It was just a normal day. Grandpa made lunch for us while Mom was at work, Cricket came over to play and sis was too busy prepping for her job to even join in the conversation. Yup, just a usual day… sis even had to leave halfway through lunch because her carpool came!

The next few hours was pretty boring. Well not boring, Cricket was over and we had fun, but grandma and grandpa just preferred to go take naps…together. I don’t know probably old people quirks.

Rika came home soon after from work all happy and flustered. Looks like it was because she got promoted. Not to mention this boy that came back home with her. I recognized him as Damien Keyes. He would come to pick up his younger sister and younger brothers from school sometimes.

After changing out of their work clothes they spent a lot of time by themselves away from the house. Cricket says she’s seen her brother do this sort of stuff before and we shouldn’t interrupt them.  I’m not about to, I mean they were all giggly and stuff!

I settled for playing chess, and it was kind of hard to ignore the giggles and the loud whispering, but it was okay. I was waiting for Cricket to finish calling home. Apparently, Cricket got bored and just left the house, walked down the street and came here since her brother was too busy to play with her.

I don’t even know what her brother’s name is. It’s like Ricky or Rocky or summat like that. Cricket was my only close friend. The guys and girls at school said it was weird that we were such good friends since girls had cooties. But I’d rather be friends with Cricket then those snot-nosed losers.

Cricket was taking a long time, and playing chess by yourself wasn’t any fun and finally sis’ conversation was getting interesting..

“You know I always thought you were cute.”

“Well I’m flattered.”

Sis crashed and burned at that one by completely mis-reading the signals and it was too funny! She had her lips all puckered up and then right after there was a lot of angry whispers and stuff I couldn’t hear.But the parts I could hear were something like this:

“Wait, wait Rika, this is a bit sudden-”

“God I’m so stupid sorry, I just thought it would be the right moment, God I’m so sorry-”

“No, it’s not that, just it’s a bit rushed, lets take it slow okay?”

“Then can I do this?”

“Stop it Rika! It tickles!”

Gag. I guess it was all good in the end because both of them were.. VERY happy to say the least.

Cricket came back right after this little escapade and said her brother was coming over to watch her, which both of think is just silly because he’s all by his lonesome at home and wants company. Silly brother!

Rogerson was a pretty good chess player, but I was better! I’m a little genius if I say so myself, Cricket called us both nerds before leaving to harass our television. Well when I’m all grown up and I have a family and a good job, she won’t be calling me a nerd!

Rogerson kept looking over at sis the whole time, which was weird. It eventually got dark and grandpa told me I had to get ready for my big birthday, so I should wash up and stuff. Cricket was really excited, she had a fun time predicting how I’d turn out.

“You’ll have big hairy feet and huge mustache that touches the ground!”

I hope I don’t turn out like that.

While I was inside, according to Cricket, her brother was chatting with my sis.

“Hey there, you must be Rogerson. I’ve seen you around school.”

“Hey Rika right? Top of the class, student body president and head of the prom committee.”

“Oh stop it, you make me sound like a queen.”

“Well you are, the queen of the school that is.” Rika flushed.

“How about a game of chess before I leave for work?”

“I’d like that.”

Insert blanks here, Cricket got distracted by a cartoon.

“You’re not that bad Rogerson!”

“Thanks, you’re not bad yourself.”

“So, you going out with anyone?”

My sis fidgeted nervously in her seat.

“I am kind of,  with Damien Keyes? He’s around here somewhere.”

Cricket’s big bro was silent here.

“You guys know each other from school? I didn’t think you guys talked.”

“We work together.”

“I see.”

Cricekt’s big bro got up. “Sorry where’s your bathroom? I need to kind of go.”

“Oh, it’s on the side there.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll see you around then? I have to go to work now. If you need something just get it yourself. Leon can be a brat sometimes.”

“Sure, yeah.”

Told you she was mean. I’m not a brat! Just because I’m younger doesn’t mean I have to follow everyone’s commands! I can think for myself you know!

Cricket says that sis looks a lot like her bro’s ex-girlfriend. I don’t know how anyone could look my sis. Was she a workaholic as well?

Meanwhile grandpa passed out in the middle of recieving the groceries. Both me and Damien were watching tv when that happened. No clue where Cricket or Rogerson were. Grandma was at work and so was mom and Rika.

We thought he had a heart attack, but when we got to him, we heard him snoring so evidently he was just tired. Both me and Damien dragged him to bed, but I must say I did most of the work! Damien just grabbed him by the shoulders. I had to carry his heavy feet!

Mom came home shortly after I called her at work about grandpa. She fussed over how Rika should’ve been home and thankfully Damien was there to help. I think mom likes Damien a lot after that incident.

Or she likes Damien’s father. She’d always sneak out of the house when she thinks we’re all sleeping to meet him. I caught them once or twice while going to the bathroom. It was icky, I mean who would want to have someone’s face get so close to your own?

Anyways, grandma and Rika came home as well after hearing about grandpa but grandpa insisted we still continue my impromptu birthday party.

Cricket’s mom came in the middle of my party and said that Cricket had to come home because it was getting late. But Cricket’s mom was cool about it, she said Cricket could stay till the end of my party but she’d be hanging around. Oh well it’s better than not having Cricket around.

Before you knew it, I was all grown up! Cricket was really surprised at how I turned out. Hah, I didn’t have a hairy mustache that touched the ground or big hairy feet like she said. In fact, I wanted to know more about the world, about everything there was to know! Watch out world, Leon will discover your secrets!

“So how did I turn out Cricket?” I asked standing proudly in front of her in all my teenage glory.

Cricket looked away and in the dark I swore that she turned red, but it was hard to see.

“You turned out fine Leon,” she replied.

“No snide comments from my best friend?” I asked jokingly. “She deserves a hug for being so nice.”

We’ve hugged before, I mean we were kids, and we were best of friends, but this time Cricket moved away.

“Mom’s watching, I- I got to go.” she stuttered as she ran away.

I stood there for a while, watching Cricket tug on her mom’s sleeve and frantically tugging to leave.

I was confused to say the least.

As I went to bed, Cricket’s reaction haunted my mind. She wasn’t that meek, and it was if the sudden change in me had changed her too.

What was going on?