Part 96
Wes and Justine were dancing to one of their favorite songs. Wes gladly admitted that Justine looked like a real princess. She had been smiling all day and there was no way she would stop. Not even when she realized Austin was off dancing with Bastian of all people. She was just happy their friend could walk again. Besides… she had a long line of good looking young men that wanted to dance with her so she wasn't complaining about a few of them wanting to dance with her husband.
She smiled at Wes and felt the fondness she always had in her smile and eyes come creeping up. She always looked at Wes fondly. He'd changed so much from that first time she met him. He'd been such a little scared shrimp, adorable, but still a shrimp. As soon as she saw him she just wanted to cuddle him close, protect him from the world and make him get confident. He hadn't had much confidence, even though he tried to act all tough she saw through it and knew he wasn't. But he'd grown into a fine young man.
She took pride in being one of the people to helped form him into that young man. At least she hoped she was one of the people doing that. Wes looked at her smiling that special smile of his. She smiled back and hugged him close.
Wes hugged her back. Justine was his big sister. He never thought he'd have a sister to turn to for advice. He knew his birthfather had two daughters but he had never seen them. He couldn't remember meeting them either. He'd met the older boys but he wasn't sure about the rest of the family. But to hell with them. He had something better here. He looked around the room, seeing all his older brothers. The people that had raised him. Wes had been thinking for a long time, trying to find a way to thank them all for taking care of him, giving him advice, helping him out, talking to him, have fun with him, teaching him… raising him. And now they were all there, for a happy reason for once. And there weren't any younger boys around so Wes could really tell them how thankful he was for what they'd all done for him.
He nodded slowly to Adam, Austin's brother, and then let go of Justine to let someone else dance with her. He made his way through the crowd towards the wedding band. He whispered something to one of them and he nodded. He then waved to Adam and Adam grinned at him. Wes got onto the stage and took the mike from the singer, the band stopped playing and everyone turned to Wes.
"Um hi", he said and blushed a little. "I just want to take this opportunity to thank Austin and Justine for everything they've ever done for me. And to congratulate them on their wedding day of course. But I am also going to dedicate this song to my brothers who are here tonight. Because it might take quite some time for us all to get together again. Someone always ends up being unable to attend Warbler parties so…"
Everyone around chuckled a little at that. Wes smiled and felt a bit foolish. He usually wasn't so embarrassed when talking in front of a big group. But this was different. He took a deep sigh.
"When I first met Justine, Austin and everyone else in the Warblers I was just a lost, fragile, pathetic, scared puppy."
"You weren't pathetic baby!" Nathan yelled but Wes just smiled at him.
"Yes I was and shut up this is my speech you goof!" he yelled back and everyone laughed. "Anyway. I was a turtle hiding in his shell, a tiger cub shrinking away in fear, a baby bird afraid to fly and a baby dragon with no fire. But… the Warblers all made it their lives' mission to take me out of my shell, make me grow, teach me how to fly… and cast flames. They taught me how to trust in people, how to love, how to protect others, how to help others, how to speak, how to sing, how to dance… how to celebrate good times, learn from mistakes and from dark times. We've been through it all together and they've been my guiding light every step of the way. I wouldn't be anything without them." He bit his lip, feeling close to tears. He could see the same look on most of the Warblers. Some were already crying. Wes cleared his throat.
"But the most important thing they taught", he began. "Is that it's okay to cry. It's okay to be angry. It's okay to laugh and be happy. It's okay to feel. And I've felt. A lot. But I've always had someone there to laugh with me, comfort me when I cry, calm me down when I'm angry and to pick me back up when I fall. That's something else they taught me. You may fall. Everyone can always fall. The most important thing to remember is that you can always stretch out a hand and… someone will be there to take it and help you get back on your feet." He looked at all the Warblers in the room, getting eye-contact with every single one of them one by one while he spoke.
"Their wish has always to help me get up and to help me grow", Wes continued. "So… it's time for me to tell them my wish." He nodded at the band and they started playing, keeping his eyes locked on Jerry and Mark. Before moving his gaze.
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow – Looking at Justine and Austin.
And each road leads you where you want to go – Joseph.
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you – Bastian.
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window – Mitch and Oliver.
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile – The Everetts and Otthan.
But more than anything, more than anything
When he sang the chorus he let his gaze swipe over all the Warblers.
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you
And the place you left –Isaac, Michael, Matt and Collin.
I hope you always forgive and you never regret – The Bedford brothers, Rob and Alvaro.
And you help somebody every chance you get – Eric, Alexander, Fredric and Juan.
Oh, you find God's grace in every mistake – Ethan, Richard, Howard and Brad R.
And always give more than you take – William, Kim and Malcolm
But more than anything, yeah more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to – Scott and Reed.
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small – Malcolm and Charles.
You never need to carry more than you can hold – Peter Philips and Philip Peters.
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you – Julian, Logan, Roger and Brad S.
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to – Peter "Pan"
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small – Carl
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you – John.
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big
My wish for you – Mark.
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to – Jerry.
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
When the song finished Wes yelped as Nathan and Otto grabbed his arms and pulled him down from the stage into the sea of Warblers below it. They all joined in a big group hug with Wes in the middle. Wes smiled and held on because he knew they would always hold on to him.
2011 two years later
Wes smiled as he looked at the picture from Justine and Austin's wedding. He smiled at all the smiling faces. The Warblers at the party had made a group shot with the wedding couple in the middle. Wes let his fingers run over the familiar faces and he felt the usual warmth well up inside when he thought of them. Suddenly there was a knock at his door and Benjamin Calypso entered.
"Yo buddy you ready?" he asked wearing his graduation gown. Wes smiled and nodded.
"Yeah", he said and put the photo down into one of his moving boxes and grabbed his graduation cap. "Coming." The two left the room with their arm around each others' shoulders. Both were smiling widely and soon joined their friends in the hallway. The door closed behind them. Now had this been a movie the camera would've moved from the closed door to the box with the picture. The camera would move over the picture and then land on a broken whistle… fade to black… The End.
(The End) I need to be honest with you all. I have lost all motivation and inspiration for this story. So until I get it back it will be finished now. If I get it back I will rewrite the ending of this chapter. Up till then this is the end.
Love all of you for coming with me on this journey. Hugs.
Ha det gött - Eraman