The Surprise Birthday

The Surprise Birthday

By Simon Van Dyken

It was a quiet, misty morning in the desert of Arizona and Jack Blevins had just woken up.  He realized that it was his 16th birthday today.  The past couple of years Jack never got anything for his birthday, because there had been a couple of different accidents over his birthday.  Two years ago, at their neighboring dairy farm, a big explosion happened with a gas tank and a worker.  The worker was taken to the burn center and stayed there for 3 months.  Last year, his mom got in a minor car accident and it caused their family to forget about his birthday.  This year, he was looking forward to getting something, because the past two years he did not receive anything.  

His parents had not woken up yet, and all he could wait for was them to wake up and actually notice his birthday.  His mom, Joan Blevins, woke up and was looking happy when she yelled, “Good Morning!”  Jack, with a very disappointed look, said back, “Good Morning.”  His dad, John Blevins, came down and not looking happy, he yelled, “Get in your truck, head to the dairy and start working!”Jack’s birthday morning was not going very well because no one knew that today was his 16th birthday and now he had to go work on the dairy farm.  Jack hopped in his work truck and headed over to the dairy farm, which was about a hour drive.  

His parents’ plan was working out great so far, and now all they had to do was get to the dairy before he had did.  His dad made sure that he taken the truck that needed gas and put a note in the truck to tell him to take the backroads, because the interstate was closed.  His parents took off in the other truck and got to the dairy about a half hour before he did.  John had already had a whole bunch of stuff set up for the surprise, so all they had to do when they got there was get the workers together and get a little more food.  Jack arrived about 45 minutes after his parents, because he had to get gas and the back roads took forever because there was a lot of construction.  

Jack headed right for the feed truck because that was the job that  he always did.  Jack did not see anyone for a long time and was starting to wonder where everyone was and what everyone was doing.  He got a couple of rows of cows done and then he decided to call Alejandro.  He didn’t want to call his parents because he was still mad at them.  Alejandro was the manager of the Mexican workers and did a lot of the jobs around the dairy farm.  When he picked up the phone he told Jack that he needed to come to the dairy’s office.  So Jack, not knowing what was going on, headed over there in his feed truck.  When Jack arrived he noticed that almost all of the workers cars were there and he was really confused.  He walked in the front door, and heard a whole bunch of people yell, “Happy Birthday!”  Jack was stunned to see and hear them.  He ran over to his parents and said, “So you guys did remember.”  This was the first time in a long time that he had actually got to celebrate his birthday.  Everyone sat down to eat some Mexican food, cake, and play some games.  Then, after everyone was done, it was time for Jack to open his present.  He did not really know what to expect and was really looking forward to it.  His parents had brought him outside and right when they walked out a brand new 2015 Dodge Ram pulled up, then he knew it was his.  Jack gave his parents a huge hug and then got in his new pickup and drove off.

Jack was happy and surprised that his parents had remembered and had thrown a party for him.  Now, all he can do is wait for his birthday next year, only if his parents remember.