Someone Left Behind

The sun was just about to go down when Jake felt someone come up behind him, “You ready?” Eric questioned, picking him up and staring at him.

“No,” he laughed, “but I guess it’s time…I just don’t know what I’m going to say…” he got down and walked towards the stage while Eric ran over to the DJ, whispering what to do in his ear and handing him a disk. Jake walked up onto the stage that was set up, once again for karaoke, and, standing on his tippy-toes grabbed the microphone off the stand.

“Hi guys…um…I wanted to say congratulations to Jordan on the Cup win, only two more to go huh boys?” he grinned towards where Eric had rejoined his brothers. “I don’t wanna take the spotlight or anything but I just wanted to pay tribute to someone very important to me and the more people that hear it the better. So…here it goes…my mom, many of you knew her, she was born here and was pretty popular from what I knew. The Staal’s were her best friends and she loved this town very much, she was always talking about it. I know if she could have moved back and seen it one last time before she passed away she would have. She was buried here, but it was kept on the down low, not many people knew about it. After this if any of you would like to know where I would be happy to tell you. Anyway…my mom was Emma Thomas.” a loud murmuring bubbled up from the crowd and he waited until it quieted some, he glanced at Jordan to see him looking like he was swaying slightly. He looked up towards the stage and Jake immediately looked away “My father…is here tonight. He isn’t aware of me, but I love him very much. I’m really angry at him for…different reasons but…I love him.“ he gazed out over the crowd, purposefully avoiding Jordan or any of the Staal’s. “Anyway…yes my mother passed away about a month ago and I miss her very much…I have went through pictures, with help from my grandparents and uncles and put them together in a montage and I will be singing a song for her…” he nodded towards the DJ and took a deep breath, beginning the song.

Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la

You used to call me your angel
Said I was sent straight down from heaven
You used to hold me close in your arms
I loved the way you felt so strong
I never wanted you to leave
I wanted you to stay here holding me

I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear
Every once in a while
And even though its different now
You’re still here somehow
My heart won’t let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha la la la la
I miss you

You used to call me your dreamer
And now I’m living out my dream
Oh how I wish you could see
Everything that’s happening for me
I’m thinking back on the past
Its true that time is flying by too fast

I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear
Every once in a while
And even though its different now
You’re still here somehow
My heart won’t let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha la la la la
I miss you

I know you’re in a better place yeah
But I wish that I could see your face oh
I know you’re where you need to be
Even though its not here with me

I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear
Every once in a while
And even though its different now
You’re still here somehow
My heart won’t let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha la la la la
I miss you

I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear
Every once in a while
And even though its different now
You’re still here somehow
My heart won’t let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha la la la la
I miss you

“I miss you Momma, and I love you.” he whispered, staring down at the stage, then he quickly scrambled off it, tears streaming down his face and looking for Eric. He could see his head bobbing through the crowd towards him but he needed a hug. He spotted Jordan standing there staring at him and he fell into his arms, sobbing heavily. He felt Eric come up behind them and he pried himself away from his father, turning around and curling into his uncle‘s arms. Oddly enough, at that point another song came on, one Eric started singing softly to him. He picked him up and started swaying to the music. Jake glanced over Eric’s shoulder to see the worried crowd staring at him, especially Jordan; he dug his face back into Eric’s neck.

Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight

I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart,
Always

Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all

And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other,
to have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know

When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on,
Now and forever more

Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always

He shrugged Jake’s head off him shoulder and they stared at each other, Jake’ tears had stopped and Eric could tell he was feeling much better. He smiled at the little boy who gave a slight grin in return.

“I’d stick to your day job.” Eric let out a loud laugh and Jake giggled. Then, the other two boys wandered over as another song played, they all started singing to him, save Jordan. The only difference was they changed the ‘my’s to ‘our’s.

When he was a kid, he'd be up at five
Take shots till eight, make the thing drive
Out after school, back on ice
That was his life, he was gonna play in the Big League
The Big League

Not many ways out of this cold northern town
You work in the mill and get laid in the ground
If you're gonna jump it will be with the game
Real fast and tough is the only clear lane to the Big League

Our boy's gonna play in the Big League
Our boy's gonna turn some heads
Our boy's gonna play in the Big League
Our boy's gonna knock 'em dead
The Big League

Sometimes at night I can hear the ice crack
It sounds like thunder and it rips through my back
Sometimes in the morning I still hear the sound
Ice meets metal...
"Can't you drive me down to the Big League?"

Our boy's gonna play in the Big League
Our boy's gonna turn some heads
Our boy's gonna play in the Big League
Our boy's gonna knock 'em dead

Never can tell what might come down
Never can tell when you might check out
Just don't know, no you never can tell
So do right to others like you do to yourself
In the Big League

Our boy's gonna play in the Big League
Our boy's gonna turn some heads
Our boy's gonna play in the Big League

The three Staal brothers spun him between them, Jake giggling happily throughout the whole thing. Jordan watched enviously from the sidelines while everyone else watched them, smiling at the good time they were having.

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

And so, the night continued on, laughs and stories being exchanged. 8 o’clock rolled around and it was time for Stanley to head off to the next person’s party, Jake was pretty sure it was Matt Cooke‘s. Jordan was standing on the front porch watching the truck containing the Cup pull out of the driveway and suddenly he felt a little hand slip into his own from behind.

“It’s okay, you’ll have it again one day.” he looked down into Jake’s dazzling blue eyes and smiled softly.

“I sure hope so.” he gave one last glance at the truck before leading the little boy around the house and into the backyard where the party was still raging.

“Bedtime.” Eric appeared out of no where and scooped Jake up form beside his brother, detaching their hands.

“But Dad! Please! Its Jordan‘s party! Let me stay up late!” he whined, staring at him through pleading eyes.

“Yeah please Dad!” Jordan whined right along, causing Jake to giggle and Eric to shake his head in amusement.

“Fine, but no later than 10!”

“But I got to stay up later than that on New Years!” Jake retorted.

“That’s because it was welcoming a new year.” Jake simply stared at him, “Fine! But if Tanya asks just say I couldn’t find you.” he kissed his forehead and set him down.

“Yeah!” he giggled happily and rocketed off towards the designated dancing area.