time to lose."
"Where are we going?" asked Marius.
"To wherever you guys wanna go. I haven't eaten anything. Wanna go to a restaurant? No wait, I don't think there's any open at this time. Well, what can we do?" said Grant.
"Don't bother Grant. It's enough with what you have done."
"Well, rain check?"
"Betcha!" said Marius once again hugging his friend.
"Well, see you then. Don't forget to call me if you need anything."
Grant went back to the taxi and told the man to return to Nevada. When they arrived, Grant searched all around town looking for homeless people. He rounded up six, and gave them everything that they needed. He bought them clothes, coats and shoes, which greatly improved their appearances. Then he fed them and took them all to a homeless shelter. He then left town and went to call on some old friends. He was having the time of his life.
Grant took another taxi. He told the driver to take him to Miami. He knew it was far, but he needed to visit his brother's grave before paying Matthew a visit. He needed to thank him for being such a good brother and for loving him so much while he had been alive. Also for giving him a great nephew. One that he loved with all his heart.
It was now 5:00pm. He was excited at the thought of surprising his nephew. He told the driver of the taxi to leave him there. He paid him and wished him a Merry Christmas. Grant was now in front of Matthew's house. And something he said made him laugh.
"I have no idea how I found you Matthew. But I thank the ghost for it."
He then moved forward to the door. Knocked three times and a old woman about 67 years of age opened the door.
"Yes darling?" said the old woman.
"Yes, is Matthew here?" asked Grant.
"Matthew? No Matthew lives here my dear." said the old woman. She seemed to be a bit cranky.
"I may be in the wrong house. But how, I remember it perfectly."
"Uncle?" said a familiar voice.
"Matt?" replied Grant.
Matthew stepped out from behind the old woman and gave his uncle a strange look.
"Uncle, what... what a surprise! Excuse me for a minute..." he said. "NEVE!! Take your grandma up for a minute!" he yelled.
"Coming!!" replied Neve from upstairs. Then Matthew closed the door and went outside with Grant.
"Hello Matthew. How've you been?" asked Grant.
"I've been ok, I guess. Can I ask you something?" Matthew couldn't believe his uncle was in front of him. Snow started to fall.
"Sure, what?"
"What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
"Well, that's a good question. I'm not sure how I got here, but..." he sighed.
"I thought you said no the other day. I... I missed you in the family dinner."
"I know you did. I'm so sorry, I've been so blind all these years. It's just that, my life hasn't been as happy as it seems." said Grant putting his left arm around Matthew's shoulders and began walking.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you see... you know how people think I have all the things I'll ever wanted right? Money, fame, I don't mean to brag but, good looks too." he smiled. "Being famous can damage you in so many ways. It's like a drug. It gives you the feeling of happiness, it gives you the feeling of self-importance and it can distract you from what's really important."
"I understand." said Matthew looking at the floor.
"I had a family once that I loved with all my heart. My mom, your father and my friends. But as time passed, I started losing them. I think, somehow I started feeling angry towards them." they stopped walking.
"Why?"
"I was alone Matt. It was like, all the people I cared about were leaving me. And unfortunelly... I didn't notice that I had such a wonderful nephew."
Matthew blushed. "I don't know what you want me to say with all this but, you sure aren't the same uncle I know."
"I want you to forgive me. I know I have been a horrible person. But you know, some people made me realize that life is nothing without family. And I basically don't have any, except you."
"I don't know what to say." said Matthew lowering his head.
"You could say, "I forgive you".
"It's just that this is all very strange."
"I know. I know this isn't typically me, but, you know, people change."
"I know... and I do forgive you." he said with a smile.
"Oh Matthew, come here."
Grant gave a huge hug to his nephew and kissed him on the forehead. Neve was watching through the window smiling and almost crying. She knew Matthew had been waiting for a moment like this for a very long time.
"I am so sorry I ignored you all these years. I hope I can be a good great-uncle to the little one that's on the way."
Matthew stopped hugging him.
"How did you know that?"
"Oops... I don't know. A little bird told me?" he said nervous.
"Sure," said Matthew suspiciously.
Grant looked away.
"Forget it. I think you will be an amazing great-uncle. Come on, let's go inside. It's getting cold out here." he said as he lead his uncle to a brand new family life.
THE END
The difference.
It was 7:00 o'clock in the morning and Grant woke up with a huge headache. The sun was shining brightly and a pair of birds were standing in the window. It wasn't snowing at the moment. He looked at the apartment. Everything was normal. Just the way he remembered it.
"What day is today?" he asked to himself.
He stood up, look through the window and saw Nicolas, Peter and Monica hugging each other. "Today is Christmas..." he said as he opened the window.
"Oh, look who's there." said Monica looking up at the apartment.
"HEY! YOU!!" yelled Grant in an angry tone of voice.
"Here comes another one." said Peter raising his eyebrow.
"Merry Christmas!" he smiled to the three of them. All of them gasped.
"What did he said?" Nicolas asked.
"I'm not sure anymore." replied Monica smiling.
"I heard you Monica!! I said MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" he said yelling it loudly.
"Today is a great day to start a new life, don't you think little bird?" he said. He then went to the bathroom, took a quick bath, put on his coat and went outside.
"Merry Christmas Jason. Merry Christmas Chloe." he said to the administrator and official of the hotel. He then saw Nicolas approaching him.
"Nicolas... can you do me a favor?"
"Yes sir."
"Can you tell all my assitants that, they can go home for Christmas and they can all take a month off? I don't think I need them anymore... for now." he laughed.
"Sir?... are... are you sure?" asked Nicolas shocked.
"Yes Nicolas. I'm totally sure. That includes you."
"Than... Thanks sir. I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything. Just go with your family and... wish them all a Merry Christmas for me, would ya'? Thanks for everything. Merry Christmas." he said as he hugged him. "Well, I better get going. I have lots of things to do." he said as he stopped a taxi.
Monica and Peter came over to Nicolas when they saw what Grant had just done. Both of them were chewing gum.
"Did he just hug you?" asked Monica.
"I think he did." answered Nicolas.
"That was weird. Why did he do that?" asked Peter.
"I don't know, but he sure looks different. Guess what?"
"What?" answered both of them at the same time.
"We can go home for the rest of the holidays."
"You're kidding right?" smiled Monica.
"No I'm not. He wished us all a Merry Christmas and left."
"Oh my God!" said Monica happily and laughing.
While on the taxi...
"Take me to New York as soon as you can." he said to the driver while dialing a number. It rang four times and a man answered.
"Hello?" answered the man.
"Marius?"
"Yes, who's this?"
"It's me Grant."
"Grant? Oh yes, sorry. What can I do for you?" said Marius yawning.
"Wake up your wife and your daughter, I'll be there in a moment. I want you all to get dress and wait for me. I have a surprise for all of you."
"Sorry, what?" he said confused.
"See you in a few more minutes. And Marius..."
"Yes?"
"Merry Christmas, my friend."
Marius smiled. "Merry Christmas to you too Grant."
"See you in a bit."
"Ok." he said as he hung up.
After they hung up, Marius woke up his wife and told her to get ready.
"Why, what is it?" said Jenny with her eyes still closed.
"Grant is coming."
"Grant who?"
"The actor, Rayburn..."
"WHAT?" she stood up quick.
"He said he had a surprise for us. Come on!"
"Oh God...!" she said excited.
Traveling to New York from Nevada was a long way for Grant. He arrived there in like 3 hours and told the driver to get him to Moonvale Hotel. When they got there, Grant got out of the car and went upstairs to Marius' room. He knocked three times and Jenny opened the door.
"Mr. Rayburn!?" she said surprised.
"Hello dear, where's Marius?" Grant asked.
"He's in the bathroom, come on in."
"Thank you." said Grant.
Marius came out of the bathroom putting his coat on.
"Ahh there you are! It's been so long since we last saw each other. Where's your daughter?"
"Fixing her shoes. She's almost ready."
"Good! Well, the surprise that I told you over the cell in not really a surprise but... I want you to know, I'm doing this with all my heart and faith that Lourdes will get better. Here." he said as he handed them some sort of check. "I'm gonna support you in everything." said Grant happily.
"But sir..." said Marius worried.
"Nuh-uh, take it. It doesn't matter how much it is. Your daughter will live, I promise."
In that moment Jenny started to cry. "Thank you sir."
"Grant, this is..."
"It's ok Marius... you deserve it. That's the least I could do after all you've done for me."
"What do you mean?"
"You saved my life and Alexander's. I owe you big time."
"How did you know?" he asked confused.
"Let's just say I had some sort of premonition." he said almost laughing. "I'm doing too many fantasy movies, aren't I? all of them laughed.
"God Grant, I don't know what to say either. Thank you." he stretched out his hands to shake Grant's hand, but Grant hugged him instead.
"Don't worry about it."
Lourdes came out of her room.
"Ahhh here's little Lourdes... how are you sweetie?" asked Grant rubbing her head. "I hope you're feeling well sugarplum." he smiled to her. She was holding Kitty. "Well, come on, no time to lose."
"Where are we going?" asked Marius.
"To wherever you guys wanna go. I haven't eaten anything. Wanna go to a restaurant? No wait, I don't think there's any open at this time. Well, what can we do?" said Grant.
"Don't bother Grant. It's enough with what you have done."
"Well, rain check?"
"Betcha!" said Marius once again hugging his friend.
"Well, see you then. Don't forget to call me if you need anything."
Grant went back to the taxi and told the man to return to Nevada. When they arrived, Grant searched all around town looking for homeless people. He rounded up six, and gave them everything that they needed. He bought them clothes, coats and shoes, which greatly improved their appearances. Then he fed them and took them all to a homeless shelter. He then left town and went to call on some old friends. He was having the time of his life.
Grant took another taxi. He told the driver to take him to Miami. He knew it was far, but he needed to visit his brother's grave before paying Matthew a visit. He needed to thank him for being such a good brother and for loving him so much while he had been alive. Also for giving him a great nephew. One that he loved with all his heart.
It was now 5:00pm. He was excited at the thought of surprising his nephew. He told the driver of the taxi to leave him there. He paid him and wished him a Merry Christmas. Grant was now in front of Matthew's house. And something he said made him laugh.
"I have no idea how I found you Matthew. But I thank the ghost for it."
He then moved forward to the door. Knocked three times and a old woman about 67 years of age opened the door.
"Yes darling?" said the old woman.
"Yes, is Matthew here?" asked Grant.
"Matthew? No Matthew lives here my dear." said the old woman. She seemed to be a bit cranky.
"I may be in the wrong house. But how, I remember it perfectly."
"Uncle?" said a familiar voice.
"Matt?" replied Grant.
Matthew stepped out from behind the old woman and gave his uncle a strange look.
"Uncle, what... what a surprise! Excuse me for a minute..." he said. "NEVE!! Take your grandma up for a minute!" he yelled.
"Coming!!" replied Neve from upstairs. Then Matthew closed the door and went outside with Grant.
"Hello Matthew. How've you been?" asked Grant.
"I've been ok, I guess. Can I ask you something?" Matthew couldn't believe his uncle was in front of him. Snow started to fall.
"Sure, what?"
"What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
"Well, that's a good question. I'm not sure how I got here, but..." he sighed.
"I thought you said no the other day. I... I missed you in the family dinner."
"I know you did. I'm so sorry, I've been so blind all these years. It's just that, my life hasn't been as happy as it seems." said Grant putting his left arm around Matthew's shoulders and began walking.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you see... you know how people think I have all the things I'll ever wanted right? Money, fame, I don't mean to brag but, good looks too." he smiled. "Being famous can damage you in so many ways. It's like a drug. It gives you the feeling of happiness, it gives you the feeling of self-importance and it can distract you from what's really important."
"I understand." said Matthew looking at the floor.
"I had a family once that I loved with all my heart. My mom, your father and my friends. But as time passed, I started losing them. I think, somehow I started feeling angry towards them." they stopped walking.
"Why?"
"I was alone Matt. It was like, all the people I cared about were leaving me. And unfortunelly... I didn't notice that I had such a wonderful nephew."
Matthew blushed. "I don't know what you want me to say with all this but, you sure aren't the same uncle I know."
"I want you to forgive me. I know I have been a horrible person. But you know, some people made me realize that life is nothing without family. And I basically don't have any, except you."
"I don't know what to say." said Matthew lowering his head.
"You could say, "I forgive you".
"It's just that this is all very strange."
"I know. I know this isn't typically me, but, you know, people change."
"I know... and I do forgive you." he said with a smile.
"Oh Matthew, come here."
Grant gave a huge hug to his nephew and kissed him on the forehead. Neve was watching through the window smiling and almost crying. She knew Matthew had been waiting for a moment like this for a very long time.
"I am so sorry I ignored you all these years. I hope I can be a good great-uncle to the little one that's on the way."
Matthew stopped hugging him.
"How did you know that?"
"Oops... I don't know. A little bird told me?" he said nervous.
"Sure," said Matthew suspiciously.
Grant looked away.
"Forget it. I think you will be an amazing great-uncle. Come on, let's go inside. It's getting cold out here." he said as he lead his uncle to a brand new family life.
THE END