The Picnic

“I invited Julie to the party.” Sarah almost dropped a tray of sandwiches. “Julie? Mark, you invited JULIE? She hates Michael, she hates me. Why would you do that?” A mixture of anger and jealousy dripped down her face, she quickly wiped it away. “I don’t think you’ve given her a fair chance. I know she seems a little cold, but she’s had a hard life. She is still my friend, and Tana’s mother you know.” “Oh, how could I forget that your daughter who hates me has a mother who hates me? I don’t want her there Mark!” “Well, I guess you’d better toss a bottle of wine into that picnic basket, because I’ve already invited her.” Mark slammed the door as he walked out of the kitchen.

Julie. If suburban mothers had archenemies, Julie would be Sarah’s. She had spent the past six months planning this party down to the smallest detail, and all while working around Michaels peanut allergy. It’s amazing how many common foods actually have peanut ingredients in them, something she never appreciated while she was just going to work and letting Michaels father take care of the meals while he worked from home. She often marveled what an awful thing it was to be terrified by feeding her own child. Once she had seen Julie at the grocery store and suffered the shock and embarrassment of having her point out a bag of chips in her cart that were cooked in peanut oil, she had nearly killed her own son by accident. Julie saving Michael’s life from her mistake and laughing at her for it was a painful lesson that had made her beyond careful about food. Now she read every label and took every precaution. From the sandwiches and punch, to the strawberry cupcakes and vanilla ice cream, every tiny detail of her plan was ready. There was just one problem, Julie. Julie had hated her and Michael since she found out about Sarah and Mark’s relationship, and every other weekend she filled her daughter’s head with hate for them too. It was hard enough raising a son with a serious allergy, hard enough having been suddenly widowed by a freak snowmobile accident, and hard enough finding love again, she really didn’t need her step daughter having a fond hobby of making her miserable daily. The party she had looked forward to for months now filled her with dread, but it was too late. She could not cancel her only son’s birthday, there was no way out but through.

“Michael, Tana, come on it’s time to go.” She yelled up the stairs for the third time. The car was loaded, and Mark was putting on his shoes. “Don’t worry hun, Julie is actually really nice if you get to know her. And it would be good for Tana to see you two getting along.” He kissed the top of her head and put his arm around her. She thought maybe he was right, and if it could improve her relationship with Tana, maybe it was worth being nice to that rattlesnake in a skirt. “Ok, I’ll try, but if she says one rude or mean thing I’m done. I mean it.” “She won’t. I think she’s realized that you and I are serious, and she’s coming around to accepting it. You’ll see. We’re going to have a great afternoon.” Sarah rolled her eyes at him as the kids finally came downstairs. “Hey, there’s the birthday boy! You kids ready for the party?” Mark tried to lift the mood. “Oh I’m so ready to see my REAL mom.” Tana looked at Sarah with all the venom a twelve year old could muster. Sarah managed a smile, realizing it would be the first of many forced smiles in what looked to be a very long day. “Ok, let’s go then.”

“Why can’t we sit closer to the lake mom?” Michael looked at the ducks splashing happily. “Because I didn’t make enough sandwiches for three dozen feathered guests.” Sarah hated birds, and ducks more than most. Mark spread out the blanket and Sarah started unpacking the food. “After lunch we’re going to the zoo remember? You’ll get to see lots of animals there that won’t try to take our lunch.” At the reminder of the zoo Michael’s face lit up. He loved animals, and the zoo was one of his favorite places to go. His dad had taken him there several times, Sarah always stayed home because her only interest in animals was cooking them. Now she would actually be going to the zoo with him, he was more excited than she had seen him in a long time.

“Mom!” Tana ran towards the white sports car that was pulling up and parking. “Oh, yay. She’s here.” Sarah fought off the urge to just get in the car and leave. “If you’re nice, she’ll be nice.” Mark tried to reassure her as Tana and Julie came walking up to the picnic. “Julie, I love your dress! How have you been?” Her former years of schmoozing spoiled rich clients came back to her, and she had not lost the skill. “Sarah, so good to see you. Have you lost weight?” Sarah wanted to hit her already. “Please sit with us, have a sandwich.” Julie gracefully lowered herself onto the blanket and Tana sat down a few inches from her. Mark passed around the sandwiches and chips and everyone started eating their lunch. “So, Michael, how’s school going?” Sarah knew Tana had told her mom that Michael was failing three classes. He had been a straight A student before losing his dad, now he could barely finish his homework. Julie was as cruel and cunning as ever. “It’s going.” Michael stuffed another sandwich in his mouth to avoid talking further. “How’s your dad?” Mark asked Julie. “He’s doing ok. Still learning to walk on the prosthetics.” Sarah winced, she had no idea about Julie’s dad, perhaps she did have struggles going on in her life that made her so unpleasant, her heart softened a little towards her. “What happened to him?” Julie looked genuinely surprised by the concern in Sarah’s voice. “Oh, you know. He was doing what he always does, risking his life for stupid reasons with no regard for those who care about him.” Julie laughed “And it finally bit him, I hope he enjoyed the view from that mountain top, because I don’t think he enjoyed that rockslide on the way down or the boulder that crushed his legs. He won’t be hiking anymore.” Sarah marveled at the casual way Julie talked about the tragedy affecting her dad. She started thinking Julie must have been used to bad things in her life to be so calm about it.

 “Time for cake!” Tana said suddenly. Sarah realized they had all finished eating their sandwiches. “Oh, perfect. Wait here. I brought something.” Julie hopped up and walked quickly towards her car. Sarah shot Mark a questioning look, and he gave her a look that said he had no idea. Sarah was curious and afraid what Julie’s surprise might be. She didn’t have to wait long to find out. Julie came walking back carrying a large box. She set it down on the blanket and removed the lid. Inside was a beautiful chocolate cake. “Happy Birthday Michael” was spelled out on top. Michael came as close to a squeal as a ten year old boy would let himself. Sarah shot Julie a stern look. “Oh, I know, the allergy. Don’t worry hun, I told the bakery very specifically. NO PEANUTS. It’s just a chocolate cake.” Sarah was in a spot now, her gut told her not to let Michael eat it, but if she refused the cake, Julie, Tana, Michael and even Mark would all see her as just being jealous and mean. But could she trust Julie with her son’s life? She remembered the grocery store, and thought if Julie really meant harm to Michael she would not have mentioned the chips. Did she really think Julie was a murderer? Surely she didn’t hate them THAT much. “How nice of you Julie. Thank you.” She found herself saying. She took the cake out of the box and lit the candles. They sang the birthday song and Michael made a wish and blew them out. Sarah removed the candles and licked the frosting off of one, trying desperately to detect if it tasted like peanuts in any way. It seemed fine. Nervously she cut the cake and placed the slices on plates. Just then Julies phone rang and she answered it. “Now? Oh my goodness! No, I’ll be right there. Tell him I am on my way.” She hung up the phone and turned to Sarah. “I’m so sorry, I have to leave. My brother was just in an accident, they are about to take him into surgery. I have to go, have a great day guys. So sorry.” Before they could reply, she jumped up and practically ran to her car and drove off. “Mom, can I please have my cake?” Michael looked up at her with his father’s eyes pleading at her. “Ok son, here you go. I love you so much. Happy Birthday.” She handed him a slice of cake, it was barely in his hands before he started to devour it. One maybe two big gulping bites and the slice was gone. “It was SO good, can I have sec….sec…” He didn’t finish the sentence, his face was turning red and he started to cough. “Michael?” Sarah screamed. “He gasped for air and then collapsed. “Mark, call 911, we have to get him to a hospital!” Mark handed her the phone and picked up the lifeless boy, they ran to the car and in their rush, they left the picnic there. There would be no trip to the zoo today. As they raced to the hospital, the ants moved in, and tiny piece by tiny piece the chocolate cake disappeared across the grass.