Seer
Chapter 23

Ron

Since next weekend is Gabe’s birthday, Brenda and I have been talking about what we should do to celebrate. It still feels surprising and wonderful to know that whatever plans we make, it will be together. Too many years went by where we had to have separate celebrations with the kids for each holiday. So much wasted time.

But, I am trying to overcome all the regret that I’ve been living with for so long. Being engaged again to Brenda is like a whole new life has been dropped into my lap, and I intend to savor every moment of it.

So after Gabe gets back from playing at Jonathan’s house, we talk about a birthday plan while the four of us are eating dinner.

Brenda starts. “So, Gabe, you’re going to turn ten years old next Saturday. Double digits! I can hardly believe it!”

Gabe grins. “Um, yeah Mom, I know!”

We all laugh. “Well,” Brenda goes on, “we haven’t really made a plan for how to celebrate your birthday yet. We thought we should think of something good. Ten is a pretty significant birthday.”

Gabe and Natalie immediately turn and look at each other with wide eyes. Planning a birthday celebration is obviously an important and thrilling task. Natalie gets a very thoughtful look on her face.

Gabe wants some parameters. “Like, what are you thinking we could do?”

Natalie points out to her brother exactly what I have been thinking, “It’ll be nice to be able to do something all together. We won’t have to do one birthday at Mom’s house and another birthday at Dad’s house.”

Gabe sees the benefit of this. “So,” he speculates, “rather than do two little things, maybe we could do one big thing?”

Brenda and I look at each other and grin. She says, “Sure. I don’t know whether you’d rather have a regular birthday party, or maybe do something a little more grown up like going out to a fancy dinner? Or maybe we could go somewhere fun during the day?”

Gabe says, “I’d rather go somewhere fun. Like a park or something?”

“Well,” I say, hauling out a suggestion I’ve been eager to make, “Legoland opened a couple of years ago and we’ve never gotten around to going. Want to give that a try?” I’ve been wishing to find a time to take the kids, but with only having them a day and a half on weekends there just never has seemed to be a good time. That’s all changed now.

Gabe explodes out of his seat with a whoop. “Yes!” Natalie claps her hands and yelps, an unusually exuberant display for her. She is clearly caught up in Gabe’s excitement.

Gabe asks, “Can we bring Jonathan? Oh man, he’d be so excited to come!”

“Well, sure, that sounds fine, if it’s ok with his parents.” I look over at Natalie, expecting her to chime in with a request to bring Timothy. However, she just has that thoughtful look on her face, and she remains silent. I wonder, as always, what’s going on in that head of hers.

Gabe starts heading towards the door. “I have to go tell Jonathan! He’s gonna flip!”

“Hang on, kiddo, I’ll walk down there with you, so I can ask his parents if it’s all right with them.”

Surprisingly, Natalie asks, getting up from the table, “Can I walk down there with you too?” That’s unexpected - she doesn’t normally have any desire to go to Jonathan’s house. Huh.

“Sure, kid, get your shoes.”

Jonathan

Running down the street to Gabe’s house, to tell him my amazing news, I’m surprised to see Gabe and his Dad and sister walking towards me. I run right up to Gabe, and say “I have something to tell you!”

Hilariously, at the exact same time, he says the exact same thing. “I have something to tell you!” Natalie and her Dad laugh with us.

“Ok,” Gabe says, “you go first.”

“I’m getting a dog!” I practically scream it out, I’m so excited. I can still hardly believe it. “At dinner Mom and Dad told me that they’ve decided that they are going to take me to the dog pound tomorrow to pick out a pet dog!”

“OMG!” Gabe says. “That is so awesome!”

Even Natalie seems happy for me. “A puppy dog?” she says, putting her hands up to her mouth. “That’ll be so nice!”

“Yeah,” I say, “I get to pick out whatever dog I want! Think I should get a great big dog or a little dog?”

Before Gabe answers, his Dad says, “Can we head on back to your house, Jonathan? I have something to ask your parents.”

Oh yeah, they were out here for something, weren’t they? “What were you going to tell me, Gabe?”

“For my birthday next weekend, we’re going to Legoland, and you can come with us!”

“What?!” I shriek. “Heck yes!” This day just keeps getting better and better. “Come on!” I yell to Gabe, and start tearing back down the street in the opposite direction, to get home and ask Mom and Dad. I hear Natalie giggling behind me as Gabe and I run.

Natalie’s

It is interesting how the relationship dynamics between the three children seem to be shifting tonight. For the better, possibly. I don’t know if it could be attributed to Natalie’s decision to intervene in Jonathan’s life, as much as it is simply the coincidence of both boys having exciting news to share at the same time.

However, since last night’s play session, when Natalie joined the two boys, I have noticed each of them has had a slight adjustment in attitude towards the other. Gabe’s concerns about Jonathan’s behaviors have receded. And Jonathan’s resentment toward Gabe, which had been simmering since last weekend when apparently he found it annoying as Gabe defeated him at a video game, has all but vanished. Their friendship seems restored to what it was previously, one of childish exuberance, nothing more.

Did spending time with Natalie last night contribute to this? It is impossible to tell. It is true that there is something about the Seer’s mere presence that brings an aura of peace and joy to those around her, even without any conscious effort on her part. This is enhanced when she deliberately attempts to make another happy. And she has been doing so with Jonathan. She continues to focus on ways to further her current ambition, The Jonathan Project. Only time will tell whether her attempt to improve Jonathan’s behavior will succeed.

But I feel more hopeful, watching the children chattering together in Jonathan’s living room as their parents discuss the Legoland plan for next weekend. The boys speak excitedly about what rides and other activities will be available to them. Natalie pays close attention to their conversation, silently participating by smiling and nodding and reacting with pleasure to each of their suggestions. Gabe is accustomed to having Natalie constantly demonstrating her quiet love and approval as she watches him speak. However, Jonathan has not experienced this before, and it is clear that he is keenly aware of her smiling upon him as he and Gabe make their plans for the amusement park outing.

She draws me into the interaction, saying silently to me, although to all outward appearances her attention is entirely riveted on the boys as they speak, “See, Angel? Jonathan and Gabe are getting along just fine. My plan is working. Admit it!”

I smile and nod at her, mirroring her actions with the boys. The plan does seem to be unfolding just as she wishes.

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