Jenny's Birthday Party
Oscar and Rudy arrived with the afternoon party in full swing. As they walked from their car to the back yard they observed many scattered groups of children and their parents. Laughter and giggles filled the air. They unsuccessfully searched the groups for Steve instead they found an apron-clad Jim at the grill cooking up hamburgers and hot dogs.
As they placed their presents on the gift table Jim welcomed them and offered a beer out of the cooler. He explained that Steve was on an errand but would return shortly. They stood sipping the cold drink as they watched the variety of children play in the sandbox, on the large swing set and jungle gym, and taking pony rides in the coral.
“Pretty big turn out.” Oscar commented to the happy grandfather.
“Definitely. Jennifer is a very popular little girl.”
“Where is she by the way?” Rudy asked anxious to see the birthday girl.
Jim’s eyes scanned the area finally locating his granddaughter, “There she is over there.” He pointed to a small group of children playing tag.
It had been a year since they actually saw Jenny but in the crowd she stood out. They both watched Steve’s daughter running and laughing with her friends, enjoying her day. They were amazed at the changes since they last laid eyes on her. Her wavy black hair was just beyond her shoulders, so much like her mother’s. She was tall for her age and athletic, just like Steve. It seemed to the men observing that the game had concluded and seeing her visiting uncles she ran to them.
“Uncle Oscar! Uncle Rudy!” She screamed ready to burst with energy.
“Rudy caught her in mid-leap and gave her a big hug. She then grabbed Oscar by the neck and gave him a big squeeze as he took her from Rudy. It wasn’t until she finally stood in front of them that they could really see the resemblance of both parents. Her eyes were large and round like Jessica’s but dark blue and expressive like Steve’s. Neither could help but notice the familiar lopsided grin that flashed back at them. She was a beautiful girl.
“So how’s the Birthday Girl?” Oscar inquired as he knelt in front of her.
“Fine,” Was her soft reply. “Grandpa may I have a soda?”
“Yes, you may it’s in the cooler.” She bent forward to retrieve her drink. “Uncle Rudy would you open this for me please?”
“Sure.” He stated as he popped the top and handed it to her.
“Thank you.”
“Your welcome,” He said with a chuckle at the unusual politeness of the five year old.
“Usually my daddy doesn’t let me to drink soda but he said today was special. Grandpa, where’s my daddy?”
“He had to take care of something. He’ll be back soon.”
“Okay. See you later.” She smiled at Rudy and Oscar before scampering back to her friends.
“Jim I swear the girl get cuter every year.” Oscar noted.
“You don’t have to tell me. Helen and I were happy when Steve and Jenny moved to Ojai last year. We love this age. Her personality is really coming out. She is fun loving and charming like her mother and strong-willed and laid-back just like Steve. I think she inherited her intelligence from both of them. Would you believe she is already starting to read and do math problems.”
“Really?” Oscar and Rudy replied in unison.
“She is definitely gifted that’s for sure, although I may just be a little prejudice.”
The sound of a truck pulling into the drive caught their attention and Steve jumped out. They watched him lift a very large box from the back and carry it towards them.
“Hey, Oscar, Rudy you made it!”
“We wouldn’t miss this for the world. So what’s in the box?” Oscar couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“I don’t know if I should tell you. Rudy can he keep a secret?”
Rudy laughed, “I think maybe he can.”
Steve grinned ear-to-ear, “It’s a saddle.”
“A saddle for what?” Oscar asked.
“For a horse.” He answered with the obvious.
Rudy was surprised, “Jenny has a horse?”
“She will after today!” Steve was excited for his daughter. “It won’t be here until after the party. I know my daughter as soon as she gets it I won’t get her off of it. She’s stubborn like her mother.” He winked at his dad. “She’ll probably want to sleep in the barn.”
Oscar and Rudy chucked as Rudy commented, “Stubborn like her mother huh?”
“Yes like her mother. You all seem to think she gets it from me but you didn’t know Jessica as well as I did. I lived with her. She put me to shame.”
“So will you let her sleep in the barn if she wants to?”
“Of course not!”
Helen felt the need to intervene, “I let you sleep in the barn.”
“When?”
“When you got your dog on your sixth birthday. I wouldn’t let you bring it in the house so you stood outside, in the rain, and said if the dog was sleeping in the barn then so were you.” Jim reminded him.
“You were stubborn that way.”
Everyone shared a laugh especially when Jim informed Steve of the old cliché that what goes around comes around. Their conversation was interrupted when Jenny came running to her father, “Daddy you’re back!” She jumped into his arms. “Can I open my presents now?”
“No little lady you have to wait until we eat lunch and cut you cake, then you can open your presents. Okay?”
“Okay.” She answered in a disappointed tone.
“Oh don’t give me that look. Go on and play.” He placed her on the ground and she joined in at the sandbox. He looked at his friends, “Women, always pouting to get what they want. Jessica used that same look. Those big eyes…she could get me to do anything and I mean anything. I swear it’s taken me this long to become immune.”
After the lunch was eaten and the cake presented with candles everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jenny who blushed at the attention. The gifts were opened and she thanked each of her friends. The last gift was from her father, placed next to her chair was torn into with excitement. The look on her face was one of surprise and confusion. She looked at her father and in a serious tone said, “You do know I don’t have a horse right?”
Steve just laughed and said, “You will honey, he will be here tonight.” Her eyes grew as wide as saucers as she thanked him with a huge hug and a kiss.
Oscar and Rudy watched as the parents gathered their children to leave and enjoyed watching all the single mothers approach Steve with affection as they said their goodbyes personally. Steve just blushed as they commended him on his exceptional parenting skills.
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By night fall all the guests had gone except Oscar and Rudy who were staying the night at Steve’s ranch. As they sat on the back patio Oscar couldn’t help but tease his old friend, “So Steve how many of those woman have you dated so far?”
”Dated? I’ll have you know I haven’t dated any of them.” He said sipping his beer.
Rudy was interested, “Have you dated anyone lately?”
“Why the sudden interest in my love life?” He asked with a furled brow.
“Just curious.”
Steve stared out at the pasture, “I’m not interested in dating.” His tone suddenly subdued suddenly feeling the sadness over the anniversary of his wife’s death that he had held at bay for Jenny’s birthday celebration.
“Steve it’s been five years. I think it’s time.” The doctor informed him.
“It may be five years to you but sometimes it seems like only months to me. I like my life just the way it is right now.”
Oscar wondered, “How is the job at Edwards working out?”
“Fine.” The screen door slammed shut as Jenny came running out. “Well sweetheart are your ready for your bath. You must have three layers of dirt on you.” He pulled her onto his lap.
“Oh dad! Can’t I stay out here with you?” She batted those lashes at him melting his reserve.
“Okay… but only for a little while.” The little girl snuggled into her father’s chest.
“Are you sure I can’t sleep in the barn with Starlight?”
“I’m absolutely sure of that.”
With the hour getting late Steve took Jenny up for her bath while Oscar and Rudy sat in the family room discussing Steve’s family situation.
“Do you think he’ll take the assignment?” Oscar asked the doctor.
“I don’t know.”
They sat sipping coffee, laughter carrying down the hallway, it was obvious Steve and Jenny were enjoying themselves. Soon after Jenny came into the room, wet head and all, wearing her pajamas and slippers. She kissed her uncles goodnight before her father escorted her to bed.
Oscar and Rudy watched the television news while waiting for Steve’s return. Fifteen minutes later he re-entered the room. “Well that was easy. Usually she has me sit through 3 or 4 stories before she goes to sleep.”
“What do you mean ‘sit through’?”
“Oh it’s not good enough for me to read to her anymore. She reads the stories to me.”
“Is she asleep already?” Rudy asked.
“Yes,” Steve grinned as he seated himself on the couch, “She told me I should spend some time with my friends like she spent time with her friends today. She said and I quote, “I need some ‘grown-up’ time.”
When their laughter died down Oscar broke in with a serious tone, “Steve, there’s something I need to speak with you about.”
“Shoot.” Looking at his former boss and quickly reading the expression on his face he immediately knew the topic of discussion, “Oh no. No way. I’m not doing it.”
“Steve I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“You don’t have to, I know that look. I’m out.”
“Please Steve hear me out.”
“Fine but it won’t change my answer.”
“There is a report that a Russian foreign agent has gotten his hands on some very sensitive weaponry plans. He was sent to retrieve it for his government but never turned it over hoping to profit from its sale. We need to get it back as soon as possible.”
“So send someone else in to get it.”
“I wish we could but we need someone who can swim an excessive distance and can see at night. He lives on a yacht and that’s where the microfilm is located. We can’t exactly row up next to it in a boat and climb aboard. We need you to go in at night get the film and get it back here.”
Rudy and Oscar just stared at him waiting for and answer. “I’m going to bed.” Steve stood and headed out of the room
Oscar swiftly grabbed his arm and pleaded, “Steve please.”
“Oscar haven’t you noticed I have a young child to take care of. I’m not a single man without ties anymore. I have serious responsibilities.”
“Steve we are talking about a 24 hours, 48 at the most. Can’t you give me that?”
“Can you give me your word I won’t get shot, stabbed or blown up in those 24 hours?”
“You know I can’t but it’s just this one time Steve. I have left you alone for 5 years! I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need your special skills.”
Steve studied Oscar’s face, his gut twisted with the need to help his friend. “Okay, fine, give me the details.”
The next few hours involved Oscar quietly sharing the details of the mission including the description of the blue and white yacht with a dolphin painted on the side that contained his objective.
The adults retired to their beds and enjoyed restful sleeps until a terror filled scream echoed through the house. Steve was out of bed and at Jenny’s bedside within seconds. Oscar and Rudy arrived at her doorway and saw her clinging tightly to Steve with both arms and legs crying. He tried to sooth her as he rocked her back and forth on the bed.
Looking at his friends he explained, “She had a nightmare. Sorry we woke you up.”
“That’s okay.” They were sincerely concerned over the child’s distress.
“Jenny, can you tell me about the dream?” He tried to get a look at her face.
She hugged him tighter and whispered in his ear. His friends watched the color drain from his face. He took a deep breath, “Its okay now. I’m right here. It was just a bad dream. How about I keep your light on?” He tried unsuccessfully to pry her off of his lap.
Jennifer nodded a definite ‘No’ to her father’s question. “Okay how about you come sleep in my room for tonight.” Steve received a small nod of affirmation as he stood with her in his arms and headed to his room, her tear-stained face still buried in his neck. Oscar and Rudy returned to their rooms for the remainder of the night.
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Early the next morning Steve and Jenny were up early. While Steve made breakfast Jenny was occupying her time drawing a picture with her crayons. Rudy and Oscar joined them in the kitchen with enthusiastic greetings. Jenny did not seem the worse for wear after last night’s episode. Hearing the newspaper hit the door Jenny excitedly jumped up and ran to retrieve it. Steve’s guests took the opportunity to inquire about his daughter’s nightmare. Steve turned to face them and in a solemn tone answered, “She dreamt that I had died….That I was blown up.”
“Where did that come from? Has one of her friends lost a parent recently?” Rudy inquired knowing sometimes children’s experiences affect one another.
“No. I have no idea where it came from.” He returned to the stove as Jenny entered the room and asked if she could go see her new pony. “Sure but don’t be long.” He requested as she headed to the barn.
“Steve did she give you any details of the dream?” Oscar asked as he stared at her completed artwork.
“No why?”
Oscar handed the detailed picture over to Steve and Rudy. It was a picture of a blue and white yacht with a dolphin on the side. Orange and yellow crayon depicted the large, violent explosion. There was dead silence in the room until Jenny casually ambled back into the kitchen and sat at the table not noticing the silence or the three pairs of eyes staring at her.
Steve knelt down by her chair and slid the picture in front of her, “Jen, what is this a picture of?”
“It was in my dream last night. You told me if I talked about it I might not be afraid anymore but this morning I was still afraid so I drew it on the paper, now I’m not afraid anymore. May I have my pancakes now?”
“Sure, coming right up.” He kissed her head as he hid his shock giving his daughter the impression that nothing was out of the ordinary. As Steve placed the plate in front of his child he looked at Oscar and said simply, “I’m not taking that assignment, period.”
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Three days later Oscar shared with Rudy a recent report on the Russian who was selling the microfilm. Another agent from a third foreign country had the same plan as the OSI. He attempted to retrieve the film and was killed when the yacht was rigged to explode. Silence permeated the office as the two men thought about the other outcome that could have easily occurred if not for Jenny’s drawing.
First Day of School
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