Operation Last Ditch Effort

Chapter 1.1: Operation is a go

The smell of chocolate filled the room and the woman's hands shook as she carried the cake towards the table filled with smiling faces. The lights were dimmed with the candle flames dancing as she placed the cake down in front of her husband. Wearing his favorite green sweater, he smiled as the family sang to him. Two small children stood next to him bouncing on their toes eyeing the cake anxiously.

"Blow out your candles John!"

John took in a deep breath gripping the edge of the table and let out the air. The two children spun in circles holding hands as John cut the first pieces. Licking their lips, the children took their pieces running to the other room.

"Don't get anything on the furniture." Yelled a younger man over his shoulder.

Giggling the pair promised to be careful. Once the cake was served John thought to himself,

What a life. All my wonderful children came. Even Amy all the way from New York. It's hard to believe it's already been 65 years. Wow, how time flies.

Turning to look into the other room John could see his grandchildren sitting on the gray carpet, with chocolate covered faces, a little girl with blonde curls held her stomach in laughter rolling on the carpet.

They're so innocent. So young. Their whole lives ahead of them. The twins have gotten so big since I last saw them. I'm going to miss this.

John returned to face those sitting at the table. All eyes were glued on him as his wife sat across from him with tears building in her eyes. The young man next to her took her liver-spotted hand gently. Her long white hair moved with the breeze from the fan as she covered her mouth to chew her final piece of cake.

John wiped the corners of his mouth placing the napkin on the table before saying, "Why the long faces. This is a birthday party after all."

John's favorite daughter according to all his child was Amy who was next to him with her arms crossed across her chest frowning.

There was never a worse time to be celebrating than this.

Amy huffed "Why celebrate when this is a funeral?"

John thought to himself, It is a bit ironic. In a sick sort of way it's a funeral. But the word fun is in funeral I suppose. 

Amy's arms uncrossed exposing the wrinkles on her black dress as she placed her hands on the table. Her tight blonde locks bounced as she tilted her head towards her father wait for his response.

John thought, They're so naive. The world has to be this way. It's. It's just the way it is. I don't like it anymore than they do. I don't want to go. I don't want to leave Megan. I don't want Megan to leave. It's just how the world works. I suppose. Smile. Keep it together. 

Across from Amy her brother's face contorted into a frown. Wearing his favorite red t-shirt with the huge yellow smiley face in the center Jack didn't want anything ruining the day. Putting his fist on the table Jack said, "Amy, really. Must you always be so dramatic."

His pale green eyes were barely visible behind his thick eyelashes as he squinted at Amy. Jack unclenched his fist as the house grew silent. The children were frozen in place with their eyes locked on the table of adults.

John chuckled hiding the inner turmoil.

He thought to himself, They'll never change. Always bickering. I wish I had all the time in the world. Why can't I have more? I'm being selfish. But what about Megan? The kids? This world's so calculated. So. So cruel. They live and they die. I'll miss this. It's ridiculous. Here we are acting as if this is normal. It's funny really. A dark kind of funny.