He had been postponing the phone call for weeks.
It was such a longstanding family tradition that they spent the day and evening at his mother’s house each year on her birthday. It had become even more import after his father had passed away. He and his wife had done this every year since he had married and moved away across country. He was sure she felt they didn’t visit often enough as it was. He knew it meant a lot to her, but this year would have to be different. He wasn’t sure how to tell her. They had won the four-day stay at the beach hotel through a raffle and it couldn’t be changed.
For weeks he had known that he would have to tell her; for weeks he had been putting it off.
He punched in the numbers. Moments later he said, “Hi mum. How are you?”
She sounded really happy to hear his voice. “Oh! Hello sweetheart. I’m well enough. It’s nice to hear from you. How are you both?”
‘We’re fine thanks.” He paused. “I’m ringing about your birthday.”
She said, “Oh!”
“Yes, I thought I should talk to you about the arrangements this year.”
“Go on, dear.”
“Fact is, we wondered how you’d feel about moving it.”
“Yes?”
“Look, this isn’t easy for me to ask this. I know how much these visits mean to you; especially now that dad’s gone, I mean.”
His mother said nothing.
He blurted it out. “We were wondering if we could move it to the following week, if that’s alright with you?”
There was a short silence before she replied. “You know, I’m not sure whether I’ll be here.”
“Oh! Please mum, there’s no need to talk that way.”
“No, you don’t understand, son. I… I… Oh! Well, I meant to tell you months ago. I’ll probably be in Acapulco.”
“Did you say Acapulco?”
“Yes dear, with Reginald.”
“Reginald?”
“Yes dear. We’ll be away then, but I’ll let you know when we get back from our cruise.”
He was silent.
“You could visit some time and I’ll introduce you, if you can find the time.
He was still silent.
She said, “Bye dear.”