Parrot And Girl

Chapter 32

Standing at the park with my uncle by my side where I realized it to be a New Years Eve festival like my uncle mentioned, where there are stalls, food, clothing, games and other activities are. The park was full of cheerful people, some with their families, some as loving couples and some in their group of friends.

I left Chico at home with his food and left him to sleep. This years New Year's celebration feels like a new start since I found out that I haven't lost all the members of the family. I felt like I don't have to be the only person in the world to not have a connection with people who aren't related to. Before, back in my childhood years I've spent crying and now my new life is changing me.

"Why don't we play Hit The Stacks game?" Uncle Alex says with enthusiasm, pointing at one beaming, "It'll be fun and you could win a stuffed eagle."

"Alright, let's go for it." I say, as we approach the stall where there were two sets of six cups stacked.

The guy says that all you have to do is try to knock out all the cups with three balls and you'll win a giant eagle but if you hit few you'll win a small size. I actually didn't want to back away from this game and I definitely want one of those eagles in my room.

Uncle Alex asked, "Do you want me to play for you?"

"No, I want to try, it looks fun and easy." I say jumping excitedly.

"Alright, go ahead." He says before patting my shoulder, "and break a leg."

I grinned, "I'm sure I will."

My uncle chuckled at my enthusiasm, paid the game for me and the guy passed me the three balls, wishing me good luck. The first hit I took didn't knock any cups off the stack.

"Ooh, try again Lola, you can do it." Uncle Alex says encouragingly, "if you hit, I'll award you for a suprise."

Now that's get's me going. With the second ball, it hit first three, which was okay and the last one hit one single cup. So far it looks like I knocked out four out of six cups.

The guy said grinning at me, "You did great but you could do better next time." The guy passed me the small stuffed eagle, "At least you won something."

"Thanks." I said as my uncle and I went to other stalls.

"So does that mean no suprise because I only hit four."

He ruffled my hair, "No, You did well there for a beginner, I can suprise you tomorrow."

My stomach rumbled, looks like I'm hunger and I need to find a stall that sells food.

"You want to eat?" Uncle Alex asked, "We could have cheese burger and fries."

"Are you sure Uncle Alex?" I say as I look at him with a smile.

Uncle Alex looked at me in the eyes, "You can if you want or we could have chilly dogs, or any corn dogs or corn on cob."

"That is so unhealthy besides the corn." I comment, "but I'll have cheese burger and fries, I haven't had those in ages."

"Cheese burger you want then cheese burger it is." He says with a smile, "and I'll get one too."

We went to a stall where we bought the cheese burger and fries and sat on a bench where we can eat.

As I took my first bite, I closed my eyes dreamily just thinking what it would be like if Mom and Dad were here with me at this festival. As I finished gobbling the cheese burger and fries down. I found my uncle hadn't finished his. He seems to be deep in thought.

While he ate, my eyes drifted towards the night sky where I could see the stars twinkling in the sky and the moon is shining. I feel at peace right now but I feel like my parents, Joey and James Parker are happy sleeping under the earth.

Uncle Alex finished eating and said, "When your mother and I were little kids we used to gaze at the night sky thinking about our parents - your grandparents, we used to think the same, resting under the earth it feels like they are proud of us sometimes I still think they think about us in a different kind of way."

I wrap my arms around my uncle in a hug, "Will you tell me more about my grandparents, I want to know more about our family."

He hugged me back, "Of course, when the time comes."

I shivered from the cold as I tried to button my coat closer and wrapped my blue scarf around my neck tighter.

"Let's see the fireworks, it's about to start." I clasped my hand with my uncle's and walked outside of the festival where there were firework rockets displayed.

Uncle Alex gripped my shoulder for a little attention, "You know, you are not alone right."

"I think so." As I say looking at him in the eye.

He chuckles, "You have me, Sarah, Mikey and the Reynolds brothers and your little parrot Chico."

I gave him another hug until the fireworks have started. They flew in the sky and exploded creating sparks of red, green, blue, white, pink, purple and yellow.

My uncle and I both stared at the sparks gripping each other by the hands as uncle and niece.

As I watched my eyes began to feel heavy as I drifted with sleep even though I was standing but I didn't care as another dream came in mind.

Dad and I were standing at the park one night in November at the park for bonfire night. I was very little I was three years old.

To me they looked like mini rockets that looked like they were flying in space. When one of them launched, it didn't fly into space but it made a loud banging noise and I got scared when more and more banging noise were made, they almost made me cry.

Daddy knelt down picking me up in his arms and I hugged him tight wrapping my small arms around Daddy's neck.

Daddy says in his comforting voice, "Did the fireworks scare you."

I gave him a nod with my puppy-dog eyes.

He chuckled as he gripped my arm gently pointing at the sky, " looks like rainbow colors to me, they look like twinkling little stars in red, green and blue."

When I looked where he pointed my arm, it was pretty. There were different colors red, green, blue, white and pink. I wasn't scared any more as Daddy and I stared at the sky.

"Lola, Lola wake up it's time to go home." I woke up when Uncle Alex shook me by shoulder, I haven't realized I have been sleeping standing up.

When we arrived back home, I went straight up to my room where Chico slept on the bed board peacefully, I think it's cute seeing him sleep.

I quickly brushed my teeth and got changed into my nightie and drifted to sleep on the bed peacefully with the stuffed eagle hugged closer to my chest tightly.