Richie Cunningham looked around the house. He saw something that he hadn't noticed earlier. The house smelled like birthday cake to him. He probably figured out the reason – today was his birthday.
He had been in the house all day today. He didn't pay much attention it was his birthday cake.
He saw there were cards waiting to be opened. He looked on the timer of the oven. It had told him it was only fifteen minutes left.
He now heard somebody come in. It was his wife, Lori Beth.
"Hello, Richie. You're not supposed to be here in the kitchen."
"Why not?"
"That's a surprise and it can't be spill the beans."
"You're starting to act secretive about this whole thing right now."
Lori Beth thought it told him something was coming up, and it told her that she was right.
Lori Beth once again tried getting him out of the kitchen. This time it worked.
"Go in the living room. You stay there until you can come in."
He didn't want to argue, so he did what she told him to.
He decided to sit down on the couch in front of the television. He decided it was a good idea he would find something to watch while he can wait until his wife can tell him to come back in.
Richie decided to see if there were any good choices were able to catch his attention. He flipped through. Nothing. He turned to the sports channel. Maybe there can be something that would get his attention.
Richie was not able to find anything on that channel either, so he gave up.
"Richie, is there anything you would like to drink?" she asked him.
He could still smell cake when she asked him that.
"Is that cake I smell?"
"You're not supposed to figure that out. Yes, it is," she said.
He didn't want to say anything, even if it means he forgot that today was his birthday. He didn't want to tell her that. She wouldn't like to hear that.
"May I come in now?"
"No, you may not. Are you thirsty?"
"Yes. That's why I came in."
"What do you want?"
"I can get it myself."
"No, let me do it."
"I haven't been able to do anything for myself at all today. I want to do this one myself," he told her.
"Have it your way."
She didn't want to keep talking him out of letting her do it. Since it's his birthday today, he should have figured out that on his own.
He walked out of the kitchen when she gave him his glass of water he needed and asked for. He kissed her on the way out.
"Where are the kids?" Richie asked.
"Outside," she answered.
"Do you want me to call them in or are you still messing around in the kitchen?"
"Still messing around," she answered.
"That's what I thought, but I wasn't so sure."
"Now you know."
"True that," he said.
Then he went to the living room one more time and was going to stay there until Lori Beth would invite him back inside.
"Can I come back in now?"
"Of course not. You won't sit still since you won't do what you are asked to do."
He could see her point.
"I still want to help you out in the kitchen."
"Forget it, Richie. You can do that next time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Go find something to watch on television."
"I already did that. Nothing that would interest me for time being."
"Try again."
"If I do keep trying, I will turn it back off."
"Aren't you stubborn today."
It was only ten – thirty – six that morning. It was only the two of them since the kids were outside for a while. When they came back in, they were supposed to do their homework for the evening.
"Do you want me to call the kids in? It's starting to get dark."
The weather forecast said to them it was going to be rainy throughout the day.
"That's something you can do. I will do everything else."
"Fine with me. I will go do that now."
She watched him head out of the back door so he could call them that way. It usually works, and there are times when it doesn't. This time it didn't work for him.
Now it was time to call the kids in again.