*Lavon*
Birty gave me a mug full of coffee, "I'm surprised we are still in business...Creamer and sugar?"
I grab the mug and wave her off, I prefer hot tea but Birty cares so much in general I don't ask for more, "One of the last orphanages in America is finally starting to go down the drain? I'm going to blunt I'm surprised I lived through that."
Taking a sip of the black instant coffee Birty laughed, " You live in an orphanage cause I live here, I adopted you the second you got here."
"I'm an orphan in my soul but physically and mentally I keep you company," I giggled. I appreciate Birty coming from the UK, attempting to open up an orphanage and keeping kids in this terrible town a safe spot. It's not really an orphanage but more less a safe space for homeless youth. Birty comes from some wealth cause this house is rather large and can hold several families. I'm mostly blessed she took a liking to me.
So now I sit here as an adult drinking coffee.. wait a sec... this coffee kind of burns? Wait.
"Birty?"
"Yes Lavi-Love?"
"Is this regular coffee?"
"No, it's instant."
I roll my eyes, "Yes but is there something else in this coffee?"
She nonchalantly said, "Oh yeah, there is some whiskey in it too."
I'm sorry what?
"BIRTY!!?!"
Birty laughed," Happy 21 birthday, love."
"Birty my birthday is June 1st...it's July 25th."
She frowned," It's your first drink of your life child, happy birthday. I figured I'd get you as the kids say 'loose' as I have relatives coming for a surprise for you."
Lavi-Love 101 rule #0 :
If Birty gives you something to "calm" you because relatives are visiting you down it.
I slowly sipped the burning coffee, I think I'd be a wine person but whiskey isn't bad. Birty's local family hardly visits, last time I saw them I was easily 17. It's been some time since Birty has seen them, so she's probably gonna be very drunk soon.
She chirps,"Tazzy will be here, remember him?"
I spat a little in my coffee," Really?! Tazzy's still alive?! I wonder if he still has his bass! I wonder if he will bring it! Oh we could play songs like we did when we were-"
"I PUT THE DAMN ALCOHOL IN THE COFFEE TO MAKE YOU RELAX NOT HYPER CHILD...but if it gets you to stop wondering yes he will probably bring the bass. He misses you tremendously. I think he sees you as a sister like he does Grace."
To be technical, Tazz would be my cousin, but he's so close in age and when his family stayed here we looked out for each other. I see him as a brother, we would do things siblings would do like annoy each other, make each other cry, beat up each other. I have missed him.
Grace is his step sister, much younger than me. She's everything opposite of Tazz but goodness does Tazz worship the ground Grace stands upon.
"I can't wait to seem them both, it's been so long Birty."
After I finished my cup I put it in the sink, " I'll go clean up everything to make sure the place looks good. When will they be here?"
Birty now opening the newspaper flipping through pages to find the comics," I-uh told them to arrive about noon, go grab your guitar and have it in the living room by the way, Tazz requested you to be warmed up when I called this morning."
I run upstairs to my room, I live a rather plain life. Ever since Birty took me to be her own I just asked for a bed some decent clothes and hair gel. The guitar was a special gift from Tazz when he found out I could play songs on his base by ear. I grab the guitar and bring it to the living room and pick up until they arrived. Warming up on the guitar too just incase Tazz makes a grand entrance with his bass, knocking down doors with his foot and pissing of Birty.
*****************
"Lavon check the door I think they are here!" Birty screams from the kitchen.
I run as fast as I can to that front door, this house has been empty. I've been empty.
I open that sucker and I'm met with a torso.
"Birty we have a biggin dude not Tazz!" I yell.
"Lavi you gotta look up to see ya plonker.."
I look up about an 85 degree angle and I see Good ole Tazz. I gasp and I tackle him, well mostly his torso.
"I MISSED YOU SO MUCH THAT I AM NOT OFFENDED YOU EITHER CALLED ME AN IMBECILE OR A PENIS." I hug the hell outta him.
His arms wrap around me in equal strength of embrace and chuckled, " I mean it could go both ways however the imbecile fits better. How you doing? How has Lavon gone through life without her Big Cuz Tazzy to rough up people?"
Birty walks up behind me, "She doesn't hang out with people to need people to rough others up for her. I'm glad you came early."
Tazzy let's go of me and walks to Birty, "Yeah we need to talk, yes? Sounded very urgent on the phone."
Birty moves aside and we all walk to the living room.
Urgent on the phone? What's going on. Is there something going on? Maybe she wanted Tazz to keep us company before any other relatives come by.
I sit on the couch and Tazz sits on the other end.
Birty slowly paces in, "Allow me to collect myself for a minute to try to explain things in clear detail."
I looked at Tazz and he did the same and shrugged.
I break the small silence, "So where's your bass huh? Birty said you would bring it! I have my guitar at the ready if you want to play some tunes for a tad?"
He groans,"Ah I'm so sorry Lavi, I completely forgot to grab it from the studio I-"
"Wait a second studio?" When was he ever in a studio, like a music studio?
" Yeah a studio, for Edge of Infinity? That's the band I'm in. You didn't know I thought Birty informed you we are looking for a new guitaris-"
Birty stopped Tazz," I'm selling the house and shelter in a few weeks."
Oh.
Wait what?
