Chapter 1: "Just Luck, He Lived"
Little Ken was standing on his chair, near the edge of the table, next to the big cake which seemed almost big as he was. He was all excited and wanted to cut the cake himself. Three candles stood with their flames fluttering on top of the jelly-filled cake. Strawberry jelly was his favourite treat and meant to be a surprise hidden behind the beautiful decorative icing. Ken's parents stood with him - his father behind him trying to restrain him so that he did not accidentally land on top of the cake before it was cut. Many children and adults stood around in a rough circle. Mostly they were little children, but some older kids - friends, cousins and family were there as well. Ken had the cake knife ready while his mother's hand hovered close to his hand trying to help if needed. Ken had already pushed her hand aside once when it got too close. He was a 'big kid' now and wanted to do things himself.
They all sang the "Happy Birthday" song and finished with a blessing read loudly by four-year-old Dan's grandmother. "May God bless you with a long and happy life". It was said in such a sweet kindly voice and spirit that everyone in the room cheered it - well, almost everyone. Ken looked ecstatic with all the love and attention.
The look on Dan's face was one of intense shock. He felt totally betrayed by his greatest love in life at the moment - his own, dear, Naana, singing and blessing Ken! That Ken!! That Ken, whom he hated the sight of and resented so much for being the center of attention today. Dan's mother had noticed some jealousy and had cautioned him. Dan was used to his mother occasionally chiding him or warning him to behave. But Naana! Sweet and kind Naana who never had a harsh word or tone for Dan. His Naana blessing and wishing well for Ken was like an unexpected slap in the face for him. He felt that the best part of his world had collapsed suddenly without a warning. He was stunned for a moment.
Then Shelly, the mischievous, pretty five-year-old that he liked very much and chased around, and who knew about Dan's hatred of Ken, caught his eye. She was standing next to him. She laughed at him and taunted,"Hey Dan, even your Nana loves Ken!" She laughed again looking at his discomfiture.
Dan looked around and saw a miniature wooden cricket bat with a bow tied to it - it was obviously a present from someone. He grabbed it and wielding it like a club raised high, surged forward. It was sheer accident that Dan stepped on a greasy spot on the floor from which a recent spill had not been properly cleaned up. His foot bearing all his weight skidded sideways just a little as he struck his blow aimed at the top of Ken's head. The bat landed on the cake instead and sent red-jelly and icing spatters in all directions. No one had time enough to react or stop this blow. Dan recovered his balance and realized that the first blow had missed the mark. He lifted that bat again in rage and frustration and aimed a second blow right on the top of Ken's head. Ken's father had jelly and icing on his face and glasses and could not see very well, but his mother to his one side, facing Dan on the other side, saw it. She instinctively reached out to stop and take the blow in her hand. She could see the expression of hatred on his face. Just as Dan's bat started its downward descent, he was tackled from behind and taken down by his mother. The tip of the bat struck Ken's father's hand and broke it near the elbow.
Ken had instinctively turned away from the direction of the first blow after its impact and had not seen the second one coming either. He had seen his mother's face and expression, close up and vividly as she tried to save him from the second blow. It was a strange mix of surprise fear, anxiety and even an animal like anger - the likes of which he had never seen cross her face before. He never fully understood it then, but it seemed recorded in slow motion in his memory. The next thing he remembered was being smothered in an embrace and slobbery kisses from his mother, everyone checking him over and over again, after wiping globs of strawberry jelly and icing, being asked repeatedly - "Does it hurt, Ken dear?" "Does it hurt here?"
Ken was unhurt. Everyone, including his father, checked on him repeatedly, before attending to his father who was really hurt. The red strawberry jelly gave the illusion of blood and gore on many. The rest of the evening was a blur in Ken's memory. He remembered falling asleep, rocked in his mother's lap in his own room, while she talked softly to one of his aunts. As he was almost asleep (his mother thought he had already fallen asleep), he saw a cold, determined look on his mother's face and heard her say in a low, cold voice to his aunt,"I know he is a child and does not mean it, but for a moment there, I would have killed him if I could, to stop him. I don't think I could have held myself back, if he had come back to strike once again. I could not have stopped myself.." She then seemed to break down into tears and collapse. His aunt gently lifted the almost asleep Ken from his mother's lap and put him in his bed, and tucked him in. Ken felt the wet cheeks of his mother as she kissed him goodnight and whispered her love to him.
Forty-Five Years Later
Chapter 2: "Just Luck, She Died"
Ken was being led away in handcuffs by the police. He went along, fully cooperating with them. In fact, he had asked his son to call the ambulance and police himself. Sally's body still lay dead in the room that had been undisturbed except for the paramedics who had vainly tried to resuscitate her. The big cricket bat lay not far from her, where it had fallen. Ken's gun had been taken by the police. The detectives and photographers were still taking pictures and gathering samples of evidence after recording Ken's statement and some reenactment a few minutes ago.
Ken paused near the door and turned around to his son, who was lying bandaged up on a gurney with a couple of paramedics and a youth counsellor. Ken's police escorts patiently waited on either side of him.
"Gary, after you are done at the hospital, go to your mum's and stay with her for now. I know you may not prefer it, but it is best for now, atleast until we make other arrangements," he said softly. His son nodded tearfully. He was conscious but still dazed at the turn of events of the day.
It had started out as a relatively typical evening but ended in tragedy all around - with Sally being shot by Ken and now dead, Gary with some stab wounds and broken bones and Sally's daughter too, injured and in hospital under sedation and psychological supervision. They were not sure who would be charged with what or how things would turn out.
Ken and Sally had recently moved in together. Their children from previous marriages, did not get along well. Ken's son, Gary, was a large boy - a gentle giant. Sally's daughter, Tessie, was a moody little girl - who went between sulking quiet solitude and angry, incoherent, violent outbursts. She had few friends. She resented Gary's popularity since he had many friends and was becoming popular with her friends too.
It was when Tessie's best friend told her about her crush on Gary that she 'lost it'. That fateful evening, she had confronted Gary and demanded he stay away from her friend. Poor Gary had no idea about the seriousness of the issue for Tessie. He had simply bantered with but really did not take Tessie's best friend's attentions seriously. He had absentmindedly agreed to meet her at a party. Tessie's friend had called her to cancel going out with her the next day saying she was going to be out on a date with Gary.
Gary had dismissed the accusation and tried to 'shoo' Tessie away. Seeing her last, best and only friend deserting her, Tessie had come at Gary, who was sitting on the couch, with a screw driver. She was a small girl but wiry and strong. She had struck Gary on his hip, to one side and the screw driver had dug into the flesh by the time he became aware of a searing pain, he had tried to grab her hand but Tessie wound herself around him and prevented him from reaching the screwdriver. Tessie started to scream as well, as if she was being hurt. Gary gave out some muffled groans of pain. He instinctively caught hold of her neck and started to choke her hoping she would let go of him. He growled once more instinctively and in pain to try and scare her to let go of him.
"Help ma, He's killing me!" screamed Tessie just as Gary caught her by the neck. Ken, in the study, heard it and was shocked. He thought there was some intruder in the house. He decided to quickly pick up a baseball bat on the study wall as a precaution as he headed towards the bedroom en route to the living room.
Hearing the scream, Sally came in from the kitchen, from behind the couch, she could not see much of what was really happening. All she could see was the huge hulking Gary trying to choke and apparently intent on killing Tessie, who seemed strangely wound around his waist at an awkward angle. She looked like a little rag doll being shaken by a pit-bull.
Sally too screamed and cried "Let go of her, you monster!!" Ken heard Sally's scream as he headed out of the room. His heart sank at the tone of her voice. He decided it was more serious. Ken decided to pick up his gun from the bedroom. His heart raced as he took a deep breath to calm himself. He quickly grabbed the gun from the bottom of the drawer. He switched-off the gun safety catch, ready to deal with any intruding assailant in the house.
The children did not seem to have noticed Sally. She tried to lean over from behind the couch to separate them, but saw that Gary was intently focused on trying to choke Tessie, who seemed helpless like a little twig about to be snapped in two. She saw the strong arms and muscles of Gary and felt them firm as she weakly tried to intervene. She could not see the far side of Gary from where he was bleeding and hurt. Just then Ken walked in from the study from the opposite side. He took in the scene at a glance and saw blood on the side of Gary as Tessie still held the screwdriver. He froze for a moment to figure out what was happening as he saw Sally apparently trying to help.
He saw Sally look around quickly and spotting the big cricket bat near the mantelpiece go to grab it. It was a signed memento that Gary had got from a famous cricketer. Sally took the bat and lifted it up above her head with both hands and went towards Gary. What disturbed Ken was the tone of Sally's voice calling Gary a monster and seeing her stride towards him with a determined cold look on her face. It was a look he had seen on his own mother's face that night on his memorable third birthday.
"STOP!" Ken roared loudly.
Sally did not stop, but seemed to pause momentarily and her aim was deflected just a little. The bat came down on one side of Gary. His grip on Tessie loosened and he gave a painful groan and moan. Sally raised the bat again. It seemed the next blow would be directly on Gary's head. Her expression was one of ferocious determination. Ken aimed and fired. Sally collapsed and the bat weakly fell from her hand on the top of Tessie and slid down to the floor.
As he held Tessie firmly down, while she kicked and scratched, Ken asked Gary to call the police. Gary, bravely, through his pain called the ambulance and police and then collapsed in pain.
Chapter 3: "The Defense Attorney"
The whole thing was in the news all over and Ken was charged with voluntary manslaughter. To be fair to Sally's family, he was willing to be tried and cleared properly with his innocence proven in court rather than make any deals. While he was trying to find a lawyer - he could ill afford to pay someone expensive, someone stepped forward and offered to defend him without fees. It was an old lawyer named Henry, who proclaimed himself an old friend of the family.
"Why do you want to do this for me?" asked Ken.
"I guess, I owe you one," said Henry.
"What?!! Whenever did I ever do anything for you?" asked Ken.
"Well, I suppose you will not remember me, but I was there at your third birthday party. It was an unforgettable one," said Henry smiling slightly.
"Oh! Yes, I remember Dan's attack on me," said Ken.
"Of course, everyone remembers that, but I remember it for another special reason. I met my wife there at your party. Did you know every year we celebrate our wedding anniversary re-enacting a little bit of what happened at your birthday party?"said Henry smiling mysteriously with mischief in his eyes.
"But what did I or my family do for you then?" asked Ken.
"Well, but for that unfortunate or fortunate incident at your party, I might not be married to the most wonderful woman who is my wife today," said Henry, looking a bit sheepish.
"What happened?" asked Ken intrigued.
"I suppose you should ask my wife, Dorothy," said Henry looking a bit flustered and shy,"She tells the story better."
So, they had Dorothy come along the next day. The elegant, lady with white, neat curls and black-rimmed glasses told the story to Ken and his family.
"Well, I cannot believe Henry is so shy about telling the story. He sure was not shy with me that day at Ken's birthday party," Dorothy said laughing mischievously.
"Well, I and Henry were both guests at your birthday party - I am distantly related to Ken and Henry is related to your neighbours. We were strangers to each other there. I found this rather cheeky but attractive young man following me around most of the time at the party. As the cake was about to be cut, I was standing around the table singing. Henry was there right behind me. As you can see, he was much taller than I was and I had the distinct feeling he was looking down at me, over my shoulder, from behind," said Dorothy smiling.
"Yes, the view was great," said Henry grinning wickedly.
"When the bat hit that cake and the jelly and icing went flying all over, some landed on me," said Dorothy,"It must have looked like splotches of blood or something and everyone was checking out all the kids to see if they were hurt or if it was jelly."
"Well, let's just say that Henry was trying to be a hero to me and 'staunch' the bleeding with his hands, looking very concerned and all the while asking me if it hurt," said Dorothy, "I really was bowled over by his concern for me."
"It took me a while before I told him I was not hurt and that it was just jelly," said Dorothy smiling. She and Henry exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
"So what is this thing about you re-enacting something every year on your wedding anniversary? Where did you seemingly get 'hurt' ?" asked Ken, surprised.
"Well, let's say, a couple streaks of jelly landed in the region over my heart," said Dorothy as everyone burst out laughing.
"She took her time before declaring she was not hurt at all," said Henry laughing.
The case went to court. Ken was cleared of the charges of voluntary manslaughter and it was ruled a justifiable homicide. Tessie was adopted by her extended family at her own insistence even though Ken offered to take care of her as his own daughter. Everyone went back to their lives.
