| Autumn Birthday |
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By: LS Tibbets
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Suzanne had given her family strict instructions not to plan a party for her upcoming birthday. She was turning forty and wanted the event to pass by without fanfare, as if the day wasn’t to occur at all. Despite these insistent instructions, her husband, of course, had planned otherwise. He prided himself on being able to surprise his wife each birthday, and it was getting increasingly difficult over the years.
“You like it, Suze?” Peter asked her, his green eyes bright with hope.
Suzanne pulled on her new red wool coat, and modeled it for her family, turning in a circle to their clapping and cheers.
“It’s luxurious, thank you.” Suzanne smiled.
“I picked the color!” Madison offered, her toothless six year old grin beaming. “It matches your hair!”
“Marvelous choice, Maddy.”
Suzanne looked to her son, who had his arms crossed in front of his chest and stood leaning against the kitchen doorway. “Thank you, Jimmy.” He hadn’t brushed his hair yet that morning, but Suzanne opted not to mention it; not today.
The thirteen year old rolled his eyes. “It’s James, Mom.”
“Right, sorry.”
Peter cut the tags from the coat sleeve.
“Are you certain this is what you want to do for your birthday?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I just want to take a moment and collect myself. It’s a whopper and I’m not gliding into it as easily as I’d hoped.”
“Seems pretty boring to me, walking around looking at plants.” James shifted his weight and jammed his hands into his jeans pockets.
“Maybe to you,” Suzanne said, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.
“You’re mother always has had a green thumb,” Peter offered.
“Mom’s thumb is green?” Maddy’s eyes got wide.
Suzanne and Peter laughed while James rolled his eyes again.
Suzanne’s plan for the day was actually quite simple, but something she hoped would focus her, and smooth the edges off her jagged feelings about the day. She wanted a peaceful and quiet stroll, alone, through Manito Park. She hoped to visit each garden, hitting her favorite, Rose Hill, first, then feeding the ducks until she got bored and lunching at the café. She wasn’t certain how long she would be, and gave a vague answer when Peter pressed. She didn’t want to feel pressured. The impending doom of middle age was pressure enough, she concluded.
Once at the Park Suzanne toured the conservatory and then glided through the Duncan and Joel E. Ferris gardens. It was chilled, for an early October Saturday, and the park had a small crowd of tourists snapping pictures. About the time the tourists asked her to take a picture of them in the Nishinomiya Japanese garden, she felt satisfied with her garden walks and went ahead with the next part of her plan. When she reached the pond, Suzanne pulled a baggie of bread crumbs from her pocket, and fed the ducks that quickly surrounded her.
Feeling relaxed, Suzanne was surprised to note that she missed the noise of her family. Though the walk was exactly what she had wanted, and desperately needed, she debated skipping her café lunch and going home. Intent on picking up an order to go, Suzanne made her way to the café. Seated at a table in the center were Peter, Maddy and James, waving enthusiastically as she approached.
“Well, hello! How long have you been waiting here?”
“Surprise!” Maddy jumped in her seat, almost knocking over her chair.
James reached over and caught the tipping chair. Maddy’s eyes got wide as it thumped back onto the ground. “Thanks, Jimmy,” she said.
He opened his mouth to correct her, then looked to his mother and closed it again.
“We thought you might like some company for lunch,” Peter said, pleased with himself for having surprised her.
It was the perfect end to a perfect morning, Suzanne thought, eyeing her family and feeling the tears of love fill her eyes. She was pretty lucky, she knew.
After lunch, she reached over and tossed James’ combed hair, and amid his protests even managed to smack a kiss on his cheek. Despite his verbal objections she noticed he was fighting back a smile.
“Can we go to the playground now?” Maddy asked, bursting with the question she had wanted to ask all morning.
Suzanne got a glint of mischief in her eye and nodded. “Come on, I’ll race you!”
Like a shot, James whooshed past them both. “Last one there is a rotten egg!” |
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