Nearly Four Years Later
Tommy's Birthday
11 June 1991
Daria awoke. She sat up in the bed, she then recalled that it was her brother's birthday. Or rather, adopted younger brother, but she rarely thought about that. Her current Mom and Dad were better than what she could remember of her biological Mom and Dad. 'Happy Birthday, Tommy,' she thought. She got up and got dressed.
Once dressed, she left her room. She could hear her parents in her brother's room, saying 'Happy Birthday'.
She went downstairs.
As she started breakfast, she could hear her parents talking about the day, particularly her father being enthusiastic about a toy he had made.
Her Mom placed Tommy in the high chair, and proceded to feed him. “Now, what does Lipschitz say, Stu. We need to distract him.”
That got Daria's attention. “You doin't need to distract him,” she said.
“Yes we do,” her mother said as she turned her attention back to Tommy. “OK, Tommy. Open the Pod bay door!'
Daria sighed. She was sure whatever Lipschitz recommended wasn't helpful at all. Tommy flinched.
“A little to the left, Stu,” her mother directed.
This time her father managed to get the food in Tommy's mouth.
“Stu, Daria, let's do the birthday checklist,” Didi directed, once Tommy had his breakfast.
“OK, Shoot,” Stu said.
“Um, carrot brand cake with health nuggets.”
“Check,” Stu said.
“Pin the tail on the Donkey.”
“The version with suction cups?” Daria asked rhetorically. “Check!”
“The puppet show?”
"Oh, yeah. Puppeteers, stage, props, and puppets arrive at eleven," Stu said.
“Perfect!” Didi said.
Daria sighed. She saw her grandfather approaching. “A puppet show for one-year-olds? Why, the little sprats aren't even gonna remember it!”
“It will make for good baby photo embarrasment opportunities,” Daria snarked.
“Daria!” Didi admonished.
“She makes a good point!” her grandfather said.
“Besides, do we want to be remembered as the family that settled for less?”
Betty DeVille rang the Pickles doorbell. The door opned. “Hi, Daria.”
“Hi, Mrs. Deville.”
“How are you, Daria?”
“I'm fine. Totally ready for Tommy's Birthday,” Daria answered. “How are Phil and Lill?”
“They're fine, but we also have little Chuckster,” Betty said.
Her husband, Howard moved aside allowing young Chuckie Finster to come forward.
“Hey, you think we could just pen these pups?” Betty asked.
“Over there,” Daria said. She bent down to Chuckie's level. “Hi, Chuckie.”
The red haired boy refused to make eye contact, instead lowering his gaze.
'To be expected,' Daria thought. She looked over to where her grandfather was complaining.
“Puppet show for one-year-olds? Why, when I was a spud, we didn't have puppet shows! "If we wanted entertainment, we went out back and pulled up stumps!”
“He's always, like that, don't worry,” she said to Chuckie. She stood up. “You know where it is,” she said to Mrs. DeVille.
“That I do.”
Chuckie and the twins joined Tommy in the playpen. The adults all ran outside chasing Spike, leaving Daria to watch them. (Except she continued reading a book she had been reading earlier.)
“I have one word to say to you,” Tommy said to his friends.
“What?” Phil and Lil asked at the same time.
“Dog food,” Tommy said.
“Dog food?” the twins asked.
“Dog food. I tried to get some from Spike's bowl, but Grandpa stopped me,” Tommy explained.
“Why would you want to eat that stuff?” Chuckie asked.
“Well, Spike eats it, and look at him!”
They looked out the window in the yard, where Spike was running around.
“He can do anything he wants to. He even gets to sleep in the flowers! Maybe, if we eat that dog food, we'll turn into dogs!" Tommy explained.
Lil watched Tommy's grandfather shoo Spike away from the flowerbed. “You mean we get to sleep in the flowers?”
Phil watched the dog lick Lou in the face. “And lick people?”
“And wear a collar with our names on it?” Lil added.
Chuckie saw Spike scratch himself. “I don't know. Maybe it's not such a good idea. Dogs don't have it so good. They always get fleas and junk.”
“Fleas? Let do it,” the twins proclaimed.
Didi came to the playpen. “Oh, I almost forgot to put on their little party hats!” she said.
“I still think that's a bad idea!” Daria objected. She sat down next to the playpen. “I don't like them either!” she said to Tommy.
“She's right,” Betty said. “They'll stay on for, oh, three minutes tops!”
“Get in the picture, Daria,” Didi said, gesturing with her camera.
Daria sighed and sat in the playpen. She put Tommy in her lap. “Like this?”
“Yes,” Didi said. She took the picture, as Tommy was beginning to squirm in Daria's grasp, Chuckie was backing away and the twins were showing signs of restlessness. “Done!”
“Good!” Daria grouched.
“Hey. Isn't it time to bust the pinata?” Betty asked.
“Let's wait until all the kids get here!” Didi said.
“Well, who's missing?” Betty asked.
“Daria and Tommy's cousin, Angelica,” Didi answered. She noticed Daria frowning at that.
“Oh, right, Angelica.”
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