** Yeah, I know this is really late for Avi's birthday but I had this chapter already written in the older version of 'Sibling Love'. 

I thought I would throw in a double to add his birthday. Chapter 21 will continue with the story line.

**********

Avi rolls over and looks at the clock, 9:30. He sits up and stretches and rubs the sleep from his eyes.

This day was gonna suck. Of all days, why did Ben want Esther and Kirstie to come help with the clean-up? Was he so eager to open that he would make them come in on a Sunday to work? All the repairs on the restaurant were finished.

Didn't they remember? Or maybe they didn't care.

Today was his 19th birthday, and he was spending it alone.

He climbs down out of the loft and goes to the kitchen and fixes himself a birthday breakfast of Lucky Charms.

He stares out the window as he eats his cereal. He wishes that his mood could match the weather. A beautiful warm, sunny Sunday.

A perfect day to go for a ride on his bike with his girlfriend. But that idea was shot to hell. Not only was his girlfriend having to work but he barely had the gas to get to town. He used what gas he had to mow the yard yesterday.

He washes his cereal bowl and then goes to take a shower hoping it would lighten his mood. It didn't work.

He looks into the mirror as he buttons up his black and gray plaid shirt.

"Happy birthday, Avi." He tells himself with a sigh. "Whoopee."

Why would he think this birthday would be any different. He knew his sister didn't have the money for a gift and Kirstie and Tim probably didn't even know it was his birthday.

He slips a black beanie over his long locks. Yea, it was too hot to wear one but he felt naked without it.

He grabs the phone, just in case someone wanted to call and wish him a happy birthday, and walks out to his shed.

He sits down on the stool and sets a block of wood in front of him. He stares at the wood, trying to get an image in his head.

He tilts his head from side to side, then a small smile creeps onto his lips.

"I'll just make myself something." He says quietly as he picks up his carving tools and begins to work.

He works non-stop for several hours. He finally lays down his tools and rubs his aching hands as he smiles at his near finished project. A dragon.

He sets the dragon on some old newspaper and carefully stains it.

"Good job, Avi. Well, thank you, Avi." He says to himself and then chuckles as he sits back and admires his now finished dragon.

The phone rings causing him to jump.

"Hello?" He answers as he carefully touches the dragon to see if it was dry. (I quickened the drying process)

"Hey, Kid." His sister replies. "Whatcha doing?"

"Just got through carving me something." Avi says, wrapping the dragon in a newspaper.

"You hungry? We still have a little work to do and it's almost supper time. If you want to come to the diner, I'll fix you a cheeseburger." Esther offers.

"I am kind of hungry. But I don't know if I have enough gas in my bike." Avi says, realizing he had spent his entire birthday in his shed alone as he notices the sun beginning to set.

"I have you some gas money if you come." Esther tells him. "Oh, and bring your carving, I wanna see it. If you're not here in 30 minutes, someone will come looking for you. In case you run out of gas. Alright?"

"Okay. I'll see you in a few." Avi says as he hangs up.

He sighs. She didn't remember.

He slips the dragon into his backpack, makes sure all the lights in the house were off and the door locked.

Slipping on his backpack he sits down on his bike and turns on the key. The gas hand barely moved. He shakes his head in worry.

He cranks the bike and heads to town.

Breathing a sigh of relief as he pulls into the parking lot beside Kirstie's car, smiling at a wilted clover necklace hanging around her review mirror that he had made her yesterday.

He slips his keys into his pocket as he walks across the Sunday deserted street to the restaurant.

He opens the door.

"SURPRIZE!!!!!!"

"HOLY MOLY!!" He screams grabbing his chest.

Esther, Kirstie, Tim, Ben and a few of the employees start to sing 'Happy Birthday' as Esther walks around the counter carrying a birthday cake with 19 candles. The cake decorated with his favorite candy, Gummy Bears.

"Look at the Gummy Bears!" Avi says as he eyes the cake. Tears quickly filling his eyes.

"Happy Birthday, Baby." Kirstie says as she kisses him.

"I didn't think anyone remembered." Avi says as he wipes tears from his eyes.

"Of course we remembered, Silly." Esther says hugging her little brother tightly and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"That's what a surprise party is all about." Tim laughs.

"This is totally Rock and Roll." Avi laughs through his tears. "I love you all so much."

After a feast of bar-b-que sandwiches, fries and birthday cake it was time to open the presents.

Badly needed art supplies from Ben, new beanies and flannel shirts from the other employees and a huge framed painting of a dragon for his wall and a beautiful gold chain, both from Kirstie.

"Now, for mine and Tim's present." Esther says as she reaches behind the counter. She picks up an odd shaped guitar case and hands it to Avi.

"Oh my God." Avi whispers as he runs a hand over the case.

"Well, open it." Kirstie laughs.

He laughs at her eagerness. He opens the case and stares down at the beautiful instrument.

"What... What is it? I've never seen anything like this before." He says as he slowly takes the instrument out of the case.

"It's a Banjitar. Part Banjo, part guitar." Tim tells him.

"It's beautiful. But yall shouldn't have. It had to be expensive." Avi says as he strums the instrument.

"You're worth it, Baby Brother." Esther says kissing him on the forehead.

Avi reaches up and grabs her into a hug. "Thank you. I love you so much." He whispers.

"I love you too." She says wiping a tear.

Avi begins to hug and thank everyone for their gifts.

He holds his hair up for Kirstie to fasten the gold chain around his neck.

"It's beautiful. I've never had anything like this before." He smiles as he runs his hand over the jewelry.

"It looks good on you." Kirstie says giving him a tender kiss.

"So. Let's see what you carved today." Esther says as she hands him his backpack.

He chuckles as his cheeks begin to turn red.

"I was pretty depressed thinking no one remembered my birthday. So to try to cheer myself up, I made myself a birthday present." He says as he hangs his head, clearly embarrassed.

"Well, let's see it." Tim says.

Avi pulls an object wrapped in the newspaper out of the backpack. He unwraps it and holds it up. Everyone stares at the beautiful dragon with amazement.

"Happy Birthday to me." Avi smiles proudly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VOTE & COMMENT!!!