Word Count: 782

Azzo sat at the bar, in their little two story, three bedroom house. Looking at Grams. She’d been on the phone, he knew it. That look she gave him wasn’t one of comfort. He watched her curiously.

“You’re birthday’s coming up.” The older lady informed Azzo, as though he didn’t know, “Soon you’ll be 19.” She smiled softly, almost whimsical. “I can’t believe you’ll be 19 in just a few days.”

Azzo’s brows furrowed. He felt a pang in his heart, that year that he’d missed. He sighed closing his eyes before opening them to look at the food in front of him. “Do we have any cherries?” He asked trying to avoid the conversation. He knew where it was headed; he didn’t want it to go there this morning.

His grandmother pulled out a bowl of fresh cherries from the little farmers market that Azzo had found. “It seems like only yesterday you were just a small tike always running around the house.” She said softly, fondly.

He started nibbling on the cherries along with the rest of his food, “Grams...” He said when he took a moment to pause, “Please don’t...”

She stopped to look at him, “Don’t what? You know I can’t help but tell you how much I love you.” She smiled, softly the look in her eyes told him there was something fixing to happen. Something he wouldn’t want to happen.

He looked at her, “They’re coming aren’t they?” He asked softly, a solemn voice. Losing his want for food quickly. He pushed the plate away. “I wish you would’ve least waited till I was finished to tell me.” He said softly.

She looked at him. “Azzo…” She said softly. Walking over to him placing a soft, wrinkled hand on his cheek, she smelled of peppermint and liniment. He didn’t look at her, “Azzo, they want me to come live with them.” She said softly.

Azzo froze. The idea of her leaving him was… it was nuts. She couldn’t. He looked at his Grandmother, “You won’t, you can’t.” He said almost frantic. “What’ll I do? They don’t even think I’m alive!”

She nodded softly, “I know. I told them I wouldn’t leave you.” She paused, with a sigh, “I tried to convince them everything was fine here and what they heard on the news wasn’t as bad as they made it sound.”

The pup looked away at everything there, everything in the room. “They can’t take you away.” He murmured. “I won’t let them.” He was scared of his father, they both knew that. Standing up to the man was going to be a test in itself.

“Azzo...” She said softly looking at her grandson. “Do you want a birthday party?” She asked curiously changing the subject.

“No I don't, when are they coming?” He asked serious, fiddling with a cherry stem.

“Day before.” She replied.

“Where are they?”

“South Korea.” She answered him again.

He nodded softly, “I see. Well their trip will be a waste of time.” He said softly before looking at the food and eating it despite the lack of desire for it anymore.

“Azzo, at least try to get along with them?” She asked prodding the boy’s nerves softly.

“I don’t know what you mean Grams.” He said softly, finishing his plate. Flashing a grin, he was too much like his grandfather.

“You know what I mean.” She said sternly.

“Alright, Alright. You’ll still be staying here though. Where your comfortable, and if you want to move back home, I’ll go to. It’s up to you, but you’re not going halfway across the country.” He said with a nod. He was getting up to dismiss himself from the table so to speak.

“I do like Destiny.” She said softly, seemingly to think. “You have plenty of friends here too.”

Azzo nodded, “Yeah, friends.” He said softly pausing, “Hey Grams?”

She paused in washing up the dishes. “Yes?”

“Mind if I invest in us some cell phones and a computer?”

The older woman looked at him startled. “Um... I guess?”

Azzo smiled, “Good, then we can get me that for my birthday?” He said with a grin, even though there’d be a cell phone each and the computer would be for both of them.

Grams paused, “I guess Azzo. I mean, is that really what you want?”

He nodded, “I think we might need to learn how to use the computer, most of my classmates type their reports on them now. Not to mention most people expect me to have a cell phone. It might be nice?” He said. “We could learn together.”

She smiled and nodded, “Alright. If that’s what you want.”