A distant night bird mocks the sun
Chapter 24 memories from the past
After the mini adventure they had during the drive to Texas, they had finally reached Aunt kate's ranch, where Mike suddenly began to become haunted by his past. Sensing that there was something up with their friend,Micky placed a hand on Mike's shoulder which caused both men to jump.
"Don't do that."said Mike
"What about me? I didn't know that I'd jump too."Micky gasped
"Are you alright Mike?"Davy asked with concern
"I'm fine tiny, it's just I haven't been here in a really long time."said Mike
"Does this mean you're going to get all sentimental on us?"asked Micky
"No, now come on my Aunt's expecting us."Mike said as he got out of the car
"So this is where Mike grew up."said Peter as he looked around "I wonder why he left."
Heading up the path that lend to the main house, mike remembered his last day in Texas and how he had to leave his sister behind. Having never told the others much about his past, Mike knew that once the four of them walk through that front door, he was going to have a whole lot of explaining to do.
While the guys were making their way to the house, inside Aunt Kate and her daughters were busy getting ready for Mike's home coming all except for Stephanie who really didnt want him there at all.
Having grown into the age of fifteen, Stephanie had a devil May care attitude which both her Aunt and two cousins compared to the same one her brother had.
Leaving her daughters to take care of things, Aunt kate left the room to go and get Stephanie because, she wanted the entire family downstairs when Mike and his friends arrive.
"Stephanie, you'd better be on your best behavior when michael gets here."said Aunt Kate
"I'm not going down to see him, not after what happened the day he left me here. "Stephanie said as she crossed her arms
"Now you listen here, that happened five years ago and I raised you the best way that any god giving woman could, so you are going to come welcome your brother home and that is final."Aunt Kate said as she headed back downstairs
Still refusing to be as welcoming as the rest of the family, Stephanie left her room Just as a knock came upon the front door. Standing at the top of the stairs, Stephanie heard her Aunt and two cousins as they greeted Mike and his three friends from California.
"It's about time you came home, you must be starving out there in that big city. "said Aunt Kate
"Well, when you're a musician it's not always easy to afford much food on a tight budget."said Micky
"Nonsense. "Aunt Kate sighed "you boys are going to have as much food as you can eat as long as you work hard around here."
"I don't mind having to work."said Peter
"What kind of work needs to be done around here?"asked Davy
"We can worry about that in the morning, now come and get something to eat."said Aunt Kate
"You don't have to tell me twice."Micky said with a smile
"You coming Mike?"asked Davy
"Yeah, I'll be there in a while."Mike said sounding a little distracted
While his friends followed his Aunt Kate to the kitchen, Mike decided to talk to his cousins about Stephanie, and how she had been doing ever since he moved away.
"So, how's steph been?"asked Mike
"Stubborn, and hard headed, just like some one else I know,"said Clara
"Clara, you hush now. "Lucy scolded "cousin Stephanie is fine, she's supposed to be coming down here any time now."
"I just hope that she isn't still mad at me for having to leave her behind the day I left."Mike sighed
"I'm sure she's forgiven you by now."said Lucy
Looking up at the stairs, Mike eventually followed his cousins into the kitchen where Micky, Davy and Peter were already sitting down at the table. Once lunch was ready and served, Aunt kate noticed that Stephanie hasn't come down stairs yet.
"Clara, have you or your sister seen Stephanie ?"asked Aunt Kate
"No mama, maybe she is still in her room. "Said Clara
"Did you want one of us to go and get her?"asked Lucy
"No. "Aunt Kate sighed " You two stay here with Michael and his friends while I go get her myself."
"Who's Stephanie?"asked Davy
"She's Michaels baby sister of course."said Clara
"Mike doesn't have a sister."said Peter " Do you Mike?"
"Mike, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the group?"asked Micky
"Now is not the time Micky."Mike said as he gritted his teeth
"After nearly five years together, you think you know a guy."said Davy
"You've known each other for five years, and haven't told them anything about you having a sister?"said Lucy
"I didn't think it was important at the time."said Mike
"You know almost everything about our lives, but we hardly know much about yours other than the few details you gave about your Aunt."said Micky
Just as Micky had finished his sentence, Aunt kate walked into the room with Stephanie who walked right past her brother and joined everyone at the table.
"Now this is what I've always wanted to have all of the family together once again. "Aunt Kate said with a smile
"Mike, aren't you going to introduce us to your sister?"asked Micky
"As a matter of fact, I am."said Mike "steph, these are my friends from California, that small fella over there is Davy jones the tall blonde one is Peter tork, and the curly hair fuzz ball is Micky dolenz. "
"Nice to meet y'all."Stephanie sighed
After lunch was over, Stephanie decided to go outside for some fresh air while Mike was grilled for questioning by Davy, Micky and Peter in the living room.
"Okay Mike, if that is your real name, start talking."Micky said as he shined a light into Mike's eyes
"I'll start talking, if you'll stop trying to blind me with that light. "Mike said shielding his eyes
"Micky, put that lamp down."said Davy
"Fine. "said Micky putting the lamp back in the table
"You can tell us whenever you're ready Mike."said Peter
"Don't talk to him nicely. "said Micky "if you do that, then he'll never tell us."
"When did just a few simple questions turn into, an investigation?"asked Davy
Taking a deep breath, Mike began from well the beginning of his life, starting with his parents and how he didn't exactly have the picture perfect childhood. When he got into how his father treated his mother which led to them moving into his Aunt's house,mike saw his friends holding a box of tissues.
Rolling his eyes, Mike continued his story which was now about how his mother chose his no good father over him and how he hadn't seen his mother until his eighth birthday when she showed up on Aunt kate's door step pregnant with his sister. Ending his story with the death of his mother and what led him to leave Texas behind,Mike was interrupted by the sound of Peter loudly blowing his nose.
"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard."Peter said as he blew his nose again
"I've heard of hard times before but, never like this."said Davy
"Man mike,no wonder you didn't want to say anything, especially after everything you went through."Micky said shaking his head
"Now y'all know."Mike said as he got up and left the room
Lifting that weight off his shoulders after carrying it around his entire life, Mike was glad to have such understanding and not so judgemental friends, now all he had to do was to try putting back together the relationship he had with Stephanie before he had gone away and left her with their Aunt.