The Trials and Tribulations of a so-called Trouble Teen

Chapter 87 - Walking Primrose

It's Graham's birthday, and it's also the final day before the show. I have woken up especially early to prepare his breakfast for him. Freshly picked fruits, toast, cereal and his favourite coffee. Maya is currently setting the table as everyone else sets up the living room. Stefan is going to wake him up in the next five minutes, so we are setting up the final touches for this special day. I've wrapped his presents in recycled music sheets that have, I guess, failed compositions. There is wash tape keeping them shut. Birthdays are better celebrated sustainably.

{Graham's POV}

S: [gently wakes Graham] Good morning darling.

G: Good morning.

S: Happy birthday! [kisses]

G: [giggles] Thank you.

S: I've got something for you. [opens drawer and takes out present]

G: Oooh.

S: Here. [gives]

G: Thank you. [opens international coffee recipe book] I love it! [hugs]

S: Anytime. Why don't we get up and go downstairs?

G: I wouldn't mind that.

{Evin's POV}

E: [walks into living room] Everyone into position! Stefan has given me the signal.

M: The table's set. [sits on sofa]

Ao: Is he coming down?

E: Yeah. [stands at bottom of stairs]

I love giving people things that make them happy, especially my dad. I hand-picked his presents with his interests in mind - a woollen jumper to wear on a cold winter morning in the office met with a hot coffee brew. Maybe even a weekend working at home with Stefan, the two working together. They're coming downstairs now, aah!

Everyone: Happy birthday Graham!

G: [surprised] Thank you everyone!

E: How are you feeling Graham?

G: Still sleepy, but happy.

E: Come on - we've got so much for you!

G: Oooh like what?

E: Well, you'll have to open your presents to see!

G: [laughs] You're right.

E: [brings to sofa] Come on! [sits down and gives Graham present]

G: [opens presets] A new jumper! Coffee! I love it! Thank you everyone!

E: You're welcome. [hugs]

G: [puts jumper on] Ooh, nice and warm.

V: Don't forget about your cards papá!

G: [glances at table] Ooh, yes! [opens card] "To our wonderful son, have a wonderful birthday and don't drink too much coffee! Lots of love, mammy and papá." Aw thank you!

Ao: You're welcome son.

G: [opens card] "To my amazing and brilliant brother/sister/sibling/whatever term you want to use, have a happy birthday and another 59 years of prosperity. Love from Olivia". Thank you sis!

O: Anytime.

G: Final card it is! [opens envelope] "To papá, we wish you a happy birthday and another year of success, love and great luck in life. Have a brilliant day and make sure to not go too heavy on the coffee. Lots of love from Val and Evin... and Maya too so she didn't have to buy another card." [giggles] Thank you very much girls!

E: You're welcome papá. [hugs]

S: There's something else for you Graham.

G: Like what?

S: [pulls flower from sleeve] Just for you! [gives]

G: Thank you! [takes out £50 bookshop voucher] This shall come in handy!

Aa: How about we have some breakfast now?

V: Evin's been up all morning making us a lovely buffet for your birthday.

G: Thank you very much Evin.

E: You're welcome papá.

G: I am definitely looking forward to some of your food!

Look at how happy he is. Everything is in place. He woke up next to the man he loves the most, his family gave him gifts he loves and we are all going to tuck into a breakfast buffet together. I'm glad he's taken time off work recently, I can tell he's not as stressed this year compared to last. This time last year there were a lot of big stresses in the company that made it difficult to celebrate. The Priscilla case still had a number of legal issues and all that jazz too. The only headache this year is my mom.

I'm not sure if I can call my mom a "headache". She took the time to come to London for the sake of the whole family. Though in saying that, she only came to London because she was caught really. But the fact that she came for the show (and in turn came for my dad's birthday) tells us otherwise, y'know. She is coming a little later on as she had to arrange a meeting with her company's London office regarding... something. Maybe she's moving to London? That could be her big surprise for my dad. A tiny bit weird though when you consider that he's moved on and his current partner has moved in. If you catch my drift.

/

The breakfast is definitely going well. My dad has tried making a new coffee from his recipe book and even I, the non-coffee drinker, like it. Vivienne and Eden have joined us while mamá is at the meeting. They made us some more food, cooking up a batch of funge. It's like a porridge that goes with... anything? Google tells me it's eaten with anything. You make it with cassava flour and water. I've seen it spelt funje as well. Tinned fruits have been incorporated for a "tropical" taste. It's out of season here, we'll make do.

If there's one thing my dad is happy about right now, it's his jumper. It is (according to the Depop seller, take that as you please) a vintage jumper from around 1975, almost as old as him, in a pastel yellow that is likely from fading. It is made from Welsh wool and is knitted in what I think is a float stitching. Make of that what you can. He often complains of how cold the office can be but he won't turn the heating on, so hopefully this makes him happy. Man just doesn't enjoy using oil or gas I guess.

Is it weird to use the word "cute" when my dad and Stefan are together? It feels weird to me, but maybe not for others. They've been laughing away all morning and are generally are being very cuddly together. A sort of honeymoon phase now that they live together. It's not even been a full day yet, but it feels like a life time. Kind of like how Maya and I were.

Talking about Maya, she seems to not be as hands-on with me these last few weeks. Maybe having people over and the show coming up has taken away her main sources of power over me. Very rarely are we alone together, only at night when I've already fallen asleep and when she's washing my hair. The rest of the time we've been with others, even if it's just Casey. Perhaps this is the beginning of something new. Maybe this is a new stage in her life where she no longer feels the need to grab and pull me to have some sort of control. Just maybe.

Today being the final day before the show means that rehearsals are starting from midday until around nine o'clock. We don't have access to the stage until tomorrow because Noel Gallagher's on tonight, I'm pretty sure. We have a makeshift setup in Brian's basement to work around. Hopefully what we have translates well to the actual stage. I want to make the most of the day in order to have a successful day tomorrow. This has to go right or I could cost myself my career.