Creeping up the stairs, Laura made her way to the two bedrooms where her sons were sleeping. Checking on her oldest son, she had to smile at the striking resemblance that he had to his father. Then she walked silently to the last bedroom in the hallway. She had to chuckle at the usual sight of her youngest son's bedroom. Assuming that he was under the huge pile of pillows and his grandmother's quilt, she turned in for the night, promising herself that on Saturday, she was going to be a mother.

It was eight in the morning when Laura came into wake Jason up. Light was streaming in the window, causing Jason to squint his eyes to see the intruder.

"Come on, we are going to eat breakfast together before we get our chores done. I am making pancakes so go and get ready," Laura chimed happily as she gathered the dirty clothes up out of the hamper in Jason's room. She was walking out the door when she stopped in her tracks. "Uh, Jason? Could you please get your brother up?"

Jason grimaced at the thought of the chore of waking his brother up, but assured his mother that he would after he got dressed. Within five minutes, Jason was fully dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and made his way to his brother's room.

Not even wasting his time yelling, Jason walked over to the window and opened the blinds. Then he started to take away the millions of pillows that covered the youngest Kramer. Getting a good hold of the quilt, Jason jerked the covers off of Adam.

"JASON!" A voice grumbled out loud.

"How did you know it was me?" Jason asked with a smile. Adam just made a face at him and then grabbed his forehead. "Mom said to get you up. She is making pancakes and she is also getting laundry so I would be getting your clothes in the hamper soon."

But Adam did not move. He just lay there holding his forehead.

"Adam, this is getting ridiculous. It would be so much better for all of us if you would just get up in the morning instead of dragging it out," Jason muttered. The only sound Adam made was a grunting noise. Seeing this as an opportunity to torture his little brother, Jason exclaimed, "Well I guess it is time to be tortured then."

Without much warning, Jason pounced Adam and started to tickle him relentlessly. However, instead of the playful cantor that he usually heard, Adam did not seem to put up much of a fight. "Jason! Darn it! Leave me alone!" was all that Jason heard. Realizing that something must be wrong, Jason stopped and turned Adam onto his back.

"What is the matter?" Jason asked.

"I have a really bad headache and tickling me and this light is not helping at all," Adam said, pulling a pillow over and putting it over his head to block out the light.

"Did you take that medicine?"

"Yeah, I took it about five this morning, along with my other medicine. The headache woke me up it was so bad," Adam grumbled. "I can't get one of these today. I have too much to do before I have to pick Alyssa up."

Jason sighed. He knew that Adam had been getting bad headaches lately, and he agreed that this was a bad time to have one.

"Look, I will tell mom. Why don't you stay up here and rest and I will take care of what I can for you? I think if you rest it might go away," Jason said, getting off of his brother and closing the blinds back.

"Jason, you don't have to do that. I will try to get up here in a minute," Adam argued, but Jason interrupted him.

"Adam, it is fine. I can handle it. Just promise me that as soon as you are feeling better, you will come out and help," Jason said. Adam sighed and agreed. By the time Jason left the room, Adam was asleep.

Jason and his mother ate breakfast together and started on the household chores. They caught up on things and talked about their week plans. They were weeding the flowerbed when a shadow caught their attention.

Laura glanced up and smiled, " How are you doing, hon?"

"Okay, just a little winded, that is all," Adam said.

"You could have at least got dressed," Jason laughed. Adam was still in his flannel boxers and did not have a shirt on. Even though most boys ran around topless, Laura never allowed her boys to go topless in public unless they were swimming. "What would you do if Alyssa or Kara would drive up and see you have naked?"

"Who's to say they never saw them before," Adam mumbled back. Then he chuckled at the look on Jason's face at his statement.

"Okay, no more of that talk," Laura said with a smile. She also enjoyed Jason's reaction as well. "So what are your plans tonight?"

"Kara wants a nice evening just hanging out I guess," Jason answered, pulling on one of the weeds. Adam kneeled down beside him and started on his own area of the flowerbed.

"I think that I am going to go and see some friends before I leave. What are your plans tonight Adam?" Laura asked as she took a small rake and smoothed the mulch out.

"Don't really know. I figure we will decide at the last minute. She said that she just wants to live it up," Adam said, trying to pull some of the weeds. His left hand was not cooperating though. Jason noticed the frustration in his brother's eyes, but did not want to call attention to it.

"Just keep me informed of your whereabouts, okay boys. I also want you to promise that you will look out for each other next week," Laura said, stopping to catch her breath. Both boys nodded in agreement.

"I also do not want you two into any detective stuff. I want Adam to rest and Jason I want you to as well. If you get sick or anything happens, I want to know immediately. I will come right back. You are the two most important things in the world to me. You come first, got it." Again, both boys nodded as they helped clear the flowerbed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent completing chores and just spending time together. Soon, six o'clock rolled around and Jason left to pick up Kara and Laura left right behind him. Alyssa came about fifteen minutes later. The young couple left in the Trans Am.

"Do what do you want to do? Your wish is my command," Adam said, putting his hand over on Alyssa's lap and holding her hand.

"I really don't know," Alyssa replied. "I just want to do something fun and exciting."

"We can go to the beach?"

"We have been there a lot. I would like to sort of be around a lot of people."

Adam thought for a minute. There was not much to do in their small town. "I know, we can go down to the pier. Everyone gathers there on Saturday night. How is that?"

Alyssa smiled, "That sounds perfect!" Adam reached over and kissed her hand.

When Adam and Alyssa arrived at the pier's hangout, it was apparent that there were a lot of their classmates there. Everyone had a booth and was enjoying the atmosphere. The jukebox was playing and the smell of French fries and cheeseburgers filled the room. Adam looked over at Alyssa. The low light showed one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen. He loved it when she put her hair up in a ponytail with small strands hanging down. Alyssa noticed his stare and looked at him with a puzzled look.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked quizzically.

"I was admiring your beauty," Adam said with a boyish smile.

"I am just wearing a T-shirt and jeans for Heaven's sake," Alyssa commented.

"It does not matter to me," Adam said as he leaned over to kiss her.

"HEY TIGGER! Boy am I glad to see you guys here, come over and join us!" a familiar voice cut into the moment.

Adam laughed and Alyssa smiled really big. They were both thinking of the last time Chuck had interrupted a quiet moment. It was the night of their first kiss and the accident. But the accident never entered their memory.

"What is going on tonight? Why is everyone here?" Adam asked, putting his hands gently on her shoulders.

"It is karaoke night! They just started it a couple of weeks ago, but now everyone is into it," Chuck said leading the couple to the booth. Craig Johnson, Jason's best friend, was seated there too.

"Hey! Nice to see you guys here!" Craig said with a wave. "Why don't you order yourself something and sit down and watch. We have one of the best seats in the house!"

Adam slid into a booth while Alyssa wheeled herself up to the end of the table. Craig scooted over to let Chuck in, who was still eating his big deluxe cheeseburger.

"We are all glad to see you here tonight. When we decided to have a karaoke night, we never dreamed that you guys would like it this well. The response has been so positive that we decided to have a contest tonight. Some of our area businesses came together and here are the prizes. First prize will be $200.00, second prize will be $100.00 and third prize will be $50.00. You all will be judges tonight so I hope that you stay with us throughout the night. Sign ups are at the grill and everyone is welcome to give it a try. We will be starting in fifteen minutes so please, come and entertain us and your friends," Josh Carter, the owner of the Bar and Grill at the pier announced from the front area of the restaurant. Everyone applauded at idea of the contest and was awaiting the contestants eagerly.

"So what do you want?" Adam asked Alyssa.

"A chocolate milkshake would be nice," Alyssa answered. Adam then left to get the food and wait his turn in line.

The contest started on time. All kinds of teenagers and college kids back home for the weekend competed in the contest singing songs ranging from the Beach Boys to Garth Brooks and even some current popular songs. The three friends were wondering what was taking Adam so long, but continued to watch the first three contestants.

"Care if we join you guys?" A voice said, tapping Chuck on the shoulder. Chuck about jumped out of his skin.

'Did you have to scare the crap out of me? Sure you can sit," Chuck said as Jason and Kara scooted in where Adam was sitting. Jason looked around the establishment and then looked at the group.

"Where is Adam?" he asked in a worried tone.

'He went to get something to eat and he has not made it back yet," Alyssa answered. "I am sure that he is fine."

"He had one of those headaches again this morning so," Jason commented with concern. "I know the doctor said that he would be fine, but it still worries me."

"He hasn't had any seizures yet, right?" Chuck asked as he took a sip of his Pepsi.

"No, but..." Jason stared to say something, but then he paused a second. "It just concerns me. I am going to go and see if I can find him."