With a successful morning came to an end, I decided to get lunch from the ticket voucher that Brisker gave me. I decided to treat myself some German sausage. After getting my lunch, I sat down near towards the stage and began eating my lunch. Brisker came over to join me at the table.
"So... Andy. What made you decide to perform in The Markets?" he started the conversation with a question.
"I was actually recommended by someone. Not only who works here, but teaches at The Kindy." I answered.
"Alright." he replied. "You tending to pursue a music career?
I admitted the honest answer. "I'm afraid not. Right now... not too sure what I'm trying to do."
"Look mate, I'm sorry about what happened to you and your folks. How old are you really, kid?"
"About to be 18 by the end of the year." I answered. "I was originally planning to start working after school... but now things changed."
"I know it may not be now. You may not see it here to be a long term, you know that right?"
With a nod. "Yes, but I'm just trying to start somewhere so I could earn a little keep." He nodded back with acknowledgement. "I would be starting to work after coming out of high school. However, due to my parents' now passed on... I might just start working."
"Well I know for sure. You do have singing talent." he pointed out.
I chuckled. "It just come out from the times that my parents and I do music on the road or karaoke. Country really hits me home."
"Any music hits me." Brisker added, as he finished his German sausage. "You're in kid. Feel free to come on the weekends you wish to play. And you'll play til' noon."
With the proposal, I agreed. Both of us give each other a shake of an agreement. It was than, my day was finished. The next day of playing on stage would be in the following morning. With great gratitude, I thanked Brisker for this temporary work. Just after I packed up my guitar, I heard a shout from Brisker attracting the audience and started playing his tunes.
Right around afternoon, I found myself back over to my Heeler relatives house. When I returned home, they were just about ready head over to the park. Just as soon, as I unloaded my truck from this morning, I joined with The Heelers in their family car. It only took a short amount of time, before I knew we arrived there. We began setting up a picnic just near towards a shady spot to keep us somewhat cool from the breeze. Just as we finished setting up a picnic spot, we saw two dogs were coming towards us. Both Chow Chows were walking to us. One of them was tall with a locket on her coat, while another is shorter with a hair headband. It was Wendy and her daughter Judo. Apparently, the parents set up a playdate for the cousins and Judo. As Auntie Chilli and Wendy chat like long time friends... Uncle Bandit and I watched Bluey and Bingo play.
"So champ, how was your first day?" Uncle Bandit asked me.
"It went well... I'll be able to perform on weekends in the morning til noon." I answered.
"That's good. You get to earn some bucks."
"Yes, but eventually I would have to find a full time job. So far, it's a step to earn money." I added, however it maybe selling myself short.
"Look at it this way, mate. It'll get you going outside. As well give you some activity." Uncle Bandit stated. "Speaking about the future... me, your uncles, Grandpa Bob came up with an idea."
"Really? What's that?" I asked.
"Well... it'll be something regarding about before the funeral."
"Oh... my parents' funeral is near?" I questioned. "Soon." he than went on... "It'll be discussed further, but the activity between my sibs and my father. We pulled an idea to do a camping trip."
"Somewhere around here? Like the one you guys went years back?" I questioned.
He shook his head. "Nah, it'll be back in the states."
Puzzled, until I realized. "You don't mean?!"
He nodded his head. "Bodega Bay, in California. Where your parents took you."
I shook my head in disbelief. "That's not possible! Is everyone going?!"
"Not exactly... I'll be joining you, your Uncles Stripe and Rad, and your Grandpa Bob." Uncle Bandit mentioned the names that of whom will be joining us. "How does that sound, mate?"
Credulous. It took me time to process it. "It's too soon for a trip like this. Especially with my parents funeral around the corner."
He nodded. "Yes. We'll be talking about that tonight. However, you'll find out about the trip in due time. When you're ready."
"Thank you, Uncle." I thanked him. We than heard the girls having a great time at the playground, and resumed watching.
"Say... do you remember the last time you played at a playground?" Uncle Bandit asked me.
It took a minute, as I watched my cousins and their friend played. My childhood memories appeared to be lost, when my parents died. Until, something came back to me. I told him a only recollection I could think was at the time at the orphanage. I simply enjoyed being on the swings and hoping to reach up towards the sky. At night too, I would sneak off to ride on the swing at the playground to watch the nightly stars. Thankfully, I never got caught leaving the orphanage. At one point I almost got into trouble, as one of the attendants was hall monitoring. It was the window closing that caught their attention. When they opened the door, I was able to get in bed. Uncle Bandit laughed at my story. He even joked that I haven't got the boot.
Later into the evening, just around the time cousins were being put down... I was in my room getting myself ready for bed. Just as before I could open YouTube to play ambient sounds, a knock came at the door.
The door opened to see it was my uncle and aunt. I rose up from my bed, however they told me I could stay. After they closed my bedroom door, they sat by the end of my bed. "Are you been doing well, Andy?" Auntie Chilli asked me.
I nodded. "I'm doing okay. Trying to manage."
"Well, you been starting to rebuild yourself, it's a start." Uncle Bandit commended me.
"I just miss my parents that's all." I admitted, as I than turned towards the picture of my parents on my bedstand.
Auntie Chilli came to me and gave me a hug. "I know you do. We all do." She stated. "Besides the possibility of a camping trip you, your uncles, and your grandpa might be partaking... we're here to discuss about funeral arrangements of your parents."
Silence filled the room. I didn't want to say or recall much of the conversation we had. However, they have been coordinating with my relatives back in the states. It was the best interest that the funeral would be taken place back in California. With the request of my parents, they wished to be cremated and their ashes to be scatter at the coast, where they, me, and the rest of my family in California had camped. Since the family back at home are preparing a brief, but yet a small memorial get together, I was to fly back to California. However, traveling alone wasn't keen for me, especially for a funeral. In effort to give me some comfort, Auntie Chilli and Uncle Bandit were able to make an arrangement for Uncle Rad and Grandpa Bob to join me for the journey and than back to Brisbane. It was basically, I was going to say goodbye to my parents. The cremation was already completed and waiting to be picked up. Tears began to fall from my eyelids. The two gave me a hug that I longing my parents to give me. While I was being embraced, I noticed the door slightly opened to see Bluey. We gave each other contacts, until she slowly closed the door, without a sound.
The funeral would be in three days... they would help me get me situated with Uncle Rad and Grandpa Bob with our flights. My eyes became tired from the tears falling and felt impossible to sleep. Nevertheless, Uncle Bandit and Auntie Chilli was able to tuck me in, and gave me a goodnight kiss. Just as soon, they left my bedroom, I turned towards the window, as one more tear drop fell from my eye, before the eyes closed in hopes to sleep through the mourning night.