The screen went black and the melody from the beginning of the tape began to play again.
"Thank you, that
was a wonderful present," Amanda told everyone as she started to rise from the
couch.
"But it's not over
yet, Mom," Jamie said. "There should be
one more movie. Right, Lee?"
"After I gave
everything to Walters, your mother found one more reel," Lee explained, "so I
told him to just stick it on at the end of the tape."
Little Amanda wore a sailor dress and ran to the only available swing in the swing-set. The camera panned the grounds of the park which was filled with families spread out on picnic blankets. Children were running around, some people were waving American flags, and various dogs ran in and out of the crowd. The camera turned back to Amanda who swung to and fro.
"Fourth of July,"
Dotty announced.
"Rock Creek Park,"
Amanda smiled, "for the fireworks. We
went every year when I was a little girl. Do you boys remember when I used to take you?"
"Sure, you used to
let us get hot dogs and ice cream and cotton candy," Phillip answered as he
smacked his lips.
A little boy approached the swings and watched
Amanda. She stopped swinging and
watched him a moment before allowing him to use the swing she'd been on a
moment before.
"Another
boyfriend?" Lee teased.
Amanda squinted at
the screen, "I'm not sure. The tape
isn't that clear."
"I was kidding,"
Lee said, slightly concerned, "you couldn't have been more than, what, five?"
"Oh, and I
suppose," Amanda grinned, "that you didn't have any girlfriends when you were
five?"
Amanda smiled as the boy went faster and
higher. She clapped in delight and he
slowed to a stop. She pointed towards
the slide and he nodded. The children
ran to the slide and the boy climbed up the ladder first and slid down. He turned to watch Amanda who waved to the
camera when she reached the top of the slide. She then waved to someone in the distance and the camera turned to find
Dotty approaching. The camera switched
back to Amanda who slid down and landed on her feet in front of the boy.
"Hmmm, if I didn't
know better, I'd think that was you," Amanda teased. Lee didn't answer and Amanda asked, "Lee?"
"It is," was all
Lee said.
"It is what?" she
asked in confusion.
"Me," Lee replied
in wonder. "That is me, Amanda."
"No," Amanda
murmured in disbelief.
"Cool," Phillip
commented at the same time Dotty said, "My goodness."
"Phillip, rewind
the tape," Lee requested.
"How far?"
"Just to the
beginning of the slide part."
After watching the
children slide down, Dotty agreed, "There is a strong resemblance there."
"I'm telling you,
it is me," Lee insisted.
"What year is this
from, Mother?"
Dotty thought a
moment, "I'm not sure. The label on the
reel didn't say which is strange since I always kept careful records of all our
movies and photos. You did get that
dress from your grandmother for your fourth birthday and only wore it two years
so it was prob--"
"1955," Lee
interrupted in a choked voice.
"How can you be so
sure?" Dotty asked. "You haven't --"
"My mother," Lee
indicated to the screen as he saw a woman join Dotty and the children.
Amanda held Lee's
hands tightly in hers while she watched the little boy run into his mother's
arms.
Amanda and Lee sat on the blanket and took the
sandwiches their mothers handed them to eat.
"I can't believe
this. Mother, how did you meet the
Stetsons? Why didn't you say anything when you met Lee?"
Dotty shook her
head, "I didn't remember this particular fireworks, darling. Remember, we went every year. And, even after seeing it, I still don't
remember it specifically. I don't think
I even knew their last names. It was
just one of those times where you meet someone at a picnic, get to talking,
find out you have children the same age, and end up spending your picnic
together." Dotty smiled sadly, "It was
a one-time only thing and not a very formal affair. I'm sorry."
The children rose from the blanket and began to
wander off when they suddenly turned around and faced the camera. Lee obviously saw someone out of range and
jumped up and down. The camera followed
him as he ran towards a man dressed in a business suit. The man caught Lee and spun him around to
Lee's delight.
"That's your dad?"
Phillip quietly asked.
Lee nodded but
couldn't find his voice.
"Except for that
mustache, you look just like him," Dotty commented as she watched the camera
get a closer look of Matthew Stetson.
Amanda twisted in
place to turn around and she hugged Lee tightly before turning back to face the
TV.
The
fireworks lit up the sky and the camera panned the faces of those on the
blanket. Amanda clapped as she sat in
her mother's lap. Lee sat in his
mother's lap while Matthew sat with his arm around Jennifer. Lee pointed to the sky and Matthew spoke to
him. Jennifer kissed Lee on the top of
his head when she suddenly laughed and nudged her husband who kissed her on the
cheek.
Lee leaned forward
in his seat and rested his chin on Amanda's shoulder. She wrapped his arms around her waist and gave his hands another
squeeze.
Amanda and her mother folded up their blanket and the camera turned to the Stetsons who had packed away their belongings. Matthew reached out a hand to Amanda's father and the camera view shifted slightly and caught Lee holding his mother's hand. Jennifer and Dotty said goodbye and Jennifer then nudged Lee. Lee moved closer to Amanda whose mother had gently pushed her closer to Lee. Lee stuck out his hand which led the adults to chuckle but Amanda took his hand and shook it heartily. Lee grinned and returned to stand between his parents. The Stetsons started to walk away when they suddenly turned around. Amanda ran to Lee, quickly kissed him on the cheek, and quickly ran back to her mother. Lee grinned again and waved good-bye.
"And here I thought
you were the shy type," Lee whispered and gave Amanda a gentle kiss on the
cheek.
The screen faded to black and the melody stopped playing.
***** ***** *****
"That's it," Jamie
announced.
"Rewind the tape,
Phillip," Amanda requested. "This was a
wonderful birthday present. Thank you
all," Amanda said as she acknowledged everyone, "so much."
"You're welcome,"
the boys answered as they got up off the floor and left the room, chattering to
one another.
Dotty stood up and
walked over to Amanda. She kissed her
daughter on the top of Amanda's head and said, "Happy birthday, darling." She squeezed Lee's shoulder, gave him a comforting
smile, and headed into the kitchen.
When they were
alone, Amanda shifted in her seat so she faced Lee. "Are you okay?" she asked as she tenderly stroked his cheek.
Lee nodded, "I
just never…Seeing them again…It's like…"
"Like what,
sweetheart?"
"It's like I said
earlier," Lee began as he held Amanda's hand, "pictures are one thing but
movies are something else. I mean, I
know there wasn't any sound but I could see them walking and talking and
smiling and laughing…"
Amanda drew Lee
into a hug and whispered, "I know…"
Lee pulled back,
"The funny thing is, even after seeing it, I still don't remember it having
happened."
Amanda smiled and
shook her head, "Neither do I. I can't
believe we met when we were five." Lee
looked thoughtful and Amanda asked, "What is it?"
"I wonder if, that
day at the train station, somewhere, deep down, maybe we did remember," Lee
looked at his wife. "There was this
split second where you looked at me…."
"Where you looked
at me…" Amanda insisted.
Lee chuckled, "I
suppose it doesn't matter now. But,
maybe…just maybe it was fate."
"Fate?"
Lee nodded, "That,
out of all people that morning, I picked you again. And fell in love with you. And married you."
"Shhh," Amanda
quickly looked around, "my mother will hear you. You know how she is about the 'm' word."
"Amanda," Lee
said, "she didn't hear me."
"Lower your voice,
please," Amanda requested as she quickly looked for her mother. "Besides, Fate sure took its time. It took you three years to fall in love and
another half a year before you married me."
Lee leaned in to
kiss her but Dotty shouted, "Married?! You're getting married?!" Lee and Amanda
both started stammering but Dotty continued, "Oh my gosh, I was beginning to
think you would never go through with it. Phillip! Jamie! Get down here!
And bring the video-camera!"
"Mother, we didn't
--"
"Dotty, I think I
should --"
"What's going on?"
Phillip asked excitedly.
"Your mother and
Lee are getting married!" Dotty excitedly announced.
"Well, it's about
time," Phillip said with a grin.
"Congratulations,"
Jamie added with a smile of his own.
"Oh, wait until I
tell Lillian," Dotty gushed. "She's
just not going to believe this."
"Mother, we weren't
--"
"Going to say
anything until I gave Amanda the ring," Lee interrupted.
Amanda stared at
Lee in shock, "Lee…"
Lee quickly got off
the couch and knelt on one knee before Amanda. "Amanda King, you are the best, the bravest, the smartest, the most
beautiful woman I have ever known."
Amanda smiled and,
with shimmering eyes, said in a whispered voice, "I love you."
"Then will you
marry me?"
Amanda gazed into
Lee's eyes, sniffled, and answered, "Can I think about it?"
"Amanda!" Dotty
exclaimed in shock as Lee's eyes widened in surprise.
Amanda grinned,
grabbed Lee by his collar, pulled him close, and, just as she was about to kiss
him, murmured, "Gotcha!"
Lee's protest was
promptly smothered by her kiss.
Fade to black….
