Note: This story came to mind late last night since it was Ron Howard's birthday, so I am sharing it with you all today until the story wants to end. Hope you all enjoy this one.
Marion woke up on the first of March. Today was Richie's birthday. She wanted to do something for her son's birthday today. Since Howard isn't around anymore, it was only Richie, Joanie and their friends left. She thought it would be a good idea that today would be a good day to spend time alone with Richie for the day since it was his birthday.
Today wasn't a work day for Richie, and that was a good thing. Richie happens to be a journalist since he was always good with words. Marion wasn't sure what Joanie had in mind for today, so there was a question for her daughter. Joanie was still home, but she woke up a while longer after Marion did.
Marion was the first to wake up and walk into the kitchen. She put on a pot of coffee. When he pot of coffee was ready, Marion heard Joanie's footsteps.
"Good morning, Joanie," Marion greeted her daughter.
"Morning, Mom. What do you have going on today?"
"Today is Richard's birthday and I'd like to do something for him."
"I almost forgot today was Richie's birthday. I guess I wasn't having any birthdays on my mind, and Richie's birthday isn't. Thank you for reminding me. What do you have in mind for Richie?"
"I just want to spend the day alone with him. What do you have planned for today?"
"Chachi and I are going to see a movie, have lunch and then maybe some time at his apartment."
"That does sound like a fun day, Joanie. So you don't mind about Richard and I having the day to ourselves?"
"That's fine with me. Today is his special day, so he can do whatever he wants. I think Lori Beth said something about taking him out to dinner for tonight."
"All right. Lori Beth probably wouldn't mind if I spend the day with Richard."
"She probably won't mind. She told me what she was doing for his birthday, but I forget what she wanted to do for him."
Marion didn't say anything for a minute or so. She watched Joanie pour herself a cup of hot coffee.
"Before I leave here, Mom, I'm going to take a shower. My hair is starting to turn into a mess."
"That's all right, Joanie. Who is doing transportation today? You or Chachi?"
"We both are taking turns, Mom. He and I are taking our own cars, so there's no way for Chachi to pick me up here and doing all of the driving."
"You go along and take that shower. I will see you later."
"I'll see if I can find a card for Richie."
When Joanie finished saying that, Marion watched her daughter run up the stairs.
While Joanie was upstairs in the shower, Marion called Richie to wish him happy birthday. Lori Beth answered the telephone this time.
"Good morning, Lori Beth. Is Richard awake?"
"Yes, he is, Marion. I'll see if he wants to talk with you."
A few minutes later, Richie came on.
"Hi, Mom."
"Happy birthday, Richard."
"Thank you, Mom."
Marion could tell by his tone of voice, Richie sounded tired.
"Richard, since today is your birthday, I would like to spend the entire day with you."
"I would love that, Mom. Do you want to come over or should I come?"
"How about if you come over?"
"All right. What time do you want me to come?"
"Whenever you're ready."
She heard Richie yawn in the background.
"Sorry about that, Mom. I'm still tired right now, so I should be fully awake soon."
"All right, Richard. I will be looking forward to seeing you."
That was when she ended the conversation.
"Lori Beth, Mom wants to spend the entire day with me since it's my birthday."
"That's fine with me, Richie. Maybe we can do dinner tonight with Ralph, Potpie, and Fonzie."
"That sounds great, Lori Beth."
He yawned again.
"Would you like to have a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, please."
He watched as Lori Beth grabbed a mug out of the cupboard and pour the coffee and he took it from her.
"Thank you, Lori Beth."
Before taking his first sip of coffee, both of them kissed.
"Would you like me to drive you over to your mother's?"
"You don't have to, but I'll let you drive."
"What would you like to have for breakfast?"
"Scrambled eggs and toast will be good," Richie answered.
"Coming right up. What do you think your mother wants to do on this special day?"
"How am I supposed to know that?"
What Richie just said was true. Whatever Marion wanted to do, he would go along with it. She thought to herself maybe Joanie would be there with them because of his birthday. When she and Richie finished eating the scrambled eggs, they headed to the garage and took her car to Marion's.
"Would you like to have the radio on?"
"Not now, Lori Beth, but thank you for asking."
"Do you think Joanie would be celebrating with your mother as well?"
"I can't answer that, but I would like to think so because it's my birthday."
Several minutes later, he and Lori Beth parked in the driveway.
Marion opened the front door so Richie and Lori Beth could walk inside. She could hear Joanie come downstairs. Once Lori Beth and Richie walked through the kitchen, Joanie joined them.
"Happy birthday, Rich."
"Thank you, Joanie. I'm beginning to feel spoiled and I just walked in."
"It's your birthday, Richard, so you will be spoiled."
"Thank you, Mom. Where are you headed, Joanie?"
Richie saw Joanie washed her hair. Joanie usually did this when she was going out of the house.
"I'm going to meet Chachi. Even he has a day off from work."
"That's nice, dear. You be safe and have fun."
"I will. Happy birthday."
This was the second time Joanie told her older brother this, and Richie appreciated it.
"See you later, Joanie."
Even Lori Beth decided to leave so Marion and Richie could have the start of the day.
"Thank you for inviting me, Mom."
"You're welcome, Richard."
Richie was still standing in the kitchen.
"Would you like anything to eat or drink?"
"Not now, thank you. Lori Beth and I had scrambled eggs and toast."
"Would you like to sit down and watch television?"
"That would be nice, Mom. I have a deadline coming up and I'd like to work on some of it today."
Marion did notice Richie had a notebook in his hand. Lori Beth didn't stop him from bringing it over with him. If he wanted to write today, let him.
"I hope this story you're working on would be a hit."
All of Richie's articles were a hit, and he received a lot of comments, whether it was a negative or not. When you're a writer, you have to take all sorts of reviews, and Richie was good about accepting them. Richie wasn't in the mood to watch television, but Marion joined him on the couch.
"What would you like to do, Richard? Play games?"
"Maybe later, Mom. Lori Beth wants to have an early dinner with the guys, but I'll call them myself. Why isn't Joanie with us today?"
"She forgot your birthday was today, but she said maybe later this evening she would join us. Chachi's more important to her today."
"That doesn't surprise me. They have been spending a lot of time together lately."
"I know, Richard. She's a grown woman now, so she can make up her own decisions."
Even though today was just beginning, it was still a bit early to call his friends. Richie decided to do it later. Right now he was letting Marion spend all the time with him. If he didn't call his friends later, he told himself Lori Beth would do that, so he decided to let her make the call, but of course Fonzie, Potsie and Ralph would call to say happy birthday. He was letting them do that.
