Here is a story from me to Martha's Birthday.
Anne

Rating: K



                                                A Birthday Party for Martha by Anne

 Four years had now passed since Carolyn, her children and Martha had moved in to
Gull Cottage.
 Up till now, Martha had sailed around all her birthdays since she worked
for Mrs. Muir. But this year it would be different, because Jonathan and Candy were
absolutely determined to surprise Martha this year with a party on her birthday.
However, they had to proceed very skillfully so that Martha didn't get wind of the thing.
Mrs. Muir was in the living room when her kids came in the room. "Mom, can we talk?"
Candy asked. "Of course we can. What's so important that it can't wait?"
 Carolyn asked curiously. "Mom, we know Martha wants to keep her birthday a
secret, but we all know when it is." now it was Jonathan who said that.
 "Yes, why?" Carolyn had no idea what her children actually had in mind.
 "Quite simple, Mom. We want to surprise Martha this year with her own birthday party."
came Candy's voice again.
 "That's a great idea, children. But how do we keep it a secret when we know Martha
is around all the time?" Carolyn didn't have any idea how her kids would manage that.
 "We'll find a way to hold her back from curiosity. And we have a perfect present for her,
too." Candy said a little mysteriously and with a grin on her lips.
 Now Carolyn was very curious and wanted to know. "What did you both want to give
her as present?"
 "Mom, if we tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise any more. You will see it on Martha's,
birthday, too." Jonathan was a little saucy.
 "Okay, kids, I won't ask again."
 At this moment, Martha entered the room. She had heard Mrs. Muir's last words and
wantedto know, "What won't you ask the children again?"
 Carolyn jumped and said. "Nothing, Martha, really, nothing."
 "Alright." Martha felt a bit snubbed. "Oh, by the way, dinner is ready." and with that she
left the room
 With that, the subject of the surprise party was closed for now. "Come on, kids, let's have
our dinner." and with that, Carolyn and her children made their way in to the kitchen, too.

 Later that evening, before bedtime, the kids were in their room and discussed their plan
about building an exact model of Gull Cottage. "We haven't much money, Jonathan, to
buy any wood for the model we need. How can we get enough wood to build the house?"
 Candy was in a bit despair but Jonathan had the saving idea. "We could use driftwood for
it, Candy. I saw something there on the beach when I played with Scruffy last week."
 "You think we will find enough to build the model?" Candy wasn't quite convinced
. "Of course, Candy. And we can ask the Captain where we could find some more if we
don't find enough on the beach. Good night, Candy." and Jonathan went to bed.
 "Good night, Jonathan." And Candy did the same.

 For the next two weeks, the kids were very busy with their model house. They had found
enough driftwood to build it, thanks to the Captain. They spent every free minute working
on their model. In the last two weeks,
 Martha stood several times in front of a locked child's bedroom door. She didn't know why
and what was going on, so she asked Mrs. Muir. She found her in the master bedroom,
working on something. "Mrs. Muir, that grows weird for me. Every time I try to carry out
my housework in the child's room, the door is locked, even if Candy and Jonathan aren't
at home at all. I don't understand. How can I do my housework here if every room is
locked? Tell me what's going on here and why the children didn't want me to be in their
room?"
 "I haven't any idea, Martha. I'm just as curious as you are. The kids don't want me in their
room either. I'm wondering myself what they're up to."
 "Have you asked them, Mrs. Muir?"
 "I have, Martha, I have. But they won't tell me. Now that I remember, only the Captain was
let in several times. I've asked him, too, but he won't tell me either what's going on in there."
Exactly at this moment, it occurred to Carolyn that she still wanted to speak with Ed
Peevey about Martha's upcoming birthday. Tomorrow was the day she would make it.
And she had to buy Martha's present she wanted to give her
 "Mrs. Muir, I can't get rid of the feeling that you're all hiding a great secret before me.
What is it, tell me?" Martha was very curious
. "I can't, Martha. Please don't ask me again."
 "Very well. Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes." Martha was a little bit snubbed,
turned around and left Mrs. Muir to her work again.
 Carolyn could absolutely understand that Martha felt impossible. But she was allowed
to betray nothing otherwise the whole surprise would be gone
 The next day, Carolyn met Ed Peevey in town. "Mr. Peevey, can we talk? Or is there
anything important you need to work on?" "Yes, we can talk, Mrs. Muir."
 Ed answered. "What is it, tell me? Has it something to do with Martha?"
 "Yes, it has!" Carolyn said a little mysteriously. "You see, Martha's birthday is on
September 13, and the kids and I planned on giving her a surprise party this year. And
I thought you would love to come, too."
 Before Mrs. Muir could continue, Ed's prompt answer came. "Martha's birthday, you
say?Of course I'm coming, Mrs. Muir. And I've the perfect gift for her." Although Ed
felt a little unwell in his skin, this time he wouldn't pinch again. This time, he would gather
all his courage together and ask Martha the decisive question.
 "Marvelous, Mr. Peevey. We'll expecting you on September 13. at three o'clock." and
with that Carolyn was gone. The rest of the week went by without further incidents.
 Martha had become resigned to not having her curiosity satisfied, and therefore Carolyn
had suggested that Martha should pay a visit to her sister in Florida for a couple of days to
think about something different. Now Martha was gone and the family had time arrange
the surprise party for Martha without any interruptions.
 The kids were busy again and completing the dollhouse. Carolyn had meanwhile bought
the beauty case she wanted to give Martha as a birthday present.
 Ed Peevey had summoned up all his courage and had bought an engagement ring for
Martha.

 September 13th, the family finished the decorations for Martha's birthday in the parlor.
All looked very nice by now. While Mrs. Muir was picking up Martha from the airport,
the kids took their dollhouse behind the curtain of the alcove. It was a perfect model of
Gull Cottage. The kids had done a great job. Both were just about to make the last
arrangements, like putting the birthday cake on the table, when a knock at the front
door got their attention. "I'm going, Jonathan." Candy called. "You can arrange the rest
 here. Okay?"
 "Okay!" was Jonathan short answer.
 Candy opened the door and before her was standing Ed Peevey with flowers and a
little package in his hands. "Hey, Mr. Peevey." Candy greeted.
 "Hey, Candy. Did I come too late?" wondering why Candy had opened the door.
 "No, Mr. Peevey, you aren't too late. Mom is picking Martha up just now from the
airport. You know Martha was in Florida for a short time visiting her sister? Mother
suggested she should do that so we'd have time to arrange the party. Please, Mr.
Peevey, come in. Jonathan is in the parlor." and Ed came in.
 Both made their way into the parlor where Jonathan had just put the cake on the
table. Jonathan looked up saw Ed and greeted him, too. "Hey, Mr. Peevey, nice that you
came, too. Do you like the decorations?"
 Ed was speechless but only for a moment. "Hey, Jonathan." he greeted back. "And the
 room looks lovely. When do you expect your mother back?"
 Before Candy could give an answer to Ed's question, an approaching car could be heard.
"That must be Mom with Martha." When she looked out the window, she saw she was
right.
 Martha had no idea that she would find a surprise waiting for her in the house when she
got out of Mrs. Muir's car, because she didn't think of her birthday at all. Carolyn was out
of the car too and both women made their way to the house. Reaching the front door,
Martha opened it and both women walked in and closed the door behind. The door to the
parlor was closed.
 Martha had the intention to retire immediately to her room to rest a little after the flight,
but Carolyn didn't let her. Instead, she was nudged immediately in the direction of the
parlor. Before Martha knew what happened, the door to the parlor was opened from inside
 Martha was completely dumbfounded and speechless as she was welcomed with the
words, "Happy Birthday, Martha."
 She hadn't expected anything like this at all. Suddenly she was close to tears of happiness.
"Oh, Mrs. Muir, you and the children shouldn't have done this. But thank you all. I never
had such a lovely surprise." Martha was overjoyed and then she saw Ed Peevey was there,
too. But she hadn't any idea what surprise he had for her.
 Candy and Jonathan were completely excited and said at the same time. "We have a big
present for you, Martha. Please, sit down and close your eyes and no peeking, Martha."
 'I wonder what it could be for a present?' she thought as she sat down and closed her
eyes.  Candy and Jonathan fetched the model of the dollhouse out of the alcove and
placed it in front of Martha who was siting on the sofa with her eyes closed. "You can
open your eyes, Martha.Look what we have made for you."
 When Martha opened her eyes again, she was dumbfounded. Before her was standing an
exact model of Gull Cottage. "Oh children, that's so beautiful. Thank you so much." With
tears in her eyes, she hugged them. And then she was curious when she looked at the back.
There she saw that the children had put five bedrooms in the house.
 Candy immediately noticed Martha's questioning face and said hastily. "Martha, don't look
so astonished, Jonathan and I decided to put five bedrooms in it because we both getting
too old to share one room, don't you think?" and Candy began to grin.
 Martha understood very well the hint and began laughing terribly. "Oh, kids!" And then
Martha received her present from Mrs. Muir. "Oh, Mrs. Muir, that case is so beautiful and
it matches perfectly the suitcase you gave me sometime ago. Thanks."
 "You're welcome, Martha."
 Now it was Ed's turn to give Martha his present. It was obviously difficult for him but
Carolyn finally encouraged him to do what he wanted to do. She had a fairly good idea
what Ed had planned so she transported her children out of the room for awhile. "Happy
Birthday, Martha. I've something here for you and I hope that you will accept it." he
handed Martha the flowers and the little package
 Martha took the flowers and the package with trembling hands. Before she unwrapped the
package she put the flowers on the table. When she opened the little box she didn't trust her
eyes. In that box was a wonderful engagement ring. For a moment she was speechless but
then her voice was back. "Oh Ed, it's lovely. But why? And what are you trying to say with
this?" She hoped she knew what his answer would be.
 Ed summoned up all his courage and finally confessed his love to Martha. "Please, Martha,
take this ring as a sign of my love for you. And I ask you: 'WILL YOU BECOME MY
 WIFE, MARTHA'?"
 "Oh Ed, I will!" Martha called out before loud luck, put her arms around his neck and
kissedhim. This was Martha's most beautiful birthday present.


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