Wilbur Jonas the proprietor of the general store looked up from his books as the door swung open.
"Good morning Doc," he said coming around the counter to shake the doctor's hand. "Isn't it a nice day? How's Festus?"
"Better," Doc replied. "I came to see if what I had ordered came in."
"It sure did," Jonas replied eagerly retrieving the square box. "I have the other part of the gift in the storage room when your ready for it."
Doc nodded as he opened the top of the box. "Thank you Jonas," Doc said appreciatively. "Festus is going to hate this."
Jonas laughed softly. "I'll see you both at the party?"
Doc tugged at his earlobe before he replied. "Oh yes," he said. "We'll be there! He's chomping at the bit to get to the Long Branch for the beer I've promised him. He has no idea that we've got a party planned for his birthday."
Jonas laughed heartily. "Can't wait," he said walking Doc to the door. "I'll see you both this afternoon."
Doc nodded as he stepped out the door and headed over to the Long Branch to check on the preparations for Festus birthday party.
As Doc stepped though the double doors, Kitty smiled. "Well Doc," she said with a bright smile. "Is Festus ready to get out jail?"
Doc returned the smile. "I don't know about him but I certainly am," he said. "It's exhausting having to fight with your patient every day for two weeks to make sure he's getting the proper care."
"And you wouldn't have it any other way," Kitty said batting her eyelids.
"Of course I wouldn't," he said handing her the box from Jonas store. "Hold on to that for me will you. I'm headed back upstairs to see if he's ready."
"Alright," Kitty said taking box, she placed it behind the bar." Matt and Newly should be on their way over any minute. By the time you get back here with Festus, we should be ready."
"Good," Doc said heading for the door.
Stepping back out onto the boardwalk, Doc tipped his head as Matt and Newly started into the Long Branch.
"Doc," Matt said standing just in front of him, he slid his thumbs though the loops of his belt. "How's Festus?"
"Recovering well Matt," he said swiping at his mustache. "I may let him resume his deputy duties next week, if you're asking."
Matt nodded as he spoke. "I can't say I couldn't use his help," he said. "But things are pretty quite right now."
"Good," Doc replied slightly relieved. "I don't want him exerting himself to soon, not that he does a lot of that now, but you know what I mean."
Matt grinned as he smiled. "Sure do Doc," he said as the doctor turned toward Newly.
"And you young man," he said with a wiry grin. "Were a great help to me during this whole ordeal and I just wanted you to know."
"Thanks Doc," Newly replied bashfully. "But you were the one that encourage me to continue with medical training."
"And I still do," he said seriously. "Any time you want to know something, you just come see me."
"Yes sir," Newly replied eagerly as the doctor slowly ambled across the dirt street and up the stairs to his office.
Opening the door, he stepped quietly inside, not sure if Festus was awake or not.
"Doc," Festus said from the bedroom. "Is that you?"
"Yes," Doc replied closing the door, he went to the door way of the bedroom where he found the hill man already dressed in a clean shirt and pants.
"All ready I see," Doc said slightly bemused. "Can't stand my company anymore?"
"Awe foot Doc," Festus said scrunching up one eye. "You know darn well it ain't like that."
"I know Festus," Doc laughed lowly. "You're just ready for me to buy you that beer that's all you want."
Festus flung his hands into the air as Doc continued. "Well I'm not going to make you wait any longer," he said stepping aside. "Let's go."
Festus smiled as he made quick strides to the door. He opened it and for the first time in two weeks he inhaled a breath of fresh fall air.
"It sure is plum purty out today Doc," Festus said as the older man joined him.
"I agree with you Festus," Doc said patting the hill man on the back. "Now, let's go get that beer."
Festus smiled as he gingerly made his way down the steps, still not completely back to his full vibrant self, he didn't want the old scudder to stop him from having a good time.
Doc could hear the people inside the Long Branch as they approached the doors.
Festus was still completely unaware that he and the others had chosen this time of year based on when Festus had said he'd been born, to throw the hill man a surprise party for his birthday.
But he knew as soon as he walked in as everyone inside, nearly the whole town screamed Happy Birthday!
"Awe shucks Ms. Kitty," Festus said slightly embarrassed as the owner of the saloon presented him with a cold beer. "You all don't even know when it's my birthday!"
"Yes we do," Doc said with a grin. "Let's see, as I recollect it was during that time when your ma's favorite sow had that record litter of piglets."
Festus nodded. "That's right Doc and it was in the fall just before the first snow."
Kitty and Matt laughed as the Marshal pulled out a chair. "Have a seat," Doc said smiling broadly. "What's a birthday party without gifts!"
Festus took the chair as Doc handed his to him first. "Shucks Doc," Festus said surprised. "You didn't have to go and get me anything!"
Doc swiped his mustache slightly irritated. "I know that," he said. "But I wanted to so don't you never mind what I do, just open it!"
Festus opened the top of the box and peered inside. "Golly Doc," he said lifting the fancy new reel from the box. "That thar's one of the fancy reels you use to fish with."
"That's right," Doc said. "And Jonas has the pole to go along with it so the next time we go fishing I want to see you use it instead of that worthless bamboo pole.
"Worthless," Festus hollered. "Now see here, you ol scudder! I don't need any of your fancy pole and reel to catch a fish."
Matt sighed and Kitty giggled as they both realized, no matter how bad things got some things never changed.
"Boys," Kitty said bringing out the Birthday cake. "Don't make me put you at separate tables!"
"Awe don't worry Ms. Kitty," Festus drawled in his most southernly accent. "I was only pickin on the old scudder, he knows I like it, don't ya Doc?"
Doc nodded as Kitty lite the candle on the cake. "Alright," she said looking at Festus, make a wish and blow out the candle.
"Alright," Festus said thinking for a minute. "What should I wish for?"
Doc smiled as Festus finally thought of something and blew out the candle effortlessly. It may not have been his birthday but his wish for Festus came true!
END