(Short story) The Unexpected Tea Guest

UNEXPEXCTED TEA GUESTS

　

Martha was really excited. She finally came up with a plan that worked! Martha pleaded, even begged her mother to let her have friends come over on the weekends.
Martha’s mother worked long hard hours at a local warehouse. Her usual reply when Martha wanted friends over was, “Not this weekend dear, I am too tired.”
This time Martha had a plan which was sure to work. Starting on Tuesday she started washing the supper dishes without being told. She took out the garbage without being asked. She even made up her bed every morning before she went to school.
Thursday night as she was helping her mother wash the supper dishes, Martha cleared her throat, took a deep breath and said, “Mother.”
“Yes dear?”
“I was just wondering.”
“Wondering what, dear?”
Well, I was just wondering if I could have a few friends over Saturday for a tea party.” Looking up at her mother, Martha tilted her head to one side. Her nose scrunched up waiting for the most horrible word to any ten year old- “No.”
“Martha, you know how much I like my Saturday’s to be quiet so I can rest.”
“Yes Mother,” Martha replied sadly.
“However, you have been such a big help to me this week. Sure, you may have your tea party. I will even make hot tea and get some cookies too.”
“Oh, thank you mother! Thank you!” Martha screamed as she threw her arms around her mother’s waist squeezing with all her might. “You’re the best mother in the whole, wide world!” Martha said, as she loosened her grip.

Friday at recess Martha ran to Mary Ann Walker, “Mary I am having a tea party tomorrow at one o’ clock would you like to come?”
“Sure!” Mary replied with a smile.
Then she spotted Debbie Sue, her other best friend. “Debbie I am having a tea party at one O’ clock tomorrow, Mary Ann Walker is coming, you want to come?”
“Yes!” Debbie said with a smile!
I can only invite one more person, because I only have four chairs, Martha thought to herself. Who can I invite? She spotted Helen Harris playing on the swing set. Helen Harris was new to the school and she seemed to be a nice girl. “Helen would you like to come to my tea party tomorrow?”
“Okay! Helen said with a big smile. “Where do you live?” Helen asked.
“1313 Rosemont drive.”
“That’s just a few blocks from my house; I live on Deer Park drive!” said Helen.
“Cool!” Martha answered! “Can you come at one O’clock?”
“Sure!” Everything was going as planned!
Saturday morning Martha set up the card table in her back yard, Her mother had loaned her a pretty pink table cloth to cover it. She placed a red candle in the middle, set the matching tea-cups and saucers in place. She arranged a small vase of fresh picked wild flowers that grew in the vacant lot next door. She placed four cookies on each napkin. Every thing was perfect.
“Mother this is going to be the best tea party ever!” Martha said with a shrill in her voice. Martha’s voice always got high pitched when she got excited and today she was really excited!
It was twelve o’ clock when the phone rang, “Martha, telephone dear.”
“Yes mother!” Taking the phone from her mother, she answered, “Hello.”
“Hello Martha, this is Debbie Sue. My mom and dad are taking my brother and me to the zoo. I’m sorry; I can not come to your tea party. Bye”
Martha’s heart sunk a little in her chest. “Oh well, I will still have a great tea party with Mary Ann and Helen”.
A few minutes later the phone rang again. This time Martha ran to answer it, “Hello, Martha, “I can’t come; I’m in time-out for talking back to my Dad. It is going to be a long weekend for me. Sorry, bye.”
Oh man, now Mary is not coming! “That’s okay, Helen and I will have a great time“. Before she could take three steps from the phone, it started ringing, “Hello“, Martha said, in not so shrill of voice.
“Martha, this is Helen“.
“Let me guess, you can’t come either?”
“No, I am coming, but I was wondering if it would be okay if I brought my cousins, Carissa and Courtney with me to the tea party? My mother said that is the only way I could come. They are visiting and my Mother said it would rude to leave them alone“.
“That would be great!” Martha said, with a shrill!
In just a few minutes the door bell rang, It was Helen and her two cousins
. “Come on in!” Martha said, as she swung the door open.
“Martha these are my twin cousins, Carissa and Courtney Harris.”
Martha had never met identical twins before. “I am really glad you could come!” Let’s go to the back yard. Mother is making hot tea for us, and I hope you like sugar cookies!”
The hot tea was served and the cookies quickly disappeared. Martha’s mother could hear laughter coming from the back yard. Yes it was the ‘best tea party ever!’
　
Rick J. Musick