Page 96 of Repentance and Absolution

Oscar and I even had some leads on jobs that we might take, come summer. Tim said he’d gladly hire Oscar to serve behind the bar in his saloon, since he was young and not hard on the eye, and he thought I might find a place in the general store, to load and unload stock and maybe even help with the ordering. I had experience transporting goods and some knowledge of accounting.

There were more folks in Port Essington for the summer than there were in the winter, so the businesses often hired folks for seasonal work, like Clarence’s spot with the blacksmith, but they would keep you on through the colder months if they could. T’was good to know and something to think about, once the work on the house was done.

Mentioning my upcoming birthday had been a mistake, and Oscar wouldn’t let up until I gave him the date. When I did, he smiled with a secret in his eyes and nodded.

“All right, then.”

On the anniversary of my birth, Irene had us for supper, and they made a big fuss o’er me, which was strange. I hadn’t had a birthday party since I was a little ’un, but t’was nice. Although, when the meal was done and no dessert had been produced, I was somewhat disappointed.

“Ain’t you got somethin’ sweet for us, Irene?” Oscar asked, tapping his fingers on the tablecloth.

“Well now, I don’t know. Is it anyone’s birthday?”

I shook my head, amused beyond words by their unsubtle reference. But I kept my mouth shut.

“Why, I believe it’s Jimmy’s birthday, Irene,” Clarence said.

“Why, I think you’re right!”

She disappeared into the kitchen, and I turned to Oscar.

“What on earth is going on?”

“You’ll see.”

After a few moments, Irene came out of the kitchen carrying a large cake on a pretty platter, with candles in it that were aflame. She nodded to Oscar, and he started singing a simple song about a happy birthday with my own name in’t, as they looked in my direction and joined in.

My face heated at the attention, but t’was sweet of them to sing to me. Irene placed the cake on the table at my place.

“Now, make a wish, Jimmy, then blow out the candles.”

I looked at Oscar, who was glowing with happiness at the surprise.

“Well—what should I wish for?” I asked.

Oscar rolled his eyes.

“I can think of lots of things, but you ain’t supposed to tell us. That way, there’s a chance it’ll come true.”

“I see,” I said, then closed my eyes, thinking about what I truly wanted.

I wanted this new house we were building to be the beginning of a wonderful life for me and Oscar, and I wanted Clarence and Irene to be our friends forever, and I wanted… I wanted to see Miss June and Cal and the girls again, sometime.

I took a deep breath and blew out the candles, getting every one of them.

“There! Now there’s a real good chance your wish will come true, Jimmy.”

I circled my arm around Oscar’s waist and pulled him against me. “I truly hope so.”

Oscar leaned in to whisper, “If you wished for some gamahouching tonight, I can pretty much guarantee that one’s gonna happen.”

I lowered my hand and swatted him sharply on the behind.

“Oscar, we’re in company.”

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t spank me, then,” he said in his regular voice, and Irene dissolved into laughter while Clarence put a hand to his chest in false modesty.

Irene got a hold of herself.