1 month? | Pablo Gavi

1 - The b-day gift

It was 27th of August and that meant that tomorrow it's my Mom's birthday! I was so excited. My gift for her wasn't something big, but I knew even small things can make her happy. It was a bracelet with a pink diamond heart on it. And then a chocolate with caramel which I knew she loved. My older sister, Sophia, got her a purse from some expensive designer. And my dad? Well I don't know yet.  But I think it's something big when he doesn't want to tell us.

The next day:
My alarm woke me up at 7 am. I got up exactly at 7:05, then ran to Sophia's bedroom and shouted: "Wake up! We need to make the breakfast as we said, c'mon!" She got up and we ran downstairs to make breakfast, we made pancakes by the way. Then we hid them and waited for Mom and Dad to come down. "Soph?" I asked my sister. "Yes Sam? What?" "Do you think Mom would like the pancakes?" I asked, because now i wasn't so sure. "Sure she will like them. You know how Mom loves pancakes! Now shhhh I think they're coming." she answered. Now that she said it I knew it was true, she always loved them.

Soph was right. They got down right after we stopped speaking. "SURPRISE! Happy birthday Mom!" we both shouted and laughed. "We made pancakes for you," I said. "Awwww thanks sweeties," she smiled, "I really appreciate it. So let's have your delicious breakfast then." I was really proud of us, that she liked it. After we all ate like 5 pancakes with maple syrup Dad said: "So we could give Mom the gifts right girls?" "YEEES DAD!" we both said enthusiastically. "You go first Sammy," Sophia said teasingly. "Sure, fine, Sophy-bear," I knew she hated when I called her like that. She made a jokingly annoyed face and I smiled back at her.

I took the bracelet and the chcolate, both wrapped in wrapping paper, out of my pocket of my baggy hoodie. I went to Mom, looked her in the eyes as always and said: "Mom, happy birthday. I really hope this is gonna be one of your best years ever. You're the best Mom I could ever wish for, I ove you so much." I smiled and she smiled back. "Thank you so much Samantha, I love you too." She carefully ripped the paper. "OMG are you kidding? My favorite caramel chcolate? Thanks!" she kissed me on cheak. "Hmmm and what is this?" she opened the box and looked at the bracelet. "Again a gorgeous present ! As always Sammy." From her I didn't mind the 'Sammy'.

Next was Sophia. She gave mom the bag, and Mom said "Oh this had to be expensive, you didn't have to buy it for me." as always when someone gives her something expensive. Sophia replied with "Ohhh it wasn't that expensive and birthday is a big thing, so yes, I had to." "Thank you so much Soph, really." she said. "You're welcome Mom."

"And now you dad, show us what you got for Mom, it has to be something really special when you didn't tell us," I said. I really was curious what he got. "It's not that big Gabrielle, really," (Gabrielle is our mother) he said to Mom. "Ok, so show me," i could tell she was curious too. He took an envelope out of his pocket. "You see? I said it's not that big deal." i was sure it is going to be something bigger than we all thought at the moment. "Go on Mom, OPEN IT," I was so excited what Dad got for her.

Mom opened it and there were 3 plane tickets. I didn't know if it was some error, or why They were only 3? We were four, always four. "Are you kidding? These are tickets to America? And you said 'it's nothing big'? It's literally for a month? You all know i always wanted to go there!" Mom almost shouted. Her smile was so big that I forgot about the number of tickets. We all hugged her.

But then Sophia spoke: "But Dad? Why did you get only 3 tickets?" Dad looked at her and then his yeys turned on me. I understood. My school. My univesity. If these were tickets for more than a week I couldn't go, I can't miss any time at a new school. And I also couldn't skip because this was the school i always wanted to go to. A physio-therapist school. And I always wanted to be a physio-therapist.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't underestimate you, I'd never do that, but I really didn't think you'd get to this school. You know, their entrance exams are very difficult and I just didn't know you're that good." his face and eyes told me that he was really sorry. It was true, these exams really were hard, but I studied, almost all last year to do it because it was my dream. "So I booked the tickets in June, and now you can't go...." he finished it. "Yeah, I know, you couldn't know it. I don't blame you, don't worry. I-I hope you will enjoy it, really." then my tears came up and I preferred to run upstairs to my room.

_____________

It was like an hour after Mom got that Dad's gift. I really didn't blame anyone, Dad just wanted to make Mom happy and he didn't mean not to take me. It really wasn't his fault. Someone knocked on my door. "Come in," I said. The door opened and it was Mom. "Hey Sam. How are you feeling?" she asked. Ughh yes, never better, I wanted to say, but I didn't. Insted I said: "Yeah, everything's all right." "Look Sam, I wanted to tell you that Dad and I are really sorry about what happened earlier, it really wasn't done on purpose. And I also wanted to tell you that we don't have to go if you don't want us to. We all agreed on this." "That's really kind from you, guys, but I know really well how you always wanted to go to America and I don't want you to stay here just because of me, it would be unfair." "Are you sure Sam? We are leaving in a week, just for you to know." "Yes I'm sure Mom." To be honest I really maent this, because I watend them all to be happy, and I'm 19, so I can be one month without my parents.

"And also we've been thinking about where will you stay for this month." "Oh Mom, you don't have to worry about it. I can stay here.," I said, even though I absolutely wasn't okay with being home alone. But I didn't want Mom to worry of course, so I did it this way, as always. Told her I'm fine.

We may look like this super perfect family, that I love them, they love me and that everything's perfect,that we tell eachother everything. But...no. It's not like this, at least not exactly. Like I love them and they do love me, but that's where it ends. Maybe Sophie tells them everything and pretends the perfect family but I don't. Not anymore.

"Sam? Sam, are you listening to me?" I was thinking so hard that I totally forgot that Mom is here and is talking to me. "Ehm, yes yes. What did you say?" I asked right away. "I was saying," Mom repeated, "that you can't stay home alone for so long, i would be worried." You see? She only cares about that she would be worried, but not what could happen to meo, but about me being in her house without her for a month. And I was sure of this. "Hm, okay," I tried to come up with another idea, "sooo what about the dormitory at my new school?" It sounded like a good idea. I could find new friends there because I have no good friends. "It's too late, it would be full. I looked at it like a month ago, because I was curious, and there were three free rooms."

"So o you have some your ideas when you don't like any of mine?" I was starrting to be annoyed. "Chill out, Samantha, of cousre I have an idea!" Nice, Mom. "You can stay at some of my friends' house, what do you say?" Okay, Mom had good friends, at least those I knew. i nodded. "Fine. Anyway we don't have anything else so I'm taking it." Mom gave me a happy smile and said: "Okay, so i will call some of them and I'll tell you tomorrow." "Okay, so thanks," I smiled at her too. I hoped she wouldn't choose some boring old guys without kids.

Writer's note:

Hi, if someone got here, thanks in the first place. This is my first story, so I appreciate it so much. And don't worry that there was nothing about Gavi in this chapter, it will all be in the next one. And I will post the next chapter in 3-5 days.