Will's Birthday, part two

Thursday Aug 5th @ 5:00 PM  - The King House

     "Look, on the porch!" Gary practically shouts out as Ted pulls the
car up to the King house. On the verandah, he sees Sandi, CJ and Jim
sitting and talking with Bill, TK, Shelley and Zack when Grams with her
never ending supply of iced tea walks out the screen door. "There's
Sandi, CJ and Jim!!! What are they doing here?"

     Sandi sees them pulling up and walks toward the car, "Well I see
you've finely got here. We were in the neighborhood  and decided to drop
off that computer you wanted. I thought it was for a certain someone's
birthday. ... Oh shit! Did I ruin the surprise?" She looks at Will who
comes up to her and hugs her. "It's great to see you! and they already
told me about it." There is a general hugfest as all the old friends
greet each other. Ted says to Sandi, "What's the real story why you're
here?"

     "Well, I told you we were closing the store for two weeks ... CJ,
Jim and I were talking about you the other day and we decided this was
just as good as any excuse for a road trip." CJ added, "We e-mailed Bart
to find when we could drop for a couple of days. and he mentioned Will's
birthday. It all fit together. We knew you and Gary were giving Will the
old computer. So here we are."

    Jim says, "We figured we couldn't pass up a free meal. We'd lose our
status as poor under privileged college students." From around, back
Steve and Mark come to join the group. Steve calls out, "Grams, I  mean
Virg, Everything is set out back. ... Anytime you're ready." "Thanks
Steve, and you too Mark." Grams answers. She now starts rapping the side
of one of the tall glasses of lemonade wit a spoon. "Attention, We
cooked up a little something on the grill tonite, to sort of help
celebrate our Will's seventeenth birthday. So y'all grab your glasses
and head out back."

      Grams motions Sandi to her, putting her arm around her waist, she
asks so that they can't be heard, "When are you planning to let Ted and
Gary in on your labor Day weekend surprise?" "Well, I was thinking after
we eat." "Could you do me a favor and wait till after we do a little
celebrating for Will, it is his birthday. Bart and Zack' parents are
coming around 6:30 and we're going to have cake and all."  Sandi
replies, "No problem, there's no rush."

      When they come around to the back of the house, there are tables
and chairs set up for eating, and one table set up for food. The air is
filled with aroma of roast turkey. Grams had figured that with a group
this size a turkey was in order, and she thought that there was no
better way to prepare it than in a covered grill with bacon and just a
little garlic stuffed under the bird's skin. There was corn on the cob
and a couple of salads. "Come on now! There's plenty to eat., but you
might want to save a little room for dessert." They all started gabbing
plates and food, talking and joking.

@ 6:30 PM

     Sheri and Evan Matthews came around the side of the house into
view. They had parked their van out front carrying a couple brightly
wrapped presents. Betty motioned to Zack & Shelly to follow her inside.
About 5 minutes later,  they all walked out carrying trays of plastic
champagne glasses. Grams announced, "OK everybody, a glass of the old
bubbly to toast Will's birthday. ... Only one glass mind you. But we
have reason to celebrate. ... Jenny now, you can have a half of glass
only." Soon all the glasses were distributed among the party guests.
Grams again calling for attention, by tapping a spoon against the side
of a glass, motions to Bart and says, "It seems that Bart would like to
offer the toast. Bart dear..."

     Bart suddenly realizes that this was going to be harder than he had
thought. He smiles first at Will, then looks around, raising his glass,
"Ladies and gentlemen, I ... ah ... wish to offer a toast to ... Will.
..." The funny little speech he had practiced slips away. He looks at
Will, "Will ... ", then adds in a quiet tone just loud enough for every
one to hear, "I love you."


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on to next chapter

back to "stray e-mail, part two"