“He’s coming! Everybody come in closer!”
The crowd gathered. Whispers filled the air; the electric charge is almost chilling. The excitement rushed through the mass of people, their ages ranging from three years old to eighty years old.
The door opened. Everyone was silent. The tension was impenetrable. A man stepped into the room. At five foot nine, he was a solid looking man. He looked like he had been fishing all day, his face and arms tanned.
“Surprise!”
He nearly dropped the package he had been holding. At first, confusion swept his face. As the realization hit, three of his youngest grandchildren came running at him, nearly knocking him down. The three girls wrapped themselves around him, and as he hugged them, he started to tear up. The children scattered back into the crowd.
He looked around and saw everyone. Recognizing all the faces, he asks, “What is this?” His three daughters step up and wrap him into another hug. “Happy birthday, dad,” they said together. “Happy birthday.”
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