Heading back to the sofa the beautiful brunette lost herself in what she was doing, even forgetting to head out to sunbathe, until a few hours later Casey came walking in and plopped down on one of the chairs. This time, in stark contrast to earlier, he was back to being down again.
“You alright?” Holly asked caringly.
“Yeah.” Casey answered in a way that made it clear that he wasn’t.
“So why the face?” She asked carefully as she played with one of her toes while twisting the TV remote in her other hand.
“What?” Casey asked as if he hadn’t heard, then glumly looked down at his phone before stuffing the thing in his pocket. “Oh, just heard about the party everyone’s at. Mark said it’s already raging. Everyone’s there. Except me.”
“Aw, Case…” Holly said before reaching over to rub his leg. “I’m sorry. But there’ll be other parties.”
“Yeah I know, but not like this.” Her son replied gloomily, “It just sucks missing out on all the fun.”
Feeling her heart go out to him Holly once more wracked her brain to think of what she could do. He had been so upbeat earlier and now he was back to being down. There had to be something she could do to make this weekend memorable for him!
“How about we play some basketball?” She asked with the first thing that popped into her mind.
Looking up at her like she was crazy Casey sank further into the chair.
“In this heat?” Was all he asked but Holly instantly understood. Running around really didn’t seem appealing when it was this hot just sitting around.
Wracking her brain again Holly said the first thing that came into her mind. If he was bothered about not having a party, maybe she could bring a party to him?
“Ok, how about we go shopping? We can bring you back some beer to drink here. And I’ll even join in with you. What do you say?” She asked, trying to sound as positive and hyped as she could.
All she wanted to do was just relax, not go out shopping, but she had to think of something to cheer him up.
“I don’t know.” Casey replied in the most diplomatic way of saying that he wasn’t interested as he could.
But despite knowing that it was hardly compensation for what he was missing — shopping and then drinking with his mother rather than hanging out and partying with his friends! — it was the best she could do. And so Holly wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Come on, it’ll be fun. We can see if there’s anything else you want while we’re out.” She said excitedly, trying to rouse Casey as much as she could.
He still didn’t want to go but Holly wasn’t backing down this time. She wasn’t going to let him be gloomy and mope around all weekend. That would do him and her no good. They had to spend time together all weekend and four days were just going to drag on if he kept being in the mood he was. Plus she didn’t like seeing him unhappy, so if she had to do anything she could to put a smile on his face she would.
And so despite himself Casey reluctantly gave in after a few more sulky rebuttals and so soon enough the two of them were heading out to the local mall to spend some time shopping. While it wasn’t a complete waste of time Holly wouldn’t say it was a complete success either. It did give Casey something to do and for a little while he seemed to engage in what they were doing, but as they made their way home again — even with the promised beer in hand — Holly was almost at a loss for what she could do to cheer Casey up.
Nothing she did, even trying to play around with him like she had earlier, seemed to work however. She had no idea what was different this time but whatever she did Casey just seemed to quickly go back into his shell. Every now and then she would do something that cheered him up or put a smile on his face, like when she jumped on his back for a piggy-back ride or when she playfully gave him a hug ‘from his mommy’. Both of those put a gleam in his eye but that quickly vanished every time he looked at his phone. And as the night wore on, even as they sat drinking in the lounge like he normally wouldn’t be allowed to do, the more glum Casey became as it became clear just how much fun his friends and brothers were having at the party. Until finally Casey walked off upstairs saying that he would have an early night.
Watching him go Holly placed her beer down on the table beside her and sat thinking to herself. Today was only Friday and Casey had Saturday, Sunday, and most of Monday until his brothers and father returned. Let alone his friends. She had to do something to cheer him up and make his weekend fun. No… she had to make his weekend more fun than if he had gone to make up what he was missing out on. Only Holly had no idea how to do that.
And so as she sat alone downstairs with her beer Holly did her best to think of what she could do for Casey. What she could give him or do for him that would make this weekend the most memorable he had had. To make up for his friends and brothers having fun without him. By the time she went to bed she hadn’t managed to think of anything that she hadn’t already tried. But the fact was that if she didn’t think of something then not only was this going to be the longest four-day weekend for both of them, but it was also going to be one that would put a downer on Casey for the rest of his life.
He would always remember that time his father had left him behind while his brothers had fun and he had the worst weekend. No. Holly had to do something. She just had to figure out what he would enjoy the most. Even as she had no idea Holly thought that tomorrow she would think of something. She just had to. And so going to bed the beautiful brunette hoped for a better day tomorrow and some idea of what she was going to do for Casey. Little did she know that the day ahead would change everything… and give her exactly what she needed to make this the best weekend of his life. One he… and she… would never forget.