Motorcycle Patches

Chapter 1

"Mom I'm back," I say as I walk through the front door. I had just come back from the mall with my best friend . "Okay sweetie. I made some peanut butter sandwiches and grapes, for you and Andrew." She says as I enter the kitchen.

"Did you cut it diagonally how I like?"

"Am I your mother ?" She asks rhetorically. "Of course I did, I knew you wouldn't eat it if I didn't."

"You know me so well," I say playfully . "thanks momma." I'm very thankful that she made food, since I've only eaten a cookie since breakfast.

"Hey Aubrey," my little brother says as he runs and jumps into my arms.

"Hey Andrew," I say, smiling, and tickling his little stomach . He giggles and I can't help but smile even wider at his adorable little laugh.

Looking into his eyes , it reminds me so much of my father. Honestly Andrew looks so much like him. My dad is in the military and travels a lot . We haven't seen him since February. He's suppose to come home from Germany in October. I really miss him. But what can I do? Duty calls you know. How I see it is, everyday he's away is another day closer to me seeing him.

"Did you buy anything from the mall Aubrey?" My mom asked, while walking back into the kitchen.

"Umm I bought a few shirts, a couple dresses and I bought Andrew something too." I say with a smile on my face knowing that he loves surprises.

"Wanna see what I bought you Drew Bear?"

"Yes Bre of course ! What did you buy me?!"

"Close your eyes and don't peak, I'll go get it for you."

"Okay I won't." he says covering his eyes with his small hands.

I quickly go to my car and grab the bags I got from the mall. I have a black 2018 Audi S5. As soon as I open the door, I inhale the aroma of my febreze vent clip car freshener. I grabbed the bags and hurried back inside. As I made my way back into the kitchen I pull out the gift I bought for him.

"Okay Drew open your eyes."

He moves his hands and opens his eyes. "A remote control car!!" His eyes widen. "Mommy look what Bre bought me." He smiles with excitement filling his widened eyes.

"I see honey." My mom says smiling at him.

"Can I play with it now?"

"Did you finish eating your food?"

"Yes."

"Well I don't see why not... Aubrey can you help him? "

"Mhm. Come on Drew bear." I helped him put the batteries in the car and showed him how the controls worked.

I bought it for him because I know that he really enjoys playing with toy cars. Children now, are only focused on social media and the internet, especially at Drew's age. If I can help it , I'm going to make sure he has a great childhood, like me and not one based solely on technological advances.

After about a couple times he got the concept and didn't really need my help anymore. He played for about 30 minutes and fell asleep with the remote control still in his hands.

I picked him up and carried him upstairs to his bedroom , laid him down and put his blanky on top of him. I took a picture of how adorable he looked next to Oscar the owl, his stuffed animal, while he slept. These are precious moments that'll fade just like that as he gets older . But pictures last a lifetime.

I went back to the kitchen where my mom was sitting at the kitchen counter, online shopping on her laptop.

"So mom how was your day?"