” Yeah she thinks it’s best that Heath gets a good education. She hates to, but she knows dad would want it to.” Travis says as she nods.
Travis lets me down as I stand 5’10 at that time. Michelle wraps her arm around me again holding me with my back against her. Travis takes a seat in front of me on the chair to let things sink in. Michelle keeps a strong hold of me. Selena goes over to sit in front of Tiffany as Chris stays where he is at by the pool. Shellie looks at the three then asks them a serious question.
” You..you all will make sure my baby brother is treated right wouldn’t you?” Michelle asks them all.
” Yes Michelle I promise to help him and comfort him. I am not going to let anyone hurt him. Not even me if we…. well never mind.” Tiffany says getting a giggle.
I feel Michelle turn to look at Tiffany I guess. I hear her giggle as she speaks up again.
” Does someone have a crush on my baby brother?” Michelle asks as I turn to see Tiffany look shy.
” No it’s just since we were 8 I well….. we all care for Heath very much.” Tiffany says as Travis and Michelle laugh.
” Tiffany I hate to tell you this, but nothing gets past Michelle when it comes to bro.” Travis says as I nod.
” Travis is right Tiffany as she is a protective sister.” I say as Chris and Selena nod agreeing.
It’s at that time the parents come out the back door. Mom makes her way over to us only to stand looking at me with sad eyes, but with love and concern. The other parents come and stand around to support her. Mom looks into Michelle, Travis, and my eyes before she speaks.
” Guys we need to talk and it’s important.” Mom says getting nods from us
” So that means the rest of us are going to let them talk. So get into the cars so they can have some family time.” Ellie says as Chris, Tiffany, and Selena stand.
Tiffany comes over to where Michelle, Travis, and I are and looks down at me. She takes a step leaning over to kiss my forehead.
” Heath everything will be fine. You have three friends that will not let any one or anything happen to you. We love you honey very much” Tiffany says as I nod with a smile.
I get hugs from Selena, Chris and all the mothers Verna, Ellie, and Kiko. They also give Michelle, Travis, and mom hugs. Mike, Nate, and Ricky shake hands with Travis and I. As they leave Mom takes a seat between Travis and I as Michelle scoots back pulling me to her. Mom scoots close to me as Travis to her. We are all seating on one lounge chair getting ready to hear what my mother has to say.
” So where do I begin.” Mom tries to say until cut off.
” Heath’s going to private school isn’t he?” Michelle asks in a sad voice.
” Michelle that is up to him, but your father and I thought it would be best. I hate it as much as you do, but he could have a better education and away from all the bad influences at the local school.” Mom says getting nods from her children.
” I understand that mom, but I…I am going to feel lost without him.” Michelle says as she tightens her arms that are around me.
” I agree with Shellie mom. This family has never been away from each other. Except us in school or when dad was alive at work. It’s just hard to be apart from each other.” Travis stated looking at me with a small smile.
” I know Travis as I have been crying this whole time talking to Mike and the others. Mike stated he would make sure Heath was in the same living space as Chris so it will be a little easy on Heath. And it’s not like Heath won’t be home for Christmas and summer. As well we can write and talk on the phone. Mike said Heath can have a cell phone as Chris, Selena, and Tiffany carry them.” Mom explains to us as we listen.
We all talk until Travis suggests ordering pizza which Michelle, Mom, and I were way ok with. That evening was nice as we were spending time as a family. Travis had us laughing to his impersonations of actors and other celebrities. That night as I went to bed. Shellie came in to my room then crawled into my bed to hold me. She would do the same thing when I woke up having nightmares as a kid. We whispered talking about keeping the other close in our hearts. That night we slept like we were kids again with my big sister watching over me humming that song she used to years ago.
The days and weeks went by getting closer to the day I would be leaving to private school. Mike and Ellie helped mom get me ready. And to Mike’s word to mom I was to bunk with Chris until we graduated from School. My birthday was the middle of July so It was a nice summers day. Michelle and Travis got me a cell phone that they already had set up. michelle made sure she was the first speed dial. They even took a picture as the background of them with mom. I cried seeing it, in which they both calmed me down. Mom got me a laptop so I could video chat with them when I could. It was state of the art. Mike, Ellie, and Chris got me some nice clothes. My family were there helping my birthday be special. Tiffany and Selena both got me a friendship necklace that showed the word friends. Selena’s father Nate was a computer geek. He asked to look at my Laptop which I looked at mom who smiled nodding that it was ok. He looked at it and put some programs on it from a USB memory stick. There was a antispyware program that he made himself. He downloaded the program to my laptop so no one could hack or send anything harmful to my laptop. He even gave me a wifi stick saying I didn’t have to worry about paying the bill as I was on the same plan as Selena. I smiled nodding to him. Selens thanked her dad for doing that for me. Verna gave me a cross to wear around my neck. Tiffany put it around my neck saying I would always be loved no matter where I was by those in my life. I looked at everyone thanking them so much. Ricky, Tiffany’s dad gave me a book on selling which made me confused. That was when Mike stepped up to explain. He told me that when Chris, Selena, Tiffany, and I hit 16 that he was going to let us start a junior company. He said that the money we make would go into our accounts for our futures. Mike also stated it would be good for us to start young knowing the worth of a dollar while being in school. I thought of that and smiled thinking I always wanted to be like my father in business.
After that day of my birthday I was excited about going to school, but yet sad as I was going to be leaving my family for 9 months. I knew they were sad also, but kept strong for me. The Friday night before I left in the middle of August mom had a surprise planned. My mother made it a special night as we took pictures of us all on cell phones. Mom had Michelle take one of mom and I on the couch together. I smiled as did she with love in our eyes. Michelle wanted one also as did Travis. I got one of all of us with Travis taking it since his arm was longer then mine at that time. As the night got closer to bed time mom asked us to get ready as we were going to sleep in her bed as a family. She wanted my last night for the summer to be one of holding me like when I was a kid. That night we talked, cried, and spoke our hearts that promised to never leave one another.