The Last Birthday Wish

The Last Birthday Wish

    .
         Eleanor Stark had known for awhile that she was ill.  In fact, she was dying.  She hadn't wanted to burden her family with this catastrophic news, not just yet anyway.  You see, her eightieth birthday party was almost here, and she didn't  want to spoil the lavish event she knew her thoughtful children'd been planning.

         Eleanor wasn't supposed to know anything about it, but her youngest Great Grandson, Alex, age seven, had  blurted out this coveted little secret, unable to contain his excitement.  Clasping his hand over his mouth as soon as he'd let it slip, crying,  "Oh, I wasn't supposed to tell you Nana!"

         Eleanor'd tousled his sandy-brown hair, assuring him that she'd act surprised, and told him it would be their little secret to keep.  Sighing,  Alex'd given her one of his heart-melting smiles and hugged her tightly around her frail waist.

         Eleanor'd chuckled to herself when her son Edward'd phoned, telling her Kate and Stephanie had prior engagements on her birthday and they'd come over the day before her birthday and celebrate at her house.  Just an intimate little party.  Kate would bake her a cake, and they'd sit around and reminisce.  Eddie, her youngest, never had been very good at telling lies.  His face would turn crimson, and he never could look her straight in the eye when he was telling a whopper.  So, even if she hadn't known already, she'd have guessed this wasn't entirely true.

         The next day, after their little-get-together, Eddie'd phoned again to say he'd like to take her out for dinner tonight, since Kate and Stephanie had other plans, and how he couldn't stand to see her sit home alone on her special birthday.  He'd told her they'd go to The Belmont Hall, which often put on spectacular buffets, when it hadn't been rented  Eleanor'd agreed, and Eddie told her he'd be at the house at six o'clock sharp to pick her up. 

         Stephanie Stark, Eleanor's eldest daughter, had been placed in charge of this splendid occasion and took the honor very seriously, saying to Kate, her younger sister, "It's not everyday you reach the grand-old-age of eighty."  She wanted it to be an extra-special affair for her mother who'd done so much for the entire family.  With the hall rented, the caterer hired, a photographer engaged, and invitations sent, all there was left to do was decorate the hall.  Kate'd, already been waiting for her when she'd arrived at the hall, her car loaded with brightly colored balloons, streamers and numerous party favors.

         "Hi," Kate'd greeted Stephanie, reaching up on her tip-toes to plant a kiss on her taller sister's cheek.  "We'd better get moving if we're going to get it all done before they bring mom," she'd said sighing.

         "I think we're okay," Stephanie'd  told Kate, trying to relieve some of her anxiety.  Looking at the two of them, you'd never have known they were sisters;  Stephanie with long, straight, blond hair and quite tall (she looked the most like her mother of the three), the other petite and full-figured with short, curly brunette hair (she had always been told she resembled her Mother's Mother, Agnus).  "It's just past four, and Eddie won't be bringing mom until six-fifteen," she said calmly.

         Eddie'd arrived at the house at six o'clock, knowing it was only ten or fifteen minutes to the hall,  which would'd  given him plenty of time to get them there.

         "Ready to go ma?" he'd hollered, stepping inside the front door.

         "Let me just grab my purse dear," she'd told Eddie, trying very hard to conceal her smile.

         They'd drove the short distance to the secret party, arriving right on schedule.  Eddie'd helped her to get down out of his high-profile Ford Excursion, although, at eighty, Eleanor was still remarkably spry.  As they'd walked up the curved sidewalk leading to the front entrance, Eleanor couldn't help noticing how nervous Eddie looked, like a kid with his hand caught in the candy jar, she'd mused.  He'd tossed his too-long, in her opinion, blond hair to the side with a nervous little flick (another of his not-telling-the-truth ticks) and gently took her arm.  They'd entered the hall, turning right into a lavishly decorated room.

         "Surprise!" the large crowd had screamed, as Eleanor and Eddie came in.

         Eleanor'd clutched her breast and feigned surprise, giving Alex a knowing, little wink.  He'd blushed and ran to his beloved, great grandmother throwing himself into her waiting arms.

         "Are you surprised Nana?" Alex'd continued their private, little charade.

         "Oh yes! Indeed I am!  How in the world did you all pull this off?" she'd questioned the group, still with mocked surprise.  "Just look at this room! It's simply beautiful!"  The lights had been turned down low, and several disco-balls high up on the ceiling twirled and spun, throwing off a myriad of tiny lights that bounced and reflected off the gold and silver streamers which decorated the room.  Eleanor'd given Eddie, Kate and Stephanie each a big bear-hug, with tears streaming down her wrinkled but happy face.

         Friends and family'd gathered in close, each wanting to give their personal birthday greetings.  Eleanor'd been so touched to be surrounded by so many that loved and cared for her.  She'd briefly thought about how sad each of them would be when she finally had to tell them of her illness and how very much she would miss all of them too.  But not now, she'd inwardly chided herself.  This is a celebration, and celebrate is exactly what we'll do.

         After the fine, catered dinner of tossed salad, prime roast beef, baked potato and asparagus (her favorite meal) had been served, they'd all gathered around Eleanor as a large, three-tier cake was rolled in.  Eleanor'd always loved roses, and she had many different varieties growing in her garden behind her little bungalow-style house.  Her favorite though, had always been the red roses, and her cake was decorated with a multitude of these, some curled tight and others in full bloom with little green leaves that twined around the three layers.  Eleanor stared at this masterpiece, a lump forming in her throat.  For a moment she was speechless, but then she recovered and said with a little laugh, "Oh my word! Is all that for me?"

         "No, Nana, you have to share with everybody,"  Alex piped up.

         This'd brought a roar of laughter from the party-goers and Alex'd blushed once again, a big smile across his small but happy face.  The candles were lit, all eighty, and Eleanor thought her wish silently. Then she'd sucked in as much air as she could muster, and with a little help from Eddie, she'd managed to blow them all out.  The crowd cheered and hooted.  Beaming, roses blooming on her high, thin cheekbones, Eleanor looked around happily and thought how fortunate she'd been all her life to be surrounded by such love.

         The birthday party over, Eleanor walked arm in arm with her beloved children to the hall parking lot.

         "Thank you all so much, it was the best birthday party ever!" she commended them.

         And as she and Eddie made the trip back to her house, she contemplated on her Last, birthday wish...

         "Dear Lord,  please watch over my sweet family, and Dear Lord, please let Arthur be there, waiting for me."  Thank You.  Amen.



Prompt: Write a story about about a birthday party.