A Time for Action

So Writer's Digest's current prompt is called "Birthday Blast," and it goes a little somethin' like this...Hit it!

You're out to eat a nice birthday dinner with your family when the waiting staff marches out from the back room with a cake. With everyone around singing happy birthday, you decide this is the moment to make that life-changing announcement you've been considering.

I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this, but I thought I'd give it a try. Here it is...

A Time for Action

Geez, it’s cold. Way colder than I thought it would be. But then again I guess the freezing November air is better that the stale smell of all these damn books. So I keep the window open, overlooking the street below. It’s almost time. It’s like Wilkes said “Stay in position until the time is right.” I guess he and Johnson are where they should be. And though I can’t see or talk to Mikhail, I assume he’s in position as well. Now all I can do is wait.

I can’t believe how all of this has come together over the past few weeks. It’s only been a month since my birthday dinner, the night I told everyone that something big was going to happen.

***

We ate at Fredo’s , this small mom-and-pop joint just outside of Dallas. It wasn’t a big deal or anything, just me, my mom, my wife Marina, little June, Ralph and Carla. We talked and laughed and drank - but not too much, what with Marina being eight months pregnant and all. It was sorta weird, because this wasn’t really the kinda thing we did, going out to eat with other people and such. Maybe it was the cheap beer we were drinking. Maybe it was spaghetti and meatballs that made me feel like bursting. Who knows? But when the three of them waiters came out of the kitchen with that great big chocolate cake with candles and all, singing that happy birthday song to me, I just felt like I had to tell them all.

They all joined in singing. When they were done, I blew out the candles and made a wish. They clapped and laughed. I gotta say something, I thought. I didn’t care what Wilkes told me. So I stood up, tossed my napkin on the table, and cleared my throat.

“Hey, it’s real nice all the things you’ve done for me tonight, with the food and cake and presents and all,” I said. “You guys are like the only family I’ve got, so thanks."

They smiled and nodded.

“And I know that I’ve been a screw-up most my life. I know I’ve made a mess of things. But you guys should also know about all the stuff that’s screwed-up in this country.”

I could see Ralph look away and roll his eyes. He and I, we didn’t always agree on things. We had our arguments about lots of things.

“But I want you to know that pretty soon, something really big is going to happen. I can’t say exactly what it is, but I’ve been contacted by some pretty important people and I think that now I’ll finally have my chance to make a difference.”

“What is this all about?” mom asked. Marina looked confused.

“I can’t really say mom,” I said. “But it’s gonna big. It’s gonna be huge.”

“Who are these people?” Ralph asked. He was suspicious, like he didn’t believe me or something.

“People in some high places. Some groups I’ve been trying to work with as well.”

They didn’t know what to think. They were confused and I guess they should’ve been, seeing that I didn’t really tell them much. But then again, I couldn’t. It had to be a secret, at least for now.

“Well,” mom said. “It sounds exciting…and I’m sure you’ll make me proud Lee Harvey Oswald.”

“Thanks mom.”

***

And so now I sit here, in this cold building overlooking the street below. Waiting.