They found out Sunday how good I am at surprises. Saturday was my brother’s birthday lunch. I didn’t say a word, just lurked and watched. I said to my mom, as nonchalant as can be, that I found something to bring her and asked if she’d be around the next day. So the plan was set in motion.
But first, a little back story:
Madagascar doesn’t make it into US news very often, even while the country’s been on the verge of civil war the last three months. My sister has been stationed in a village there, volunteering through the Peace Corps. They finally decided to evacuate the volunteers this month, so she was waiting for a flight out as rebels seized control of the nation’s army and surrounded the president’s palace with tanks.
After she made it out safely, we devised a plan not to tell our parents but to surprise them by having me bring her secretly from the airport. Everything was arranged. We kept testing the waters to see if our parents had heard of the evacuation in the news. Even Saturday at the birthday lunch they had no idea. So Sunday she was sitting by the front door when they came home.
Dad couldn’t get a complete sentence out. Mom’s jaw slacked when she looked over. Her arms fell and her purse dropped to the floor. It was like Christmas. Even I teared up. All in all, it was a good surprise.
I once surprized my mother and father with my brother for a 25th wedding anniversity party. He was in the service and over seas. It was the first time I seen my father cry, he was so happy.
ReplyDelete