DJ stopped in the doorway, surprised to find her little sister surrounded by colored paper, crayons and markers that filled every inch of the table in the center of their room.
"Steph, what are you doing?"
Stephanie barely looked up from her project to acknowledge DJ's presence. "I'm working. Now could you please leave me alone?"
"Steph, it's a gorgeous day. It's over 80 degrees and you know that it rarely gets that warm in San Francisco. The fog usually gulps it all up. I know, why don't you and I take Comet for a walk? Admittedly, I've put on a few pounds and I could really use a workout. Lombard Street is the perfect place for it; as long as we don't get dizzy."
"I can't. I'm very busy."
"Doing what? Coloring? You're too old to be coloring, and besides-."
"I know, it's a beautiful day. Well I hope you and Comet enjoy it. I need to finish this before tomorrow and I have a lot of work to do."
"Don't tell me your teacher gave you an assignment using crayons and markers. You'll be in junior high soon. What are you doing, getting a head start on helping Michelle with her Kindergarten homework?"
"If you must know, tomorrow is Mother's Day and that's all I'm going to say about that."
A cold chill ran through DJ's body and suddenly she felt like the worst person on the planet. Of course, how could she have forgotten? Well, that part was easy. She worked hard to put Mother's Day out of her mind. As the years passed and memories of her mom began to fade, it became easier and easier to pretend like Mother's Day was just another day. Her heart went out to her sister.
It was bad enough losing their mom when DJ was not quite a teenager, but Stephanie was just a kid. She couldn't imagine what that must have been like for Stephanie. And Michelle was just a baby. What would happen when one day she started asking questions about why she never saw her mother? How could they possibly explain?
Tears filled DJ's eyes but she quickly brushed them away. She had to be strong for her sister. She walked over to Stephanie and draped her arm around her sister's small shoulders. She had no idea what to say.
"I'm sorry for bothering you. It looks like you're working really hard and whatever you're making… um, it looks great."
"Thanks. Do you want to make some?"
"Make some what?"
"Mother's Day cards."
DJ took a step back, wondering if she should get Joey, her dad or Uncle Jessie. This wasn't like Stephanie at all. Of course, Stephanie missed their mom, but now it seemed as though she really believed that their mom was with them. "Um, Steph… maybe I should…"
"What?"
"Um, well, I really need to talk to Dad.. or Joey or Uncle Jessie. Whomever I can find first. I'll be right back."
"Shut the door!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean shut the door! I don't want Daddy, Uncle Jessie or Joey to see what I'm doing!"
DJ sighed… "Oh Steph… Look… can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, what about?"
"This… well, Mother's Day."
"Okay, what do you want to say about it?"
"Come with me."
Against Stephanie's protests, DJ took her hand and led her to the bed. "Have a seat."
"DJ, I've gotta finish! Tomorrow is Mother's Day!"
"I know and I get it, but… don't you think you should talk to Dad? Or maybe have him take you to the nice lady that helped you after the earthquake scared you?"
"Why?"
"Well, I just… I don't want you to get hurt, that's why. And I know this is hard for you. It's hard for me, too. And Michelle…"
Stephanie's eyes fell to the floor. "You mean Daddy, Uncle Jessie and Joey won't like what I'm doing?"
"I-."
"I just wanted to do something nice for them, for Mother's Day. Because they do so much for us."
Suddenly DJ understood and she was filled with relief. "You mean, you're making those for Dad, Uncle Jessie and Joey?"
"Yeah, who'd you think I was making them for?"
"I-never mind. So what are we making?"
"Mother's Day cards."
"But Steph, Mother's Day-."
"Is for mothers, I know. But DJ we don't have a mother anymore."
"I know…"
"Remember what you told me when I was upset about the Honeybee slumber party? You said that when I feel sad about Mom, I should think about the fact that we have three people who love us; Dad, Uncle Jessie and Joey. And remember when they played a trick on us with that game where we were the adults?"
"Oh yeah... that was a mean trick, wasn't it? But we sure needed that lesson."
"Right, and we never thanked them, DJ. Not really."
"So that's why you're making the Mother's Day cards."
"Is it silly? Because if it is, I can stop-."
DJ went to the table and sat down. "Hand me a pink."
The next morning, they crept downstairs. The sun was shining brightly, indicating the beginning of another beautiful day.
"Okay, Steph, you put the cards on the table and I'll start breakfast."
"But you don't know how to cook! And Dad won't let us use the oven! Remember what happened on Thanksgiving with the turkey and the pie?"
"That was a great Thanksgiving, but don't remind me. This time we're going to play it safe. Dad will let us use the toaster, so I hope that Dad, Uncle Jessie and Joey like Pop Tarts!"
Stephanie grinned from ear to ear. "DJ you're a genius!"
DJ blushed and took a bow. "Why, thank you. Now hurry up before Dad, Uncle Jessie and Joey wake up!"
The smell of strawberry, chocolate and vanilla filled the kitchen as DJ and Stephanie carefully put the Pop Tarts on plates with a spatula.
"This is going to be so great!" DJ exclaimed. She poured glasses of milk and orange juice and placed the plates of Pop Tarts on the table.
Then all they had to do was wait. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait very long.
"What are you girls doing up so early? And why do I smell ice cream? Look, that's not a healthy breakfast. Let me fix you something better."
DJ grinned, watching Danny put Michelle in her high chair.
"Actually, Dad. Stephanie and I made breakfast for you."
"And Uncle Jessie and Joey." Stephanie chimed in.
Danny laughed. "Well, isn't this a wonderful surprise. "Jessie! Joey! Get down here on the double!" He shouted.
Joey appeared at the top of the stairs in the kitchen. "What is it? It's Sunday, can't I sleep a little later?"
Jessie appeared in the kitchen doorway, his hair disheveled. "Wha-at? You woke me out of a beautiful dream! I was on a deserted island, see? And this girl-."
"Um, came to your rescue." Danny quickly interjected.
Jessie's eyebrows rose. "She sure did, in more ways than one."
"Well, it's time for breakfast!" Danny announced.
"Now? But it's still so early!"
"Yes, it is, but we're in for a treat! So sit down and be prepared to be amazed."
"Dad… it's not that big of a deal."
"DJ of course it is!" Danny said, kissing DJ's forehead.
"What's going on?" Joey asked.
"Well, I'm not quite sure but I do know that these wonderful girls have made us breakfast."
Uncle Jessie smiled. "Really? Wow, that's really nice of you. You didn't have to do that."
"We wanted to, because we love you so much!" Stephanie said.
"We love you girls too, but I don't get it. And what's with the cards? Happy Mother's Day? I-."
Danny and Jessie looked at Joey and the kitchen fell silent.
"Oh no…"
"Dad what's wrong?"
"It's Mother's Day."
"Yep, that's what the cards are for."
"Girls, I… I know how much you miss your mom, but these cards…"
"They're for you, Uncle Jessie and Joey." DJ explained.
"I don't understand." Jessie said.
DJ and Stephanie walked over to Uncle Jessie, Danny and Joey.
"It was Stephanie's idea, but we realized that we don't thank you guys nearly enough for all you do for us." DJ said.
"And we love you so much." Stephanie said.
Danny's eyes filled with tears. "Girls, I… I don't know what to say."
"Dad, I'm sorry, we didn't think it would make you cry. Great, now I'm going to start crying too! I can't do anything right!"
"DJ wait!"
But DJ ran out of the kitchen and into the living room where she curled up on the couch. Seconds later the swinging kitchen door opened. Danny and Joey went to her.
"DJ, we're sorry. I-I didn't mean to cry, but sometimes, when I think about your mom, it just hits me that she's gone. I'm not upset by what you did."
"DJ this is the nicest thing you and Stephanie could have done. I'll cherish my Mother's Day card forever." Joey said.
"Really?"
"Absolutely. Thank you so much, sweetheart." Danny hugged DJ tightly and kissed her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too, Dad. And I'm sorry breakfast is so lame."
"Are you kidding? I love Pop Tarts!" Joey exclaimed. He went to DJ and hugged her. "I love you too."
'Thanks."
"Now how about we go and finish this wonderful breakfast?" Danny asked.
"They're probably cold by now." DJ sighed.
"No problem, we'll just reheat them. How about some bacon and pancakes to go with them?"
"Well, I wanted to do that but you guys won't let us use the stove." Stephanie said as she walked into the living room..
"That's true, but if we all pitch in…"
"You mean you don't like our Pop Tart breakfast?"
"Steph, we loved it! How about we make more Pop Tarts instead?" Joey suggested.
After another round of hugs, they walked into the kitchen where Jessie was enjoying his Pop Tart breakfast. "Come here, girls.." He opened his arms wide, inviting them in for a hug. "This is the best breakfast and I love these cards. They're going right on the wall between Sammy Davis Jr and Elvis."
"Oooh!" DJ, Stephanie, Joey and Danny replied.
"Well, Steph, your plan worked. This turned out to be a great Mother's Day."
"Thanks for helping, DJ!"
"How about after we finish our wonderful Pop Tart breakfast, we all go to the park and spend the afternoon there?"
Danny's suggestion was met with cheers and applause.
DJ knew that her mom was looking down on them, smiling.
"Happy Mother's Day, Mom."
~Fin~