Page 53 of A Bossy Surprise

Whatever. This is where we are, and there’s nothing I can do about it short of quitting, which is never going to happen. She’ll just have to deal. That’s life sometimes.

On my way out of the building I call my bakery and order a cake. I have to pay extra because it’s such short notice, but I don’t mind. It’ll take three hours to be ready. I spend that time driving all around town, buying party supplies, birthday cards, and presents for Adam. I get one from me and another from Brady. I have them wrapped but don’t like the ribbons they have on offer. I have better at home. I’ll sort that out when I get back.

With traffic it takes me exactly 3 hours to get all of this done and then get to the bakery.

The cake comes out better than I expected. I take it and rush home. I managed to get everything into the apartment and rush back downstairs just in time to meet Brady’s school bus.

I had been worried that I would miss drop off. So I’m glad when I see my son’s beaming face running to give me a hug.

I lead him to our apartment and he gasps when he walks in.

“Whose birthday is it?” he asks.

“Your Dad’s. We are going to go to his house and surprise him.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and I got you a card and a present to give him.”

We walk to the coffee table in the middle of the living room where I have our presents and cards scattered over the surface.

I hand him his card and a blue colored pencil to sign and do the same with mine.

Then, I pull out my box of ribbon and start making bows. For some reason, Noodle is taken by the ribbon. She’s beside herself when I let one droop to the floor low enough for her to get at it.

She tugs on it and unspools the whole thing. She startles herself and gets tangled in it.

The more tangled she gets the more panicked she becomes. She yip and yips until she can no longer move.

Brady is laughing so hard at Noodle that I am afraid he’ll pee himself. I just sit back and watch, wishing I had some popcorn.

I am amazed at how this dog finds novel ways to scare herself.

I scoop the white lump of a dog off the ground and undo the ribbon.

“What did you get for Dad?” Brady asks, once he has pulled himself back together.

“For you to give him, I got a mug that says ‘World’s Best Dad’.”

“A mug?” Brady looks as if he just smelled a fart.

I laugh. “From you, I think he would appreciate it.”

“Why? I wouldn’t want a mug.”

“Well, it’s not just any mug. It says World’s Best Dad. I think he would like that.”

“No he won’t. He already knows he’s the world’s best dad. Why does he need a mug to tell him?”

My eyes well up at his words. I’m so happy about the relationship he already has with Adam.

“Sweetie, just trust me. He’s going to love it.”

He shrugs. “Okay. What did you get him?”

“A box set of comic books.”

He gasps. “Cool! What comic books?”