A Little Orange in the Big Apple

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  21: “Valentine’s Day Surprise”

  Ali was looking in one of the store windows on Broadway on the way home. There was a Parker pen and pencil set in the window display that she really liked. She leaned into the window, cupping her hands to her face in order to see the price tag. She wished she had enough in her piggy bank for the pen and pencil set. Although she had a Valentine’s Day card for her mother, she wanted to get her something nice that she could use in her office. Suddenly she heard her name.

  “Ali, I was looking for you. Thought I might find you somewhere between the Osgood and The Drug Store,” said her mother.

  “Am I late mother?” asked Ali.

  “No, it’s just that I had something I wanted to talk to you about. Let’s walk over to the park, OK?” This was curious thought Ali, since her mother usually didn’t get home until at least 6PM. They crossed 59th street where Ali always looked over at Christopher Columbus who sat high on a pedestal as if he were directing traffic, and continued walking into the park. It seemed so long ago when she and her mother first walked through the autumn leaves there.

  “Ali let’s sit down for a while, I want to talk to you. I’ve already discussed this with Reynolds.” Her mother reached into her purse for a cigarette. This was sounding very serious thought Ali as she sat there holding her bag with the Valentine’s candy and cards at her side.

  “There’s no easy way to say this, but here goes.” Ali’s mother took a puff on her cigarette. “Your father’s show is closing pretty soon, and he is going back to California.” Her mother had a little catch in her voice.

  “Are we are going back to California?” asked Ali who was puzzled by her mother’s words.

  “No, just your father. Honey, your father and I are------separating. We’re not going to be living together. It is very hard to explain so that you can understand. I want you to know he loves you and Reynolds. It has nothing to do with you kids.”

  “Doesn’t he love you anymore, Mother?” asked Ali who was feeling very sad and somewhat confused.

  “In a different way, I suppose.” Her mother was sniffling and reached for a kleenex in her purse.

  Seeing her mother with tears in her eyes made Ali want to do something to help her feel better, so she reached into her bag and handed her mother the Whitman’s candy box and the card she bought for her. “I didn’t get a chance to sign it,” said Ali, tears starting to form now in her own eyes. Ali leaned toward her mother and lay her head gently on her mother’s shoulder. It was the only thing she could think to do.

  “I love you, Angel,” said her mother. “Thank you such a nice gift and card. Now, let’s get back home before we freeze out here. It’s getting dark. Let’s make a big pot of chili con carne. OK?”

  “OK,” said Ali as they walked out of the park and back to the Osgood.

  That evening after dinner, Ali’s mother called Grandma Agnes and Grandma Nettie to tell them that George was going back to California once his show closed which would be in a couple of months . Grandma Agnes thought it was crazy to stay in New York City without a husband and try to take care of two children. Grandma Nettie told her to follow her heart, after all George had followed his heart when he went into show business. After talking for a very long time to both of them, Caroline hung up the phone and turned to the children who were watching television. Actually, they were listening to their mother’s phone conversations at the same time they watched television (which is a very hard thing to do.)

  “Well Grandma Agnes thinks I should go back to California, but Grandma Nettie thinks I should do whatever I think is best,” said Caroline shrugging her shoulders.

  “What do you two think?”

  “Heck, this place is way more exciting than the Valley. Dad was hardly ever home anyway, so what’s the difference?” said Reynolds who clearly had been at odds with his father over the last couple of months.

  “I like it here, Mother. You’re here. My friends at The Drug Store are nice. I like school. I’ll miss Daddy though,” said Ali thoughtfully.

  “I know you’ll miss your Daddy, Honey, so will I,” added Caroline a bit dejectedly as she walked over to the sofa and sat down in between her two children.

  “So it’s unanimous, we’re staying,” said Caroline as she extended her arms around both of her children’s shoulders. Without missing a beat, Caroline added, “time to clean up the dinner table and get ready for bed.” Ali and Reynolds both groaned.