Out of the Ordinary Day of Mathew David

                                                  Out of the Ordinary Day of Mathew David

                                                                  By Daryl Campbell



         Sunlight through the window wakes Mathew. His short, brown hair was tangled around itself and his green eyes were sticky with crusted sleep. He leapt from the bed and put on a red shirt and jeans. After he tied his shoes, he swung the door open and rushed down the hall to the kitchen.

         “Watch where you’re going!” A blonde girl in baggy shorts and a purple shirt yelped.

         “What about you?” he asked. “Don’t you have something to say?”

         “Not that I can think of.” She shrugged.

         “My birthday!” Mathew exclaimed.

         “That’s today? I wish you would’ve let me know. I could’ve got ya something.” She moved past.

         “I don’t care. I’m five today and I get to pick what I’ll be.”

         “Really?”

         “Yeah, I’m old enough to pick,” he answered.

         “You can’t pick what you’ll be yet. You’re a long way from being able to do that.” She walked down the hall.

         “You don’t know everything, Haleigh! She doesn’t, Mom,” he said as he entered the kitchen.

         “Happy birthday, Mathew David.” Mom, a tall woman with long, brown hair lifted him with a hug.

         “She doesn’t really.” She whispered.

         “I get to pick what I’ll be today.” Mathew got a cup from the counter and filled it with milk.

         “Pancakes right?” Mom held out a plate of pancakes and bacon.

         “Thanks.”

         “Happy birthday.” Dad walked in. “After you eat, I have something for you in the living room. Well, we have something for you.”

         “Nice catch,” Mom laughed. “Mathew was telling me that he’s going to decide what he'll be today. Isn’t that right?”

         “Yep,” Mathew mumbled.

         “Let’s hear it.” Dad sat down.

         “Don’t know yet.” Mathew tried to swallow a mouthful of pancakes.

         “Take your time.” Mom stood and rubbed his head.

         Mathew finished breakfast and insisted it was time for his surprise. After playful hesitation, dad invited him to the living room. Mom made him close his eyes and lead him in.

         “Okay, eyes open,” Mom said.

         In front of him was a red fire truck with blue and red lights. Mathew climbed in and smiled as his foot made the siren to go off. The truck had an on-and-off switch and a gas pedal. He flipped the switch and the engine hummed in the speakers.

         “Not in the house!” Mom commanded. “Dad can take it outside and you two can go for a walk.”

         “If you want to.” Dad bent to look at him.

         “I’m ready!” Mathew leapt from the truck and opened the front door.

         “Mathew,” Dad called as he brought the truck out and  put it in the yard, “you’re gonna have to pay attention. The pedal on the right makes it go and the one on the left stops it. Hop in and let’s take a walk around the block.”

         Mathew got in the seat and put the lap belt on. The engine came to life when he turned the key. Dad rushed forward to keep up as the truck moved across the yard and down the sidewalk.

         “I’ll be a fireman,” Mathew announced.

         “That was quick,” Dad laughed. “Fireman it is then.”

         Mathew kept his eyes open for fireman duties. Near the end of the street he saw trouble. A small, red haired girl, Alexandra, was worried about a gray kitten stuck in a tree. She jumped at the sound of the fire engine’s horn.

         “Your cat stuck?” Mathew asked. “I can get it. It’s my job.”

         Mathew turned off the truck and climbed out next to the little girl. He walked around the tree and made sure he could climb it.

         Mathew turned to Alexandra and smiled. “I can get your cat down.”

         “Okay, but I couldn’t climb the tree. What about your dad?” she asked.

         “No, he’s just my dad, he isn’t a fireman,” he answered.

         Mathew climbed up the tree to the limb where the kitten was. It backed away as Mathew got close.

         “I’m just here to help.” Mathew scooted closer.

         “Careful Mathew,” Dad warned.

         “I’m okay. I’ll be down in a minute.” He reached out and closed his hand around the kitten. He lifted and claws stuck in his arm. “Ouch!”

         The trip down was slower than the climb. The cat hung on desperately while Mathew made his way to the ground. The girl smiled and took the kitten.

         “Thank you,” Alexandra said.

         “Just doing my job.” Mathew rubbed the scratches on his arm.

         “Good job, you ready to go?” Dad was proud.

         “Yep.” Mathew climbed in the seat and started the truck.

         Mathew and his dad started around the block again. Neighbors stopped them, talked for a few minutes, and wished Mathew a happy birthday. He always gave a smile and a thank you, but his attention was on the next fireman job.

         They traveled the entire block and rounded the corner on the way back home when they stopped to speak to one of dad’s friends. Mathew turned off the truck and got out to look for his friend, Eric. He walked down the side of the house and swung open the gate to the backyard, but didn't see Eric anywhere. He shrugged and that was when he saw the danger. A black bar-b-que pit on the brick porch had bits of flame peeking out.

         “Fire!” He urgently whispered.

         He had to calm down enough to think. He knew a fire was nothing to play with, dangerous if left unchecked. He looked for a water hose. It was hidden behind a bush near the back door. As quick as he could, he pulled the hose from its metal hanger, turned the knob until water gushed out, then stretched it out to the fire.

         The pit hissed when water splashed against flame. Thick smoke lifted and Mathew poured water until the fire went out. He shut off the water, went to the pit, and looked in. It was still hot, but the flames were gone and all that remained was black steaks.

         “That was close,” he said to himself.

         “Mathew!” Dad’s voice made him to jump.

         Mathew turned to see his dad. He smiled when his dad’s friend went to the bar-b-que pit and bowed his head. Dad motioned for Mathew to leave the backyard.

         “Sorry about that, Rob.” Dad said.

         “It’s okay. With a little work I can get it straight.” Rob laughed.

         “Mathew, wait for me,” Dad called.

         Mathew got to the truck, buckled himself in, and started it. He sounded the horn a few times before Dad came around the house and into the driveway.

         “You’re not supposed to be around fire like that. What if something would’ve happened?” Dad was worried.

         “It’s my job though,” Mathew answered.

         “Son, you have to be more careful. Always have someone with you.” Dad walked around the truck. “Don’t do something like without an adult with you, okay?”

         Mathew nodded. The fire scared him a little, and Mom or Dad as a partner would be safer. With a smile from his dad, they headed home. When he got there, he parked and ran in to tell mom about the adventure.

         “Sounds like you had a full day at work, Mathew. I’m glad you like being a fireman.” She hugged him.

         “He sure did,” Dad said.

         Mathew started to say something to Mom, but the phone interrupted him. Dad answered and got off with good news about their new car. Within the hour, Mom and Dad left Mathew at home with his sister. He told her about being a fireman and Haleigh convinced him to try a few more jobs before he made up his mind.

         By the time his parents got home, Mathew decided to be a policeman. He had plastic cuffs, a silver badge, and a policeman’s hat. He needed a small pad, which he found in the living room, and a pen to help solve crimes. When his parents came in, he told them about his new job.

         “A policeman huh?” Dad smiled.

         “I think you’ll make a great policeman, Mathew,” Mom added.

         “Take a look at the car? I think you’re gonna like it.” Dad opened the door and Mathew and his sister went outside.

         The car, a blue van, was in the driveway. Mathew listened as Mom and Dad talked to the neighbors.

         “The manager will be mad when he realizes what he’s done, but a steal’s a steal.” Dad laughed.

         “Stealing. I hope it’s just a one time thing. I’d hate for them to get in trouble for it later,” Haleigh whispered to Mathew.

         Mathew thought for a minute before he went back in the house and picked up the phone.

         “9…1…1.” he said as he pushed the buttons.

         Twenty minutes after Mathew hung up, a navy blue police car pulled into the driveway and a gray haired man in a dark uniform got out. Dad spoke with the officer and got some papers from inside the van.

         “Yes sir, I’ll look into it.” Dad shook his head. “Sorry about the trouble.”

         “Have a good day, Sir. This isn‘t as uncommon as you'd think.” The policeman got back in his car.

         “We’ll talk to you later.” Mom told the neighbors. “We have to talk with our young policeman.”

         Dad motioned for Mathew to go in the house. “We’ll talk inside, Mathew.”

         Haleigh laughed, but stopped when Mom glared at her.

         Inside the house, Mathew sat on the couch and waited for Mom and Dad to come in. Mathew scribbled words, mostly letters and numbers he remembered, on his pad.

         “Mathew,” Dad spoke, “what are you doing?”

         “I’m writing everything down. I’m a policeman.” He looked up.

         Mom, covered her face with her hand to hide her laugh.

         “Son, you have to be careful to have everything straight when you’re a policeman. You reported us for stealing,” Dad told him.

         “I couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen.” Mathew was serious.

         “That’s all well and good, Mathew,” Mom added, “but you didn’t have the story straight. You have to make sure.” She put her arm around him.

         “We didn’t steal the car, we just got a good deal,” Dad explained.

         “I didn’t mean…”

         “Be careful. You understand what I’m saying, Mathew David?” Mom asked.

         “Yes. I’m sorry.”

         “Just be careful with what you say,” she reminded him.

         “Your mom’s going to make a special supper for you tonight. Remember what we told you.” Dad hugged him.

         Mathew liked the idea of making dinner from all the things in the kitchen and wanted to give being a cook a try. After he told her, Mom agreed to let him help.

         As dinner neared, Mathew was full of ideas. He wanted to make spaghetti with a special sauce. Mom boiled noodles, he couldn't use the stove, but he made all the choices himself. He even made dessert.

         “Haleigh!” Mom yelled. “It’s time to eat!”

         Mathew pulled his chair up close to the table.

         “I see you’re ready.” Mom smiled.

         Haleigh and dad come in and took seats at the table. Mathew’s mom got the pot of spaghetti from the stove and served it. What came out of the pot surprised everyone. The sauce was a mix of steak sauce, ketchup, honey, and garlic and lemon powder. Mathew smiled as he watched the spaghetti spread across the plates.

         “Looks good, Mathew.” Dad grinned.

         “I don’t know…”

         “If she'll get enough. I don’t know if any of us will,” Mom interrupted Haleigh.

         “Eat up, Darling. I want to see your face when you take the first bite.” Dad laughed.

         Mathew was happy when dinner ended and he saw how long it took everyone to finish. They enjoyed it, but he didn't care for it as much they did. It needed more work and he knew he’d do better next time. Mom took plates off the table and got dessert.

         Dessert, a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice-cream mixed with salted nuts, whip cream, wafers, bananas, and brown sugar, was great. Mom let Mathew use the blender to mix it all, and put it in the freezer after he was done. He served everyone himself.

         “It’s very sweet,” Haleigh said when she swallowed the first bite.

         “I hope you wrote down the recipe, Mathew. It’d be a shame if we couldn’t make this again sometime.” Dad rubbed Mathew’s head.

         After dinner, Mathew changed his clothes, brushed his teeth, and headed to bed. He was tired and nearly asleep by the time Mom came in to tuck him in.

         “I proud of you Mathew.” She kissed his forehead.

         He smiled.

         “Goodnight.“ Mom smiled back, turned out the light, and left the room.