Family.

*Clink Clink Clink*

My dads holds up his glass cup and hits a knife on the side getting everyone's attention.

"If I could just have everyone's attention real quick. On this wonderful occasion, Our daughter leaving tomorrow for College." Everyone smiles and looks at Haley and she just smiles back.

"And Our son leaving to chase his dreams and be a singer." They now look my way and smile.

"If I could get everyone to raise their glass, *Everyone raises a glass* as I quote from one of our nation's great fathers Jefferson George Jefferson, "I never dreamed that one of my own would be going off to University, But here I stand a proud black man knowing that all my hours I put in at the dry cleaner," Dad says as mom try's to stop him.

"Phil!" Mom says.

"Not now weezey." Dad says.

"Where was I?" He asks.

"Quoting that president." Haley says.

"Wait George Jefferson wasn't-" before I could finish Alex cut me off.

"If she's the future of America then we should start using Chinese money now!" Alex says. I start to laugh but Haley glares at me so I hide it with a cough.

"My arm is tried, To Haley and Logan" Grandpa Jay says before dad could finish his speech.

"Before everyone puts their glasses down we are also very proud of Lily, tomorrow is her first day of kindergarten." Uncle Mitch says.

"To Lily!" I shout lifting my drink in the air making Lily giggle.

"And you'll be impressed to know that she is one of the smartest kids there. Lily what's the square root of 64?" Uncle Cam asks with a fully confident look in his eyes.

"8" Lily says.

Everyone gasps.

"Nice trick, hey Lily what's the square root of this potato?" Luke asks lifting a potato up.

I look toward Lily as does everyone else I notice Cam has a nervous look in his eye.

"8" Lily says everyone starts to laugh.

"Congratulations you have a parrot," Luke says.

Mom and uncle Mitch stand up and walk toward the kitchen, I hear them arguing about something.

"So what's the plan?" I hear Uncle Jay ask me.

I look up and decide what to say.

"Um, really I'm just winging it right now, I'm gonna start doing street performances and move on from there. Haley keeps trying to convince me to start posting on tiktok to get my name out there so I may try that aswell." I say grabbing a roll from the middle of the table.

"Well whatever you decide if you ever need need any help don't hesitate to call." Cam says. You see Cam is the one who I went to originally when I wanted to learn music, Cam is a pretty good musician himself.

"Yea we have all heard your voice, Logan your going to do great." Gloria says with her thick accent coming out.

I smile and was about to say something when manny interrupted.

"Well, Hailey and Lily aren't the only ones going to school my mom and Jay are going to parenting class." Manny says.

"We're doing it for the baby not this baby, that baby." Jay says pointing at Manny.

"Manny doesn't believe we know what we are doing." Gloria says.

"A couple of new hairs under his arm and now he thinks he knows more than his own mother." Gloria says taking a shot at Manny.

"I know not to embarrass my son as he stands on the threshold of manhood." Manny says, I start to smile knowing I'm gonna be missing all this bickering.

"I don't know why I got to go to this thing. In case you have forgotten I raised two kids." Grandpa Jay says.

*ow* *ow* *ow*

I hear some noise coming from the kitchen so I look over and see that my Mom has Uncle Mitch in a headlock.

"Stop pulling my hair!" Mom shouts.

"Stop twisting my nipple." Mitch retorts.

We all look at Grandpa Jay and he says.

"Why look at me, it was their mother's fault. I was barely around." Jay says defending himself.

"I'm gonna go start packing, I have to leave early tomorrow so I can meet with my landlord so I can get my keys." I say as I stand up and make my way to my room.

I already have most of my things packed I just wanted to relax in my room one last time before I start my journey through life. I grab my acoustic guitar and start strumming.

[{Take me to church} by Hozier, but in James Bays' voice if you can't imagine that just think he sounds like the actual singer, this goes for all songs I decide to use .]

My lover's got humor

She's the giggle at a funeral

Knows everybody's disapproval

I should've worshiped her sooner

If the Heavens ever did speak

She's the last true mouthpiece

Every Sunday's getting more bleak

A fresh poison each week

"We were born sick", you heard them say it

My church offers no absolutes

She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"

The only Heaven I'll be sent to

Is when I'm alone with you

I was born sick, but I love it

Command me to be well

A-, Amen, Amen, Amen

Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life

If I'm a pagan of the good times

My lover's the sunlight

To keep the Goddess on my side

She demands a sacrifice

Drain the whole sea

Get something shiny

Something meaty for the main course

That's a fine looking high horse

What you got in the stable?

We've a lot of starving faithful

That looks tasty

That looks plenty

This is hungry work

Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife

Offer me my deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife

Offer me my deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life

No masters or kings when the ritual begins

There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin

In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene

Only then I am human

Only then I am clean

Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen

Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life...

I hear a noise by the door that breaks me out of my trance like state, I look up and see my whole family looking at me with proud eyes and warm smiles.

"Amazing!" Cam shouts and everyone nods there heads agreeing to what he said.

"Thanks." I say putting my gutair up. They soon turn around and walk downstairs.

I close my door and lay down on my bed soon closing my eyes and falling asleep.

...

I walk downstairs with my bag over my shoulder and my guitar in the other.

I see Haley and Alex standing next to each other looking up at me, they both have tears in their eyes.

I put my bags down and walk closer.

"I'm gonna-" Before Alex could finish I pull them both into my chest and hold them tight, I hear them both start to sniffle, I hear Luke by the couch so I reach over and pull him in close as well, first he tried to get away but soon wrapped his arms around me.

....

Claire POV.

I walk downstairs with Phil right behind me. As I was about to yell at the kids I see them all in the living room in a big group hug, I can hear sniffles from Alex and Haley, and I can see Luke rubbing his eyes, and in the middle is Logan holding them all.

This sight alone brings tears to my eyes, moments like these make all the other bad moments vanish.

Makes you think that you did good as a parent...

To be continued let me know what you think.