If I Knew Then
Chapter One: Past
“What's past is prologue.”
― William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Happiness is somewhere I have been before
A blurry photograph that I have since ignored.
Aperture – Sleeping At Last
Jimmy sighed heavily, his arms on his hips. He didn’t understand why his mother wanted to tidy up the attic now, nor why she wanted him to be there. He hasn’t lived in that house since high school, when he moved in with Brian and his family, so except for a few things in his old bedroom, there wasn’t much there that could be considered his. And yet there he was, looking at his sisters and his mothers checking into old, dusty boxes to see what they could keep or what they had to throw away.
“Are you helping us or what, James?” Barbara asked, looking up at her son.
He rolled his eyes and sat down on the floor. He picked one random box and opened it, but not after coughing a few times because of the dust that covered pretty much everything in the attic. The window was open, letting the light breeze of early May enter the room.
He was already sick and tired, however he decided to keep going, hoping Lillian would finish to work soon so they would be able to leave.
“Oh my God!” Kelly squealed, causing everybody to look at her.
“Did you just see a rat?” Jimmy asked, already ready to laugh at his sister.
“No, look at this!” She said, showing them a picture of a naked little boy, aged 1, running in the backyard.
“What is it?” He asked and his mother chuckled.
“It’s you, silly!”
“Yeah, look at your little butt!”
The women laughed and Jimmy grabbed the photograph from his sister’s hands. He looked down at him and smirked.
“Yup, the butt is mine. Still got the same sexy butt.” He commented before leaving the old piece of paper on the top of a pile of photographs. That’s when he noticed a picture he hasn’t seen in years.
The image showed Jimmy and Brian when they were eight years old. They were giving the photographer, probably Kelly or some part of that birthday party they were attending, their biggest and best smiles while they had their arm around the other’s shoulders.
They barely knew each other back then, and yet they were already best friends.
“I don’t wanna come!”
An eight-year-old Jimmy was following his two sisters, Kelly and Katie. The two girls were holding each other’s hand and their brother was behind them, walking with his hands in his pockets.
“Mom said you had to come, so shut up.” The oldest of the Sullivan siblings said, looking at her brother out the corner of her eye.
Jimmy groaned in frustration, not wanting to go to some girl’s birthday party. He was a boy and he didn’t understand why he had to attend his little sister’s friend’s party. It was stupid. It was when they arrived and he noticed how everything was covered in pink decorations that he decided he had to do something about this. Running away seemed the best idea, but he needed to plan his escape.
“See? You’re not the only boy here.” Kelly said, looking at her brother and moving her head to the right, to make him notice a few boys who were playing soccer not far from where they were standing. “Go ask them if you can play with them.”
“No, thanks.”
Jimmy headed to the table and asked Melinda’s mother (apparently that was the birthday girl’s name) if he could have some coke, then he walked away, wanting to find some place where he wouldn’t be bother by other kids.
The backyard was huge so thankfully it didn’t take that long to find a place. Jimmy sat down under a tree, facing the white fence and took his drumsticks out of his pocket, starting to beat them on his knees, attempting to play something. God, he couldn’t wait to get his own drum set! That way he would be able to play for real and not just pretend to.
“Hi.”
The owner of the voice that Jimmy just heard was another kid, around his age, who was standing next to him. Jimmy looked up and squeezed his eyes a little, the sun facing him and hurting his eyes. The other boy moved a little so his shadow would cover the drummer-to-be and Jimmy was finally able to see him in the face.
“Hi.” Jimmy said, not used to see kids come and greet him. He tried his best to be friendly and funny, but not everybody appreciated that.
“Can I sit?” The boy asked and Jimmy simply nodded. “Do you play the drums?” The boy asked as he noticed the worn-out drumsticks.
Jimmy shrugged and was tempted to say yes, but he shook his head.
“No. I mean, I do sometimes but I don’t have a drum set so I can’t practice.”
The boy nodded and smiled a little.
“My dad has a drum set in the basement, but he rarely uses it. Maybe you could come over one day and we can play something together.”
Oh, the naivety of youth.
Jimmy looked up at the boy and raised his eyebrows. “And you? Do you play the drums?”
“No, I kinda play the guitar, though.” He answered before giving his new friend a big smile. “I’m Brian.” He added, offering him his hand.
Jimmy smiled, shaking Brian’s hand. “I’m Jimmy.”
Never in a million years would Jimmy have thought he would meet his future best friend at a girl’s birthday party, but they say best things happen unexpectedly and this couldn’t be more true.
Jimmy smiled at that memory; it had been over 20 years since their first meeting and their friendship was one of the most genuine things that ever happened to him. He folded the photograph and put in his wallet, deciding to take it home with him. No need to stay here in the attic or at his parents’ place.
Barbara Sullivan sighed happily as she unfolded a small blue blanket.
“What? Did you find another naked picture of me?” Jimmy asked, putting his wallet back into his pocket. When he looked up, though, he realized why she had such a reaction.
It was his blanket from when he was a kid.
“Damn, you still have it?”
“Of course, I do! What kind of a mother do you think I am?” Barbara said. “Especially because this will go to your child, one day.”
Jimmy laughed and nodded. “Sure thing. Just know you’ll have to wait for a long time.” He said, shaking his head a little. He and Lillian hadn’t really thought about having children yet. Sure, they had been dating for over three years now, but they were young and they didn’t feel the need to think about stuff like this.
“Anyone up for break?”
A familiar voice interrupted Jimmy’s thoughts and when he looked up he noticed his girlfriend standing by the door, holding some cups of coffee and a white bag. He smiled widely and got up, cupping her face with his big hands. He placed a kiss on her lips and then pulled away.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hello, you.”
“You two are adorable.” Katie commented as she walked towards the girl, but she quickly received a light punch from his brother. “What? I’m just saying the truth!”
Barbara shook her head. “Don’t hit your sister. Can’t believe I still have to tell you these things. You’re 28!” She exclaimed before giving a quick hug to his son’s girlfriend. “Hi, Lillian. It was really nice of you to bring us some snacks and coffee.” She added, watching her daughters getting themselves the coffee and some food that was in the white bag Lillian was holding.
“It’s just that I finished work early and I thought I would come and help you guys, also, I know that a break is always a yes for this big guy here.” She said, looking up at her boyfriend.
“Unless he’s practicing or recording; in that case you better leave him alone.”
“I’m just a very focused person.” Jimmy said, but everybody laughed.
“Let’s just say the thing you care the most is music and that’s okay…” Lillian said before whispering, “It’s hot, actually.”
Jimmy kissed the top of her head and took a sip of the coffee she’d brought. She knew him so well she also knew how he liked his coffee.
“Lillian, dear. I found this today.” Barbara said, taking a few steps to grab Jimmy’s blanket. “It was Jimmy’s and I thought you two should have it. You know, for the baby.”
Lillian looked up at Jimmy with a confused look and he simply shrugged. “She’s convinced I’ll get you pregnant soon and–” Jimmy laughed and nodded as he noticed how shocked Lillian was. “I know, I know! Plus, shouldn’t Kelly get pregnant first? I mean, she’s the married one and she’s also the oldest one.”
Everybody looked at Kelly, almost expecting her to announce her pregnancy or something, but she shrugged it off.
“Since when do we do stuff based on our age? I may be the first one who got married, but you’re the first one who moved out, the first one who found a job, the first one who went abroad and the first and only one so far who got famous, so…”
“She’s got a point.” Lillian said before chuckling nervously. “I don’t think Jimmy and I will have children anytime soon, Barbara. I’m sorry.”
The older woman shrugged, “I guess we’ll wait and see.” She said before turning around to go back to tidy up the attic, and she was soon followed by her daughters.
“I’m sorry about that…” Jimmy whispered, but Lillian smiled, reassuring him.
“It’s okay. Moms tend to be… Well, impatient when it comes to having grandchildren.”
“Well, my mom is the best at it.”
― William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Happiness is somewhere I have been before
A blurry photograph that I have since ignored.
Aperture – Sleeping At Last
Jimmy sighed heavily, his arms on his hips. He didn’t understand why his mother wanted to tidy up the attic now, nor why she wanted him to be there. He hasn’t lived in that house since high school, when he moved in with Brian and his family, so except for a few things in his old bedroom, there wasn’t much there that could be considered his. And yet there he was, looking at his sisters and his mothers checking into old, dusty boxes to see what they could keep or what they had to throw away.
“Are you helping us or what, James?” Barbara asked, looking up at her son.
He rolled his eyes and sat down on the floor. He picked one random box and opened it, but not after coughing a few times because of the dust that covered pretty much everything in the attic. The window was open, letting the light breeze of early May enter the room.
He was already sick and tired, however he decided to keep going, hoping Lillian would finish to work soon so they would be able to leave.
“Oh my God!” Kelly squealed, causing everybody to look at her.
“Did you just see a rat?” Jimmy asked, already ready to laugh at his sister.
“No, look at this!” She said, showing them a picture of a naked little boy, aged 1, running in the backyard.
“What is it?” He asked and his mother chuckled.
“It’s you, silly!”
“Yeah, look at your little butt!”
The women laughed and Jimmy grabbed the photograph from his sister’s hands. He looked down at him and smirked.
“Yup, the butt is mine. Still got the same sexy butt.” He commented before leaving the old piece of paper on the top of a pile of photographs. That’s when he noticed a picture he hasn’t seen in years.
The image showed Jimmy and Brian when they were eight years old. They were giving the photographer, probably Kelly or some part of that birthday party they were attending, their biggest and best smiles while they had their arm around the other’s shoulders.
They barely knew each other back then, and yet they were already best friends.
“I don’t wanna come!”
An eight-year-old Jimmy was following his two sisters, Kelly and Katie. The two girls were holding each other’s hand and their brother was behind them, walking with his hands in his pockets.
“Mom said you had to come, so shut up.” The oldest of the Sullivan siblings said, looking at her brother out the corner of her eye.
Jimmy groaned in frustration, not wanting to go to some girl’s birthday party. He was a boy and he didn’t understand why he had to attend his little sister’s friend’s party. It was stupid. It was when they arrived and he noticed how everything was covered in pink decorations that he decided he had to do something about this. Running away seemed the best idea, but he needed to plan his escape.
“See? You’re not the only boy here.” Kelly said, looking at her brother and moving her head to the right, to make him notice a few boys who were playing soccer not far from where they were standing. “Go ask them if you can play with them.”
“No, thanks.”
Jimmy headed to the table and asked Melinda’s mother (apparently that was the birthday girl’s name) if he could have some coke, then he walked away, wanting to find some place where he wouldn’t be bother by other kids.
The backyard was huge so thankfully it didn’t take that long to find a place. Jimmy sat down under a tree, facing the white fence and took his drumsticks out of his pocket, starting to beat them on his knees, attempting to play something. God, he couldn’t wait to get his own drum set! That way he would be able to play for real and not just pretend to.
“Hi.”
The owner of the voice that Jimmy just heard was another kid, around his age, who was standing next to him. Jimmy looked up and squeezed his eyes a little, the sun facing him and hurting his eyes. The other boy moved a little so his shadow would cover the drummer-to-be and Jimmy was finally able to see him in the face.
“Hi.” Jimmy said, not used to see kids come and greet him. He tried his best to be friendly and funny, but not everybody appreciated that.
“Can I sit?” The boy asked and Jimmy simply nodded. “Do you play the drums?” The boy asked as he noticed the worn-out drumsticks.
Jimmy shrugged and was tempted to say yes, but he shook his head.
“No. I mean, I do sometimes but I don’t have a drum set so I can’t practice.”
The boy nodded and smiled a little.
“My dad has a drum set in the basement, but he rarely uses it. Maybe you could come over one day and we can play something together.”
Oh, the naivety of youth.
Jimmy looked up at the boy and raised his eyebrows. “And you? Do you play the drums?”
“No, I kinda play the guitar, though.” He answered before giving his new friend a big smile. “I’m Brian.” He added, offering him his hand.
Jimmy smiled, shaking Brian’s hand. “I’m Jimmy.”
Never in a million years would Jimmy have thought he would meet his future best friend at a girl’s birthday party, but they say best things happen unexpectedly and this couldn’t be more true.
Jimmy smiled at that memory; it had been over 20 years since their first meeting and their friendship was one of the most genuine things that ever happened to him. He folded the photograph and put in his wallet, deciding to take it home with him. No need to stay here in the attic or at his parents’ place.
Barbara Sullivan sighed happily as she unfolded a small blue blanket.
“What? Did you find another naked picture of me?” Jimmy asked, putting his wallet back into his pocket. When he looked up, though, he realized why she had such a reaction.
It was his blanket from when he was a kid.
“Damn, you still have it?”
“Of course, I do! What kind of a mother do you think I am?” Barbara said. “Especially because this will go to your child, one day.”
Jimmy laughed and nodded. “Sure thing. Just know you’ll have to wait for a long time.” He said, shaking his head a little. He and Lillian hadn’t really thought about having children yet. Sure, they had been dating for over three years now, but they were young and they didn’t feel the need to think about stuff like this.
“Anyone up for break?”
A familiar voice interrupted Jimmy’s thoughts and when he looked up he noticed his girlfriend standing by the door, holding some cups of coffee and a white bag. He smiled widely and got up, cupping her face with his big hands. He placed a kiss on her lips and then pulled away.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hello, you.”
“You two are adorable.” Katie commented as she walked towards the girl, but she quickly received a light punch from his brother. “What? I’m just saying the truth!”
Barbara shook her head. “Don’t hit your sister. Can’t believe I still have to tell you these things. You’re 28!” She exclaimed before giving a quick hug to his son’s girlfriend. “Hi, Lillian. It was really nice of you to bring us some snacks and coffee.” She added, watching her daughters getting themselves the coffee and some food that was in the white bag Lillian was holding.
“It’s just that I finished work early and I thought I would come and help you guys, also, I know that a break is always a yes for this big guy here.” She said, looking up at her boyfriend.
“Unless he’s practicing or recording; in that case you better leave him alone.”
“I’m just a very focused person.” Jimmy said, but everybody laughed.
“Let’s just say the thing you care the most is music and that’s okay…” Lillian said before whispering, “It’s hot, actually.”
Jimmy kissed the top of her head and took a sip of the coffee she’d brought. She knew him so well she also knew how he liked his coffee.
“Lillian, dear. I found this today.” Barbara said, taking a few steps to grab Jimmy’s blanket. “It was Jimmy’s and I thought you two should have it. You know, for the baby.”
Lillian looked up at Jimmy with a confused look and he simply shrugged. “She’s convinced I’ll get you pregnant soon and–” Jimmy laughed and nodded as he noticed how shocked Lillian was. “I know, I know! Plus, shouldn’t Kelly get pregnant first? I mean, she’s the married one and she’s also the oldest one.”
Everybody looked at Kelly, almost expecting her to announce her pregnancy or something, but she shrugged it off.
“Since when do we do stuff based on our age? I may be the first one who got married, but you’re the first one who moved out, the first one who found a job, the first one who went abroad and the first and only one so far who got famous, so…”
“She’s got a point.” Lillian said before chuckling nervously. “I don’t think Jimmy and I will have children anytime soon, Barbara. I’m sorry.”
The older woman shrugged, “I guess we’ll wait and see.” She said before turning around to go back to tidy up the attic, and she was soon followed by her daughters.
“I’m sorry about that…” Jimmy whispered, but Lillian smiled, reassuring him.
“It’s okay. Moms tend to be… Well, impatient when it comes to having grandchildren.”
“Well, my mom is the best at it.”
Notes
Hello! Like I said in the description of the story, I don't know why I wrote this thing. I started writing it last night while the site was down for me and I'm already on the third and final chapter. It's a very random story, but I truly hope you enjoy! :)
@HometownGlory
You're absolutely welcome dear <3
3/8/17