The Envelope Please (Warning: shameless sentimentalism) -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 01:07:44 08/16/07 Thu
Author: KT
Author Host/IP: 64-92-129-153-client.sopris.net / 64.92.129.153
Subject: The Envelope Please (Warning: shameless sentimentalism)
In reply to: KT 's message, "Birthday ficlet for you birthday gals" on 00:36:49 08/16/07 Thu

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Things seemed awfully quiet in the living room all of a sudden. Adam walked from the kitchen and peered through the dining room to the dimly area beyond. He had Michael's catlike way of walking, and often surprised him with his unintended stealth. His father had been very quiet all day, more quiet than usual, if that was possible, even though Adam had talked his ear off about the excitement of graduation. Michael had listened politely, attentively, but Adam knew he had something else on his mind.

As he tread lightly, approaching his father from behind, he noticed an envelope, held loosely in Michael's hand, lying quietly, palm up. Michael leaned his head in the direction of the footfalls, his eyes downcast, focused on the scented linen paper in his lap.

"What is it?" Adam asked softly.

Michael had recognized her writing immediately. "OPEN SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY!" He'd pulled out the letter, unfolding it as directed. Then he saw it, tucked into the fold with a tiny strip of transparent tape, accompanied by a very few words. Michael looked up at his son... his beautiful son, the one who he had given her up for, these twelve years now. Usually stoic, his eyes glassed momentarily with moisture, knowing that the time gone by without Nikita could never be recovered, but that the time spent rearing Adam was priceless.

Adam saw his father's brief struggle with his emotion, and his immediate mastery of it. He took a silent breath and waited. Michael handed him the paper.

"It's Nikita's birthday today." His voice broke a little as he spoke in his whisper tone, the one he used when he talked about her.

"And she sent you a present?" Adam was nearly as bad at joking as Michael.

His father nodded. The young man scrutinized the letter. There it was, under the tiny strip of tape.

"Happy Birthday to me. My first gray hair. I know you'll take good care of it for me. See you both at the graduation."

Adam's eyes glowed. "She's coming? To the graduation? You invited her? Why didn't you tell me?"

Michael nodded again. "Yes. To everything. And I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure of her answer. She's coming. And then she's coming home. With us. With me. It's time."

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