When They Cried (Epilogue)

I have never written an Epilogue before...
Do any of you know what the next story is going to be about?
Taylor please don't spoil for my future readers!!

That's cool if any of my readers have children. I love children...they are so adorable. I have a six month old daughter. =)
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Five Years Later- The Amazing Future

Nathanial was tossing his basketball between his feet under the kitchen table as he read his History book. Lucas was trying to get it from him with his feet. Jeremiah was playing with baby Tyler who was sitting in his high chair eating a spill bowl of Cheerios. June was making breakfast while Tristan got dressed in his uniform for class today.

"I am going to win them!" Nathanial told June. "You’re coming to my game right?"

"I wouldn’t miss if for the world." June smiled. Nathanial had matured so much. A big muscular twelve year old boy that had his whole life wrapped around basketball and reading.

"I think the whole family is going to be there." Tristan fiddled with his tie as he rubbed Nathanial’s head which was in a desperate need of a haircut. "We need to shave that farm that’s growing on your head."

"Ha! Daddy has jokes!" Lucas laughed as June served everyone food and sat down. "Yum! Apple pancakes!"

"Pan quakes!" Tyler giggled as his little feet kicked about hitting Jeremiah in the head.

"No, Tyler!" Jeremiah lightly pinched him. "It’s called pancake!"

"Every baby says it like that, idiot." Nathanial shoved him from across the table.

"Who said you could touch me!" Jeremiah stuck his tongue out. "I hope you lose the game!"

"Can’t we have one family breakfast without you boys acting wild at the table?" Tristan laughed. Lucas agreed with him. "You two might have to eat outside with Mrs. Green’s dogs!"

"Woof, woof!" Tyler cried out.

"You two gave made one crazy baby!" Lucas shook his blond head and scooped some pancake pieces into his mouth.

"Baby, baby!" Tyler was just calling out everything everybody said. Almost like a talking parrot.

"I think it’s cute." June pulled Tyler into her lap and gave him sweet little kisses. "He is learning at an extraordinary rate."

Tyler grabbed his mommy’s hair and yanked it. He giggled and yanked it harder. Tyler had especially loved his mother. Just the way she cuddled him and how she rocks him to sleep. He also liked his uncles, who could also be considered his brothers, and his father that dances with him some nights when he is not studying for exams. Tyler was the star baby in the family. He had a little bit of everyone in him. He was perfect for the little family.

"He knows every word in the world but he can’t say Mommy or Daddy." Jeremiah frowned. "I couldn’t even get him to say my name!"

"He is only a year." Nathanial argued. "Give him some time."

"M-m…" Tyler tried but he started to wail.

"Good job! You have upset him!" Jeremiah stroked his cheek gently.

"Well breakfast has gone out window today." Tristan laughed as he took Tyler. "Come on buddy. Let’s go for some sunshine. Are you coming, Jeremiah?"

"Yes, daddy!" Jeremiah pushed his shoes on and ran to hold Tristan’s hand.

"This is beautiful place." Tyler was sitting up in his stroller looking out. Jeremiah held on tightly to his father’s hand.

"It’s better than where we use to live." Jeremiah nodded as they reached the park. Every morning Tristan or June would take Tyler and Jeremiah to the park just before school. He would push the boys on the swings or just talk with them. June usually laid in the grass with them.
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Nathanial’s coach was a loud man. He didn’t need a whistle to get people’s attention. He used his strong, loud and booming manly voice to get his team’s attention. Nathanial didn’t mind him but today his whole family was sitting in the crowds. His biological father was standing by his coach discussing Nathanial’s position and goals. Nathanial swallowed. His father who he hadn’t seen since he was about eight years old at his birthday party at the zoo. Nathanial walked over to his mother and jumped into her arms as he cried.

"What’s wrong?" June rubbed his head as he sobbed.

"He is here." Nathanial exhaled. "Why is he? What is he going to do?"

"Relax." Tristan rubbed his back.

"Why can’t he just leave us alone, daddy? Doesn’t he know we are happy without him?" Nathanial took a deep breath. He hadn’t cried in over five years.

"You know what you have to do?" Tristan made him look at him. "My boy isn’t going to be a quitter. You are smart and you know what you have to do. You have to prove to that man there that he can’t control you. I want you to brace yourself and win like you always do. He only gave you one thing. And that’s making that ball hit the court and then into that hoop."

"Yes, daddy." Nathanial gave his father a big hug and thanked him.

The ream was called to the court. The Knights were playing against Fay West High School’s the Crackers. They had the worst team name in history and it was hard to understand why Andrew wouldn’t try to rename his team. His son would be very profitable to his school. If only he could convince his son to want to join his team. Nathanial took the ball in his hands as he past it to his left. His goal was to make sure the ball was getting past around and shot. Within seconds, Thomas caught the ball and it swooshed into the hoop making two points.

The game was hot and heavy. It was hard trying to beat the Knights. They were tough and determined as they dribbled the ball and past the ball. They worked and lived as a team when it came to playing the big games. Andrew knew his team was going to lose by fifteen to eight. Those eight points were just lucky shots they caught but were particularly just giving the other a team a favor as the ball landed into someone else’s hands. Andrew’s team may go to one of the best schools in the state but they didn’t have good teams or players.

There was a thirty minute break to drink water and relax. Nathanial had taken a big breath. Jeremiah had followed him around with baby Tyler in his arms. He was moving Tyler up and down in his arms as Nathanial gulped water from the water fountain.

"Moocow!" Tyler screeched and it echoed down the school halls. Nathanial picked him up and held him in the air.

"Can you say Nathan?"

"Nana!" A big glob of baby saliva fell onto Nathanial’s face. Jeremiah took Tyler and headed off to his mother.

Nathanial went to the bathroom rub his face clean. He heard the opening of the bathroom stalls. Andrew was lurking around when he finally stood near the door.

"You know, if you lose I’ll leave your entire family alone. Just give me some good points. Or better yet, come join my school." Andrew flicked his fingers.

"I am not losing for you. Go to hell!" Nathanial shoved the foolish man out of his way and made his way to the court.

The clock had read thirty minutes. They now had twenty-five to eight. They were winning and all they needed was a few more shots to be ranked into the top to be in the championship. The clock struck and they had gained four more points within seconds. They needed one more point to make thirty. This shot relied on Nathanial’s brains. He dribbled and everything turned into slow motion. He lifted himself up. The clock was ticking away. Just at two seconds going on one, the ball made a loud bang and swoosh just as the buzzer went off and the scoreboard read thirty points.

Everyone cheered and cried as they picked up Nathanial. They were so happy that their hard work had paid off after all.
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"He lifts up those sneakers and bam! He makes the winning shoot and the crowd goes WILD!" Jeremiah jumped up and down on his bed in his new pajamas. June was giving Tyler his nighttime bottle and rocked her baby to sleep.

"It is time to sleep, my little boy." June grabbed Jeremiah by his ankles and slid him down onto the bed where she tickled him endlessly.

"Stop it, mommy!" Jeremiah giggled as his little feet rest on June’s shoulders. "It tickles!"

"Did you brush those little teeth of yours?" June picked him and tucked him in properly.

"Yeah." He nodded showing off his little white teeth.

"Good boy." June pressed her sweet lips against his cheek and rubbed his head. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight mommy! Goodnight daddy!" Jeremiah hugged his little stuff animal close to him.

Tyler was lying on his back. His little tummy rose and fell in the motions that showed he was falling asleep. His pacifier was taken from his mouth for he was now asleep. Tristan and June went to check on Lucas and Nathanial. Lucas was already in his bed fast asleep. He had a pretty wild day since he ate the most ice cream and was very hyper the entire afternoon. He had a sugar crash ending up into deep sleep. Nathanial was just hopping into his bed when his parents came in.

"I can’t believe you have gotten so big!" Tristan patted his head. "And shooting hoops like no tomorrow too!"

"Yeah." Nathanial laughed.

"Well you get some sleep and don’t think about that trophy too much." Tristan pressed his lips against his son’s forehead and June did the same.

June and Tristan walked hand in hand to their own bed. They both were exhausted. It was a long day, especially long if you have four children to care and look after. They cuddled in bed thinking about the past five years. The boys had gotten big and everyone was loved. Life was to move on and June had forgotten about Ryan. She didn’t remember those bare feet on the wooden floor lingering in her bedroom doorway. She had forgotten about the time her mother slapped her hard for disobeying her. She had forgotten about Layla and her cruelty. She had forgotten about those boys who had hurt and ridiculed her in front of everyone. She was now learning to love and care like never before. From loving her husband and pleasing him to taking care of four beautiful boys that had sprouted into little men.

They had sleep all through the night, expect for little Tyler who wet his diaper and needed to be changed, without a sound or a stir. They were a perfect family. They would be perfect forever. They had stopped crying and they know faced the amazing future ahead of them.