Five Birthdays
Prompt 000: No Prompt! Just some silly fun… I so I think.
If there was something Balthazar liked was to be informed of the things those around him were doing. Veronica, most specially and of course, included. And there was something else he liked, of his wife; she always consulted things with him before actually doing them. She didn't ask for permission, mind you, Veronica was old and capable enough to do things, but she enjoyed telling Balthazar about her things, and her husband was always more than willing to listen. Balthazar had been reading a rather interesting sci-fi novel Dave had loaned for the weekend, who would have though his apprentice read something as interesting as Michael Chrichton?, and Veronica entered the living room with a smile and several papers.
"Beloved, are you too busy?"
"Barely, what is it?"
"I've been considering continuing my studies." That got Balthazar's full attention. The book was slapped shut, not in a bad way, as Veronica sat before him expanding the brochures she had over the center table. NYU Arts programs, Law School, Science mayors… This woman was considering making up for lost time, eh? "I've been reading these and find them so interesting, especially the science mayors. I was considering first the school of arts, then probably languages, and laws. And probably science…"
"Veronica this is…Overwhelming." Said Balthazar lifting the Law School brochure. "Not that is not a good idea, I'm glad you wish to continue learning… But isn't it too sudden?"
"No, no. Absolutely not, I think it's a good idea. We have no children yet, what will make the first degree easily achievable, and I was considering continuing studying after we had our first child…" Balthazar leaned back on his seat, smiling.
"You have been thinking for a long time about this, haven't you?"
Veronica blushed, apparently his suspicion been real and then bit her lip. "Does it bother you?"
"No, of course not. As I said I am very glad you wish to finish your education. But things are quite different."
"But you know that when I put my mind into something…"
"Yes, I am aware." Again he smiled and looked down at the brochure he held. "So have you already decided in New York University? Or can I show you other options."
"NYU is best, it's closer. And I know some of it's students."
"Of course."
"So what do you think? Law, arts or Languages? And there's also mathematical science…" Balthazar watched her talk, considering to herself the options she had available, able all back in the day when they were studying they didn't have the choice youngsters have now… "So probably languages would be better to start on, right? I am quite fluid in several of the ones offered, and so are you, so you might be able to help me study."
"Beloved, whatever you choose will be fine by me, just… Let me know your schedules so I won't rip my hair off searching for you while you are in class." That got her to smile, and quickly gathering her brochures she stood, granted him a deep long kiss, and excited hurried away. "You might want to buy a computer! And ask Becky to show you how to use it!"
"Alright!"
Balthazar offered to pay for the first semester; after all the trust fund he'd created a couple hundred years ago was specifically created to pay for studies (but probably he'd expected those studies to be his children's) and Veronica promised to find a job and pay it right back. Balthazar had laughed it off. If it made her happy Balthazar would lay a monthly check for her to study, or do whatever… When class started Veronica was out for longer than usual, and during the first weeks Balthazar worried, but every day she came home with a new story, loaded with homework and fighting to understand the new technology (in a shape of a HP Mini whatever), but happy. Yet he was oddly aware that because of her studies, and Dave's and even Becky's he was a slave to the university's Academic Calendar; thing that was unforgiving and harsh during regular months and even worse during recesses.
Never had he longed for Spring break with such tenacity.
During finals he spent his morning stuck in the living room, watching the TV because all three students were too busy cramming up all the information required for the tests. Needless to say he saw more than one bottom of cool whip tub. His birthday had rolled by in silence, not even a word from Veronica (thing that was weir) and although he wasn't too fond of celebrating his birthday he'd though that it would probably produce a halt in the other three's study processes and at least say Happy Birthday to him. But so far nothing, not that he was depressed, just… They were always so adamant in celebrating his birthday and he was always denying them the joy… So he was a year older so what?
He didn't look anything over thirty five.
Yet.
That evening he sat on his couch, in comfortable house clothes (a pajama and slippers) watching a Lord of the Rings marathon, Tank beside him, been petted from time to time, and chewing gum. It wasn't the first time he found himself in such place, it was however the first time all three students had gotten together to study for a test. They thought it would be fun to take a class together and they even teamed up to make several oral reports, but this final was an individual test and the younger ones were after Veronica for her fluidity in both German and French… What made no sense because they had taken a course in Russian.
More than once had either Dave or Becky appeared from the hallway, asked Balthazar how to pronounce something and then gone back to their claustrophobic studying environment for three.
"Beloved!" Balthazar turned to the hallway.
"Yes?"
"Can you… uhm help us here for a moment?"
Tank groaned and Balthazar turned to look at the dog. "You think I should?" It growled softly, then whined. "Yeah, I though so." He got up and padded slowly towards the room. "If you are asking me how to say rainbow in Russian again…"
Several handfuls of confetti slapped him in the face, blowouts sounds were heard and Veronica's voice started singing the usual happy birthday song. Too stunned to actually react Balthazar watched as his apprentice and Becky laughed, joining in the singing. Veronica was holding a cake, with only one candle lighted over it, and smiling at him.
And there he was standing too stupefied to even react.
