Note: I know it isn't the 4th of July anymore and going to August, I wanted to make this a short story. Here's the last chapter.
I finally was able to go back home around dinner when it was set on the table.
"How was your time at Barney's?" Aunt Bee asked me.
"It was a really nice time, Aunt Bee," I answered.
"That's good. You and Barney are very close friends."
I nodded, agreeing with my only aunt. I didn't have any other relatives, sad to say.
"Your surprise visitor should be out shortly," Aunt Bee told me.
"It better be good.
"Of course it is, Andy."
Tonight was roast beef, fruits and vegetables. I like roast beef every once in a while. I heard some shoes walking towards my way.
"Now close your eyes, Andy."
I did exactly what Aunt Bee told me to.
"You may open your eyes now, Andy."
I did just what she told me to.
The woman looked to be in her mid – thirties, long red hair, glasses, pierced ears with hoops, perfume, and a lavender dress with matching shoes to go along with it. I didn't think I've seen this woman before. I did what Barney told me to – pretend to be surprised. I didn't need to pretend. I already was, to tell the truth.
"Andy, can you guess who this surprise visitor is?"
I shook my head answering, "No, I don't, Aunt Bee."
"This is your mother, Andy. Her name is Terry Taylor."
Aunt Bee saw on how surprised I really was. I was so speechless that I couldn't say anything.
"Hello, Andy," the woman named Terry said.
"Hi," I said within minutes.
I looked like I was going to faint. I had an idea – go call Barney and have him come over to meet my mother.
"Aunt Bee, can I call Barney and invite him over for a while?"
"No, Andy."
"Why not?"
I figured he might have just sat down and have his own supper as well. The three of us sat down at the kitchen table after meeting my mother for the first time.
"How long will you be staying?" I asked her.
"Just for the evening. I hope to go back to Charlotte since my daughter lives there now."
This sure is a surprise, I told myself, but didn't bother sharing with her and Aunt Bee.
"You've grown so big since you were two weeks old, Andy. You have turned out to be a very handsome young man."
"Why, thank you," I told her.
So she came out all this way to have the opportunity to surprise me, and I didn't seem to mind one bit.
"How many children do you have, Terry?" I asked.
"Just call me Mom, Andy. I should have never sent you away from me, but I had to do it. Your father was a drunk at the time that gave me the idea to give you to Bee. I didn't want your father to be a bad example to you on that. This is why you came to live with Aunt Bee."
At first it made me wonder if I was adopted, but it was part of my imagination, as you could see.
"Has Barney met her, Aunt Bee? I was thinking of inviting him over."
"Yes, he has already met her. This is why he was asked not to say anything to ruin your surprise."
"About that, Aunt Bee. Barney did ruin the surprise," I began.
"Tell me what he did."
"Barney did tell me to pretend to be surprised because he told me. I asked him to tell me, so he did. He never told me that he met. No wonder this story is made up."
"Barney sure never has learned to keep a secret. That's just part of his character."
I agreed with her. If my mother never gave me away, life would have been different. It did make me think she wasn't alive, but it turned out I was wrong.
"When Barney told me to pretend on acting surprised, I didn't need to pretend."
"Good thing you didn't listen to him, Andy. Sometimes surprises can be good if people don't ruin it for you," said Aunt Bee.
So my mother only stayed for a short while as planned. This might be a story to share when I have my own children. Now it was time to think about picturing what my future was and that would happen sometime soon.
"Andy, I would like to keep in touch with you when I head back to Charlotte. Tell your friend it was nice meeting him," Terry said to me.
"I'll tell him, Terry."
"Just call me Mom, please," she said a second time.
"I'll do my best on that," I replied.
We visited for a while longer, and then Terry got up and left after we said good – bye. Next time, Barney should keep his mouth shut.