A New Year's Eve Surprise

As a practical joker, Becky really enjoyed her life. Oh, some people didn’t appreciate her mischief, but lifelong practice kept her anticipating her next gag. When she moved into the Happy Day’s Senior Living Center, her daughter, Katie, threatened her.

“Mom, if you get evicted again …”

Becky waived the threat away. “Yes, yes, I know. It’ll be curtains, Buster! I’m being good. No one’s complained, have they?”

“Yet,” Katie said, ending her visit with an affectionate good-bye kiss.

Becky had to be very careful tonight. Stopping her stunt wasn’t an option. It was her duty to liven this place up.

A wheel chair rolled into Becky’s room and came right up next to Becky’s easy chair. It was as close as it could get. “I’m all out,” whispered the hunched over, white haired octogenarian.

“You’re practically inhaling this stuff. It’s not good for you.”

“It’s not like I’m over doing the salt!” Julie’s wrinkles deepened with her expression of defiance.

“It’ll give you zits,” said Becky. They both snickered as Becky dropped a large bag of peanut M&Ms into Julie’s wheel chair pocket. “Now go away and don’t bug me for a while.”

“What are you up to? Are you planning something for tonight’s New Year’s Eve party?” asked Julie.

“You got’ta have fireworks for New Year’s Eve, right?” asked Becky.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Wait. I guess no one has told you yet,” said Julie. “Most of us fall asleep long before the TV fireworks at midnight. So we celebrate at 8:00 p.m.” Julie squinted to be certain, and yes, Becky was smirking. “Saints preserve us. What are you planning?”

“I told you, fireworks.”

“You might give someone a heart attack,” said Julie.

“Nah. It’ll be great. Have you ever heard of a glitter bomb?”

Word count: 300