“I’m sorry I can’t go to your birthday party today.”

“What party?” I say to Jimmy Gonzales, my 3^rd grade classmate, who stares at me with those freaky bug-eyes of his.

Jimmy turns and heads off towards the butt-ball game on the other side of the playground. The yard is filled with children in blue school uniforms, chaotically moving here and there. The school day is almost over, and, the teachers of St. Anthony’s Catholic School always allow for a final recess before setting us loose on our parents.

In the distance I see Sean Kennedy about to do a fantastic dive off the top of the tire stack into a pile of cedar mulch. Frantically, I run straight at him, waving my arms like a monkey on a banana-binge. By the time I reach him, I am out of breath.

“Dude?”

“Do you know anything about a surprise birthday party for me?”

Sean considers his answer, carefully, takes a step back, and disappears from view. A second later he is flying off the top of the huge mound of tractor trailer tires into the pile of cedar. When he emerges, his usually perfect afro is now nappy and covered in bits of mulch.

“Yeah, man,” he nods and begins dusting himself off. “We’re all supposed to go to your house for a party after school.”

My heart starts racing like a thoroughbred at the Long Acres track. I am having a birthday party. My first birthday party. My first surprise birthday party.

* * *
Birthday Jukes is a short-story work in progress. Copyright © 2008, Do You KNOW Clarence?™ All rights reserved.