Chapter 9: Birthday party

Stephen Rose P.O.V

I stepped into my grandfather's house already expecting what was about to unfold after 16 years of birthday parties the behavior of my grandfather wasn't a secret for me anymore and just as I had guessed as soon as I put a foot in everyone started singing me ''Happy Birthday'' even if I knew that would happen it still put a smile on my face luckily for me our family was tightly knitted everyone was caring and there was no big dispute between family member the only thing I could nitpick about in this family was how my grandmother always like to tell the most embarrassing story about her grandchildren to whoever was listening to her and that Aria love to tease me but even this I knew she was doing this because of her personality and not because she disliked me

'' Thank you all'' I said once they were done singing

''HAHAHA one year older now you brat come and give a hug to your grandfather'' said my Granpa and without waiting for me to give him a hug he was already bear hugging me I patted his back for him to let me go, even at 60 years old this old man was still as strong as an ox I thought while giving a wry smile to the rest of family who was looking at this with clear amusement in their eyes

After my Grandpa finally let me go I started giving hugs to my aunts before shaking hands with their husbands and then gave another round of hugs to my cousins starting with the little energized bunny Lindsey the youngest of the bunch only younger by 15 minutes but she was still the youngest in the family than I gave her sister Sophia the same treatment, she just like her mother was as shy as someone could get just hugging her made her face turn from all shade of red possible from light red to bright red almost turning to a shade of light purple hehe she was is cute I thought

then it was my older cousin's turn of course Elizabeth was the same cool and aloof girl I remembered but I knew she was a caring girl and probably one of the people who worried about their family the most coming in front of Aria the last one who hadn't got a hug I hesitated a little I wasn't sure how to tease her but she saw my hesitation as a new source material for her to tease me

'' What is it little cousin can it be that you can't hug me because you love me and it's making you shy hehe'' she said with a cheeky grin while looking up since I was way taller than her in fact she would probably be the shortest in the family soon enough because even at 13 the twins were already close to pass her in heights

''Humph even if you are pretty cousin I wouldn't fall in love with a midget sorry'' I said with the most serious face I could muster

My joke caused everyone who had just taken a sip of their beverage to spit it right back out of their mouth my Grandfather was laughing so hard that his face was beginning to look like Sophia's face. Elizabeth was looking at me with pride in her eyes and I could see the shadow of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. My Aunt Mira was still busy coughing after having almost choked on her Cola while my Mother was facepalming the rest of the family was laughing with my grandfather only Aria, my youngest aunt, and my grandmother weren't laughing The first one because she was too stunned to say anything my aunt was because she was too shy and didn't wanted to offend anyone and my grandmother was looking at the floor full of beverages with a complicated gaze I could feel she wanted to laugh but she couldn't because she was angry that everybody spit their drink on her freshly wiped floor

When Aria snapped out of her daze state she started laughing with everyone before looking at me with what I was guessing was respect and recognition in her eyes

''What did you just say Mister Scarecrow'' she said playfully twisting the skin of my waist

''It's Mister Handsome Scarecrow for you young lady, also I bet you wanted to twist my cheeks right now too bad you can't reach them I said before taking her in my arm for a short hug 

'' Where was this Stephen when that BITCH did this to you'' asked me Aria talking about Brandy I knew she would know it since she was only a year older than me and we were going to the same school 

Before I could answer her all adults in the room yelled ''LANGUAGE'' which only made Aria laugh with her tongue sticking out of her mouth

'' Well thanks to that BITCH I was able to understand many things it just that it took me an entire day to figure things out and by then it was too late already but don't worry Karma'S a bitch, I don't even need to do anything'' I said to her with my biggest smile of the day

I was waiting for them to say the same thing as they had said to Aria but it never came so I looked around and I realized that my family was just too stunned to hear those words coming out of my mouth that they could say anything while my Grandfather was grinning foolishly and my Dad was trying to reign his laughter in the rest of the family was stunned silly

'' HAHAHA well said '' laughed Aria which woke up my family from their earlier state 

''Cough what about we all go outside and start the BBQ before it gets too late'' said my grandfather trying to hide his big smile behind his fist from my grandmother who I was sure was just not saying anything to him yet because it was my birthday.. sorry Grandpa you'll have to take that one for me I thought before walking toward the backyard while talking with Aria beside me

The afternoon soon passed by and it was now time for the gifts, Aunt Mira and her husband gave me money and baseball-related books. Aunt Emily and her husband gave me 3 baseball snapback caps, one from the Braves one from the Angels, and one from the A's, and some money. My Mom and Dad gave me money and a brand-new PC and also told me that I would be passing my tests to get my license tomorrow which put me in a really really good mood this couldn't have been a more appropriate gift for my well except my grandfather gifts of course then came the turn of my Grandparents I could see that my Grandfather was more excited than me 

''If you want our gift you'll need to follow me, brat'' said my Grandfather while walking toward the garage that was built beside the house, even if I knew what was my gift thanks to my Mom nobody suspected anything thinking that the excitement I was showing was purely from discovering my gift little did they knew I was excited to get a way to move around this summer

My Grandfather opened one of the garage doors and inside there were an Olive metallic Mercedes-AMG G 63 customs wheels that were at least 24'' wide with a big ribbon on top of the hood parked there even if knew what to expect it still left me with a wide open mouth in front of this beauty

''I knew I had seen you drive this car Mom and Dad told me that I was dreaming humph I knew I was right for this I won't let Dad in my car'' I said turning around to look at my father 

''HEY why just me your Mother also said you must have seen things'' said my Father trying to share the blame with my mother 

''Because you were the one who tried the hardest to convince me I was crazy also I love Mom more than you'' I said sticking my tongue out which made the rest of the family laugh

''So what do you say Steph isn't your Grandfather the best'' said my grandfather with his chest puffed up in pride

'' Not yet but close there's just one thing missing'' I said looking at him with a mischievous grin

''EH! What is it... tell me?'' said my Grandfather who was now unsure about what to do

'' Of course, it is to come with me for the first drive'' I said with a big grin on my face and I could swear I heard my Grandfather let out a sigh of relief

'' Haha of course of course let's get in right now'' said my grandfather throwing the key in my direction

Stepping into my new car I could finally look at the interior of my new car was black with contrasting topstitching in lime green, carbon-fiber trim elements with copper thread an AMG Performance steering wheel in carbon fiber/DINAMICA 'Damn The Old Man really didn't hold back on this one' I thought

'' Are you ready Grandpa'' I asked him putting the key into the switch and starting my car

''I was born ready son stop talking and let's hit the road'' said my grandfather with a big goofy smile 

So I did like he said I pulled my car out of the garage dans pulled out of the driveway into the road and started driving I didn't have a plan as to where to go but I could just drive around the neighborhood the smell of a new car really is something else I would have never about getting a gift like this if my Mother hadn't told me about it. Still, I was still feeling like dreaming right now hehe this car is truly awesome. After driving for 5 minutes without saying a thing I looked at my Grandpa beside me and decided it was time to talk to him

''Grandpa the truth is that I wanted to talk to you without my Dad knowing that's why I wanted you to come with me for a spin, of course, I also wanted to drive this beauty as soon as possible and since it was your gift it was only natural for you to be the first I would take for a ride'' I said turning my serious face on

'' Do you want to talk about your plans on playing baseball'' asked my Grandpa

'' Well yes I need help and I was hoping you could help me but I never asked for this kind of help from someone before so I don't know how to be tactful about it so I'll just go straight to the point'' I said 

'' You don't seem surprised that I know your'' secret'' Your MOther must have talked with you then .. that's good, so tell me what do you need?'' asked my Grandpa with a small smile but I could feel he was seriously listening to me

'' I need money for my training and Mom can't help me much or Dad will find out what I'm doing so I told Mom I was planning to ask you for an early Christmas present but then I thought that since you were a businessman you would like it more if I talk to you about lending me money to invest in me or I could always sell this beauty'' I said in a joking tone

''Hahaha you really are serious about this but you won't need to go that far so how much are we talking about here I'm sure you didn't come to me with no preparation I know you're not that careless'' said my Grandfather with a knowing smile he really does knows me well

''Just to be safe 35 000$ I will take notes of all my expenses throughout the summer and submit them to you at the end of the summer of course I'll pay everything back as soon as I get signed into the Majors, I promised you'' I said with so much confidence that even I was surprised by myself I finally said out loud my deepest desire... That felt way too good i thought

'' Alright I'll pay for everything you need and you do not need to pay me back I do invest in you but the only thing I wanted in return is that when you make it into the big leagues I want tickets for each and every game of yours'' aid my Grandfather more serious than I ever saw him be before

''Mm-hmm'' just making a sound and nodding my head with my eyes moist if I say something I think I'll cry I'm really blessed to have a family this supportive most families would laugh at their child's dreams of wanting to start baseball this late and going all the way to the MLB, of course, my mother didn't know what I was aiming for but even without saying it I think that deep down she knew my goal was

'' Always keep the confidence you just showed me, in training, in your everyday life, you should take on any challenge or task in life with this mindset Steph don't let people tell you what you can't do but stay humble and most importantly don't be scared to ask for help 'WE' your family will always be there for you, do you hear me?'' said my Grandfather 

'' I understand, thank you Grandpa I'm glad I was born into this family'' I said while taking my Grandfather's words and carving them into my heart i think that this advice of his will probably follow me all my life 

''Let us head back now you drove your new car long enough your second aunt must really want to leave so let's not make her wait too much haha'' said my Granpa while laughing

Soon we were back at my Grandparent's house, we ate the cake then we left I drove my car back with my Mother sitting in the passenger seat while my Dad was driving my Mother's car back home

'' So how was your talk with my Father'' asked my mother once we hit the road 

'' He agreed so I do not need to worry about an eventual lack of money, I can focus wholeheartedly on my training now... Mom thanks for your support it means a lot to me I know I don't tell you guys this enough but I love you and I'm proud to be your son.'' I said really seriously

That's all it took to break the water faucet of my Mom's eyes but this time I didn't say anything I too was feeling emotional the two things holding back my tears right now were the fact that I was driving right now and my pride as a man

As soon we made it home I took a shower and got straight to bed my Dad told me that he would bring me to my driver's license test tomorrow and since our appointment was at 9 o'clock I would need all the rest I could get even more so after the tiring week of training I just put myself through

It was the best sleep I had got in what seemed a long time but that was just because my body really needed that rest I woke up feeling refreshed and full of energy, I like starting the day with a good shower and looking at the clock on my phone I had enough time to do so and take my breakfast without the need to rush things out coming out of my room I could only hear my steps on the cold floor seems like I was the first to wake up I thought

Entering the kitchen after a hot shower and a stop to my room to get fresh clothes I was thinking about what breakfast would be good today since I was the first to wake up I should make breakfast for everyone I thought taking the eggs bacon potato milk tomato and cheese then looked around for the flour and vanilla extract I was planning to make pancakes and frittata's with cheese and some hashbrowns on the side