Lucy Turns 6

Lucy packed Paulina, her favorite doll, in her suitcase. She had already packed her birthday dress, her pajamas, her favorite shirt, one pair of shorts, a Pull-Up, socks, and a pair of underwear. For shoes, she figured she would use what she wore for the trip. Gigi and Papa already had all the bathroom items, so she did not pack any of those, except her bubble gum Princess toothpaste. They did not have that.

Mama and Dad explained yesterday that they were all going over to Gigi’s and Papa’s tomorrow for her birthday party. Lucy had wanted a surprise birthday party, so Mama and Dad telling her about the party ruined that idea. No problem. She would add the surprise herself. Carston could take her to Gigi’s and Papa’s, and wouldn’t that be a fun surprise?

Lucy rolled her suitcase to the garage where Carston waited. She loved her pink and yellow butterfly suitcase. Mama and Dad bought it for her last birthday when they took her on her first flight. The nice women on the plane gave her a crown and even let her make an announcement over the loudspeaker. That was fun!

Carston was waiting just like he always was, eager to take anyone wherever they needed to go. Lucy could reach the button for the garage door opener now. She did not need any help with that. She rolled her suitcase over to Carston and got in the back seat with it. She made sure to buckle herself in. It was always important to buckle yourself in, Mama and Dad said.

Lucy politely asked Carston to start. She had watched Mama and Dad do this and felt confident enough that she knew what to do. Carston’s lights came on, and the car made no noise, but Lucy knew he was working. Dad said Carston was high bred, which meant he was very special. Lucy watched some Downton Abbey shows with Mama, so she knew all about high and low bred. It did not matter to her who was actually high or low bred since they were all nice and played together, anyway. But she was happy for Carston that he was high bred.

Lucy asked Carston to please take her to Gigi’s and Papa’s. Lucy knew how important it was to be polite. Mama worked for a hotel helping people get what they wanted, and she was always polite, even when people sometimes were not, like that mean lady who yelled at her Mama for something someone else did. Lucy was there that day and was ready to kick that lady, but Mama helped calm that lady down and made her happy. Mama talked with Lucy afterward about the importance of always being polite and helpful. It was a good lesson.

Carston asked Lucy for the password. Lucy expected this. Her Dad accidentally spoke it in frustration earlier in the week while Lucy sat buckled in the back seat. Carston was very careful about who could give him instructions. Normally, this should just be parents, but Lucy remembered what command Dad gave that allowed Carston to work, and she pretended she was playing and had not heard. She knew that was not honest, but she also knew that if she knew the password, too, she could help when Mama and Dad forgot.

Lucy spoke the password, and Carston started backing out of the garage. Carston asked Lucy for an address. This did not surprise her, either, since sometimes Carston knew a location by a name, and sometimes he needed a specific address. Thankfully, Mama and Dad had practiced with her to memorize their phone numbers and address as well as Gigi’s and Papa’s phone numbers and their address. Lucy happily told Carston the address to Gigi’s and Papa’s house, and they were soon on their way.

Lucy felt so proud of herself. She was so smart. Gigi and Papa would be so happy to see her, and Mama and Dad were going to be so surprised.

She opened her suitcase and pulled out Paulina. She thought Paulina might like to see the city, too. Lucy held Paulina in her lap but made sure Paulina could see out the back window. She did not worry about buckling Paulina in because Paulina was just a doll and not a real person. Lucy knew the difference.

As Carston passed the houses on her block and got in line to get on the freeway, Lucy shared with Paulina all the sights they were going to see on the way to Gigi’s and Papa’s. Paulina had been on a ride with all the family before, but this time, Lucy was going to specifically point out the building where Dad worked. Dad was a lawyer, which meant he made sure no one “screwed over” the company where he worked. Lucy understood that “screwing over” was a terrible thing.

Carston was whizzing down the freeway. They were about to pass Dad’s work building on the left. Lucy held Paulina up high and told her about all the important things Dad was doing. Lucy loved her Dad but felt closer to Mama. She figured that had something do with Dad being a boy and her and Mama being girls. Paulina was a girl, too, and Lucy loved her very much. That made sense. It was logical, as Dad would say.

Suddenly, a voice came over Carston’s speakers. Dad! His voice sounded shaky. Lucy was upset that her surprise was ruined now. She figured Dad was also upset that her surprise was ruined. Dad stumbled over words, but Lucy did not fault him. She knew he was super smart. She stumbled over words, too, when she was upset. Dad told Lucy to stay in the car and then told Carston to go to his office. Of course, Lucy was going to stay in Carston. It was not smart to get out of Carston while he was moving. Everyone knew that.

Carston exited the freeway and drove Lucy and Paulina safely to the sidewalk in front of Dad’s work building. Dad was there waiting for them. As soon as Carston pulled over to the sidewalk and stopped, Dad opened the back door and unbuckled Lucy. Lucy saw the tears in Dad’s eyes, but the alternating frowning and smiling confused her. Was she in trouble?

Lucy was smart. She apologized and explained how she wanted to surprise him and Mama by getting herself to Gigi’s and Papa’s for her birthday party. Wouldn’t that be fun and show what a big girl she was now that she was going to be six? Her Dad sighed, pulled her from Carston, and held and kissed her on the head over and over. Lucy was glad that her Dad was no longer unhappy. This was not the surprise she planned, but she recognized that she had given him a surprise, anyway. That made her happy. What a great birthday!