A New Beginning

The puddles splashed as Hugo walked on the pavement surrounding the park where his mother was having her 53rd birthday party. He looked at his relatives standing far off in the distance. They were all talking. Perhaps catching up on the past years. Hugo’s mother walked from relative to relative making sure, Hugo guessed, that everyone was having a fun and comfortable time. It was more of a cookout than a party, though, because Hugo’s father grilled in a corner. Hugo stopped in a puddle on the pavement and looked at his relatives. He had not seen many of them in the four years he was gone. From far away, his parents looked the same from the last time he saw them. Hugo took a deep breath and as he was about to step into the grass to walk to the birthday party he spotted an aunt and uncle step out of their car with their two children. They saw Hugo step into the grass in the same direction they were going, but did not say a word or even hello. They must not recognize me, Hugo thought. After all, he had not seen them in over seven years. They must have travelled to Chicago for this particular occasion.

Hugo slowly walked in the direction of the birthday party. Unusually calm, he went over what he would tell his mother.

“Happy birthday mother, I haven’t seen you in so long.”

“Hello, mother and happy birthday. You’re fifty-three now.”

“Wow, you’ve aged so well mother. You look like you’re forty-five.”

“If it isn’t the best mother of all time. Happy birthday.”

It started drizzling and Hugo’s converse were soaking wet. He felt the drizzle on the top of his head, face, and shoulders. His glasses were fogging. Hugo’s aunt and uncle with their two children almost reached the birthday party. Why were they walking so fast or was it just that Hugo was walking so slow? Hugo rubbed his glasses and put them back on. He recognized one of his younger uncles. The brother of his mother who was just two years older than him scrambling to put up a canopy along with two other men he did not know. He was the uncle Hugo grew up with. Once, when they were young Hugo stepped on an ant while they played at a small park close to their home. As soon as Hugo’s uncle saw what had happened he picked him up and carried him all the way home. When he walked in the driveway, Hugo’s mother ran out of the house asking what had happened. All Hugo’s uncle could muster was, “He was bitten.” “Bitten by what?” asked Hugo’s mother. “A dog?” That day, Hugo’s uncle saved Hugo’s foot.

Hugo walked even slower. A woman reached into a huge black bag and took out rain capes. It had started to rain harder. She then yelled, “The weatherman said it would only drizzle, but you know they are always lying. Always lying those damn weathermen!” She handed the rain capes to the people gathered under the half-open canopy. “Here you go,” she said. “Dammit! I knew this would happen. Happy Birthday to you Minerva!”

Small children ran in the pouring rain while their parents chased them down. One parent yelled, “Melanie! Come back here, you are going to catch a cold!” Hugo smirked and continued to walk. He could smell the hot dogs on the grill and saw a two-tiered cake on one of the tables. When he was about twenty feet from the rain when all the napkins and paper plates from the tables flew from under the canopy. The people under the canopy did not move. Minerva ran to fetch them. Her bright pink rain cape, which she had not put on yet, flew from her arms. Hugo’s father, who had successfully rolled the grill under the canopy yelled after her, “Honey, stay here. I’ll get the utensils!” Hugo’s father was always so proper. Utensils.

Hugo turned around before anyone could get a good glimpse of him and say something. What had he done? Why had he come back? Minerva did not listen to Hugo’s father. Hugo walked away slowly and watched the napkins and paper plates fly further away. By now, he was soaking wet. Minerva ran past him as she yelled back at her husband, “We have to feed our guests Julian!” She did not pay attention to Hugo who continued to walk. She must not have seen him approaching the party. Then Julian could be heard yelling at the guests who just stood under the canopy, “Can someone please help? Minerva shouldn’t be the one picking up the napkins and plates. It’s her birthday!” Hugo didn’t hear what was happening behind after his father spoke. He kept walking further away from the people and closer, but not directly, to his mother who had a handful of wet napkins and paper plates in her hands. He focused on her and blocked out the rest of the world. Why did I come back? Why am I here?

Minerva, with no more room in her hands, stood to walk back to the canopy. Her mascara ran down her eyes. Her eyes were red. Hugo walked in a straight line back to the pavement, but as Minerva began to walk she spotted him to her left. She dropped the soaked napkins and plates on the ground. Her shoes slightly splashed on the grass as she walked toward him. Hugo walked faster this time, but not fast enough. Minerva caught his left arm in a tight grasp and looked him in the face.

“Hugo?” she asked. Hugo looked down at the ground. “You didn’t tell me you were coming. Why?”

Hugo stood in silence as she looked at him. Then, she looked at the people under the canopy and yelled, “Julian, come here!” Julian stopped picking up the napkins and plates closest to him. His eyes spotted Minerva and Hugo together. He smiled.