Although we were now engaged, neither Kathleen or I was worried about getting married any time soon. Harry was the first person I told and he was thrilled. I wanted to wait until he was old enough to come to my bachelor party. My best friend, Jamel Higgins, insisted I have one, though I wasn't keen, being a loner and that. It was Harry's birthday that day so I threw a double party to celebrate his aging up and my engagement. I invited everyone we knew and most of them came.
During the party, I tried to make friends with my half brother Sam. I'd hoped we could get to know each other before my bachelor party because Dad insisted I invite him, even though we'd never spent much time together. It didn't go well and Sam seemed to resent me. Kathleen watched on as he had a go at me.
I was grateful when Mum lit Harry's candles because it stopped Sam from arguing with me. I'd been ready to walk away ten minutes ago but he kept going on and on and on. Harry aged up into a tall teenage boy. Mum shed a few tears and Dad had to give her a big hug, but the event was a jolly affair. Harry's eyesight was quite poor though and Mum took him to the opticians that afternoon. He needed glasses as Dad had expected.
It was over breakfast the next morning that Dad questioned me about my engagement.
"Are you sure you want this? You're so young, and Kathleen is the only girl you actually know." He said between mouthfuls of Mum's delicious pancakes.
"I'm sure...We're sure, Dad. This is what we want. I've known her forever, she says it's like one of those romantic films she watched as a teenager. She told me it was exactly how she dreamed of falling in love."
Harry made a disgusted noise and Mum smiled knowingly as Dad continued.
"I just want you to be sure is all. There's no rush on the wedding though, is there, son?"
"No Dad." I hoped this would appease him. "It won't be for a few years yet, I shouldn't think. I want Harry to grow up a bit so he can come to my bachelor party."
"I want to be around to see it though! I'm not getting any younger." Mum chimed in.
"Mum, I promise you'll still be here, and Dad, I promise it won't be for at least a year yet."
That seemed to make everyone happy and we continued to munch our breakfast.
"Are you sure you want this? You're so young, and Kathleen is the only girl you actually know." He said between mouthfuls of Mum's delicious pancakes.
"I'm sure...We're sure, Dad. This is what we want. I've known her forever, she says it's like one of those romantic films she watched as a teenager. She told me it was exactly how she dreamed of falling in love."
Harry made a disgusted noise and Mum smiled knowingly as Dad continued.
"I just want you to be sure is all. There's no rush on the wedding though, is there, son?"
"No Dad." I hoped this would appease him. "It won't be for a few years yet, I shouldn't think. I want Harry to grow up a bit so he can come to my bachelor party."
"I want to be around to see it though! I'm not getting any younger." Mum chimed in.
"Mum, I promise you'll still be here, and Dad, I promise it won't be for at least a year yet."
That seemed to make everyone happy and we continued to munch our breakfast.
After school that day, Harry brought a friend home. A female friend. It was Joni Higgins, they'd been friends for ages but they hadn't seen much of each other since she aged into a teen. Today I noticed something different about the way he acted around her. I knew he intended to invite her to prom, but I thought that was just down to a lack of any other female friends, I didn't think he actually had a thing for her. That's not the impression I got from his body language though. After she'd gone I went to talk to him.
"Hey up, what's this with you and Joni then, flirting in the kitchen after you made clear disgusted noises about me and Kathleen this morning?"
"Ugh, it's not like that." He muttered as he walked off to his bedroom.
"Hey up, what's this with you and Joni then, flirting in the kitchen after you made clear disgusted noises about me and Kathleen this morning?"
"Ugh, it's not like that." He muttered as he walked off to his bedroom.
Harry proceeded to ignore me and read a book on his beanbag until Dad called him over to play video games. You know, your family's mixed up when the Dad wants the son to stop reading and play computer games with him. Dad's such a big kid.
I overheard their conversation.
"I don't really like video games Dad. In fact I don't really like technology at all. I prefer to read or exercise."
"That's okay son. Books are better for the brain anyway. You'll go far thinking like that. I just wanted to see if you could beat my high score."
"I think I just did. What game is this anyway, the graphics are awful."
"Humph. I spent ages getting that score. Go back to your reading you cheeky monster."
And that's exactly what Harry did.
"That's okay son. Books are better for the brain anyway. You'll go far thinking like that. I just wanted to see if you could beat my high score."
"I think I just did. What game is this anyway, the graphics are awful."
"Humph. I spent ages getting that score. Go back to your reading you cheeky monster."
And that's exactly what Harry did.
He seems an odd boy, I don't think he'll make many friends at school. I noticed that he never takes all of his clothes off. Not even to shower. I walked in on him the other day and found him like this. I guess I can't blame him for keeping his clothes on, it's not like we have locks in this house.