The Tale of Zachary Willowbrook: A Leap Day Paradox

Chapter 28: Zachary's "Fourth" Birthday

Stacy stared outside the window for what seemed like the seventh time. The time was 3:05 p.m.

Two minutes later, a van pulled in near the motor court. A woman used a special lift to exit the van and wheeled herself toward the house. It was Caitlyn. Patrick got out of the passenger side and followed her.

Noticing them, Stacy opened the door and hurried out to the motor court. "Did you get it?" she asked them.

"Yes we did!" Caitlyn said, giving her usual bright smile. "This bounce house is pretty big, so you'll have to work with Patrick to get it out to the back."

"Certainly," Stacy said as she shot a quick glance at her watch. "About ten minutes until I have to wake Zachary from his nap."

Patrick opened the back door and tugged the bounce house. It wouldn't budge. "Maybe we should get some more help?" he said, looking puzzled.

Stacy nodded. "Sure. I'll go get David and Audrey. I'll be right back."

Stacy hurried back into the house, finding David in the kitchen. "Where's Audrey?" she gasped.

David shrugged his shoulders. "The last time I heard from her, she was upstairs, reading a book."

"Thanks. Could you go outside and help Patrick with the bounce house? I'll get Audrey to help you too."

"Will do. I'll meet you out there."

Stacy nodded and cautiously jogged up the stairs. The door to Audrey's room was open, so she rushed inside. Audrey was sitting on her bed, with her face buried in a teen romance novel. "Sorry to disturb you from your reading but could you do me a favor?"

Audrey looked up from her book and nodded. "What is it, mom?"

"There's a deflated bounce house we're trying to carry out to the back yard." she explained. "Could you help us for a second?"

Audrey nodded, placing a bookmark inside her book and closed it. Being very careful, she placed the book on her bed, as she didn't want it to take any abuse. Her books were never dog eared or scrunched into a tent. She treated each one of her books with care.

After placing it on the bed, she began inspecting the book for any dents or creases.

"Audrey!" Stacy shouted in a whisper. "Let's get going!"

"Okay!" Audrey said, a little irritated. "I just want to make sure this book has no creases!"

Stacy approached Audrey, smiling. She gets it from me....she thought. "The book looks fine. And trust me. All my books look the same way as yours."

Audrey nodded and left her bedroom, following Stacy.

By the time Audrey and Stacy were outside, both David and Patrick were holding the deflated bounce house. Little by little, they steadily heaved it past the motor court towards the back.

"Let me help you with that!" Stacy shouted. "I don't want to see anyone get hurt. Audrey, you can carry the air pump. It's not too heavy."

Audrey nodded and grabbed the air pump from the back of the van, which still had the doors open. After she grabbed the pump, Caitlyn closed the doors.

Caitlyn glanced at her wheelchair and sighed. "I wish I could help all of you!" Caitlyn shouted to the others, who were at a distance.

"Well, you can be our cheerleader!" Patrick shouted back. "That's how you can help us!"

Caitlyn laughed, and raised her arms to the others. "Go Patrick! Go Stacy! Go David!" she shouted.

Audrey grinned, as she carried the air pump. She increased her pace to catch up to the pace of her mother, father and Patrick.

After they got the bounce house to the back, Stacy rushed inside the house. The time was 3:22 p.m. Time to get the birthday boy up from his nap....

Stacy unlocked the "Zachary proof" gate and entered Zachary's room. Zachary was standing inside his crib, leaning over the bars, like a prisoner.

Zachary then climbed over the bars of the crib, hoisting one leg up, and then the other. He then turned around, gripping the outside of the crib. After planting his legs between the bars from the outside, he let go of the bars and landed on the floor.

"I think you're ready for a big boy bed," Stacy told him. "Climbing out of your crib like that. Are you a monkey, Zacky?"

"Yeah mommy!" Zachary shouted. "I'm a monkey!" He then began making some monkey sounds.

Stacy sat on the floor and stared at Zachary. "Well, my little monkey needs to get ready for his big birthday party! Come on, honey. Lay down so mommy can change your diaper."

Zachary pointed at his diaper and smiled. "Pee-pee!" he shouted. "Pee-pee!"

Stacy removed his pants and undid his diaper. "Yup," she said in a flat tone. "Let's get you into a new one so we can start having fun!" She smiled, proceeding with the wipe and powder routine. She then put a new diaper on Zachary and put his pants back on.

After that, she scooped up Zachary, hanging him over her shoulder. Zachary laughed and screamed the whole way as she walked down the stairs with him.

At this time, a few other people showed up. The entertainers were there. The Robinsons were also there, along with Stacy's sister Mary and her husband Richard.

In just minutes, more guests showed up for the party. Some of them stayed while others just wanted to wish Zachary a happy birthday.

For the kids, the bounce house was set up in the back. A little later, the kids watched a magic show. A clown was also there, that made balloon animals for all of them. Since Zachary liked his stuffed bear, the clown made a balloon bear for him. The balloon animal's life was short lived when Zachary tried hugging and squeezing it, resulting in an explosive pop.

One of the activities, however, was never implemented. Stacy had a piñata that she was going to set up, but decided against it at the last minute, since she thought that Zachary was still too young to play with it.

In comparison to last leap year, Stacy thought this birthday was a lot more successful. Everything was done without a hitch. They had dinner, watched Zachary open his presents, and ate cake and ice cream. Overall, everyone had a blast at the party.