3RAINED OUT IN THE PARK
It's too windy, Laura thought as she laid out the red-and-white checkered tablecloth on the picnic table. I hope it doesn't storm.
Beside her, Rob places a stack of paper plates on the table before wrapping his arm around his wife's waist. He turns to her with a grin.
"We should be celebrating my birthday," he jokes. When she raises an eyebrow in response, he giggles. "Then I could have a birthday kiss."
Laura rolls her eyes and leans up to kiss his lips anyway. "Consider that an early birthday present."
"But my birthday isn't for another five months!"
"Sorry…" Laura turns back to her picnic basket and takes out a bowl of potato salad and a platter of crackers with her specialty recipe—avocado and peanut butter dip. This time, she made sure she added mustard. She searches the basket and lets out a loud "yelp" that causes Rob to almost trip over the ice cooler.
"What is it?!" he shouts.
"The hamburgers! I forgot the hamburgers!"
Rob laughs and points to the picnic table. Worries aside, there they are: hamburger patties that Laura already set out when they arrived at the picnic table in New Rochelle Park. Laura laughs, nervously, and she picks up the plate.
"Oh, of course."
He takes the plate and begins walking to the nearby grill. "Why are you so nervous anyway? It's just a birthday party for Jerry."
"It's not just a party for Jerry. Alan will be here! And I'm not sure he's still too happy with me ever since I, you know, told everyone he's bald."
"Oh, honey, he forgave you a long time ago about that," Rob says as he adds charcoal to the grill. "Besides, do you think he would come to Jerry's party if he didn't want to be around us?"
"He might just want the attention," Laura acknowledges, adjusting the hem of her light pink knee-length shorts.
"Well, that's true," Rob says as he starts grilling the hamburgers. "Alan is a bit of an egomaniac."
"Hey, Rob!"
Rob nearly catches the hamburgers—and himself—on fire when he hears Alan's voice bellowing across the park. He turns and nervously laughs. "Hi, Alan!"
"Where's the party? Isn't this party for me?" Alan asks, turning to Mel, who trails behind him.
"Uh—"
"The party's for Jerry, Alan," Rob tells him. Alan raises his eyebrows in a question. "Jerry Helper."
"Who?"
"You went to Jerry and Millie's anniversary party. You filmed your documentary there," Rob explains.
"Oh! Right, right," Alan says. He turns to Mel. "You could've told me that."
"No, he couldn't. His hair fell in and clogged his brain, remember?"
"Buddy!"
Everyone turns to watch Buddy and Sally walking across the park lawn towards the picnic table. Sally nudges Buddy's arm and shakes her head.
"You could at least try to be nice to Mel during the party," she says.
"Then it wouldn't be a party!"
"Yech!" Mel exclaims, turning away from Buddy.
Sally sets down a plate of chocolate chip cookies and smiles at Laura. "Hi, Laura! Gee, you look so pretty today."
"Thanks, Sally! You, too. Where's Herman?"
"Herman? Oh, with his mother, as usual. And she doesn't need to be here."
"Yeah, that's probably best," Laura remarks.
Rob walks up to Laura and leans in to whisper in her ear. "Where's Millie and Jerry? They should be here by now, shouldn't they?"
Laura turns towards the parking lot. The Helpers' Chevrolet is nowhere in sight. She glances at the sky. The ominous storm clouds keep rolling in, threatening the party.
"I don't know, but I hope they get here soon before the party is rained out," Laura says.
Almost like a response to her statement, a clap of thunder booms across the park. Everyone flinches at the sudden noise, and they turn to the sky.
"Mom! Does this mean we have to leave?!" Richie shouts from the nearby swing set. His feet kick the gravel, and he fidgets with the hem of his blue-and-white lined t-shirt.
Laura sighs and nods her head. "I'm afraid so, Richie. Get away from the swing set."
"What about Millie and Jerry? They're not even here yet," Sally says.
"They're not missing much," Buddy mutters.
"Buddy!"
"What? We haven't even eaten yet! No food, no party."
Laura turns to Rob and raises her right eyebrow. Knowing the look, he switches off the grill and shrugs his shoulders. Lightning flashes, and thunder quickly echoes.
"That's it, friends. Party's over," Rob announces.
"No, it's not! Come join us back at our house!" Millie shouts across park.
Jerry stands next to their Chevrolet, shaking his head as he folds his arms across his chest. "How come this has to happen at my party?!"
"It can happen at anyone's party, Jerry!" Millie exclaims.
"Yeah, but it's my party."
Before everyone can peacefully pack up the picnic, rain starts pouring down on the park. The party guests scramble to pick up plates and as much food as they can carry. They hurry to their cars, with Alan shouting, "My toupee! My toupee!"
As Rob and Laura run to their car, Rob trips and falls into the mud, grabbing Laura and pulling her down with him. They roll in the mud and immediately start laughing.
"Even without the ottoman, you still trip," Laura jokes.
"You know I hate that ottoman."
They continue to laugh, with Rob smiling down at Laura. He leans down and tenderly kisses her lips, not caring that rain pours down on top of them.
"Hey, love birds! Get out of the mud! We have a party to get to!" Sally shouts.
Rob and Laura turn to their friends and blush. Then, they shrug and kiss again, not caring who's watching. Laura sighs and whispers, "Oh, Rob."