Just as soon as we opened the door, I was tackled upon by my cousins. "ANDY! You miss our game! Dad and Uncle Stripe were all sparkled up again!"
I couldn't be able to speak over their excitement. "Girls... can I ask and count on your help?"
"What do you need, Andy?" Bluey asked me.
"You know I was rushed out by Uncle Rad, right?" I said.
"We did."
"Well... did you girls ever wondered how he would have been, as a horse?"
"We tried to find him, until he was gone." Bingo spoke.
"I figure an idea... for the both of us. We can, put up a game for him."
"You mean The Show?" Bluey exclaimed. "For real life?!"
I nodded. "Yeah, but I'm going to need your girls help to get him up the stage though."
"Why?" Muffin asked.
"Apparently, he got me to sing along in the car... and it'll be possible that I would be singing as well during The Show." I answered. "However, I could take the stage, but before I could sing, you girls will have Uncle Rad and Auntie Frisky up the stage and do a song together for a short time."
"Oooohhh..." they likened the idea, follow with a giggle.
"And I found a good song too. With your help, it'll be making up for your horsey ride and the sing along in the car."
"Don't worry, Andy. We always come up ways to be clever with our parents, especially with Dad in our games." Bluey assured me.
"And remember... this is a surprise." I winked.
"Do." the four girls replied back.
After our huddle, I joined with the rest of the family that were huddled and enjoying each others' company at the backyard. Uncles Bandit and Stripe were barbecuing meals for tonight's dinner. Aunties Chilli, Trixie, and Frisky were drinking lemonades on garden chairs. My cousins were interacting with our grandparents with games. I was reconnecting with Auntie Brandy. With permission of course, I was able to feel her belly with hopes to feel the baby kick. Rapturous and joyful to still see her happy for she's able to have a child of her own.
"Did you have a older sibling you mentioned when we first met?" she asked. Just after she mentioned him, I felt bit uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"No, that's alright." I assured her. "Yes, we're just... not in talking terms right now."
She felt guilty of bringing it up, although there was nothing to feel guilty about it. "Your Aunt Chilli and I were like that for awhile."
"Why's that? I asked.
"Because she had children and I didn't." she answered. "It wasn't until she called me, and we arranged a meetup here. Over onesies, we both repaired our relationship."
I smiled from it. "I'm glad you two are able to see each other again, Auntie."
She than rubbed my hair. "I'm sure you and your brother will repair relationship you two shared."
That remains to be unseen. "With some help, I did had to inform him about our parents passing. I haven't got anything back from him, maybe in shock and grief."
"Indeed. Just be patient. He'll come good." she smiled back.
I nodded. "What idea came with onesies?"
"I basically got your cousins each a onesie and founding out both didn't fit, until they swap each onesie."
"With Bluey getting a zebra onesie..." we than turned to watch Bingo play.
"Yep, she had the cheetah, chasing us around the house. It was a fun moment, until we ended it doing the birthday dance."
"The birthday dance? The one you and Auntie Chilli did for grandma's birthday?" I tried to remember one of the stories I was told from both of my aunties. She nodded. "I felt the dance really repaired the relationship."
She took a moment to realize and agreed. "I do agree about that. And who knows, you and brother would have something like that will repair both of your relationship with him."
The conversation that me and Auntie Brandy was comforting that I was able to get out of the uncomfortableness of my fractured relationship with my brother and just be patient.
In time after our early dinner, the backyard had chairs all set outside and the backyard steps was a stage that the cousins set up. Bluey and Bingo decided to do the dance that Aunties Chilli and Brandy used to do for their mother's birthday, in which they eventually learned. While Socks did nursery rhymes, with Muffin doing a ballerina dance, basically they were the littlies.
Eventually, just as soon as Muffin and Socks finished their performance, I saw Bluey and Bingo grabbing a boombox speaker. They appeared winked at me, as the signal that it's ready. I than remembered it was for Uncle Rad and Auntie Frisky. As everyone was applauding to use as a distraction. Socks was ready with the torch light.
"Now... we have another performer, who'll sing to us." Bluey announced as Bingo was on the other side with another torch light.
"I'll choose, Andy for this one." Uncle Rad decided to nominate me.
Just before I could respond, I saw a stream of light from the torch light shined on him.
Uncle Rad! The cousins shouted and chose, whose next.
"Awww... really?" Auntie Frisky found it cute, until the light shined on her as well. "Wait, what?"
The cousins giggled.
Uncle Rad turned at me with a smirk. "You did planed for this to happen, didn't ya?"
I smirked back. "Well, I'll perform, but after you do your skit with Auntie Frisky."
"What?" both of them gasped. Before they could reject, the cousins have led their way to the stage. Everyone cheered and chuckled at the same time, as it was funny and bit goofy.
"The problem is we don't know how to sing, just dance." Uncle Rad stated.
"Just lip sync." I advised before a song began to play from my phone.
Auntie Frisky gasped from the song, as she heard it before. "Oh my goodness, I love this song!" She started to dance, as Uncle Rad decided to shimmy along. The song (The Fighter) I thought fits perfectly because she did come from a broken relationship, until she met Uncle Rad. They lip sync most of the song, until they had moments they hugged, as their tails wagged passionately.
They only did it for two minutes, until they exited the stage, as we all applauded.
"And now we have one more performer, before the night is over..." Bluey announced.
"Now it has to be Andy." Uncle Rad went on.
Everyone started to cheer for me, as I felt bit hesitant. However, I started to pick myself up and Bluey led the way to the stage. However, Grandpa Bob came towards us with a large case.
"Since this was a good timing, I should hand this down to someone. I thought about giving you this, after hearing you played the piano, before you left." he stated when he handed me the case. I opened it to reveal it was a six-string guitar.
"Grandpa Bob, I couldn't-"
"Please, I insist Andy. You seemed to love music so much, I thought you should have it." he was persisted.
I couldn't help, but accept this generous gift. "Thank you, Grandpa." We both hugged, before he and Bluey exited the stage. I had to set up the cords correctly, until I found the right tone.
Three creaky wooden stairs
Those squeaky rocking chairs
The well worn welcome mat
The lattice vines, the happy times
All I wanna do when the day is through
Is linger here on the front porch with you
From the wicker swing, while the night birds sing
We'll watch the fireflies sparkin, do some sparkin to
"If you all wanted to join in, you're welcome too." I lightly spoke to the audience.
How the hours fly, as the moon drifts by
How sweet the air as we stare at the sun
Oh how I'd love to linger here like this,
Hold your hand and steal a kiss or two on the front porch with you
All I wanna do, when the day is through
Is linger here on the front porch with you
On the worker swing, as the night birds sing
We'll watch the fireflies sparking do some sparking too
How the hours fly, as the moon drifts by
How sweet the air, as we stare at the sun
Oh how I love to linger here like this
Hold your hand and steal a kiss or two
On the front porch with you
Just after it was over, it was getting late. Uncle Stripe and Auntie Trixie departed first, due to Muffin and Socks started to become sleepy. Uncle Rad and Auntie Frisky decided to drop off Nana and Grandpa. Lastly, Uncle Bandit and Auntie were prepared to take Auntie Brandy home, as well as Grandpa Mort. I was been asked to make sure my cousins were in bed. They were already given instructions what they were told to do, however I assure they'll be in bed. Just as soon they left, I returned back to the house to hear the cousins giggle in the tub.
Soon after they finished their bath and teeth, they exited out of the bathroom. They asked me to tell a goodnight story and apparently I read one of the fairy tale books and it was Snow White. Just after I finished the story, I tucked Bingo in, and she was already out. When I came to Bluey, she was still bit awake, as I tuck her in.
"Andy, why are you sad?" she asked.
"Well, Bluey, I'm just... going through lot right now." I answered.
"Is it because your mum and dad?"
I nodded. "Yeah... that's pretty much it."
"Do you miss them?"
"I sure do." I answered. "However, it's best not to try think too much of grievance because... it won't be healthy."
"Why?"
"Because, if you keep feeling sad, you'll be more down in your life and forget everything that is around you. Like your family." I explained, until I decided to go off topic. "Did you have fun today?"
"Yes." she answered with a smile.
"Thank you again for setting up for Uncle Rad."
"Your welcome, next time he'll be able to play 'Horsey Ride'." We both chuckled.
"Alright, try to get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Can you sing to me, please?" Bluey asked.
"Oh, Bluey."
"Please?" she gave me the please puppy eyes. It worked.
"Alright, one quick song and than sleepy time."
"Hoorah!" she quietly exclaimed.
I sat on the ground by her bedside, as I decided to gently rub her head.
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now...
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch this world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
A silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
Just after the song was finished, she was fast asleep. I give her a kiss a goodnight, as well did for Bingo. Just after I turned off the light, I decided to sit out on their balcony and watch the stars. I fetched myself a pillow and blankets from my bed to lie out there. Just as I watched the stars and feel a cool breeze, I tuned into the same lullaby of a song that I sang to Bluey. Just after a few short minutes and time, I started to fall asleep, once a shooting star fell across the sky.