"Alright, everyone...Here comes the cake," Cynthia announced, walking it in her arms to the middle picnic table. The cake had five birthday candles in a circle in the center of the cake. Janice carried the forks and plates. Deborah brought out the pitchers of the remaining Kool-Aid, and Joanne brought the cups and sweet tea for the adults. "We'll have ice cream after Cady blows out the candles and after we eat cake," Cynthia said as she placed the large cake on the end of the picnic table. "Oh. I forgot the matches," she realized.
"I have some," Peter said, and produced a pack from his pants' pocket. Joanne shot him a look of surprise mixed with chagrin. All of those present had assembled around the table and Cady had taken her place by the cake while Peter lit each of the five candles. Fortunately, the wind was still and they stayed lit while everyone sang the Happy Birthday Song. The children yelled the tune more than sang it and the adults smiled at each other in reaction.
"Okay, Cady. Make a wish," Roger said, pointing the family camera at her.
She closed her eyes, scrunched her face, and blew as hard as she could, easily blowing out the five candles. She opened her eyes to everyone's applause and smiled the giant Parsons' smile, knowing that she would get her wish.
"Let's have some cake!" Robert said, rubbing his hands together.
"Okay, everybody….Sit where you want, and we'll start serving up the cake," Cynthia said.
The grandmothers served up the Kool-Aid and tea while Cynthia and Janice served up the cake. Finally, everyone had their dessert and they were talking amongst themselves at their tables.
"I can't wait to play with the tea set," Julia said to Cady.
"We can bring the cat and dog puppets to the tea party!" Cady joked.
Mattlock laughed. "That's funny!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Steven laughed. Charlie laughed with the other two boys. Steven continued, "The Silly Putty is fun too. You can stick it to the comics in the newspaper and pull up the picture. Then you can stretch it and make funny pictures that way."
All of the children laughed at that, imagining and acting out the possibilities.
"This cake is good," Charlie said with his mouth full. "What kind is it?"
"It's German Chocolate Cake. It's my Mawmaw's favorite," Dorothy replied.
"Sergei's made this before at my house. It's my favorite too," Mattlock said.
"What do you like to play, Matt?" asked Cady.
"Oh. Cowboys and Indians….Cops and Robbers….Tag….Hide and Go Seek," he replied.
"Those are fun," Cady replied.
"I only get to play them at recess at school. That's where most of my friends are. My cousin is coming to visit me this Christmas. We are going to play and play and play and play," he said with a smile.
"Don't you have friends in your neighborhood?" Julia asked.
"No. Our house is too far from everyone. I have horses, and Bo and Lamar," he replied.
"Bo and Lamar?" Julia asked.
"They work for my Daddy. They take care of the horses and cows. They take me out riding," Mattlock replied.
"I've never ridden a horse," Cady replied. The other children confirmed that they had not ridden any horses either.
"It's a lot of fun. It's scary at first, 'cause they're so big, but fun, once you get used to it," Mattlock replied. "Maybe I can have a party sometime and invite you all out to ride horses. I'll ask my Daddy later."
"That would be neat," Julia said. The children continued to talk and eat their cake.
"So, Mom and Dad, what have you been doing for fun?" Roger asked his parents over at the adult table.
"We watch television and read when we're at home. When we go out, it's usually to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform. I also play golf. Sometimes we play Hearts with our friends from church - Mary and Phillip," Peter said.
"Hearts is a fun card game," Deborah said.
"We enjoy it," Joanne agreed.
"What have you two been doing lately?" Roger asked Robert and Janice.
"We have this teenage babysitter in our neighborhood and we pay her to watch Dorothy at least once a week so we can go out dancing," Robert said.
Roger turned to Cynthia, "When was the last time we went out dancing, Cindy?"
"I can't recall. With me working at the hospital and you starting your private practice, I think it's been a long time," Cynthia said.
"Remind me to remedy that," Roger said with a wink. "We should really get out more."
"Looks like you'll be playing some board games in the future," Janice said.
"We got Cady those games because we all were getting bored with Candyland," Cynthia said. "We try to have a family game night at least once a week, and we needed to mix it up."
"Honestly, now that Cady's in school, we spend a lot of time helping her with her homework – well, rather, giving her extra work to do," Roger said.
"Oh?" Jacob's curiosity was piqued.
"The homework she gets in kindergarten just isn't that challenging, so we're doing a little more at home to keep her ahead. She's been bored in school," Roger said.
"There's still time to put her in that Catholic school," Jacob said.
"Dad…," Cynthia said with a furrowed brow and with a chiding tone.
Jacob put up his hands in a 'stop' gesture and said 'Have it your way,' in Yiddish.
"Maybe Barrick has a more accelerated program for more gifted students," Bill suggested.
"I'll look into it. Thanks, Bill," Cynthia said. "How does Mattlock do in school?"
"Well, so far, he's really good at recess," Bill replied, and everyone laughed.
"But in all seriousness, he seems to have an aptitude for numbers. I wouldn't say he's all that interested in reading; though, I read to him every night. He's just a boy on the go, I'd say."
"That much is apparent," Robert said with a smile.
"At five, it's hard to know what he'll be interested in or grow up to be," Bill said.
"True," Cynthia said.
"Cady told me the other day that she wants to be a lawyer like me," Roger said with a smile.
"She did?" Cynthia seemed surprised.
"It's nothing personal, Cindy," Roger said with a wink. "She just observed that your work upsets you a lot. She seemed pretty set on being a lawyer."
"Oh," Cynthia said. "I wouldn't be surprised if Julia's going to be a lawyer too. They're joined at the hip."
"Who knows….She likely planted the idea in Cady's head," Roger said.
"I doubt that. You're the sun, moon, and stars to her," Cynthia said. "Kind of like you are to me," she said, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Ewww, Sis," Robert said as he covered his face with one hand.
"Grow up, Robert. You and Janet have been fawning all over each other all day today," Cynthia said with a wink and light punch to his upper arm.
"She has a point, Robert," Janice said.
"Oh to be young, again," Deborah mused.
The children's table suddenly burst into a rendition of the I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream song. "I guess we better start serving the ice cream," Roger said. "C'mon, Dad. How about you and I serve it up?"
"Sure," Peter said. Meanwhile, Deborah, Joanne, Janice, and Cynthia began removing plates and plastic tableware. Roger went inside the house and brought out a tub of chocolate ice cream, a package of ice cream cones, and an ice cream scoop in his back pocket.
"Alright everyone…line up and tell me how many scoops you want," Roger said. "Dad, I'll scoop, and then I'll need you to wrap them in a napkin and hand them out." Peter saluted his son.
By the time the ice cream was all served, Steven and Mattlock had two scoops and the other children just wanted one a piece. Most of the adults, except Robert and Janice, settled on one. Like the biggest child in the group, Robert was the only one who insisted on three. The adults sat back down at their table and ate their ice cream. After Roger returned the ice cream to the freezer, he joined them. The children stood and ate their ice cream in two groups on opposite ends of the shed – girls in one group, boys in the other. The girls were deep in conversation and the boys were taunting each other and laughing.
Mattlock tapped his ice cream cone to Steven's as if he was making a toast and Steven's ice cream fell out of the cone and onto the grass. "Hey! That was my ice cream!" Steven exclaimed. Mattlock look stunned but suppressed laughter. "Give me your ice cream," Steven demanded. The girls were too deep in conversation to notice the squabble.
"No," Mattlock said.
"Give it to me," Steven replied and lunged for it with one hand. Mattlock pulled it away from him and ran behind the shed. Steven chased after him. When Mattlock rounded the shed with Steven close behind, he ran right into Cady, ice cream first, and the ice cream splattered the front of her dress and ran down.
She looked at her dress, and then at Mattlock – staring him directly in the eyes. He froze where he was and looked at the mess he'd made. Steven backed up, observing the entire scene from a safer distance. The other girls looked at Mattlock the same way Cady did. Fury emerged in Cady's eyes and she balled up her fists with her arms at her side and elbows locked, until she threw a punch at Mattlock's stomach with her right hand and knocked him on his rear end.
Cynthia, who had noticed the children once Steven had started chasing Mattlock, saw the whole scene unfold. Unfortunately it unfolded so quickly that she was unable to stop the punch. "Cady!" Cady stood there scowling at the boy on the ground and ignored her mother's first call. "Cady Jo Parsons!" she repeated.
"What happened?" Robert asked, having not seen the event with the rest of the adults due to being completely absorbed in his ice cream.
"Cady just punched Mattlock," Cynthia said, and made a bee-line over to the children. She helped Mattlock up and wiped the seat of his jeans with her hand. "Go over and see your Dad," Cynthia said to him. He did so, but kept looking back at Cady on the way – stunned at what had happened. Cynthia picked up Cady and carried her into the house while the other children watched. Julia seemed to be the most visibly worried.
"What were you doing, son?" Bill asked. Mattlock explained the situation and that it had been an accident.
"Well, if you hadn't been running with ice cream, there wouldn't have been an accident," Bill said.
"But, Daddy, she punched me in the stomach," Mattlock said.
"How's your stomach, Mattlock?" Roger asked, as he put his hand on his shoulder.
He rubbed his stomach, and said with a pouting face, "Fine."
"Well, if you're fine and it was an accident, then I say we move on and try to learn from this event," Bill said. "What have you learned, Mattlock?"
He looked at his feet and said sheepishly, "Not to run with ice cream?"
"There you go," Bill said.
Then, Mattlock looked into Bill's eyes and exclaimed, "And C.J. punches like a boy!"
All of the adults laughed at once. "Well, let that be a lesson to you too, son," Bill said and patted him on the back.
Inside the house, Cynthia was giving Cady a talking-to. "Just what do you think you were doing, young lady?"
"Look at the dress Gramma got me, Momma. He ruined it," she said.
"That dress is not ruined. I can get the stain out," Cynthia replied. "Do we solve problems with hitting in this family?"
Cady looked down and quietly said, "No."
"I didn't hear you," Cynthia said.
Cady looked up and repeated herself.
"It was just an innocent accident on Mattlock's part," Cynthia replied.
"But…." Cady said before her mother cut her off.
"But – nothing," Cynthia said.
"Look, Cady….There may come a time when you'll have to punch a boy, but today wasn't that day. You overreacted. Obviously, you've inherited my temper," Cynthia said. "Anyway, get changed into something else and then you are going to apologize to Mattlock."
"Momma…." Cady pleaded.
"Cady, I'm not going to say it again," Cynthia said.
"Can I wear what I want?" Cady asked.
"I guess. The party's almost over," Cynthia replied. "Drop your dress down the laundry chute when you're done."
"Okay, Momma," Cady said and then she headed off to her bedroom to change. Cynthia waited for her in the kitchen, with her head resting on her hand, exhausted from the day. A few minutes later, Cady emerged in some jeans, saddle shoes, and a flannel button-down shirt with large black and red checks. She had rolled up the sleeves to her forearms and had a hairbrush in her hand. "Momma, can you give me a ponytail?" she asked.
"Okay," Cynthia said with a smile. "Turn around." She brushed her hair up into a ponytail, turned her back around, and adjusted her bangs. "Now remember, no more punching anyone today, okay," Cynthia said.
"Okay, Momma," Cady said.
"Let's go apologize to Mattlock now," Cynthia said. She stood up and guided Cady outside with her hand on her back to where Mattlock was standing next to Bill. Mattlock was wary of her as she approached, holding on to Bill's leg.
Cady put her hands in her pockets while everyone at the party stopped and listened to what she had to say. "I'm sorry for hitting you, Matt," she said.
"What do you say, son?" Bill said, nudging him toward Cady.
"I'm sorry for spilling ice cream on you," Mattlock said.
"That's okay. Momma said she can get it out," Cady replied.
"Alright, you two. Shake hands and let's wrap up this party. We've got one more party game," Cynthia said. Cady thrust out her hand, and Mattlock took it nervously, and shook. Cady stopped shaking his hand and ran to Julia and Dorothy who then murmured amongst each other and then giggled.
Steven asked, "What's the next game?"
Cynthia replied, "Apiñata." The children squealed with excitement and ran toward each other, jumping up and down, seemingly forgetting the event between Cady and Mattlock, including the two concerned. "Roger, would you mind hanging up the piñata and getting everything ready?"
"Wouldn't mind at all, dear," he said, and kissed her on the cheek and headed toward the garage. He came out with the piñata and a thick dowel rod. He hung the piñata from the lowest limb of their only red maple in the backyard. Even though it was the lowest limb, it was still over the children's heads by quite a bit, but in reach of the rod in any one of their hands.
"Who's first?" Roger asked.
Charlie replied enthusiastically, "Me!"
"Here's the blindfold," Robert said, handing Roger the item.
"Okay, Charlie. Remember that this works like the other game. I'm going to blindfold you and spin you a few times, but then I'm going to time you with my watch and give you 30 seconds to swing away at the piñata, okay?" Roger said.
"Okay, Mr. Parsons," Charlie replied. "I'm ready."
Roger blindfolded him and spun him a round a few times and said, "Okay, Charlie…have at it." Roger immediately stood back from the boy before he started swinging and looked at his watch. Charlie flailed in the air like a drowning man in water, but was unable to make contact with the piñata in the time allotted. "Time's up, Charlie," Roger said.
Charlie stopped swinging and lifted the blindfold. He looked at the piñata with a disappointed look on his face and handed the dowel to Roger's extended hand.
"Who's next?" Roger asked.
"I'll go," Julia said.
"Alright," Roger said, and tied the blindfold onto Julia and spun her around a few times. She had even poorer luck than Charlie and had wandered far away from the tree itself, swinging with utter futility. The children laughed hysterically. When her time was up, she took off her blindfold and laughed when she saw how far she was away from the tree. Everyone laughed with her.
"I'll go," Mattlock declared.
"Alright," Roger said and tied the blindfold on him and spun him around. Once he got swinging, he came close a couple of times and the group 'ooo-ed' and 'ahhh-ed' his near misses. Nevertheless, he was also not able to make contact with the piñata within the time limit. He handed the dowel rod back to Roger and sat down on the ground with Charlie and Julia.
Julia said to Mattlock, "You came so close."
"Who's next? Dorothy? Steven? Cady?" Roger asked.
"C'mon, Dorothy. Give it a shot," Robert said to his daughter.
Dorothy went over to Roger, who blindfolded her, and he spun her around like the others and let her go. Unfortunately, had she made contact with the piñata, she wasn't swinging hard enough to actually open the thing and release the candy. Her time was up like the others and she sat down with those who had gone before.
"Cady? Steven?" Roger asked, extending the dowel rod to each of them.
Cady stood up and took the dowel rod. She leaned on the rod while Roger blindfolded her. He spun her around, stopped, and started timing her when he said, "Go!"
Cady swung ferociously, and right before her time was up, she made contact with the piñata and ripped a large gash in the bottom of it and the candy rained down on her. She whipped off the blindfold and smiled. Julia ran to her and hugged her hard and all the children started collecting the candy in their hands.
Roger removed the piñata and shook it to ensure all the candy had fallen out. Janice came over with some leftover bags from the Tootsie Roll hunt and the children gladly took them and filled them up with goodies from the piñata. After they had collected all of the candy they could, they all sat down in a circle and ate some of their candy together and talked. The adults sat back down at a picnic table and recollected the day's events.