I sat beside my mom as silence filled the car. I really didn’t know what to talk about, I can tell that like always mom was trying her best.
“So, what’s bothering you? I can tell there’s something in your mind,” mom said her eyes on the road and catching me by surprise. Does she know? I mean my mom is very smart and it’s impossible to trick her.

“Relax honey, I don’t know wha,t's going on, but I am sure it bothers you more th,an Dicky and Peter, I will not, push. As log as you’re not in danger when . Also,when you feel like telling me I am ready to listen,” mom told me patting my lap.

I feel like crying right now, the fact that mom noticed told me that I didn’t make the wrong decision. Mom was always very supportive and understanding, I just don’t know how to tell her and it hurts me.

As mom drove, I started to see many familiar sights and some unfamiliar sights as, well. LA hasn’t changed that much since I came last time, which was last year. At some point, we drove by our neighborhood which didn’t seem to change either. Mom pulled past our house and didn’t even slow which got m,e confused.

“I know you’re confused but we will not be living here anymore,” mom said adding to my confusion. “You see the Jaegers, had moved away five months ago, also our old house was getting old and needed extensive renovations. I thought we needed a fresh start away from the old house. So, I bought the house next to the Jaegers. I was thinking if you already have a friend when you come here it would be good.”

Now that’s a surprise, the Jaegers were always our neighbors. They have a daughter my age, her name is Angela and we had been friends since we were little. Another reason that brought me here is that I know I could make friends here. I already have one who’s Angela. I am a bit surprised that Angela didn’t tell me, we talk a lot but she didn’t tell me. At least thanks to mom we will still be neighbors.

Mom drove away from our now old house; I couldn’t help but think that mom made the right decision. Everything she did was only because she cared about me, and I had to act like a jerk back then.

“Look, that’s the school you will be attending,” mom said. I looked out of the window to see a big school, much bigger than my old all-boys school. The school seems to be somewhat fancy, with a one building, it looked very modern with a glass front. I couldn’t help but notice the school logo as we passed by the main gate. It was TYA letters with flowers planted around it.

“TYA?” I asked quizzically. Neither I nor dad knew what school I will be attending and we decided to leave that matter to mom. From the look of it, mom made the right choice again. I still wonder what TYA stands for.

“Talented Youth Academy, it’s a school for smart kids like you sweetheart, they also have a good basketball team. Once you pass their intelligence test, which I know you will we can see if we can get you on the team,” mom said putting her hands on my shoulder. She was always confident in me, not once in my life did mom debut me before. “I am sure they would love to have a great point guard like you,” mom stated confidently.

I am not sure she’s saying this because I am her son or because she’s very knowledgeable when it comes to basketball. Maybe both. She was the one who pushed me to join the basketball team last year when I was hastening. Mom says that basketball is in my blood, she used to be a WNBA player for a year. Dad also used to be an NBA player but retired early due to injury. He also wanted to start his business and he had enough money to do it.
I spent most of the last season on the bench, I stepped in when Fred, the point guard broke his leg.

When I started to play, we started to win, not because of me of course. It’s because I didn’t keep the ball to myself, we won because we played like a team. It was funny that the coach didn’t want me to play at first, yet he became frustrated because I won’t be playing the next season with the team.

After passing the school we kept driving for about 20 minutes until we stopped in front of a two-story house. It was a modern-style house and looked gorgeous. Mom parked the car in the garage and we left the car. “What do you think?” She asked me as I left the car. She didn’t even have to ask me because I am sure she knows what I think.

“The house is great mom,” I said genuinely. It’s not the house that mattered much, it’s how much attention and love I am getting. That definitely mattered more than the house itself.

“Well, it’s not as big as the one you have in New York, but I am glad you like it,” mom said. I took out my back bag and my suitcase out of the car and headed inside the house. The house looked very cozy and nice from the inside. That wasn’t what caught my attention, however, something smelled amazingly delicious that made my stomach growl.
It reminds me of my grandma’s lasagne. I haven’t smelled it since I was 6 yet, it’s impossible to forget this smell. “What is that smell?” I asked mom as she entered the house behind me.

She had a smirk on her face which told me she planned this. “Why don’t you go and see?” Mom asked. I left my thing in front of the door and walked to the kitchen. That’s where I saw my grandma making lasagne.

“Nonna!” I said in a surprised tone. I didn’t expect to see my grandma today. Every time I would come, she would come and see me. That would only last for two weeks so I always end missing her. Grandma turned and smiled at me and I went to hug her. “I missed you nonna.”

“Oh, Nipote, mi sei manc,” she replied in Italian hugging me back. “You have grown taller sweetie, you’re too skinny, however, didn’t Harry feed you a thing?”

Grandma will always think I am skinny she may not be wrong but I do eat good meals under dad’s or Johnny’s watching eyes. On the last visit to the doctor, they were not happy to hear that I am underweight for someone my height or age. I had always been taller than kids my age, with a couple of inches that is. I think it helped keep the bullies away, this and the fact that they know about my brothers.

“It’s not Harry, madre,” mom said coming into the kitchen. “Someone here, didn’t finish his food probably,” mom told grandma, making me blush. I was worried that dad would tell her about that, mom would freak out if I have simple flu. I had my suspicions that dad told her but didn’t want to think about it. Right now, my suspicions had been confirmed.

“We can’t have that now Nipote, you must eat well or you will get sick,” grandma said a little bit sternly.

“I knew you will be coming today so I made your favorite lasagne.” I always love grandma’s lasagne’s something like a secret recipe that was only passed down to mom and aunt Bella.

“I think you better call your dad before doing anything else, I bet you that’s he’s sitting beside the phone waiting for your call,” mom said somewhat amused. She was right after all if I don’t call dad, he will get extremely worried.

“I will be right back,” I said kissing grandma before going to get my phone from my backpack. I could just put it in the pocket of my shorts, but that’s was a lesson I learned after spending hours on a field trip using a train it’s not good. It won’t be comfortable after the first two hours, that’s why I put it in my backpack.

Retrieving my phone from my backpack, I called dad, and without a second delay, he answered. It was like he was holding the phone in his hand. “Carl, are you ok? Did anything happen to you? I can always come and pick you up you know? If you need me just say it, I will come to you immediately.”
Yup, mom was right he’s already freaking out.

“Dad, I am ok, I just arrived at the house, and I am completely fine,” I said trying to calm him down. If I fail, he will probably come here personally to make sure I am ok. That’s who dad really is, with us, he’s completely different and he’s not the man with the best poker face that no one can tell what he’s thinking. And definitely not the cold-hearted billionaire the media tries to make him sound like.

“You should have called me 30 minutes ago, I thought something happened to you.” I should have called him but I was just happy to see mom again that I forgot to call him.

“Sorry, dad,” I apologized hoping he would see that I am ok and won’t come all the way from New York to make sure of it himself.

“Alright, I am just glad that you’re ok,” dad said letting out a sigh of relief. From all, my brothers, he worries about me more than anyone else. If he’s traveling, he will make me call him every morning and every evening. If I don’t, he would freak out. I just hope that won’t be the case here. “By the way, Charlene is mad at me, talk to her, or I won’t hear the end of it till we reach London,” dad said making me laugh.

Charlene is like dad’s little sister, she’s 26 years old and works with my dad. If she’s not working, she would be spending a lot of time with me, we are like friends only she’s 14 years older than me. But she’s fun. “Alright dad, I will call her.” I can imagine Charlene fighting with dad and he’s trying to do anything to her, she’s like a family to dad after all.

“By the way, the Los Angeles Sparks will have a match next month, so I bought two VIP tickets for you and Lilian. I am sure she still likes to watch WNBA matches.” Is it weird that I like to watch WNBA? I don’t have a special reason but I am a big fan of the women who play in the tournament. From what I know it’s not easy being a player, after all, mom gave up playing because she wanted to have me.

I had to lie to the couple of people I called friends back in New York. I told them that I like a player in Los Angeles Sparks, it’s not really a lie but the way I like her is not what came to their mind. Her name is Cori Bender she’s the point guard, while it’s weird I kinda admire her, she’s strong beautiful, and amazing in many ways. It may be stupid, but I look up to her.

Hold on a minute, did he say next month? How did he know that? How did he even get the tickets? “How did you know they will play a match next month?” Dad chuckled a bit making me a bit confused. He can be mysterious sometimes.

“Let's just say the team will have a new corporate sponsor, beginning this season, so you can always have a VIP seat whenever they have a match. Besides, it would be a good way for you to bond with Lilian,” he explained surprising me. So far, he’s sponsoring two basketball teams New York Knicks, which is the team we never missed a match for. And now he will sponsor Los Angeles Sparks, I don’t even know, what to say.

“Thanks, Dad,” was all I could say. We spoke for about 10 other minutes before we said goodbye. I can’t believe he's actually sponsoring this team.

“Nipote, the food is getting cold,” grandma called from the kitchen. Remembering the food made my stomach rumble again. God, I am really hungry.
“Coming nonna,” I replied before walking back to the kitchen. As I sat down mom put a plate of amazingly looking lasagne in front of me. Just looking at it made my mouth water.

“Nipote,” grandma called as I was putting a piece of lasagne in my mouth. I turned to her and she gave me a soft smile. “Before you go back, why don’t stay with your Nonna for a couple of days?” Her tone felt sad as she said it. Grandma had three children aunt Bella is the eldest then my mom and the youngest is Uncle Ben. Aunt Bella has twins, Jimmy and Janet who are my age and uncle Ben is not married yet. All in all, grandma has three grandkids including me. Uncle Ben and Aunt Bella live in Georgia so it’s rare when they visit. Since she barely sees the three of us, she must be sad.

I swallowed my food then looked at my grandma. “But Nonna, I am not leaving this time, I will be staying here from now on,” I said looking at mom quizzically. Didn’t she tell grandma already? Or was she expecting me to change my mind? I hope not, because I am not planning on going anywhere else anytime soon.

“Well, Madre, I wanted to keep it as a surprise, but,” Mom said, walking behind me putting her hands on my shoulders and kissing my temple. “Carl had decided to live with me from now on.”
Mom then turned to me with a smirk. “Your Nona always gets mad at me demanding to see her grandbaby,” she explained making me blush a bit.

Hello everyone, I know you can see similarities. Yes there is. The story is not stolen. The scenario was inspired by bears know best. There will smilarties, like love for music, transformation, and bike ride. But I made sure even these are different. I am not stealing and I am not trying to steal anyone's story. Thank you all.