Never Too Late

Chapter Fourteen

Warm sunlight poured through Johan's window as he lay in bed, his eyes half open as he forced himself up and pulled away his covers. While he stretched, he smiled contently because he was able to sleep in since it was the weekend, and more importantly, this was a privilege he never had before.

At his foster home, he was always woken early and never allowed to sleep in, no matter how cold or tired he was; now that was a fading memory. When he made his way downstairs, he saw his mother and sister waiting for him excitedly while Luke looked annoyed, which was usually the norm, but he sensed that something was going on.

"Good morning Johan!" His Mother greeted him with a barely contained smile.

"Morning," he replied, confused, and his sister chuckled knowingly. Finally unable to take it anymore he decided to be straightforward. "What's going on?"

"Why don't you see for yourself?" Luke grumbled while folding his arms and his mother led him outside.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw his father waiting beside a brand new car just like his brother's, but it was painted blue. Confused, he looked at his mother and siblings, who had joined him outside, then back at his father.

"Who's car is this?" He questioned as he wondered if they had a guest arrive that morning.

"It's your car," his father answered without missing a beat as he opened the door for Johan to take a look inside.

"I don't understand?" Johan said, taken back by the gift which seemed too much.

"Consider it a late birthday gift. You've been doing well in school so you deserve it." His father said encouraging him to accept the car.

"Wouldn't it be better if you gave Rachel a car? She's been with you longer than I have." Johan mentioned, finding her to be the more suitable choice.

"I don't have a license yet but I will get a car for my birthday when I turn sixteen in a few months," Rachel assured him while guiding him towards his car. "This is your car now and since mom and dad went through the trouble of getting it, you might as well accept it.

"Umm, thank you." He told his parents as they smiled gleefully while he walked around the car and inspected it.

"Why don't you take it for a drive?" His father suggested while offering him the keys which he accepted and stared at.

"I don't know how to drive," Johan confessed, much to his father's shock, but after a moment, he smiled and shook his head.

"Don't worry I'll teach you whenever I have time after work." He reassured Johan but Luke frowned heavily.

"You didn't teach me how to drive, I had to go to driving school." He told their dad.

"At that time, I was busy; now things are different." He said, trying to assuage Luke, but he wasn't convinced.

"Also, when I asked for my car, it took months before I got it, and I've always had good grades!" He fumed but his father shook his head at him disapprovingly.

"That's because it was a gift for your birthday just like the cars I gave you for your sixteenth and Seventeenth birthday the years before." His father reminded him but Luke stood his ground.

"Still, you didn't even know if Johan wanted a car or not, and now we know he can't even drive. He doesn't know anything, not even how to play baseball!" Luke continued to argue but his mother stepped in.

"Those things are all minor; I'm sure if you give Johan some time, he'll catch up with you." She said, looking over at Johan and then back at his brother.

"Fine," Luke grumbled; clearly having his heart softened by his mother.

Their father sighed and turned to Johan soon after.

"I'll keep the car in the garage. Let me know what times after school are best for you so we can practice." His dad told him before leaving him to get familiar with his car.

Later in the afternoon when his parents and sister had gone out, Johan sat in the living room trying to study as much as he could for the day when his brother interrupted him.

"Hey, do you want to play catch with me?" Luke asked while offering a baseball to him. After considering the offer for a moment, he nodded.

"Yeah, why not." He said putting his books aside and joining his brother outside.

Once in the backyard, Luke gave Johan a baseball glove and created some distance between them before throwing a fastball at him, which flew right by his face.

"What was that!? Didn't you see the ball?" Luke remarked astounded. "I know you've never played this game before but I didn't expect you to be this awful!

Ignoring his brother, he picked up the ball and gave it back to him before repositioning himself. Both of them went back and forth, throwing the ball at each other, and although Johan could see his brother's frustration,
he smiled inwardly when he realized just how much fun he was having.

"Your pitch is really good, and your aim is pretty impressive; nearly as fast as mine," Luke remarked as he, in turn, struggled to keep up with Johan's throws.

"Thanks," Johan shrugged but Luke persisted.

"With a pitch like yours, I'm sure my coach would put you on the team." Luke Laughed.

"Oh really?" He questioned as he wondered if his basic skills were that impressive.

"Yeah, you just need a bit more practice and a little polishing up," Luke smirked but Johan could read his undertone. Although his brother thought he was good, he didn't consider him anywhere near his level, and although he wasn't captivated by the idea of playing baseball, the audacity of his brother to look down on him even in the slightest gave him the willpower to keep going and improving himself.