Darry let me sleep in that morning. That morning was a special morning. It was my birthday. I knew Darry and Soda had something planned for me that day but I wasn't sure what. I had a feeling I would like it no matter what it was.
I woke up that morning to the smell of eggs and chocolate cake, which is the smell I wake up to every morning so there was nothing special about that. I rubbed my eyes and rolled out of bed. As I made my way down the hall I could see that it was only Soda, Anya, and Davanee in the living room that morning. Darry was in the kitchen. Once I entered the living room, Anya said "morning , birthday boy."
"Morning" I said, sitting down on the couch.
"Happy birthday" said Soda, handing Davanee over to me.
"She's already been fed" said Anya.
"Thanks" I said.
"No problem. So, what are you doing today?"
"I don't know" I said.
"You won't get your presents until around dinner time" said Soda.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because we have to work today. I tried to get off work but my boss said he really, really needed me to work" said Soda.
"It's ok. I understand" I said.
"Breakfast is ready" called Darry from the kitchen. I put Davanee in her highchair and gave her some toys to play with while the rest of us ate. Anya and I decided that we were going to the movies that day while Soda and Darry went to work. There was some new Paul Newman movie out that I wanted to see. We took Davanee with us. Two-Bit and Johnny had offered the day before to baby sit her but I said no. I liked the thought of spending my birthday with my daughter.
The theatre was packed. But it was Saturday so I guess that had something to do with it. We found two seats in the middle of the theatre. Davanee could sit on my lap. Unfortunately, Davanee started crying halfway through the movie and wouldn't stop so we had to leave. So we headed to the DX since we had nothing better to do. We almost always went to the DX when we had nothing better to do. Soda said he liked it whenever we came but I'm not so sure about Steve. Steve and I don't really go together, but we try to get along for Soda's sake.
After spending about an hour or so sitting around the DX, we went to the park. The park was another place we went to when there was no better way to spend our time. We took turns pushing Davanee on the swing.
"You'll never guess who I got a letter from the other day" said Anya while I pushed Davanee.
"Who?"
"My parents" said Anya.
"Really? What's it say?" I asked.
Anya took the letter out of her pocket and pushed Davanee for me.
The letter read:
Anya,
I am writing you to tell you that your father and I have made it to New York safety and have finally finished unpacking. It took us a couple of weeks but we finally got it done. I started my job as a publisher at a new publishing company. Things are going pretty well for us. I wish you were here with us but I guess you wouldn't be happy here. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for treating you so badly when you didn't do anything. You deserved better than that. Your father says he's sorry too. We are thinking about adopting another girl. This time it's going to be a baby. I hope you're happy in Tulsa. It must be different without us there to bother you every day. I hope to hear from you soon.
Love,
Mom
"I thought you said she didn't like you" I said, giving the letter back.
"I thought she didn't either but I guess I was wrong" said Anya.
"So do you think you'll be joining them in New York?" I asked.
"No, not now at least. I'm pretty happy here for the time being. Maybe I'll move up there when I'm older if I really want to" said Anya, taking Davanee out of the swing.
"Let's go sit under the tree" said Anya.
"Ok" I said. I joined Anya and Davanee underneath the tree.
I let Davanee crawl around under the tree while Anya and I talked. I was in the middle of a sentence when Anya stopped me.
"What?" I asked.
"Look" she said, pointing to Davanee. I turned around to see that Davanee was actually walking towards us.
"She's walking" I said, not believing what I was seeing. I scooped her up and gave her a big kiss.
"She's not a little baby anymore" said Anya.
"I know. Her first birthday is in two months" I said. It seemed like just yesterday when I saw her for the first time. I know almost every parent says that but for me it really did seem like yesterday.
We spent a couple more hours at the park. Then we had to go home. It looked like it was going to rain. As soon as we got to the house, it started to rain.
"You got here just in time" said Soda, who was home early.
"Yeah" said Anya, "what are you doing home so early?"
"Joe let us off early today" said Soda.
"That's good. We got something to show you" I said. I took Davanee and sat on the floor. Anya sat across from me.
"Watch this" I said, standing Davanee up. At first she looked around the room like she had forgotten what she was suppose to do. We had practiced this at the park earlier. Then she looked at Anya and took a couple of steps. It took her a while to get all the way across but she did it.
"When did she learn how to walk?" asked Soda.
"Today when we were at the park" I said, picking Davanee up.
"So, when's Darry gonna be home?" asked Anya.
"He should be home any minute now. He said sometime around 6 and it's 6 now. Man, I can't believe she's walking" said Soda, shaking his head.
"Me neither. You know she'll be 1 soon" I said.
"Seriously? When's her birthday? I forgot" said Soda.
"April 22" I replied. Just then, Darry walked in the door carrying a couple of presents.
"Hello?" called Darry from the living room. We had all moved into the kitchen by then.
"In here!" I called.
Darry walked into the kitchen and set the presents down on the table.
"Darry, you gotta see this" I said, leading him back to the living room.
"What?" he asked.
"Go sit on the floor" I instructed. Darry gave me a weird look, like I was crazy or something, but sat down anyways.
I sat across from him. Soda handed Davanee to me.
"Watch" I said. I stood Davanee up once again. She looked at me, a bit unsure about the whole walking thing. But she looked at Darry and took a couple of steps towards him, and then fell backwards. I helped her back up and she continued to walk towards him.
"When did she start walking?" asked Darry.
"Today at the park" I said.
"She ain't a baby no more" said Darry, getting up.
"I know. That's what Anya said today at the park" I said, picking Davanee up and placing her in her high chair. I gave her a couple of toys to play with.
"So what does the birthday boy want for dinner?" asked Darry.
"I dunno. Surprise me" I said, winding up Davanee's music box. Davanee loved her Nutcrakcer music box. I wouldn't be surprised if she was in that ballet someday. No body in our family was really big into arts but it was Soda's idea to buy her the music box.
After dinner that night, we opened presents. By that time, the whole gang had joined us. Honestly, I was happy with what I got. For the most part it was books and clothes which may sound boring to you but it's what I asked for. I needed new clothes and since I'm such a big reader, I always like new books. But I would have to say that the best gift I received that year was seeing Davanee walk for the first time. I know it may sound corny but it's the truth.