We entered the kitchen to smell Chili's cooking, an all full-on fry up breakfast they called it. I noticed Aunties Chili and Trixie were chatting, as the cousins started playing together. Auntie Chili turned to notice that I was already up and moving.
"Andy, you were up early." she was curious.
"He was..." Uncle Bandit joined in and rubbed my head. "... just before I went on my run, he wanted to join in."
I nodded. "I needed to start somewhere of getting out a bit."
"Never hurts to go out for a run, for exercise." Auntie Chilli added. "Oh, Andy. Do you remember your Auntie Trixie?"
The White/Black Heeler came to me and embraced me with a hug. "Andy... I'm sorry about what happened. How are you holding up, dear?"
"I'm managing... it was something that just happened in a flash, as if I didn't remember what happened, only if it was dream." I opened up, as I than looked around. "Where's Uncle Stripe?"
Out of nowhere, Uncle Bandit jumped and screamed! I turned around to see Uncle Stripe and Bingo were making faces. However, Bingo used a big fake teeth, with tape, to give Uncle Bandit a fright. It got me a laugh.
"At least we gave him a good one, right mate?" Uncle Stripe gave Bingo a high-five.
"We sure did!" Bingo chuckled, before she turned towards her sister and cousins, before the trio started to flee from her. She follows them, while leaving us adults alone.
"It's good to see you up and moving again, mate." Uncle Stripe came over to me.
"Thank you." I thanked him.
"Are you planning to fly back, after everything gets taken care of?"
"I'm sorry?" I questioned.
"Yeah, what?" Auntie Chilli turned to Uncle Stripe.
"Oh, I thought you and your-"
"They passed away." I told him.
"No, I thought you three are out or, at least..." he was struggling to find the right words.
"Don't say anymore, Stripe." Auntie Trixie became annoyed with him.
"Uncle Stripe, my parents and I got into a car accident. They passed away and I was passed out from my injuries." I explained to him, without sounding harsh.
It took a few moments for him to process what I just said to him. He gasped. "Oh, Andy! I didn- I didn't mean-"
I simply shook my head and gave him a hug. "Don't worry about it, Uncle. I'm just processing."
He smiled and hugged back. "I know kid... everyone is too."
A doorbell rung.
"Bandit, can you get that, please?" Auntie Chili asked him to answer the door, as the cousins followed. "Andy, can you help set up the table, please?"
"Yes, ma'am." I acknowledged, as I began to grab the plates and utensils. Uncles Bandit and Stripe chuckled, while Auntie Trixie rose her eye brows with a giggle.
Even Auntie Chilli was surprised from the response, as she raised one eyebrow. "Ma'am?"
"Of course, Auntie Chili." I smiled back.
She smiled back from the manners of a young male dog, whose approaching to being a young adult. As I was wrapping up on setting the table, I noticed two additional plates. "Auntie Chilli, there's two additional plates. Someone else coming?"
Uncle Rad! Auntie Frisky!
"We'll be having some family coming over today." she answered. "We'll talk about it after breakfast, when we pick up Nana and Grandpa Bob."
A Funeral for my parents already? Or preparations for it? I wasn't for sure. The other possibility was for a family get together. It was still on my mind, before I got picked up and hugged.
"You're getting heavier than we first met, eh?" I recognized Uncle Rad's voice, that I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hello Uncle Rad!" I laughed.
"All you need is a good laugh, mate. Especially, after I last saw you." he added. "Are you holding up, alright?"
I nodded lightly. "Managing. However, being around with loving, caring family ices the top perfectly."
A kiss was given from Auntie Frisky. "Hi Andy." I couldn't help, but smell the Almond milk on her hair.
"Hi Auntie, still using the almond milk I see?" I greeted back.
"You know it." she smiled back.
"Breakfast is ready!" Auntie Chilli notified everyone that breakfast is ready. "Kids, why don't you eat your breakfast outside."
"Why Mum?" Bluey asked.
"We need to have a conversation with your cousin, Andy. It'll be a few minutes, and than you could come back inside."
"I'll go outside and join the kids, so they're not alone." Auntie Frisky volunteered to joined the kids, as Auntie Trixie joins also. Just as soon the two aunties were outside, Uncle Rad patted my shoulder.
"We had the kids go outside, so we could discuss about the arrangements for your parents, Andy." Chilli first spoke.
The mood became somber, not from the support I was given. It was for the fact that my parents are gone and the last person in my intermediate family is an older brother, who became dead beat to them over the past four years. Even my brother and I haven't spoke, since I told him I was going to Australia.
"... did you had a thought about telling the news to your brother?" she than asked.
I shrugged and haven't thought it, nor to think he would care. "I don't think he would care."
"Now why would you say that?" Uncle Rad questioned.
"They haven't spoken to each for four years, and he has huge resentment over them. It took about two years for my parents to move on, until my brother reaches out."
Uncle Bandit tapped on the shoulder of Auntie Chilli's. "Look, kid. What if you try to call him, or message him about what happened?"
Hesitant I was. Because I thought it would be best to distant my brother after, he claimed about reeling in the decision and also for me, after what he said to me. I was uncomfortable to call him, because I felt I wasn't ready. So I decided to write an email to him about the happenings to our parents. I was able to log into my computer and still have his contact email. With guidance of my hands, thoughts from head, and even the kinder words from my Aunt and Uncles to put better choice of words into the letter. It took about five minutes to have the full letter together with help. Still hesitant, I looked back at my Aunt and Uncles, as they assured me with a warm smile to proceed. I took a deep breath, and sent the email out.
"Hooray!" They quietly cheered, without revealing too much excitement that would attract the little cousins.
"He's not going to take it lightly, especially with me." I feared. "I just don't want to move back, without my parents."
"Well, like we both had said, you're always welcome to stay here." Auntie Chilli recalled.
"If that's what you wanted." Uncle Bandit added, due to the fact that I was almost eighteen.
I nodded. And I was certain. After the decision I made, there was still final businesses to take care regarding about my parents, and the rest of the belongings at my parents. Auntie Chilli informed me that most of my belongings were taken care of. Now it was my parents. She added that my Uncles Rad, Bandit, and Stripe would be joining with me back to California to collect the remains of treasures that were important. Including the legalities: such as "The Will", and more importantly, their final resting place. I did brought up for the idea that was often talked about with my parents that they wanted to be cremated and their ashes scattered.
"It maybe more important also, that we could discuss funeral arrangements too." Auntie Chilli added.
"I'm not so sure I'm ready for that." I disagreed.
"No one is ready for anything like this, Andy. I figured it would be important the your family too to have their goodbyes too."
She was not wrong. I still have minimal contacts with family members including grandparents, as well small amount of Aunts and Uncles. Cousins I haven't heard too much word nor contact, since my brother left. I figured they're more involved with my older brother.
"And everyone in this family will join you, as well." She included The Heeler family. I felt better that I wasn't going to be alone.
"I appreciate that so much. Even though I spend number times with family, yet I haven't had too much social life also. It felt you guys are beyond friends, when I first met you guys." my tail started to wag, before she gave me a kiss on the forehead. Just as I was embracing her, I turned to notice the cousins and Aunties Trixie and Frisky were watching. "I think they're ready to come in."
Auntie Chilli chuckled. "We'll discuss more of the arrangements for the trip and back."
"Thank you, Auntie and Uncles." I thanked them for the opportunity to have the discussion, while the littles were not present. And than out of nowhere, I heard a vibrate was going off. It was Auntie Chilli's phone.
"Oh, it's Brandy." Auntie Chilli noticed, who was calling her. "Hi Brandy, how are you?" A brief conversation ensued. "... Oh, alright, you sure?" Another silence came, as the cousins and the Aunties came back inside. "Wonderful, we'll see you soon! Love you, sis."
"Was that Auntie Brandy?" I asked her.
"It was her." she smiled. "She and Grandad, would be joining us for our family get together."
"Grandad, and Auntie Brandy?!" Bluey and Bingo surprised.
"Yep."
"Hooray! Family Get Together!" The two cousins cheered.
"How about I could retrieve Mum and Dad?" Uncle Rad volunteered. "So you could greet Mort and Brandy."
"You sure, Radley?" Chilli asked.
"No worries, however I'm going to need a co-pilot for the ride." he than turned to me, as I wagged my tail.
"I could help you if you like, Rad." Uncle Bandit attempts to join us, until he was stopped by the cousins. I turned to see Uncle Stripe on all fours on the ground with sparkles all over him. Socks is on top of him, while Muffin using a jump rope strap.
"We got a surprise for you." Bluey smirked, with Bingo chuckling.
"Uh-oh." He noticed.
"We better get going, kid." Uncle Rad whispered to me. "He's not with us!" He than took off.
"Hey!" Uncle Bandit exclaimed, and before I knew it... I followed Uncle Rad to the front door and got outside.