Charlie's POV
Christmas came and went with lots of partying and fun, James's mom had brought loads of wine which saw lots of the adults drunk by 1am on boxing day morning.
My mother being there for me on christmas felt both great, but also slightly surreal as while it has been an long standing dream of mine for her to be there, their was still some unresolved tensions and Aunt Angelica reportedly nearly had a fight with my mother numerous times both when Angelica arrived and throughout the night. Boxing day saw a lot people sleeping on the floor or sofa as they were incredibly hungover and the cleanup (which I along with James, Liam, and Lou Jr were tasked) took around a day or two.
New Years Day came and went as well with fireworks on the TV and an New Years Eve party at the Java Lava which saw everyone that we knew in Yucapica celebrate, Ushio returned to the USA on the 3rd January in time for the last half of the academic year.
In terms of what I want to do after I leave school, I would ideally like to build software and do a College degree in computer programming, lucikly my parents have a college fund known as the 'Charlie fund' that they have been saving for around 5 years and apparently my father is starting the 'James fund' just before christmas just in case he goes to college.
As for Ushio she has no idea on what she wants to do as an career, she wants to remain by my side, but she hasn't considered a college course or subject, according to Mrs Ichinose, Ushio had several discussions with her parents on what she wants to do after she finishes school, but she still remains undecided.
Also I'm going to Japan next month for two weeks to see my mother and her family, so at least I've got something to look forward to.
I was planning an surprise date this Saturday, but I got to make sure James doesn't find out as apprantly his Newtype powers can read my mind and can easily tell if I been out late or been with Ushio, keeping a secret is hard around him.
I was at the mall with Lou Jr and John in which I was still thinking for ideas for dates.
"Guys, I need to think for some ideas for dates" I said
"I heard there are two for one at the bowling alley" said Lou Jr
"Nah, done that too many times" I said
"What about roller skating rink" said John
"That would of been great in the 1980s, has anyone got any ideas" I said
"Its a shame its not baseball season, does she like ice hockey" said Lou Jr
"I don't think she likes ice hockey, any more ideas" I said
"I've got an idea on an impressive date for you and your date" said a familiar voice
"James, how long have you been here" I said
"I've just got here, dad dropped me off, however since I can sense your problem, I've got a solution for you" said James
"What is it" I said
"The Cinema, I heard the Big Dango Family reboot movie is screening on Saturday and I know Ushio wouldn't want to miss it" said James
"Good idea, but what time is the movie" I said
"It is around 18:00, so you can plan around it with food and stuff" said James
"Thanks James, remember don't tell Ushio, its a surprise" I said
"I won't tell anyone, also remember what is next weekend" said James
"What is next weekend" I said
"The Pickles Fishing Trip, in fact my first ever one" said James
Ahhh the Pickles fishing trip, an annual tradition where my father and Uncle Tommy take us all on a fishing trip, apparently Great Grandpa Lou used to take them back in the day and before that Grandpa Stu and Great Uncle Drew, after Great Grandpa Lou died, my dad and Uncle Tommy carried on the tradition taking me, James (for the first time), Lou Jr and Molly.
I had forgot all about it as I had both the date this week and going to Japan next month to worry about.
I got the cinema tickets ready for the weekend.
The Saturday arrived where I had booked an reservation at the Italian place not far from my place, as for clothing Dad and James wanted me to go in an Miami Vice look, but I refused and instead chose normal clothing, Lil drove me to Kotomis where we picked up Ushio who was wearing an green dress and then we went to the Italian place which the food was really good and followed by the new Big Dango Family Movie which surprised me as it was better than I imagined, Ushio was fangirling over every scene in the movie and came out the cinema saying it was one of the greatest films she ever saw, she also video-called her mother Nagisa who had seen the film the day before and they were discussing what they think is going to happen in the sequal.
The Next Week
It was the Pickles Fishing Trip which had finally arrived and we drove to the lake that was around an hour away in Northern California, when we arrived, we set up our own tents and got the boats out ready to head out into the lake
End of POV
"Right we will seperate into two teams as we can only fit 3 on a boat, so me, Lou Jr and Molly will be on one boat and Dil, Charlie and James in the other" said Tommy
The two teams got on their boats and set out to catch fish
"Are we going to catch fish or following the rules of the ocean" said Charlie
"We are actually going to catch fish this time, me and Tommy made an bet" said Dil
"What was the bet" said James
"It was who were to catch the most fish" said Dil
"I see" said Charlie
Charlie's phone began vibrating
"I thought we agreed no phones on this trip" said Dil
"Sorry, Ushio and my mother keeps texting me" said Charlie
"Did you tell them about the fishing trip" said Dil
"I told Ushio, but I haven't told my mother" said Charlie
"Your not going to catch anything if your on your phone" said Dil
"Fine" said Charlie as he put his phone away
"I've caught something" said James as he managed to catch a large fish
"Wow a massive one and on your first try as well" said Dil
The 3 continued to fish with Dil and James catching quite a few fish, while Charlie caught none
Later
It was later at night where Tommy, Dil , Lou Jr and Charlie were sitting beside an campfire, the fishing champions were easily Dil's team as Dil and James caught loads of fish by speaking fish, afterwards they put the fish on the BBQ and had fish before Molly went to sleep.
"Well that was an great day of fishing, my team easily won" said Dil
"That's because you and James can somehow speak fish, at least all of my team caught a fish unlike one of your team" said Tommy
"Hey, my phone got bombarded with texts from Ushio and my mother" said Charlie
"Dil, I thought you said no phones on this trip" said Tommy
"You sound like mom there and if Charlie wants to message his girlfriend, he can" said Dil
"I wanted to bring back the old feel on these fishing trips" said Tommy
"Like the time Grandpa pulled the heat exhaustion excuse and we ended up getting an helicopter rescue up on Dead Mans Peak? said Dil
"Yeah I remember that, remember Charlie and Lou Jr's first trip, Charlie caught that fish that was bigger than he was" said Tommy
"Yeah I remember, Charlie do you remember the time where we both swam back to shore after our boat capsized in the middle of the lake" said Dil
"That was freezing" said Charlie
"Yeah we had to make sure none of you got Hypothermia" said Lou Jr
"Yeah, by the way I brought Smores, who wants to go find a stick to eat them" said Tommy
No one responded
Draw Straws were done and Lou Jr drew the short straw
Lou Jr went looking for some good sticks for smores where he came across something bizarre, it was an old and broken melodica that looked like it had been there for years, but not far from it was ruins of an old car which had an faded white and pink colour scheme.
Lou Jr got sticks to be sharpened to have Smores put on before returning
"Guys, I found an old car in the woods as well as an broken melodica" said Lou Jr
"What was the car" said Dil
"It was what appeared to be an White and Pink Pontiac Firebird" said Lou Jr
"It can't be" said Dil as he stood up as Lou Jr motioned him to head to the direction of the woods
Dil and Lou Jr went to the woods with Tommy, James and Charlie following behind them to find the car, the car had an tree growing out of where the boot was and was slightly crushed as an tree had fallen on it, the melodica was sky blue with most of the keys broken.
"Dil, isn't that Kaori's old Firebird" said Tommy as Charlie glared at Dil thus putting Dil on the spot
"It is, after Kaori left, I got so angry that I brought it along with most of Kaori's old possessions that she had left behind and then I pushed it off Dead Mans Peak, a month after I went to the summit" said Dil in an sombre tone
"Dad, two questions, one why did you do that and second why did you spare the violin" said Charlie
Dil sighed as they walked back to the bonfire before raising his voice "Because she left us Charlie, she left me to raise you by myself, so I let my anger slip and took virtually all of Kaori's belongings and threw them off the Peak, as for the violin it was well hidden away and after receiving advice at the summit, I began to move on and then I met Lil" said Dil as they arrived at the campsite.
Dil stared at the fire for a bit before Tommy spoke "Charlie, I don't think your father meant to shout at you, but only because it hurt him when your mother left him and you behind on her return to Japan"
"I apologise Charlie, I understand that your getting to know your mother better after all these years, just I was upset at the time to the point that I threw the Melodica and Firebird off a cliff" said Dil
"How come Aunt Angelica and my mother don't like each other" said Charlie
"They have never liked each other, even before Kaori left America, they generally clashed on many different things and lets say Kaori made the worst first impression" said Dil
James interrupted to the lighten the mood "Has anyone tried an Deep Fried Pickle on the stick"
Everyone laughed before Dil responded "I have, best to have when seasoned with sugar"
"No, Sugar is way to sweet, got to be salt or a garlic mayo sauce, brings out the taste" said Charlie
"I have never tried it, have you Jr" said Tommy
"Yeah I agree with Charlie on this one" said Lou Jr
"I think Chilli Sauce is the best for it" said James
"Not a bad shout, so Charlie what are you going to do after your graduate school" said Lou Jr
"Possibly a Programming Degree, I'm applying for colleges all over the United States" said Charlie
"Have you decided firmly on which college you want to attend yet" said Dil
"Not yet, I want to pick the best one for me" said Charlie
"Good on you, Jr, have you decided on your career options yet" said Tommy
"I feel like doing an degree in the arts" said Lou Jr
"Are you going to get a job out of it" said Tommy
"Yeah I feel like if I can show off my creative writing skills to become an scriptwriter" said Lou Jr
"I don't know, Its an tough business, you've got to stand out..." said Tommy before being interrupted by Dil
"T, let Lou Jr choose out on his own future, whatever you want to do Lou Jr, you do it" said Dil
"Thanks Uncle Dil" said Lou Jr
"Do you remember Slosh Mountain" said Tommy
"Yeah shame they shut it down, I remember when we were younger that was the premier water park in the Tri State Area" said Dil
"Yeah, remember when Susie had an concert there and we ended dragging Grandpa Boris" said Tommy
Dil chuckled "Yeah I remember that, we ended up getting real sunburnt and Mom gave us all an lecture"
"Yeah, although she still let us keep those Slosh Mountain all year passes" said Tommy
"Didn't Slosh Mountain decline because of years of neglect and poor management" said Lou Jr
"Neglect, thats an understatement, it looked like something out of Jackass" said Charlie
"It was such a shame that when ownership changed hands multiple times, they never maintained the park" said Tommy
"I remember taking Charlie in its final summer, it was still as good as I remember it" said Dil
"Do you guys know that I've been to Action Park" said James
"Is that the waterpark that was once labelled as the most dangerous waterpark ever" said Charlie
"Thats the one, I went there under its current name two years ago, lot of fun actually" said James
"I wish there was an waterpark nearby, Another thing I do remember is when you nearly joined the circus" said Tommy
"Wait dad, you nearly joined the circus" said both James and Charlie
"Yeah and then they started copying every one of my quirks so I left after performing" said Dil
"Yeah It was an good performance, remember when you and dad invented an time machine and then when we went back in time, evreything was in slow motion" said Tommy
Dil laughed before saying "Yeah that was brilliant, the Intergalactic Research Organisation bought it off us and used it to try and fill their ranks"
"Do you remember when Dad tried inventing an entire playpark that was somehow able to fit in our garden" said Tommy
"I remember my father telling me about it, how he was able to fit so many worlds via dimension editing and how it all broke apart after you and the group and Angelica got in an fight and it started to fall apart" said Dil
"Wait you guys had your own interdimesnional park in your garden" said James
"Yeah for a brief time, James what was it like before you met your father" said Tommy
"Well it was fairly ordinary, my mother worked at an airline after being fired at her previous Intergalactic job, we would go and watch Supersonics games occasionally as well as going to Blue Jays games over the summer, she also would encourage me to study and to pursue anything I set my mind to" said James
"Your a Blue Jays fan" said Charlie surprised
"Yeah I'm a Blue Jays fan" said James
"I heard your an inventor like your father" said Tommy
"Yeah, recently I managed to invent a hoverboard similer to the one from Back to the Future" said James
"That is so cool, how did you do it" said Lou Jr
"I can't tell, but lets say its still in the prototype stage" said James
"Basically we are trying to find a power source that isn't Tiberium" said Dil
"Yeah, although the Hoverboards will soon be sold as James's Hoverboard" said James
"Looking forward to it" said Tommy
"Yeah, i'm going to hit the hay" said James as he went to his tent to sleep
"Night James" said the other 4
"I hear Charlie is going back to Japan for two weeks in February" said Tommy
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it" said Charlie
"Yeah, Me and Kaori arranged it during the Christmas party as Kaori wanted to get to know her son more" said Dil
"You know speaking of Slosh Mountain, I remember when you and Kaori took Charlie there when he was 2" said Tommy
Flashback (16 Years Ago)
Dil and Kaori had just graduated from University and Charlie had turned 2 years old 2 months prior and wanted to celebrate wothout the worries of university dissertations, The weekend they went to Slosh Mountain was also Kaori's 22nd Birthday so it was an double celebration that weekend.
Both of them woke up early at 6am as Charlie awoke with a massive smile as Kaori lifted him out of his cot and after getting him changed into his going out clothes, she carried him downstairs as Dil then surprised her when they reached the living room
"Happy Birthday Kaori" said Dil as he held an giant present
"Awww thanks Dil, I love the surprise" said Kaori
"Anything for you, open the present" said Dil
Kaori rushingly opened the present to find a new Violin and Bow sealed in an Black and Silver case, it looked like an extremely rare and shiny violin.
Kaori examined the violin "Dil, this is amazing, thank so much" said Kaori as she and Dil kissed.
Charlie then said "Open mine, Open mine" as he held his present for his mother to open
Kaori smiled at her son "Aww Charlie got me something" before taking the present and opening it to find a rock with eye and mouth stickers that he made in pre-school, "I love it Charlie, its beautiful" Kaori said with an smile as she gave Charlie a big hug.
They packed what they needed for Slosh Mountain and after putting Charlie into his booster chair, they entered Kaori's Pontiac Firebird which Kaori had bought it to travel around her university campus with last year as well as pick up Charlie from his Grandparents Stu and Didi if Dil was with his Alien Research Society (which evolved into ARI) and they headed for Slosh Mountain.
"So hows the Alien Research going" said Kaori
"Well we managed to receive government funding so we can become an independent Research Institute, as for Alien Research we managed to translate more Klebian text" said Dil
"Any more Beautiful Klebian pieces, there music is beautiful" said Kaori
"unfortunately no, just more on their civilisations and planets history" said Dil
"Oh, I hear from Charlie's preschool teacher that Charlie is skilled at the Xylophone and can play songs that he knows like Row Row Your Boat and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" said Kaori with excitement
"Charlie's an musical prodigy, I reckon he may be as good as you in the future, do you know he started to play your old melodica recently, he's so cute when he tries to imitate songs he hears from Sesame Street and other shows he watches" said Dil
"Awww, it won't be long before he most likely takes up violin" said Kaori
"Woah, we don't know if he is going to become an musician or not" said Dil
"I agree, its up to him, remember when you performed at that College Gala where you played All Upon the Watchtower on Guitar" said Kaori
"Yeah I remember that, Jimi Hendrix songs are pretty awesome on Guitar, what about when we both performed Stayin Alive on an Guitar/Violin duet" said Dil
"Yeah we made that piece our own" said Kaori
"good times, shame that we are leaving university, there was some good times" said Dil
"Definitely, Remember when I got to peform in an orchestra and you came to watch in front row" said Kaori
"Yeah it was beautiful, you stood out as the strong and wildcard of an violinist you are" said Dil
"Awww nothing beats though when Charlie said his first word" said Kaori
"Yeah when he yelled 'Mommy' after you had performed in that orchestra, he was so proud of you" said Dil
"It was an good moment" said Kaori smiling
Kaori had put on some classical music, but she began listening to 60s, 80s and J-Pop music more frequently as well as her musical tastes diverged and evolved.
As she drove, Kaori had an dilemma in her mind, she had just graduated from university with an degree in Music Studies and with doctors giving her the all clear for her to be able to fly on an plane, she had an choice to make.
On one hand she could stay with Dil and her son Charlie and start a life and family for herself in California, she still loved Dil and wanted to be a mother to Charlie, but getting an job with her degree in California was hard as there was heavy competition and the presence of Hollywood nearby made it extremely competitive to get jobs and Kaori was an outsider looking in when it came to American connections into the music world.
On the other hand, she was beginning to feel slightly homesick and began wanting to return to Japan, she hadn't seen her parents in 7 years as well as Kousei, a person Kaori hadn't forgot over the years and she still held very stong feelings towards him and felt like she still owed him that duet they promised years ago, also the job prospects over there were better than where she currently was now.
Kaori began to weight these options in her mind since the start of her final university year and either choice would be an very hard choice to make.
They arrived at Slosh Mountain where Tommy, Kimi and Lou Jr were expecting them, they had an good time with the adults going on the rides, whlist for an brief moment Lou Jr and Charlie went on an Rugrats esque adventure which reminded Tommy, Dil and Kimi of the past long ago, After going on Whiplash Gorge for the 10th time Dil and Kaori asked Tommy to take a picture of them two plus Charlie, Tommy took the picture and the photo showed all 3 of them smiling.
Present Day
"I do remember like it was yesterday, (Looks in his wallet where he finds the photo slightly scrunched up). here's the photo, one of my last good memories with Kaori" said Dil
Charlie, Lou Jr and Tommy gathered around to see it
"Is that the photo you asked me to take then" said Tommy
"Is that me in that picture" said Charlie as he pointed to a younger version of himself in his mothers arms
"Yeah it is, this was when all 3 of us went to Slosh Mountain" said Dil
"How long ago was that" said Charlie
"You had just turned 2, it was roughly a year and a bit before your mom left for Japan" said Dil
"Wow thats a long time ago, you two seemed so happy in this photo, considering what happened an year and a half later" said Charlie
"In truth Kaori and me never argued that often and when we did it was usually if she was in an bad mood and in that cass I used to buy Canales from the local bakery nearby which she loved as she had an strong sweet tooth , your mother was and still is from what I could gather at the Christmas Party an free-spirited individual and she could lighten a dark room by simply entering it, my guess with her decision a year and an half later came down to what she wanted out of life and her heart feeling homesick" said Dil
"Wow that's an deep analogy on your past love" said Lou Jr
"Well I could go in detail about everyone I dated, all of which are crazy, Kaori was the stormy and tempestuous one who I've just talked about, Haman was an interesting one, probably the most intelligent as well as being the most reflective and someone who could speak her mind , Lil is probably the most down to earth as well as being someone who is the most organised and the most thoughtful, all 3 of them I could also describe as slightly crazy and with an sense of humour" said Dil
"Well you are free-spirited and slightly crazy yourself dad" said Charlie
"Thanks son, are you excited for your trip to Japan in February" said Dil
"Yeah I am, but it does still feel good now that she's back in my life" said Charlie
"Yeah, speaking of dates, how did you date go the other day" said Dil
Charlie went red-faced with embarrassment
"Ohh yeah, how was your date Charlie" said Lou Jr
"it was good, it went well" said Charlie
"Stop embarrassing him you two, if it went well, it went well" said Tommy
"Thanks Uncle Tommy, you saved me there" said Charlie
"Anytime" said Tommy as everyone laughed and talked about more trival things before all going to sleep