(To the right is a video of a girl singing. Play it when Alicia starts her song. Please know that only that girls voice is featured in my story, that isn't what Alicia actually looks like.)
~
“I want it to be a boy.”
Mom grins at dad and me as I roll my eyes.
“Of course you do. I’m sure you’d just love to have a mini-dad running around the house. But mom, you won’t be able to have sexy time with your son.”
She blushes and turns over on the bed, hiding her face in dad’s chest. He smirks at me and I laugh.
“No, but I do too. I’d love to have a little brother.”
I voice my opinion to mom and dad as I sprawl myself out even more on their huge bed.
“What about you, dad?”
His face is thoughtful.
“What do you want it to be?”
He bites his lip as he takes a moment to think. Mom brings her head away from his chest to look up at him.
“I’d love to have a son. I’d be able to teach him football.”
He grins and I shake my head.
“Even if it’s a girl you’ll still teach her. You did Alicia.”
Mom points out. And she’s right; I am really good with football. With dad, Jacob, Josh and Jason around, it was kind of hard not to pick it up.
“True,”
He laughs and the room falls silent.
“What would you name him? If it is a him, I mean.”
Mom slowly shakes her head.
“I don’t know, Licia. I’ve never really thought about it. What do you think, Cay?”
I look at my dad and he shrugs.
“I’ve always liked the name Tom… But now that I consider it I don’t like it that very much.”
I stick my tongue out of my mouth and pretend to puke.
“Nobody related to me will have the name ‘Tom’!”
They both laugh before dad asks me what I think.
“Kyle,”
I don’t know where the name came from; it didn’t even pass through my mind. I just said it. But I do like the name, now that I think about it.
“I like that,”
Dad agrees and mom nods.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
Dad rolls his eyes. I think I got it from him, that habit.
“Only Savannah would say knock instead of doing it.”
He leaves the room to go and let Sav in while mom and I continue to lye about.
“I’m not nervous. Is that weird?”
Mom sits up a little, and then leans her head on her right hand, her elbow hoisting her up.
“No, not at all.”
She smiles at me and I smile back.
“It just proves you’re a natural. I’m so proud of you, Alicia. You have no idea.”
I copy mom and fall into the same position, facing her.
“Thanks, mom. It means a lot. I promise when I’m accepting my first grammy award I’ll mention you and dad.”
She laughs just as Sav comes into the room, followed by dad.
“I want my shout out, too.”
She grins and comes over to the bed, jumping up and giving me a big kiss on the cheek.
“I’m so excite-”
She’s cut off from my dad, who plugs both his ears with his fingers and closes his eyes shut tightly.
“Please warn me before you two start making out!”
I groan as Savannah gasps. Mom laughs.
“What?”
Sav asks my dad, who peeks through his right eye to look at her.
“I’m completely alright with both of you… experimenting. But not in front of me!”
I laugh as Savannah shakes her head.
“What’s the point of it if there isn’t a crowd?”
She asks and I feel myself blush. I instinctively push Savannah off of the bed. She laughs, getting back up.
“I was just joking, Caleb.”
“Change of subject, when is Breanna getting here?”
I look down at my phone in my hands.
“I know that Adison is scheduled to arrive-”
I stop talking as someone knocks on the door. Dad again makes his way out of the room.
“Now. And Ella is going to meet us there.”
Savannah nods.
“Well Breanna said she’d meet us there, because her mom is going to be there for her grandma anyway.”
I haven’t thought of that. I actually, to be completely honest, forgot that Breanna’s grandma is in the hospital because of cancer. It only makes sense that Breanna’s mom would be attending the fund raiser today.
Adison comes into the room with a huge grin on her face. She does the same Savannah had, running over to me.
“I’m so happy for you! Oh Jesus, I’m about to cry!”
Adison pulls out her video camera and turns it on, pointing it right in front of my face.
“Tell the camera how you feel!”
I give an uneasy grin to the camera.
“I was feeling pretty good… Until you came and brought in with you the nerves.”
All the excitement around me seems to be reflecting on me, and when excitement comes to me so do butterflies.
“Oh, I’m sorry! That’s my bad, let me just put it away.”
I shake my head.
“No, it’s okay. I want you to film today.”
Mom nods her head in agreement.
“Yeah, it will be a good keepsake!”
When I’d said that, I didn’t mean for Adison to document every single minute of the day.
She’d recorded me leaving mom and dad’s room, and followed me into mine. Which, of course I was okay with. But then she refused to leave when I had to dress. And then when Savannah proceeded to my make up and I fixed my hair. Even when I ate lunch! But I guess it is something I’ll keep forever, like mom said.
This is just the beginning of my road leading to Michael Jackson: female style!
When we finally reach the park, we see it’s been decorated. There are balloons everywhere, tied to the trees, to the tables and to the play equipment. Some are even flying away in the sky! Streamers have been thrown all over the ground, as well as around the balloons on the trees. There are numerous signs and posters about cancer, giving advice and good wishes, all around the stage, which is set up with different instruments and many microphones. And then there’s the donation booth.
And the park is packed with people.
I spot Breanna, who to my surprise is by Ella. They look like they’re getting along. Despite the fact that El looks a little awkward.
“Glad you could make it!”
I tell Ella as I give her a hug. She hugs me back before quickly letting go. She greets my parents and Savannah and Adison while Breanna gives me a huge hug.
“Are you ready, Licia?”
We pull away and I smile, nodding.
“Of course! I can’t wait!”
We’re all spotted by Stefanie, who comes towards us with Jacob and Jason following closely behind her.
All the men look handsome in their casual suits, and the girls beautiful in their dresses.
Savannah had been sure to make me stand out. She’d given me a sundress that stops a few inches above my knees. In purple. I didn’t know sundresses came in other colors then yellow.
I’d decided to curl my hair to match the ‘pretty girl’ image, as mom described it.
Stefanie gives me a hug, followed by Jacob.
“When are you singing?”
Jake asks me and I shrug.
“I don’t kno-”
I’m cut off by someone speaking through one of the microphones.
“And now, Tabitha Public Hospital would like to present to you, Alicia James!”
My mouth falls open as Adie turns the camera to me. I stand there in shock before someone gives me a hard push. I turn around and see Jason.
“Go!”
He rolls his eyes and I instantly snap out of it, giving him a hard glare.
I put my right hand up as the crowd starts to applause me.
As I make it to the stage the announcer asks me what song.
“Firework, Katy Perry. Slow version.”
He nods before going behind me, over to the band.
Even though the song Just Stand Up was made for cancer, Firework not only covers that, but also a lot of other problems normal people deal with. Besides, I really love Firework, and I’d rather sing something I can relate to, something I enjoy.
I look out over the massive crowd and recognize a few familiar faces. As I turn my attention towards my family and friends, I smile and do a little wave to Adie’s camera.
And then I see Breanna with her mom and grandma. Her gran is smiling up at me, a proud look on her face. Even though she doesn’t know me. Breanna must have told her about me. I feel a great affection towards both Bre and her gran in this moment. I smile back at the old lady in the wheel chair.
(Play the video on the side >)
I look back out at everyone else just as the music starts to play. I step up to the microphone, not one bit of nerve anywhere in my body as I start the song.
“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?”
Already there are cheers. It makes me feel proud of myself, and I start to feel comfortable with the stage.
“Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin? Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in.”
I take the microphone away from the stand so that I can move around.
“Do you ever feel already buried deep? Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing. Do you know that there’s still a chance for, ‘cause there’s a spark in you,”
I freeze for a second when I notice a channel six camera filming me. I look out over at my friends, looking for an opinion of some sort. But the one I get it from isn’t a friend.
Jason nods his head at me, putting his thumb up discreetly. But his normal look didn’t leave his face.
“You just got to ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night like the fourth of July.”
While singing the chorus, I suddenly get my flow back. It comes to me easy again.
“Make ‘em go, oh, oh, oh, as you shoot across the sky, sky, sky!”
The crowd throws their hands up and the thrill of it makes me grin. They’re cheering for me!
“You don’t have to feel, like a waste of space, you’re original, cannot be replaced.”
Caleb’s P.O.V
She slowly moves around the stage, owning it as she does. I’m so proud of her I feel like I’m about to burst!
I pull Kasey closer into my side as Jacob screams and cheers for Alicia. I smile hugely at them all.
“Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed, so you could open one that leads you to the perfect road. Like a lightening bolt, your heart will blow, and when it’s time you’ll know.”
The way she belts out those two sentences brings tears to my eyes.
I throw my right hand in the air a little immaturely as I start to chant with Jacob. Soon enough, Stefanie, Savannah, Breanna, Adison and Alicia’s new friend, Ella, are all doing the same. Kasey is too busy happy crying.
“’Cause baby you’re a firework, common show ‘em what you’re worth!”
My eyes advert to Jason, whose thumb is up at Alicia. Why the sudden contact between them two now? I’ll have to keep an eye out for that one.
Alicia’s P.O.V
“Boom, boom,”
I take a well needed breath here, cutting out a few little words, even though I could last if I really needed to.
I can’t help but notice Jason’s thumb is still up.
My eyes meet his and a small sigh escapes my lips before I start singing again.
“Boom, boom, boom, even brighter than the moon, moon, moon, it’s always been inside of you, you, you. Baby you’re a firework. Common show ‘em, what you’re worth. Make ‘em go, oh, oh, oh as you shoot across the sky, sky, sky.”
I throw my left hand in the air out of habit once I’m finished. I welcome the cheers as the same announcer from before comes over to me.
He gives me a quick hug and I smile at the old man. I wonder if he knows anyone with cancer.
“You did a really good job, little lady. Congratulations!”
I make my way off of the stage and as I do random people gently slap my back, some holding their hands up for high-fives. I return them before putting my head down from all the screaming.
Wow.
If I thought it was over when I reached my family and friends, boy was I wrong.
I was pulled into many hugs. I’m aware the first one is from dad, and then mom. But then I’m not sure who. I think Jacob, and then Breanna. But what I do know, is that someone pushed me into Jason.
A startled gasp escapes me as his skin shocks me. I look up at him before turning my head to the right, looking at my nosey friends.
“Thanks,”
I’m not an idiot and I know that our family is watching. Probably closely, too.
“You’re welcome.”
He moves his hands away from my waist and once again I’m pulled into a hug.
“Good on you, baby!”
So I guess it wasn’t Jake who hugged me before.
“Thanks, Uncle Jake. It means a lot.”
I hug him back before Ella comes in for a hug.
“You’re so good! We all know you’ll be famous one day.”
I laugh as I squeeze her tightly. I don’t know why, but I just feel like I can’t let go of her. But eventually, I do. And that’s when I notice there are tears in my eyes.
I look over each of my family and friends, who are all – almost all – looking at me with huge smiles and grins.
They’re honestly my world and I love every one of them.