Mikah

CHAPTER TEN

Snow fluttered down, sticking into the ground and a hell of a lot of compacted snow all over the streets of Ballyhaunis.

It's a cold winter's day, way colder than we've ever experienced here in Ireland. And I have to say, I was surely not used to it as I usually am.

The date is December 15th, 1946.

My birthday.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I can tell you for a fact that I felt way too fancy for my own good.

I wore a brown suit that Olsen suggested with the same old matching loafers that I wear practically everyday.

The weird thing is, I felt like Olsen's son. I felt like Angus Morley, rather than Angus Monaghan.

I've never truly liked my birthday, It's just been an odd holiday that I haven't ever been truly fond of celebrating.

It's like a reminder that I was given up by whoever and now I'm here today, when in reality I probably wouldn't have if it wasn't for Olsen.

Guess you could say It's just weird to celebrate the day you were born when you aren't with the people who are your biological parents, I guess.

I couldn't stop fiddling with my fingers, so I placed them in my pockets and stared at myself in the mirror, trying to find the absolute perfect position that made me feel confident.
But I couldn't, and that was the end of that.

Staring at my dark blonde buzz cut, I began to wish that I had more hair.. hair that I could run my hands through and mess with as I would like.

Then, I looked at my jawline.

So sharp... so... out of place?

I flexed my muscles, and began to feel uneasy again.

It really didn't seem like I belonged here, as Nora had said. But she's only eleven, how should she know if I belong in Ireland or not?

Squinting my eyes, I began to see the little self of me on the opposite side of the mirror.

I was more than two heads shorter than I am now, but I still had the same buzz cut and the same athletic body as I do now.

The little self of me winked at me, and clicked their tongue as they shot a fake gun, really just with their fingers.

Next thing I know, instead of little me in the reflection of the mirror, the reflection turned back to being present me.

It was weird, you know, that now I'm legally an adult when just yesterday I was still a dirty rotten kid who had no clue of what life is really like. It's not like now I do know what life is like, but it just feels odd to be eighteen.

Just a little bit ago it feels like I was just watching cartoons and still wore my pajamas to breakfast each morning. Now I'm eighteen, with responsibilities about to hit me smack dab in the face.

All my life I had prepared for this moment, to be eighteen, but now I feel as though I haven't prepared at all, and that I'm not ready at all.

I looked at myself in the mirror once more, then snapped out of my daze, and moved towards the door.

Was I truly ready for this moment, to approach Olsen and say my good morning's to him, possibly even have his hand on my shoulder firmly as he gave me a grand speech?

Was I truly ready to be an adult as I prepared to be for my entire life? Or was I still truly a child invested in foolish things such as action figures and cartoons with no real meaning?

I twisted the doorknob, as I mentally prepared myself for the hugest moment of my entire life. As I said before, I've never been fond of my birthday, and this birthday, I assure you; will be no different.

***

"Ever since I saved you that freezing cold morning in 1928, you have changed my life forevermore. You have led me to different perspectives of the world that I probably wouldn't have seen, if it weren't for you, my boy. Anne was unable to have children for a reason, and you were that reason," Olsen placed his hand on my shoulder firmly, "And yes, as much as I do not show it all that much to you, Angus, I truly and absolutely think of you as my son. How could I not? You are plenty intelligent for your age and have grown up as a handsome young lad. You are practically the only thing I have left, and I am more than just happy that you are," He began to sniffle, and for the first time in my life, I watched Olsen cry.

But more importantly, I watched as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

"You, pal, will accomplish great things in life. Heck, you already have. You're almost finished writing your memoir and that should you show you just how much you have accomplished in life. Soon enough, you'll be off and famous doing whatever you want to do with your life. I will support you always, Angus. But never forget how I am proud of you, every step of the way," He began choking on his words, and I was sure he would start balling any second now, "On your first step, when you walked for the first time, I practically jumped for joy. I was so happy, you have no idea, Angus. You truly make me such a proud father, even if you aren't my biological son. To me, you always be Angus Morley, my son that I wasn't physically able to have, but physically able to raise."

He looked at me, with teary eyes letting me know that any minute now he would break down crying.

"I will never forget about you, my boy, and Anne will never stop protecting you from heaven, as will I someday. But until then, happy eighteenth birthday, my son, Angus Monaghan."