THE TOXIC DEAL

4. SURPRISE! SURPRISE!!

BRIA

We head back to bed at around three in the morning with heavy eyes and happy hearts. Obviously, our little past midnight party resulted in we waking up late in the morning. And with late I mean super-late, that was 10 in the morning. Thank god we didn't have to open the café today as every year we spend my birthday visiting parks or museums and have fun.

Today we decided to go to an amusement park. When I told kids this news they were more than ecstatic. Benji tried to warn me that we couldn't be able to handle these tornadoes but I waved him off saying my kids are mature now. Oh boy! I was so wrong.!

When we reached the park in the evening it was bustling with people. Families, friends and couples were trying various rides and were playing different games. The moment we entered the gates everyone was out of my sight in a blink. Benji gave me his famous 'i-told-you-so' look and shrugged saying I would have to handle my mature kids.

So here was I  in the middle of an amusement park between hundreds of strangers, screaming my lungs out and rotating my head in almost three-sixty, looking like a runaway patient from the mental asylum on my birthday eve. God! I should have listened to Benji's wise words when he suggested a movie night in the warmth of our cosy living room with doors locked instead of coming here.

When I couldn't get hold of them, I sighed in defeat and sat on the nearby bench. I looked around the park at people laughing and enjoying. We were in the park for about one hour and I didn't even try a single ride yet. All I did was looking after the kids, running after them, yelling to be careful at them and yes that's it. I never planned my birthday eve like this. I knew it was not any one's fault. These kids didn't get to visit such places and enjoy like normal kids that often. Instead, they worked at home every day helping me and Benji. And on the weekends and holidays, they worked in café because we couldn't afford any employee. These were some rare times when they get a chance to forget about this cruel life and enjoy it for a moment. But still, I felt a pang of hurt feeling alone on my special day.

"Bria what are you doing here let's go and have some funnnnn" Lily came bouncing with happiness and dragged me towards others.

When I saw faces of kids radiating with happiness, I felt a pang of guilt. I shouldn't have thought like that before. I couldn't be selfish. I promised these kids and myself to give them all the happiness they deserve. And my happiness lied in their happiness.

I loosened up a little and forgot about all sad thoughts. We spend the rest of our time playing various games and trying all rides. We danced and sang in our worst voices for all crowd to look at us with weird looks. Some were smiling at our antics while some were giving us disapproving glances but we didn't pay any mind to them and focused on our mission to make this evening as one more best memory. At one point Benji got so embarrassed because of our madness that he grumbled under his breaths and walk away as if he didn't even know us.

I really enjoyed my evening and all the sad thoughts puff out in the thin air. I couldn't keep a smile away from my face. We ate ice creams, popcorns, hotdogs, pizzas and what not without thinking of trouble we all would surely face in the next morning.

The time we head back to home it was already past ten in the night. Our minds and bodies were tired due to all the activities we have done in the amusement park. Jack was already passed out in the hands of Benji. Lily was half asleep and was supported by equally tired Liam. Others were yawning and rubbing their eyes in an attempt to keep their eyes open.

We neared our house when I saw something unusual. A dark figure was sitting on the front steps. The person was a man in black pants and a black suit. His head was down as he was typing something on his phone. I couldn't see his face as it was hidden in the shadows and low light from a single bulb near the front door. Benji came at my side giving me sideways glance. He handed Jack to Ava and gave kids the look to stand at a safe distance.