August 24th

August 24th:

"You got it?" a whisper slithered through the dark abode.

"O'course oi got it!" Monty replied indignantly, and well above a whisper.

Dale frowned at Monty's lack of understanding inside voices, but his expression fell in vain in the dark, "And Zipper you managed to get your piece?"

"Bzz."

"Good, were they nice and red?"

"Bzz."

"Excellent!"

"Dale…" Chip quietly said as he took his friend aside. "I'm still not sure this is such a great idea."

"What do you mean you're not sure?" a whisper came back in the dark.

"It's not exactly like our history is looking so great for this date. Don't you think it's a little, you know, soon?"

"Stop being so timid, just trust me."

"I trust you it's just we don't want to bring up any ghosts on the airwaves if you know what I mean…"

Both Dale and Chip's mind played the movie of events they knew had happened just a few years ago on this date. While they both knew that their source was notoriously unreliable in his story telling, something had told them that Monty knew exactly what he was talking about this go around . They had brought their idea for tonight up to him a while back and while not discouraging he certainly wasn't gung ho for it . He could only be convinced after giving them fair warning and what he considered vital information about this fateful night .

"Being helpless in the face of tragedy is brutal Dale, we both know that…"

"You can't dwell on things forever Chip."

"I can't, you can't, people can't, but what if she does?" concern painted Chip's face and, even in the dark, Dale could readily see the glimmer of deep worry that reflected out of Chip's eye .

Dale paused, were they doing the right thing? Who knew? Certainly there are those such as Diane who would say this was never a bad idea, but life was rarely that simple.

"Chip, what's the worst that can happen? If she's not ready, then she'll just have a rough night like she would have had anyway. You never forget or get over those sorts of things…"

"I know but what if this is seen in the wrong light ?"

"What light is there to see it in Chip? We care and friends will understand that, even if what we do isn't perfect, or exactly what was needed, we tried. We tried to help, we tried to do something nice. It's the thought that counts."

"Are you getting mildly existential here? " Chip asked confused.

"Hope you enjoy it, I'm sure it won't last," Dale sighed. "Look! It's as simple as this, we care and we're trying to show that. It can be misunderstood, and misread, but at the end of the day, we're doing this cause we care, that can't be misunderstood, it can only be appreciated."

"I think you're assuming too much on her picking up on our reasons."

"I'm doing something because I care, she's no dummy like you and me Chip," Dale nervously chuckled trying to lighten the mood. "She'll figure it out."

"Fine, but wouldn't caring be doing nothing 'special' regarding this date?"

"It's a special day Chip," Dale sternly replied. "That's the reality, we're just celebrating it that's all…"

"But other events?" Chip again questioned hesitantly.

"They can go take a hike for all I care, it doesn't change what today is and it doesn't mean that the special day has to be ignored for all time. If a case went bad for us and it fell on your special day would you want people to never again celebrate it?"

"If someone died maybe ," Chip added solemnly.

"Now you're just dealing in what ifs."

"Only for me, not in her case."

" Whatsthebigidea!" Dale attempted to quietly bonk his friend but missed on account of the lack of light. "You were all for this, now you're getting cold paws?"

"I'm just trying to be considerate."

"Stop being considerate, and start being proactive! Be more like me!"

"Random impulsive and dangerous?"

"Yes that!" Dale chirped back.

"It's 'bout that time chaps…" Monty's voice carried through the house.

"Just don't worry and be happy!" Dale violently whispered in Chip's ear as he dragged him to the front door.

*********

Gadget climbed up the tree as silently as possible. She knew that the others had decided to call it an early night, or at least that was their excuse for not attending the three hour lecture on the nature of wormholes and their predictions of Armageddon . The walk home had been more tiring than she expected and, by the time she got to the limb that the entrance to their home was on, her breath had completely left her. Stopping for a moment and looking out across the dark park she mused that it had been a long time since she could remember a new moon coinciding with this day. Perhaps it was cloud cover, emotionally or weather related that caused her not to remember, but still it struck her as odd.

Even more out of place was the completely dark Ranger HQ. It was only 10:30 and, while they had said they were calling it a short night, she hadn't believed them, especially Dale given that there was some sort of cult film classic movie marathon running tonight. She chuckled to herself imagining Chip's reaction to Rocky Horror , and quietly opened the front door.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" a wall of sound pummeled her as she entered and blinding lights instantly illuminated all around. Her eyes quickly adjusted and inside she saw banners, streamers, balloons, and all sorts of party favors .

"Golly!" she exclaimed short for words, and figuring perhaps the old standby would do .

"Happy birthday Gadget!" Chip said.

"WOWIE ZOWIE IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!" Dale chimed in .

"BZZ BZZ!"
"Happy birthday Gadget luv," Monty said engulfing her in a huge hug.

She stood there shocked, as still as a fence post, not being able to process what reaction she was to take for all this. While it seemed like forever, only three years had passed since she last had anyone celebrate her birthday, and yet this was so shocking it might as well been forever.

"Thank you," issued quietly from her lips as she embraced them all in a loving hug, and she blessed the fact that they couldn't see her face as tears of joy ran down her cheeks.