The clock showed a few minutes after nine when my bladder and the phone

worked together to wake me up. I saw that Marty had already left the

bed, and before I could reach the nightstand to pick up the phone, I

heard her voice answer. As I walked toward the bathroom, I heard Marty

call me.

"Kyle! It's Eileen, your girlfriend from school!"

I held my bladder and grabbed the portable phone on the nightstand.

"Hello..."

"Well!" came the familiar voice of Eileen, "Who answered the phone?"

"Oh, hi, Eileen! That was my aunt...my step dad’s sister, Martha. She's

staying with me while my folks are in Europe."

"Okay... So, how's your summer, so far. Been busy?"

"It's been OK, I guess. Been doing some reading and bike riding, and you

know, stuff around the house." I said.

"You know what day it is tomorrow?"

"Of course! We both turn eighteen! I gotta go register for the draft,

and register to vote... You?"

"Jeez, Kyle! It's our birthday, for Chrissakes! I want to celebrate!"

"Yeah, I guess we should. Have anything in mind?"

"Hang on..." I waited about a minute, taking the portable phone with me

to the toilet, where I relieved myself.

"Glory... er... Miss Adamson says you and your aunt should come down and

spend the day... and the night, here in the condo where we're staying...

We'll have a celebration... Go out for dinner, and all that."

"Sounds like a plan, Eileen. Give me a minute to confer with Marty...

er... Aunt Martha."

"OK"

Marty was in the kitchen when I found her.

"We've been invited to go to the beach and spend the day, and night,

tomorrow, for a birthday celebration. What do you think?"

"Sounds good to me... I guess I can fit that into my calendar."

I got back on the phone. "Eileen? It's a date! Gimme some directions."

Eileen complied, and we agreed on the time. Then we hung up.

Marty had been in the middle of a pancake grilling session.

"There's coffee. Want to get the tools?"

I set two places at the counter and poured some coffee and juice. Bacon

had already been cooked, so I placed it near our seats. Marty brought a

platter full of pancakes, and we sat. I was hungry, and had ingested,

chewed and swallowed three mouthfuls before anyone spoke. It was Marty.

"Excited about tomorrow?" Marty wore a serious expression

"Umphh-humph!" I nodded enthusiastically as I chewed.

"Eileen is bound to be curious, if not jealous, about me." Marty said,

matter-of-factly.

I swallowed my mouthful and took a drink of juice, thinking of what she

had just said.

"I imagine she is." I said.

"You think she'll confront you?"

I mused for a moment. "I think she will. She's not one to hide her

feelings, or to beat around the bush."

"What are you going to tell her?"

"Eileen's no dummy;" I said, "If I lie to her, she'll know it."

"So?" asked Marty.

"So I won't lie to her." I said, "If she cares about me the way she says

she does, she'll understand the nature of your and my relationship. If

she chooses to part from me, it was meant to be that way, and will be

best for all concerned. But I'm hoping she'll see my side."

Marty gazed at me, a soft smile on her face. She reached out and touched

my cheek.

"You're wise beyond your years. Your wisdom will serve you well."

I reached up and took her hand, kissing it. "Thanks."

The rest of the day was spent puttering around the house... The lawn was

mowed, cars washed, and laundry done. We spent some time watching

videos, and then retired to bed. Our mood was subdued that night;

however, in spite of that, there was love-making. Soft, tender groping,

exploring, kissing built up to a peak of passion. It was urgency and a

clinging that we both experienced, as though we knew this would be a

last time, and we strove to savor every second of the night. Both spent,

we remained in a spoon posture for the remainder of the night.

I awoke first on my birthday and, being careful not to wake up Marty,

got up and did my morning ablutions, taking extra care with my shave and

my shower. Then I scrambled up some eggs as the coffee brewed, and set

the places at the kitchen counter before going back to awaken Marty. It

was about eight-thirty. As we sat down to eat, the phone trilled its

signal that there was a call. I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Kyle! Happy birthday!" it was my Mom's voice.

"Hi, Mom!" I replied, "Thanks! Are you enjoying your trip?"

"We're having a wonderful time!" she said. "In a few minutes, we go

aboard a cruise ship to do a three day tour around the Greek isles. This

has been a vacation to die for. I wish you were here to enjoy it with

us."

"Well, maybe next time, Mom." I commented. "How's Steve...Er...Dad?"

"Fine. He wants to talk to you. Hang on..."

"Hey, Kyle! Happy birthday!" It was my step dad’s voice.

"Thanks. Mom tells me you're having a great time."

"We sure are." he replied. Then he changed the subject. "Are you

planning anything for today?"

"Well, Aunt Martha and I were planning on driving down to a condo where

Eileen is staying with Miss Adamson. You know it's Eileen's birthday

too."

"Right. I forgot. Listen...two things: Use the credit card I left you to

get something nice for Eileen. Spend about a hundred. But whatever you

do, don't leave the house before nine-thirty."

"Nine-thirty? Why?"

"There should be someone there between nine and nine-thirty to deliver a

gift for you."

"What? What are they delivering?"

"You'll see..." There was a playful note in my step dad’s voice.

"Oh...Okay...” I said.

"Listen: we have to run. Got a ship to catch."

"Okay, Dad...Have a nice cruise."

"Happy birthday again!"

"Thanks! Dad…I love you."

"So long, Son. I love you too." Then the line went dead.

I went back to where we were eating. I looked at the clock.

Eight-fifty-three. I sat and took a bite.

"Well?" asked Marty.

"It was my Mom and Steve."

"I gathered that much. What did they say?"

"They called to wish me a happy birthday, and to stay until a gift was

delivered between nine and nine-thirty."

"What else?"

"Dad said to buy a gift for Eileen." Then I added: "Jeez! He said to

spend about a hundred!"

"He must really like Eileen."

"They both do. She's pretty cool."

We were in the middle of cleaning up the dishes when the doorbell

ding-donged. I went to the front door and opened it. There was a nice

looking lady, blonde, wearing a sporty looking, yet conservative pant

suit.

"Yes?"

"Are you Kyle Stafford?"

"Yes, I am."

I'm Mimi Anderson from Excel Ford. I've been instructed to deliver a

gift and to say 'Happy Birthday' to you."

"Um... Thanks..."

She reached out and handed me a small box, which was wrapped in colorful

paper and tied down with a gold ribbon. "Happy Birthday!"

I took the box and unwrapped it. Inside there was a key ring with a car

key and remote door lock transmitter. The key ring had a big "K" on it.

I looked around, as my heart started pounding.

"What?..." I started, as Mimi waved to someone down the street.

Just then, I saw it. It was a gorgeous Ford Explorer, painted a bright

metallic red. It was the two-door model. The car sported a giant golden

bow on the roof. A man drove it to our driveway, and then pulled in.

I stood, mouth agape, transfixed, not believing my eyes. Marty came

outside.

"What's going on?" she asked, and then she looked toward the driveway.

"Oh, my God!"

The man driving the Explorer came up. Mimi introduced us.

"Kyle Stafford, meet George Sanderson, our General Manager."

George reached out his hand. "Kyle? Happy birthday!"

Unable to take my eyes off the car, I shook his hand.

"This is for me?" I asked incredulously.

"You better believe it" said George, "Your Dad picked it out, paid for

it, got it insured and licensed in your name. We got it all set up with

all the goodies, and...Here it is, ready to go. All I need from you is

for you to sign this receipt."

"Holy cow!" remarked Marty, "Happy birthday, Kyle!"