It was EJ Stuart's first birthday with the Downing's. It was also the first time that anyone had celebrated his birthday-let's just say in a very long time. Not even his biological family celebrated, nor did they celebrate his brother Danny's. Yet they always made a point to celebrate his two sisters, Peggy, and Donna. It was the same at Christmas. There would be no presents for them. If there were, they were from people like his grandmother, whom they would have had to wait for when they visited her. Then, when they returned home, they would magically disappear onto the shelves of a secondhand having traded in for a fist full of cash into their parent's pockets.
The only presents they received were extra chores, while their sisters were lucky to get off scot-free.
No. It was clear that EJ's parents held no love for them, more so their father, Jim. His present consisted of a fist and a belt, which he kept sharpened at the end of his buckle to inflict more pain. The only joy he relished in was their misery.
So, when he came home from school, he expected nothing from his teachers, not even a happy birthday. Not even balloons or a card or little cupcake. He didn't exist in the eyes of the world; if they did, it was a rare rarity that it was just another day to him of many forgotten days of his life. He didn't expect it to change, even if he had a new family that loved him.
"Julie dear, can you please hand me those candles?" Ma asked.
"Yes, Ma," Julie said, wanting to change the outcome of her brother's EJ's life, learning from her old school friends that his and Danny's birthday was nothing more than the hardship of another day.
She cried for hours on her sister Anna's shoulders when she learned that. Her dear brother EJ means the world to her and her sister Anna. This year, they have planned to make it memorable for him and his brother Danny.
Grandma knocked on the door. "Hello Julie, are the boy's home yet?" She asked.
Julie took her coat and the packages. "Not yet, Grandma." Grandma smiled, "good."
"Ma's in the kitchen finishing up the cake."
Julie hid the packages in the living room with the rest of the gifts. "Thanks, dear."
Julie waited for Richard to come into the house, opening the door as she watched him put the car behind the barn. Gasping with a smile, Richard winks as he walks into the house. "Mother wanted to surprise him, that's all; you know how he hates birthdays?" He said as Julie giggled. "Yes, Richard, I know, silly boy." Knowing why, she wiped escape tears from her eye, then whispered. ''And I will change that, starting with
this one. Brother of mine."
"That's a fine-looking cake, Martha, if I don't say so myself," Grandma
said.
"Thanks, Grandma," Martha said as Grandma helped herself to a hot cup of tea.
Martha sees Richard enter the door and hang his coat with everyone else's. It felt good to have him home again; she and her family missed him greatly. "How are you, Richard?'' Martha asked. She greets him with a kiss on the cheek and a great big bear hug. She loved him being a part of their family. It didn't matter they weren't related. No, they were family all the same.
"Fine, Ma'am, just fine," Richard looked out the farm window as if taking in a deep breath of fresh air.
"Richard," Julie asked. Bring him out of his thoughts, relishing the feeling of being back on the farm and the memories of his last summer here. He wouldn't trade anything for the world for them.
"Yes, Julie?" He said.
"Can you help me with these decorations?" Pulling a box out of the closet.
"You do realize he is going to kill you when he comes home and finds this?"
"Oh Richard, stop being such a worry wart and help us." Richard sighed as she helped Julie and Anna hang the banners and streamers around the living room. Grandma answers the door, letting more guests in as they come.
Aunt Marywith Danny as he came running into the house, jumping into Grandma's arms. "There's my boy!" As she gave him a great big hug and kiss. Martha leaned down, kissed his head, and checked him out as he told of his little adventures. She sends him upstairs to play with Sam and Ted as she sighs, watching him go dotting her eye as Grandma pats her hand.
Martha looked at the dock."Oh my," everyone said. Aunty M should be back with the boys any minute," setting the cake on the table. They yell for Pa out in the barn. "It's time, Pa," as he hurries and covers the present he has been working on with a tarp, making a dash for the house.
Pa, yelling. "I am coming, Martha, I am coming." He hurries around the back as the car pulls into the driveway with the boys. Aunty M ushers them all into the house.
Ma and Pa stood in the kitchen holding a birthday cake with candles lit as EJ walked into the house with his brothers. EJ gazed around the room, seeing the strean1ers and the banners; he tried to smile as he looked at his grandmother and Aunt Mary with Danny singing. Will and Robert put their arms around him to wish him a happy birthday as Danny ran up to EJ and hugged him.
EJ didn't know what to say as he looked at his grandmother again, realizing they remembered. He tries to whisper, but nothing comes out, so he nods.
Richard came over to his side and whispered. "It's alright if you hate it, but you won't have a choice today. They have already won," and pushed him towards the living room. With Julie and Anna by his side, she was pu1ling on his arm. "Come on, EJ," dancing around. "This is your day, let's have some fun," placing a stupid silly hat on everyone's head. "Now make a wish," as Ma placed the cake before him.
EJ looked up at her into her eyes and looked around the room, saying. "I have everything I want right here," he says as he smiles at his Ma, Pa, and brothers. "You know that."
Pa laughed. "Yes, son, we know, but there's got to be something else?" he asked.
EJ shook his head. "Pa, I just don't know," looking at his grandmother in the room, he just blew out the candles, letting them have their fun. "I'll try to think of something, Pa," as EJ smiles around the room, "but Pa," with a tear in his eye, "what more could I ask for except to stay home? For this is where I truly belong." Looking at Grandma, Martha sighed.
Pa put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Nothing, son, nothing, but right now you are home," he smiled."Because you know this is your home." He squeezes his shoulders and wishes him a happy birthday, rubbing his hair. "So, cheer up, son; this day is for you as it should be, and we are not taking it away from you."
Ma made a special dinner with all the girls' help, as Aunt Lizzy was coming later with her guest, Mr. Faith. "Sorry I was late, EJ, but I had some business to attend to."Jayden gazed over at Lizzy as she smiled back." And I have an announcement of my own to make," as he stood at the table. "It looks like we're getting hitched." Aunty M smiles, thinking. "Well, it's about time." Julie and Anna screamed with excitement, looking at Aunt Lizzy. Martha and Wayne, giving their congratulations, came over to hug and shake Lizzy and Jayden's hands.
Mary cries with a tissue in her hand, looks at her sister, and then hugs her. "Are you sure about this?" she asked as Lizzy nodded yes, looking at Jayden and taking his hand. Almost in shock, Betty glared back at Aunty M with a questionable look, but she just bounced back.
It was a merry old celebration at the Downing Farm that night as EJ shared his birthday party with such grand news. "So, when's the big day?" Pa asked, passing down the mashed potatoes and the gravy on the table. "Well, Wayne." Jayden pauses to look at EJ, thinking of the secrets
he holds. "We were considering a spring wedding."
Anna says. ''Ah, a springwedding. While everything is new and fresh, how nice," Julie and Anna batting their eyes at each other, "How exciting." The boys at the table were thinking. "Oh, give me a break, "rolling their eyes, looking at the girls and their wonderment. After dinner and some light conversation to continue the festivities, the girls set up the presents in the living room, setting EJ in the chair near the fireplace and kissing his cheek. "Alright, brother of ours," they smile, "it's time," and they giggle. "Come on, everyone, take your seats."
Anna helps Ma next to him handing Ma's and the girls present first what they have been working on. Opening the brown paper and untying the string and the ribbon was a frame with a small picture of the family at the top; below was sewn with colors of the thread was the promise they made to him last year, that he thought was lost in the fire as he reread each of the promises.
EJ and Downing Declaration of Promise
I EJ am not going to get out of this bed, and I am going to mind his grandma and Mrs. and Mr. Downing, I promise.
The Downing Family Promise Pa Promise:
I promise to keep you safe, son, and I intend to do that. I won't let
anyone lay one finger on you and will give you love, guidance, and a caring heart, son.
Ma's Promise:
I Promise to be the best, caring, understanding mother; I also promise to treat you with compassion, love, and dignity as if you were my child to me; you already are my son.
Four Brother's promise:
I Promise Robert, Will, Sam, and Danny are going to be his brothers and his Friends, you are my brother now and forever; Brothers protect their brothers and. love their brothers no matter what. We love you, too.
Julie's Promise:
I Promise to be the best older sister, love you, and. care for you as my brother because you are my brother. To tease you, make you blush, and squeeze the stuffing out of you because I already love you.
Anna's Promise:
I Promise to work beside you like you are my brother as a sister with love you as I should, to help when you need me, to be there when you need me, for that's what sisters do; you will always be my brother, and I love you too.
EJ looked around the room in amazement with tears in his eyes, looking into his Ma's face as she nodded, and he whispered. "Thanks, Ma," he said, kissing her on the cheek, one for each of his sisters, and a hug.
"You welcome, son," she said as she patted him on the back and wiped his tears away with her fingers and her own with the back of her hand.
Grandma gave him her present next with a little wooden box, a kiss, and a hug, shaking her finger at him. "Now, don't lose it," as she smiled and watched him open it. It was a brand-new double-edge with corks screw, and three-bladed pocket Swiss army knife, and a new scarf with a set of fishing hooks and a thimble of string for fishing, and a roll of dimes.
EJ gives her a hug and a kiss, thanks her, puts the pocketknife into his pocket, and sets the dimes back in the box for safekeeping with a questionable look at his grandmother.
"Well, you never know," she smiles, looking around the room, then back at EJ, smiling, thinking all the mischief he can get himself into.
Aunty M gave him a rope for rope'n steers, looking over at Ma, a pair of chaps, and another knife with boots. ''A boy can never have too many of those," she figured. "No, sir," as she rubbed his hair. "Besides looking at the pair he's got now," she laughed. "He'll outgrow those in a few more months, I reckon," as everyone laughs.
Richard found him a nice shiny belt buckle and some more beads to go around his neck with a tiger tooth to hang from his hat. "Now you look like a real cowboy partner. I get you some spires for their boots, but your Ma would have my hide, so Robert and I made this instead." It was a long Indian headdress with colorful feathers hanging down the sides with beads. EJ placed it on his head. Man, did he look foolish, but nobody cared as they laughed till it hurt. They put it on each other's heads and dance in the living room.
Pas and Will's present was last as they brought it in from the back door. It was too big to wrap. Pa said when he set him on it. "Try this on for size, son." It was a brand-new saddle made just for him. As He put his legs through the stirrups and sat on the saddle, it was smooth as silk and soft as a baby's bottom. It fit him like a glove as he leaned forward, back, and side to side. Pa was right; EJ looked around the room. There was more to wish for as he looked into his eyes.
Getting off the saddle, EJ rushed over to Pa and his brothers and stood by his family, thanking them for the best birthday ever as he hugged Ma and Pa., Giving his Grandma a kiss and hug. "Thanks, Grandma, for bringing Danny to," as he gives him another hug, "for he is my best present of all."
Grandma wiped her tears. "You're welcome," she kissed her grandson on the head, wishing him A happy birthday as they all left for a home down the road once more.