Birthday Surprise

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 28th May 2010

Characters: Shadux, Zelanka, Tarlanka
Description: Zelanka and her granddaughter surprise Shadux on his birthday, and he has a chance to act like a kid again.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 11 of Turn 5

"Happy birthday to youu, dear Shadux...." Zelanka was singing when she
entered the office for assistant Stewards. Her voice was surprisingly
good one and she was carrying a cake. One of her grandchildren followed,
a load of her own in her arms.

Shadux laughed with genuine surprise. "Zela, you're like having _two_
mothers!"

"Thank you. Now, is there anywhere I can put this?" She replied with a
smile and lifted the cake upwards.

All the other assistants looked at the cake longingly. "Is there enough
for everyone, you think?"

"Of course there is," Zelanka assured.

"Then just let me move those hides off the main table and we can put it
there." Three assistants were already busy at the task. "I think they
could smell your baking coming down the hall."

"I'm sure they were drooling," Zelanka laughed. She lowered the cake to
the table. "Tarlanka dear," she gestured the girl. She brought her
packet to Zelanka. Zelanka handed it to Shadux. "Your gift, happy
brithday." She had knitted the woolen sweater herself. "Something to
keep you warm at winter."

Shadux took the package with a knowing smile as it squished under his
fingers. "And you didn't even have to measure me this turn." He opened
the package and spread the sweater out on the table to admire it better.
"A nice shade of blue it is too." Leaning over, he gave her quick peck
on the cheek. "Thank you, Zela. It's beautiful."

"You're welcome. I'm gland you like it," The headwoman replied. Making
other people happy made her happy too.

"Of course I like it! Especially since the one you gave me last year
now has a hole in it." He gave her a pleading look, knowing she'd be
able to read between the lines.

"Bring it over to me some day and I mend it," Zelanka said.

That earned her another peck on the cheek. "What would I do without
you, hmmm? You're _better_ than a wife."

"Thank you," Zelanka said softly and then turned brusque again. "Meaning
you can get rid off me at will."

"No, not get _rid_ of you," Shadux protested. "I just send you back to
your loving husband."

"I'm sure Petriv apprechiates that," She replied. "Dearest, will give
everyone a plate so we can taste the cake," She turned to spoke her
grandchild again.

"Okay, granny," the girl replied cheerfully.

"Thank you, young lady. You're growing up big, now aren't you," Shadux
smiled as he accepted the plate.

"Yes, I am," she replied.

"Did you help your grandmother make my cake?" He already suspected the
answer, but in a room full of adults, he knew how a youngster could
become invisible. Shadux might not be her uncle by blood, but he had
always felt like he was one of Zelanka's boys, especially since he had
only the vaguest of memories of his own mother.

"Yes, I helped," she replied proudly.

"And such great help she was. She's going to be a good cook one day,"
Zelanka remarked. She had the cake sliced and started to hand out the
slices to waiting plates.

"Well, if ever there was a reason for me to hold off from getting
married for a few more turns..." he said giving Zela an amused smile.

"You have more than few turns to wait..."Zelanka snorted.

"Oh, just another six or seven turns... And then you really _would_ be
like my mother! Or grandmother at least." He reached out for the
little girl's hands. "What do you think, Tarlanka? Will you marry me?"

"No! You're too old!" Tarlanka replied.

"There, you heard her," Zelanka laughed.

"Fine," he pouted. "I'll ask your cousin, then. Maybe Trivella will
marry me, and then won't you be sorry."

"Hah, I marry Natron, he's my age," the girl replied.

"I wonder if the poor lad knows it," Zelanka murmured.

"Natron?" Shadux asked, looking rather offended. "But I'm taller than
Natron!"

"Natron has dimples," she said.

"I have muscles," he said, flexing a bicep to prove it.

"He can climb the tallest trees," she was unimpressed.

"I can ride the fastest racers," Shadux shot back, thoroughly enjoying
this little banter.

"He's got a puppy," she shot back.

"Let's face it Shadux, you can't beat a puppy," Zelanka said and handed
him a slice of cake. "Now, eat your cake while there's still some left,"
she added with amused glance towards the other assistant stewards. The
cake was disappearing fast.

He took the cake, but whispered to the little girl, "I have my own
runner you can ride. You can't ride a puppy, now can you."

"Grandad has lot's of runners I can ride anytime I want," she replied.
Of course, the runners weren't actually Petriv's but the Holds.

"Well, just marry your grandad then," he said, sticking he tongue out
her before digging into his piece of cake. His eyes met her
grandmother's and he gave her a little wink.

"He's already married, stupid," the girl rolled her eyes and Zelanka
laughed.

"I'm not stupid! _You're_ stupid!" This time Shadux couldn't keep from
laughing either.

The girl stuck her tongue out to him.

"All right," he chuckled, holding his hands up, fork and all. "You win!
Go marry Natron! I'm obviously no match for him."

Last updated on the May 28th 2010

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Birthday Surprise