The Hitting Zone

"Any particular one that you like?" Dad asked as I looked at the wall of electronics.

I twisted my lips, unsure. The only one I recognized seemed to be the most expensive. Which would be a waste since there's a pair at home. Plus, I don't usually need headphones.

"I believe Noah has this exact pair." Dad took the most expensive pair off the wall. "Better to be safe than sorry. It'll be too late to regret when we're up in the air."

I couldn't argue with that.

We roamed around the small store. Dad started to use me as a basket, handing me the snacks and candies he knew that the boys would like. Occasionally, he would ask for my thoughts and opinions, but for the most part, he just grabbed one of everything. We left the store with a bag in each hand for the both of us.

Dad let out a sigh. "How are you taking this, Jake?"

I looked up at him, slightly confused. "Taking what? The bags?"

He cracked a smile. "No. This. What's going on right now. I wanted your Christmas to be different. It's your first one with us so it should have been special. Instead, Gramma might...be passing soon."

"Oh." I looked around to make sure the boys weren't going to sneak up on us or anything like that. I lowered my voice too, just in case. "I'm okay. This is the best Christmas I've ever had. I feel bad for saying that with-"

"I understand." Dad's smile showed some relief. "I hate that for you though. That someone passing away is still the best you've had. But I promise you, it's only going to get better from here. Next year will be different."

"Being with you guys is enough for me." I told him. I looked up at him again. "I'm worried about Mom. She's going to be really sad."

"No doubt about it." He sighed again; probably the hundredth of the morning. "Even an expected death can catch the family by surprise and the grief that comes with it can't be measured. But don't worry, this feeling is only temporary."

Our conversation naturally died as we approached the boys. All three had crumbs on their faces and shirts. Dave was in worst shape with drink stains on his sweater.

"It's just an injured pinky, Dave." Kyle snorted as he dried some of the liquid. "How are you this uncoordinated?"

"It's obviously the painkillers." Noah chuckled. He jumped up when he saw us come back. He quickly started to go through the bags in my hands. "Let's see what we've got here!" Noah started to pick out his favorites.

"You just ate. Leave it alone." Dad placed the other bags by our backpacks.

"I'm not going to eat it now." Noah started to put his snacks in his own bag. "I just gotta make sure they make it to my stomach and no one else's."

Kyle rolled his eyes and Dave laughed.

Dad checked on Dave while I helped myself to a donut.

Noah handed me a chocolate milk. "I saved you one of these and made the twins take the apple juice." He let out a small laugh. "Dave thought he was drinking milk, got freaked out by the taste and spat it out. It was hilarious. I guess Kyle could feel some of it on his face and that's why he's cranky."

I smiled. The twins can claim that Noah is the biggest troublemaker, but whenever they're together, there's never complete peace either. I feel like only Zeke was well behaved in this family but even then, his stubborn personality could upset his parents.

The excitement of getting to the airport and checking in had worn off after the first three hours. It became mid-morning and a new flight out was starting to gather. Dad was going to the front desk every thirty minutes to make sure they kept checking other airlines for possible flights out. Dave was a little more awake now, playing games on his phone. Kyle was also on his phone, but it was clear he was texting Marie because every now and then he would tell us what gift she just opened. Noah replied to texts of his own, just telling friends and teammates 'Merry Christmas', not bothering to mention that we were going to visit our sick Gramma.

I glanced down at my phone. I didn't have nearly as many texts, just some from the guys on the team that knew my number and Alisha. They seem perfunctory but I think that was the point. I did have two texts that stood out, Jeremy and Kaylee.

<strong>Kaylee: Hey, I heard from Marie... How are you holding up? </strong>

I hesitated on how to reply, but I figured it was okay to do so since Kyle already told Marie.

<strong>Me: I'm okay. We're going to be there today. Hopefully. Just hanging out at the airport for now. </strong>

<strong>Kaylee: Don't worry, it's Christmas. Miracles happen. </strong>

I didn't know how to reply. I understood the theory from the recent movies we had watched that had a centralized theme about Christmas miracles, but I wasn't really a believer. Thankfully, she had sent a follow up text.

<strong>Kaylee: At the very least, it's statistically possible that someone will have to miss a flight today, lol. </strong>

I smiled. Yes. Statistics.

<strong>Me: I hope you're having a good holiday at least. </strong>

<strong>Kaylee: Besides having to go to church yesterday and today, it's pretty decent :)

</strong>I recalled her very religious parents and smiled.

"Whatcha looking at?" Noah peered over my shoulder.

I accidentally closed out of my texting app, then reopened it. It immediately went to the unread message from Jeremy.

<strong>Jeremy: Merry Christmas! Rose said yes! Now we're going to tell her family, wish me luck!

</strong>Noah read the text over my shoulder. "Good for him!" He glanced at me. "But...you didn't tell him what's happening?"

I shrugged. "There wasn't any real time. Yesterday, he was with his family and then we came here early this morning. I don't know how to tell him without bringing him down."

"It's not his Gramma." Noah rolled his eyes. "What does he have to be sad about? Here." He took the phone away. "I'll tell him. A simple phone call will do the trick." He pushed a couple of buttons and the phone started to ring with the speaker on.

"Hey, Jake! Merry Christmas!" Jeremy answered the phone happily.

Noah looked at me with meaning.

"Oh, yea, thanks, you too." I let out a small cough.

"It's kind of loud in your background." He said. "Are you next to the tv?"

"Uh no." I looked at Noah. Anytime now.

Noah raised the phone. "Sorry about that, Jeremy. We're at the airport and you're on speaker."

"Airport?" Jeremy became alarmed. "Are you guys leaving for vacation? Wayne and Mary didn't mention anything to me. When will you be back?"

Noah looked at me, but I was looking at him. "We're not exactly sure." Noah said slowly. "And it's not for vacation. Very sudden and a surprise to us as well. Long story short, we're going to see my grandparents because my gramma isn't doing so good. Mom and Zeke are already there. The rest of us are at the airport waiting for a flight." Noah quickly explained the situation and why we called instead of texting back.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Noah." Jeremy sighed. "This has to be rough. I'm glad you made Jake call me. I would have been worried if I did a surprise visit to your home and you guys weren't around."

"Communication is key." Noah said with a grin. We had heard that phrase from Dr. Miller a time or two.

So had Jeremy. He let out a small chuckle. "Yes. Very important." He paused. "Why don't you give the phone to your dad? Maybe I can help with the plane ticket situation."