Part 1
'Happy birthday to you!" They all sang as i blew out my candles. Everyone cheered and Mum started cutting the cake. Dad patted me on the back and told mehow proud he was of me. His voice had still not gotten back to full strength even after the past 13 years, not that i remember... i was only 3 at the time but mum tells me all the time about how he use to sing and dance so wonderfully and how his performance that last night on stage after his accident was still talked about today.
My life was generall happy. I was doing good at school, especially in Drama. Mum says in inherited Dads voice as well as his looks. I thought i was gawky as all hell but hey... i spose mums are spose to say that. Dad said he was the same at 16.
My little sister Stephanie sat on the chair and smiled quietly as she does at these things. 12 years old and still so shy. She was the silent type, never really speaking unless she had to or had something she knew everyone she was addressing would find interesting.
"Paul can you go get his last present from us out of our cubbord" Mum asked and Dad happily wondered down the hall and came out with a huge box wrapped in musical note wrapping paper.
"Happy birthday Randy" Dad said and have me a hug and i tore open the paper. Inside was a signed guitar by him, Uncle Rich and Uncle Tim. It belonged to Uncle Rich when they were together and it was classified as a collectors item. Under the strings was an envelope containing 12 months worth of prepaid guitar lessons at the leading school of music!
"DAD THIS IS GREAT!!!!!" i said not being able to contain my happiness and hugged him and mum. Steph smiled happily and came over to look. Mum left the room when the phone rang and walked in slowly, holding the cordless in her hand and had gone bright white.
"Paul honey i think you'd better talk to... She wants to talk to Randy"
part 2