Footprints

Footprints

“What do you think?” asked Jeff.

“It‘s going great!” said Frank.

“What about Dad asking us what we were up to?”

“He always asks, stop being paranoid!

“Do you think he believed you?”

“Why not? I said there was a good movie coming on later. How many times has he watched Field of Dreams!”

“What movie did you tell him it was?”

“Dracula vs Batman.”

“So they’re out raking leaves, and everyone’s coming any minute. You think they’ll be surprised? They’re not just faking?”

“No, I think they don’t suspect a thing. Oh! There’s the Burbury’s! I’ll let them in. You go watch so you can intervene if Mom or Dad decides to come in.”

“Right! Ah, what does intervene mean?”

“Don’t let them come in till I tell you, we want everybody inside for the surprise!”

The surprise was truly a surprise. Mom and Dad were totally surprised that their sons could pull off such a surprise! The neighbors were equally surprised that the surprise was being pulled off by an eleven year old and a nine year old, although that explained why everyone had to bring food or drinks.

Mom and Dad, were also embarrassed to tears at the condition of the house that would have gotten a clean up had they known they were having company, let alone a party. Maybe done the dishes, picked up the dirty clothes strewn everywhere, vacuumed, the garbage would have been out...

It was a monumental party in many ways. Some of the neighbors became best friends for life that very night. Another neighbor was starting a business that Frank eventually became CEO of, in his thirties. The young couple, new in the neighborhood, had a two year old girl. Jeff’s future wife.

Baby steps make big footprints, sometimes.