Just as soon, we exited out of the house... Uncle Rad and I heard Uncle Bandit shouting for help. We waited to hear what would happen next. We began to hear Muffin's voice came from inside.
Horseys can't talk! We than heard a neigh sound from Uncle Bandit.
Both of me and Uncle Rad, burst out into laughter. "Is that why you wanted to hurry outside?" I asked him.
"Exactly, kid." he continues to laugh.
We than heard Uncle Stripe's voice in a neigh voice that got us laughing louder than before. "We better get going, before your cousins know we haven't left yet." We than got into his vehicle, which is a black and tailgate, two door truck. Fast as he was speeding, during a dirt road racing, we drove away from the drive and on the road to pick up Nana and Grandpa Bob.
"So Andy, how are you feeling sticking around?" Uncle Rad asked.
I wasn't so certain if it was too soon to answer, but I simply went ahead to answer. "Not so sure... I know I've only been back with Uncle Bandit and Auntie Chilli's for a few short days."
"It'll take time, kid. Any games you played with Bluey and Bingo, yet?" he asked.
"I did run an obstacle course they made. However, not any others I could recall yet that we played." I remembered the recent obstacle course that I ran with my cousins.
"Do you actually thought of a game, you three could play?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know... I hardly played with or hang out with anyone, except family."
"What do you mean? You mean... you never had like friends?"
I shook my head. "It's like that when I was orphanage, as well as at school. I had people I chatted, however we hardly do anything together outside school." He raised his eyebrow with concern. "I mean, the time that I felt like I had friends, when I met Bluey and Bingo."
He chuckled. "You lot, would never end your games insight. The one thing I really liked was that you guys did a show together."
A nervous giggle came out of me. "And yet, I sang, while they dressed up, especially Bingo. Her pretend 'manly' voice always gets me."
"I know, but I think you could give it another shot." he suggested.
"I don't know Uncle Rad... I just feel like it's too soon for me. Yet alone, I'm trying to get my life ahead of me too. It's like I didn't really have too much of a childhood. Now, I feel like I became an adult too quickly." I than took a deep breath. "The only teenage years I had was when I was adopted. Now I just lost the remains of what I have left."
He was able to stop his truck. "Look kid... your parents did everything they could give you what you didn't have. However, I do feel you still have bit of kid left in ya. Especially, before you turn eighteen." I knew they did what they could. However, I still didn't felt that childhood wonder, especially having a family by my side throughout the years.
"Did you had a great childhood, yourself?" I asked him.
He took a breath and nodded. "I did. I never expect to have two younger brothers though. However, I do have to say a good childhood indeed. It shouldn't matter at this point. Everyone has different experiences."
"Yet, some don't get the chance to experience them." I added.
"Uhhhh..." he wanted to continue the conversation, however, he knows too well with me that I'll be more down. "... how about some tunes?"
I agreed. He than turned on the car radio. It was song that I recognized, however I just simply looked out the rolled-down window and listened to the song.
"Now that's a good song! How about a sing-along?"
"I don't know, Uncle." I was uncertain.
"C'mon Andy." he attempts to perk me up. "I'll start and you follow, eh?" He than started to sing, as the chorus came along...
Gimme a dirt road
The windows down
Wanna get lost on the edge of town
In your Chevrolet
She said gimme a six pack
Some Brooks & Dunn
If you want a country girl, you just found one
Let's slip away
In your Chevrolet
"Now it's your turn." He elbowed me. "You got to sing it out!"
I let out a light sigh and decided to give it a go.
I think I fell in love right then and there
We were out the door before the end of the song
I said where to, she said I don't care
Just don't take me home
Whatcha waiting on
He than joined in the chorus as we smiled...
Just
Gimme a dirt road
The windows down
Wanna get lost on the edge of town
In your Chevrolet
She said gimme a six pack
Some Brooks & Dunn
If you want a country girl, you just found one
Let's slip away
In your Chevrolet
"There you go, mate!" he cheered me on.
"Wow... I almost forgotten how to sing." I chuckled.
"You still got it, mate."
I than smirked... "I have a feeling you'll get yours."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he questioned.
An idea came along, however, I do wanted to include the cousins in this. "You'll see."
"It's not a horsey ride, isn't?" he became nervous.
"No." I innocently stated. "It'll be around during our get together."
"Oh! Oh, alright." He than turned back at me nervously, as I than shrugged my shoulders. "Torch Mouse?"
"Nope." I answered. "You'll see."
Just before, he could make another guess, we had arrived at Nana's and Grandpa Bob's. They were just coming out of the apartment and coming towards the sidewalk. When we came to a stop, I couldn't help, but hopped out of the car and hugged them both. It was comforting, due to fact while my visit, Grandpa Bob would tell me about his journey in India. With Nana, I would play checkers at The Heeler house. At one point, during my family trip, our family came to visit Nana and Grandpa Bob. The piano they had by the window was there, which caught my attention. At one point, she shared with me her piano and we both played different classical songs, as well some songs I heard been played on the piano.
The key notes started to play in my head, as I closed my eyes to reminiscence the songs we played. I blocked all the voices of Uncle Rad's, Grandpa Bob's, and Nana's voices, as the three were in a conversation. I saw myself in a flashback at the their apartment. Just before my parents and I were leaving... I started to playing a note from a Taylor Swift song... I started to recall the first notes from the melody of the piano. I looked back to see my parents and my newly grandparents watching me play and started to sing out loud, as they watched.
Andy... Andy?
I woke up from the flashback to see a paw on mine shoulder. When I turned, it was Grandpa Bob. "Are you alright, mate?"
"I'm sorry... I hoped I wasn't ignoring anybody, did I?" I apologized, as if I fell asleep.
"Not at all, you looked spaced out, before you did. No harm done." Uncle Rad assured me.
"We just wanted to make sure you were alright." Nana added.
"Are you?" Grandpa Bob asked.
I looked back at the window. "I just had a flashback moment. With my parents there."
"Oh, Andy." Nana felt that I was still in the grieve, as she patted my paw. "I'm terribly sorry about your parents."
"We all are." Grandpa Bob added. "Was something that came to your mind?"
"Yes" I answered. "I played on the piano with Nana. And just before my parents and I left, I played a Taylor Swift song. It just came out of the blue."
"Eh, I'm surprised you still like her-" before Uncle Rad could continue, Grandpa Bob gave him a disapprove look, that I had to laugh, which the two turned to me.
"That's okay... not much of a fan either, but some of her songs do stand out, especially what I played."
"Oh, I see." Uncle Rad realized, after I explained to him about me and my parents visited to their beach apartment. "I'm sure, we'll make more memories of it. Just like your parents and yourself shared."
I nodded, while Grandpa Bob, rubbed my hair, between my ears. "Pecker up, Andy. You'll see how us Heeler's look after each other and what we do as a family, lot more."
"Thank you, Grandpa Bob." I thanked him, as we than arrived back at Uncle Bandit's and Aunt Chilli's house.
As soon I got out of the car, I was able to open the doors for Nana and Grandpa Bob. The four of us climbed up the steps to hear a family house party was happening, just inside The Heeler House.