What A Surprise!

                                   

Miriam awoke to the sound of the light drizzle tapping on the roof of her room.  Sliding back the curtains, she studied the intricate patterns that the rain was making on the window.  It was one of those occasions when the sun was competing with the rain for supremacy.  The sun was trying its best to shine through and the rain was not prepared to give way without a fight.  She recalled that her friends used to say during these times that the devil and his wife were fighting for the cou-cou stick.  She could not tell how long she was staring at the patterns but suddenly she remembered that this was an important day in her life.  Eleven years ago to the very day she was born and she always looked forward to her birthday since birthdays were special occasions in the Lashley family

Miriam wondered what form the celebration would take this time.  She had always tried to work it out but she was never able to anticipate her family. They always seem several steps ahead of her.  She had planned to stop trying to figure them out but she had to confess that the game of trying to find out was quite intriguing.  Pulling herself away from the window, she rose from the side of the bed where she was sitting and began her morning ritual which included fixing her bed, changing from her night clothes and saying what for her was recital of a simple morning prayer which her mother had taught her when she was barely able to walk and talk.

Having completed her ritual, she hurried from her room.  On reaching the kitchen, she repeatedly called out to her parents but received no reply.  “What could they be up to now?” she wondered.  While she was pondering what her next step should be her younger brother entered the kitchen.  Opening the refrigerator and peering in, he asked, “What’s up, Sis?”  He was clearly trying to hold back a burst of laughter.  His behaviour only served to heighten her curiosity.

“Where’s mum and dad?” she asked. 

“How do you expect me to know?  Like you, when I came from my room this morning I did not see them either.  I guess they will be along presently.”  With that he was off with his mouth full of leftovers from the day before.  

Disappointment number one was the rain attempting to spoil this Saturday on which her birthday fell.  Disappointment number two was that her parents were nowhere around to wish her happy birthday.  This was not the kind of birthday that she had envisaged.  She decided it was no use sulking and commenced to make her own breakfast which consisted of toast, cheese and a hot beverage.  She had just sat down to consume it when the telephone rang.   “Good morning, Lashley’s residence.  How may I help you?”  she answered.

“Good morning,” replied the caller.  “May I speak with Mrs. Lashley, please?”  For a moment Miriam thought that she had heard a snigger in the background but she couldn’t be sure.

“I am sorry,” she replied, “but Mummy is not here at the moment.  Can I take a message?”

“All right, may I speak with your dad, then?” the caller continued.

“He is not here either,” she stated, somewhat puzzled by the caller.  There was something strange about this caller but she was unable to tell what it was.  Perhaps strange was not the word but familiar.  Why was she not able to tell? 

“Well, I guess I’ll have to call back later.  Bye.”  There was a loud click and then silence.  Miriam stood poised with the phone for some considerable time.  She wondered about the strange behaviour of the caller.  Invariably when someone called for either one of her parents and they were not at home, the caller would leave a message.  This was not the case this time and it was rather puzzling.

She returned to the table and began to munch on her toast taking a rather dainty bite and a mouthful of ovaltine.  She continued to wonder about the events of the morning.  She was deep in her thoughts when the ringing of the phone caused her to jump.  It sounded unusually loud.  She allowed it to ring about five times before she answered it.  “Sis, aren’t you going to get it?” her brother called out.

“I’ll get it Ryan,” she shouted back.  “Good morning, Lashley’s residence.”

“May I speak with your mum, please?” the caller requested.  Miriam was sure that this was the same caller of a few minutes ago.  “But why would she call back so soon?” she thought.

“I am sorry but mummy has not returned yet.”  Too late she realized that she had treated the caller as if she had called before.  “I am sorry. I mean she is not at home.  Can I take a message?”

“Never mind. I guess I will call back a little later,” the caller replied.  With that there was silence again. 

“There is something very strange here and yet I cannot put my finger on it,” Miriam said.  She was only aware that she had spoken aloud when she heard her brother say, “Talking to yourself, Sis?”  He called her nothing else.  They enjoyed a very close relationship unlike many brothers and sisters of that age.  Though just a year difference, they were more collaborative than competitive.  He always used the name "Sis" as an endearment.  “Not going crazy, I hope,” he said laughingly.  “You seem perplexed and bewildered for the entire morning.  What’s wrong?”

“Why can’t you tell me where Mummy and Daddy are?” she countered.  “You are hiding something from me.  You wouldn’t tell where they have gone and you didn’t even wish me happy birthday.  That’s not at all like you.”

“Oh, sorry Sis.  Happy birthday,” he apologised, the apology never reaching his eyes.  Miriam was now certain that there was an orchestrated attempt to keep her in the dark about something.

 

“But what could it be?”  Her mind was working overtime to solve the riddle.  Of one other thing she was certain.  This whole state of affairs had something to do with her birthday.

Finally and without further interruption she was able to complete eating her breakfast.  By the time she had finished, the ovaltine had gone cold.  She simply put the cup to her head and drank it down in one continuous gulp.  Stuffing the remainder of the toast in her mouth she took the cup and plate to the sink and washed them.  She felt on edge and at the same time she expected the phone to ring again.  She was about to leave the room when it did ring.  Even though she expected it she was still startled.  “Hello Princess, happy birthday!”

“Daddy, where are you?” she inquired.

“Closer than you could ever imagine.” her father responded, struggling to hold back his laughter. 

“Is mummy with you?”

“Yes, she is right here with me.  Do you want to talk to her?”

“No, I want to know when you two are coming home.”

“Coming home?  What are you talking about, Princess?”  On a day like this we would not dare leave home without you.”

“So where are you?”  Miriam’s impatience became obvious in her tone.  “Where are you calling from?”

“The garage,” came her father’s reply followed by a roar of laughter.  Miriam dropped the receiver and hurried out to the garage.  There were her parents standing with a new brand bicycle.  Her father was still holding the cellular phone in his hand.  Miriam stood in her tracks gazing from the cellular to her father, to her mother and then to the sparkling red bike.  She was temporarily speechless.  They had tricked her again.  But how was she to work it out?  They never used the same idea twice.

“I now see,” she said as the realization began to dawn on her.  “It was mummy who called twice on the cellular.  I knew there was something familiar about the voice but I couldn’t place it because of the background noise.  Mummy and Daddy, you are something else and so is Ryan.  He knew all along where you were and what you were up to but refused to tell me.  You are the greatest family a girl could have.  Thank you Mum and Dad and you too, Ryan.  Pay back time is only a month away.  With that they all huddled together enjoying this great moment.

“Ruff! Ruff!” even Rosh appeared to have been in on the surprise as he stood looking at them, his tail wagging from side to side.  “Everyone knew except me,” Miriam thought happily.         

Stewart Russell © 2013