Happy, Happy Birthday Baby -- chapter 2

Later, Jet and Spike were playing Go, with Big Shot playing on the television in the background. It had been quiet on the bounty front recently, so the program was showing highlights of classic bounties. Faye entered and sat near the men, hawking a cigarette out of the pack on the table. The men didn't look her direction, but Spike drawled, "Can we help you?"

"You have nothing I want," replied Faye.

"That's not what you keeping leading me to believe."

"Can it, Spiegel, I actually have something important to tell you. It's about Ed."

"She wants emeralds."

"No. She wants a date out. With you."

Spike's hand froze on the playing piece. He furrowed his brow and turned to Faye. "She what?"

"Not so loud. I don't know where she is. But she came to my room earlier and told me what's what she wants for her birthday."

Spike was flummoxed. "You can't be serious."

Faye took a drag on the cigarette. "Dead serious. She was actually talking about herself in the first person."

Jet chimed in. "You mean she was actually using the pronouns I, me, my?"

"That's right. She's not kidding. This is what she wants," Faye replied.

Spike was still flabbergasted. "She has a crush on me?"

"Well, that I can't say. She just said she wanted to act like a regular kid and do a regular kid thing."

"She's only going to be fourteen, for crissakes!"

"Yeah," said Jet, "And if she were around any kids her own age we wouldn't be having this discussion. She's only been by herself or around us, so who else would she be thinking about going on a date with?"

"Look, she really was serious about this," said Faye, "and I made the mistake of kind of laughing at her about it. But really, what can it hurt? We could make up a really fun night for her. So long as Spike behaves himself."

Spike chuckled. "Don't worry. That's the last kind of trouble I want to be in. Okay. I'll think of something. But you two will have to help with the plans."

Jet grinned. "Whatever you say, Mr. Dreamy." Faye laughed, and Spike responded by rolling his eyes and giving a long-suffering sigh.

The next day, Ed was taking advantage of some early summer sun as she sat on the Bebop deck with her Tomato, wearing a tank top and cutoffs from a discarded pair of Spike's old jeans. Spike studied the girl from behind. Her hair stuck up in all directions and reflected the sunlight. Her tank top fit snugly, showing off some recently acquired curves. Still, she was only a teenager, and Spike was intelligent enough to not let his eyes linger anywhere.

"Hello, Spi-person," she said, without turning around.

"Morning, Ed. I hope you have sunblock on."

Ed didn't respond, but she held up a bottle that had been sitting by her hip. Spike came forward and sat on the deck next to her. He looked up at the sky and said, "So. About your birthday."

Ed turned and peered at him over her sunglasses that were cast-offs from Faye.

Spike continued. "I thought it might be fun if you and I went out and did something. Dinner, have some fun around town."

Ed raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Spike shrugged. "Don't know. Got a couple of ideas."

"Just Spi-person and Ed?"

"Yup. Think about it."

A pause. "Okay."

Spike smiled at the girl, replied, "Okay," and then he got up and returned inside. Ed watched him go, her eyebrow still raised.

Later that day, Spike brought up an idea to Jet and Faye. They both liked the idea, and they promised to do their part. Two days gave them just enough time to finalize the plans, and on the morning of June 21, Jet woke up the teenager early for a special breakfast. Faye told her to eat quickly, because she had a lot planned that day. Ed was extremely quiet and reserved, as if she had never experienced this much attention being showered on her.

Shortly, Faye yelled out for Ed to get ready to go out. Ed appeared wearing the best of the poor wardrobe she had, and Faye snorted. "Geez, this shopping trip is overdue. You look like a cast member from Annie."

Ed had no idea what Faye was talking about, but she got excited about a shopping trip. "Ed's getting new clothes?"

Faye lit a cigarette and nodded. "Considering that we should just burn what you currently have, yeah, Ed, you and Faye-faye are going shopping."

"Don't go too crazy. You do have to stick to a budget, Faye," admonished Jet.

"No worries. I am the queen of the clearance rack."

Spike appeared, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. "Make sure you don't get her anything you'd wear, Faye."

"Ha, grease monkey. C'mon kid, let's get booking." And Faye swept Ed out the door.

Jet took a look at Spike. "Did you get it working?"

"Aye. It's held together by duct tape and zip ties, but it should work."

"You're enjoying this."

Spike grinned. "Actually, I am. Did you see the look on her face? She's completely speechless. Which is a miracle."

Jet laughed and went to work on his birthday gift to Ed.

Ed was speechless. Faye moved quickly through the shops, discarding outfit after another. Ed had been whisked into more dressing rooms and outfits than she could count. Faye was dismayed to find that Ed had no proper undergarments and she moaned about how poorly the girl had been raised. Soon, Ed found herself with four large shopping bags, and Faye was still saying she was nowhere near done.

Ed followed her gamely from store to store, and then into a salon, where she was moved from shampoo bowl to stylist's chair in a daze. Faye told the stylist to do something, anything, with Ed's hair that would be cute, proper for a teenager, and easy for style-challenged girl to take care of. Ed sat amazed as scissors went flying and soon, the girl had a short, chunky hairstyle that stuck up in all directions, but artistically. Another girl had come over and put some makeup on Ed, and yet another girl came by to give her a manicure. When the stylist finally turned Ed towards the mirror, Ed's eyes went wide as she realized it was her in the mirror, wearing new clothes that were trendy and with a stylish hairdo. Big tears formed in her eyes.

Faye was perplexed. "Ed? What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

The tears spilled over. Ed drew her lips into a tight line, but she nodded furiously. Faye smiled. Poor kid, she thought. I've been overwhelming her. "How about a little break? I could use some lunch." Ed dashed the tears from her face and nodded again. Faye found a small, but high-end Chinese diner with lacquered floors and a huge counter where chefs feverishly cooked over huge woks. She got them both chow mein and entertained Ed by flirting with the waiter. When Faye finally got a smile out of Ed, she smiled back and asked her if she was enjoying her day.

"Yes, but do you shop like this all this time, Faye? It's exhausting!"

"Oh, no, Ed, it's just because we had to get you so much stuff."

Ed looked down. "I don't need all this."

Faye grinned. "Sure you do, kiddo. You can't be a proper teenager without proper threads. Or the kicks. More shoes are next!"

Ed gave a mock faint, and the two giggled furiously.