The Mars Project, Julie Steimle [read aloud txt] 📗

They were hammering in the last stake.

Alex waved at them once he saw Jeff and Zormna.

And there were others. Maria Forte and Jessica from History showed up. And though Jessica shot Jennifer and Michelle wearied glances, she smiled at Zormna and Adam, watching Jeff as if he were catch of the evening.

Zormna’s smile broadened and she marched up the hill a little quicker to them.

“Happy Birthday, Zormna!” The four cheerleaders screamed, holding a store-bought cake with green icing. It was decorated with little green men in a flying saucer and a large one-five on it.

Zormna laughed as she shook her head. Finally they got her age right.

Jennifer McLenna hopped to her and slid a pair of green wobbly sparkle ball antenna on Zormna’s head then hugged her. “Happy Birthday, alien girl.”

Several of them laughed, casting Darren mocking glances, though he expertly ignored it. Truthfully, he chipped in to buy it.

Plucking up his ukulele, Jeff strummed the cords to the Birthday song. “Come on. We have to do this right.”

Laughing, Joy nodded and hopped next to him. So did Jessica who shot Joy a strained look of competition.

He started the first note. Everyone else joined in, though the cheerleaders lead the song in loudness. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Zormna! Happy birthday to you!”

Strumming his ukulele madly, Jeff gave the song a dramatic ending.

Yet Joy and Brian continued it…. “And many more! On channel four! Across the floor! And out the door!”

The girls tried to shut Joy up, clamping their hands over her mouth—but Brian continued for her. “And goes the score! Gimmie some more!”

“Forever more!” Joy broke in again with her brother, prying the girls’ fingers off.

“Blow out the candles!” Jennifer McLenna shouted impatiently at Zormna.

Laughing, almost crying as this was the only birthday she had ever really celebrated, Zormna obeyed and drew in a breath.

“Make a wish,” Darren called to her with a smile.

And Zormna did. It was the best possible wish she could make. That this, uncomplicated moment could last forever.

She closed her eyes and blew out all the candles.

Everyone clapped and cheered.

“Anyone for laser tag?” Mark held up a plastic toy ‘ray’ gun.

“What about the ice cream?” Brian asked, already drooling.

Jeff plucked up an ice cream cup from the cooler, tossing Brian the flat wooden spoon that came with it.

“What about the cake?” Michelle retorted, almost pouting.

Jennifer McCabe helped her with that, getting out the paper plates and plastic the server.

“Open my present first,” Darren said, handing Zormna the package. It was wrapped in red paper.

Zormna couldn’t stop smiling. It was unreal to her. The downside to being born on a prophesied day was that she could never afford to celebrate it without dangerous repercussions. You know, death. At this moment Zormna was grateful for the anonymity of an Earth birthday. And Jeff was right—celebrating it in November rather than October kept it under the McLenna parents’ notice. They were even nicer.

Darren’s present was a Swiss Army knife. It rolled out of the wrapping after she had undid only one piece of tape.

“They’re handy. It may not be what you’re used to, but they can be very useful.”

She looked up at him, smiling even broader, as it was something she would want. “Thank you, Darren. It is great.”

He blushed and returned to his piece of the picnic blanket. Her eyes followed him as he took up a piece of cake from Michelle who made a face at Darren for being invited. But Zormna was glad he was there. Darren had been a monumental help that year. Perhaps he even saved them. He had been aware enough and persistent enough to help them stop something that could have cost them their lives and the lives of many others.  

“Mine next!” Jessica handed Zormna a squashy package in blue, randomly taped together. There was a lot of tape on this one.

Tearing it open, Zormna extracted a black tee-shirt. Zormna was half afraid it was one of Jessica’s Megadeath shirts. But when the folds rolled down it revealed a gothic, yet cute picture of a soldier girl.

Zormna laughed. “It’s perfect.”

“Open mine,” Jeff said, scooting close and handing her a small, flat present. It was slightly flatter and wider than Darren’s gift.

Zormna took it from his hand and peeling the tape off the wrapping with her fingernails, peeking once at Jessica who peered in over his shoulder—undoubtedly to get close to him.  

“You can tear the paper, Zormna. You don’t need to ration all wrapping paper you get,” Jeff said with a smirk.

She let a small glare escape at him, but she tore the paper. The present was black and flat. Zormna unfolded it then stared it the numbers and the mini screen. She gazed up at him.

“You gave me a cell phone,” she said.

Jeff nodded, peeking to Jessica who seemed nonplussed—especially since the phone was not an iPhone or up to that level of tech. It was one of those pay-as-you-go phones. In a way, it said Jeff was very cheap.

“Go get some ice cream,” Jeff said to Jessica.

Knowing he was shooing her away, Jessica sighed and walked off.

Once she was gone, Jeff whispered, “This is so you don’t have to stop by the house to check in with me all the time. This kind of phone is mostly untraceable. Call it a safety precaution.”

Zormna smiled and closed it. “Thank you.”

“And I’ll keep it paid for so you don’t have to put in extra hours at that burger place,” he added, lifting his eyebrows casually.

She smirked at him then laughed, nodding.

“Laser tag?” Mark said again, sticking a toy gun into Zormna’s lap.

Her mouth cracked wider as she picked it up. She stuffed the cell phone in her front jeans pocket and stood up.

“Beware Mark. I’m a good shot,” she said.

Mark laughed and tossed her a receiving piece to the set. “Let’s go, hot shot!”

She glanced back at Jeff before she darted intently after Mark. And others soon joined the ‘battle’.

Jeff watched for a few minutes with a contented smile on his lips. Most of the girls stayed out of it, though Jennifer McLenna jumped in, and Jessica took her shot at the game, getting killed right off by Jonathan who had been dominating it. About then, Brian abandoned his empty ice cream container to join them. The rest of the girls screamed as Mark ran through their crowd. He flailed on the ground in fake death when his sensor went off.

“Oh, sick! Mark!” Adam cried, still nauseated by the sight of graphic deaths.

Darren got out of his way, knowing Mark would do anything to knock him over and embarrass him.

Laughing, Jeff stood up. “Gimmie the gun, Mark. I’ll avenge your death.”

Mark tossed it up from his prostrate position.

Still lying there as a fake casualty, Mark snickered as Jeff strapped on the toy sensor with a Dirty Harry kind of determination. Then Jeff stood up as if ready for war.

“Beware, Zormna. Jeff the avenger is on the prowl,” he announced.

Heads turned.

Jennifer McLenna burst out laughing, and even Darren held a faint smirk.

Zormna only narrowed her eyes at him. Her lips spread into a devilish grin. “Bring it on.”

 

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Publication Date: 04-03-2017

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