NOR TOMORROW

“ Honey, bring me my coffee, please…” said Mr. Bent to his wife. He then walked out to the front door, and waited on the terrace.
“ Wait a minute, honey ! “ a woman named Barbara shouted in elegance. There was a bright smile on her face. She always waited a day like this. Unpredictable time that she had, with all members of her family. Moment whom she seldom had on Sunday, and other holidays.
There was only the master, who often been absent at home. Their two children, Jesse, the seven years old daughter, and baby Mary were always been taken care by their energetic mom. Mr. Bent had to be proud of her. Ashton Bent worked as a public relation officer of a company. So, he was faced by the condition, that he often had to leave his family to other towns, even countries. He lost the chances to get closer to his own children. But, he loved, really did love them. Directly by phone, he sometimes had a short talk to homies.
And now, an unordinary Wednesday, he was there, on their home. After celebrating Christmas few days ago, he was too tired to do any work. That was a long trip to New York, from Seattle. A coast-to-coast trip. There they visited their old family. Uncle Kurt, grandpa, grandma. Even Aunt Haillie who stayed at Honolulu, joined us.
That was twenty to eight when a bus stopped in front of the house. School bus “ Jesse…Your bus has arrived…!” Mr. Bent called his elder daughter in strong voice.
“ Yeah, Dad ! Wait…! I’m coming ! “ she answered, in a hurry.
On the back of this closed door, he heard a voice “ Mom, I’m going…Bye !” little Jesse appeared, at the moment Barbara said something.
“ Bye, Dad,……I love you…!” She ran quickly.
“ Me too…” then he remembered “ Jesse ! Don’t forget to eat your lunch, ok ?” Mr. Bent reminded her from a long distance. And Jesse gave him her thumb up. She took a seat near the window, and then she raised her hands out the window. A perfect good bye. He replied it.
After few minutes, Mr. Bent went inside. Barbara was washing the dishes. Mr. Bent took his quarter-full cup of coffee on his right hand “ Honey, lemme help you…” he put off the cup “ I think our baby wants little fresh air, Barbara. Take her to the outside. “
“ Hmm…ok. “ Barbara then clean her wet hands of soap, and went upstairs. Mr. bent heard the baby cried loudly. He didn’t know why, cause during the night, lil’ Mary has slept calmly.
While washing, he tried to remember the last time he were home, before. He really missed this place, although they were only separated for two months. This job has taken away his responsibility as a father. Even, he didn’t know what date today is ! So, with hands-full of soap he walked to the living room, to look at the calendar. 31st December ! Why didn’t he remember that the next day was the next year too ? Quite ridiculous….Then he went back to the kitchen.
For next to weeks, he would be out of work. He had also arranged a plan, to take the family to have fun. Some places, such as theatre, a little picnic on Saint Angle’s Park, or…anything ! He wouldn’t waste the time as he did in the past. A busy man like him, needed to be a pouch- potato, too, didn’t he ? Snacks on the left hand, and tv remote on the right one. What a shame.
After finishing his last plate, He remembered one thing.
“ Thirty first of December ??? Oh, God ! “ he got the answer “ Jesse will have her birthday tomorrow ! On the new year ! Me fool ! “ he cried in mind.
Plan B is needed for this unexpected condition. Without telling Barbara, he went downtown, to get a gift for her daughter. Nobody knew it. He wanted to make a sweet surprise for them, Jesse, and Barbara too. Mary was to young to understand it. On the downtown, he found many colors shone behind that blue sky of dusk. That was at seven evening, when he saw a kid asked her mom to buy her a plastic trumpet. Green, silver, red, yellow, they were looked so bright on his eyes, when the light of his car fell on them. On another side of street, he found a picture of Santa which hadn’t been picked out by its owner. Then the snow fell in warmth. Warmth between the Christmas and new year. He always dreamed to have the moment like this. Then he would have it. Let him made an unforgettable b’day surprise for Jesse, and let them celebrated this end of 1995. Four hours later.
***
Jesse woke up by a thin voice ” Jesse…Jesse… Wake up…” she saw something “ Happy birthday….” A pink Teddy bear doll laid beside her, it spoke ! No, it was moved by something behind. She was surprised a lot. Then, when she raised her body, she knew who’s behind.
“ Dad..? What ....” she couldn’t speak.
“ Happy birthday, Jesse…” He appeared himself.
“ O….Thank you, dad….” She still couldn’t believe i.
“ And…here’s a gift, special gift for you…” she smiled, whether happy or what ? She tried to say something.
“ Do you love this doll, Jesse ?” Mr. Bent was proud of himself.
“ Yes, Dad…of course…”
“ Ok, lady, this is new year too, isn’t it ? I’ve bought a trumpet for you…let’s celebrate it ! Wake your mother up…” he took her on his arm
“ But…Dad…” she said in the silence of night. Outside, they heard somebody has made noise by their trumpets.
“ Ya ? “ he stopped his walk.
“ My birthday isn’t today….it’s 2nd January….”
Both of them were quiet in sudden. They saw at each other. After a moment, Mr. Bent asked her back “ A…Are you sure ? Not 1st ?”
“ Yes, Dad…This is my own birthday…I won’t forget it….”
Ashton fell in shame, deeper than the deepest one you could think. He remembered that Jesse was born at 00.21 am, 2nd January !! This feeling exploded in his mind, but he tried to stay calm “ It’s not a big problem, is it ? Hmm…why don’t we call it…hmm…’early birthday’ ? Hahaha…isn’t it fun? “
“ It isn’t, Dad…! But…I forgive you” they laughed.
“ Thank you, my lil’ lady….” Then they went downstairs, to wake Barbara. They celebrated this new year on backyard, matching fireworks, blowing trumpets, and lil Mary? She slept in peace, inside.

A year later…
“ Wake up, Jesse….” Knowing someone behind her, she turned back. She could see a yellow light trough the wall. And she saw two people there. One, hung a beautiful on his hands.
“ Mom ? Dad? What….”
“ Happy birthday, my lil’ princess !!! Blow up the candle, please…. “ they surprised her so much. After trying to sit on her own bed, she did it.
“ Say your prayers….” Barbara asked her.
“Thanks, Mom, Dad….but, do I have to tell you something ?”
“ What ?? ” Ashton asked in confusion.
“Hmm…is there something wrong ?” she asked them back “ Uh, come on, Dad, Mom….” She put a little smile on her pretty face of eight.
“ Today’s first January….And my birthday will just on tomorrow….the 2nd one…” sudden silence, quite long.
“ Is that right ? Let me check it on calendar…” Barbara said.
“Today’s Thursday, right?” silence “ oh my God !” Mrs. Bent looked at it, and then Ashton sunk his head down, tried to keep his laugh. He knew it, Thursday, 2nd November ! They forgot to turn over the calendar !! They laughed. While the baby Mary was still knowing nothing. Once more, Mr. Bent, you got your trouble…And know, you brought your wife too…Quite better, isn’t it ? Is it difficult to differenciate new year and a birthday? For them, perhaps not.

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