The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2010

F S F I C T I O N 34 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 1 0 W HOLE L ADA L OVE e seemed to like the presents,” Paula said. Cake plates, torn wrapping paper and a greasy cardboard box from Pizzastan, the fa- vorite expat hangout, cluttered the dining table. “Yeah,” said Mike. “I thought he’d want to have some other kids over, though.” “Says he’s getting too old for birthday parties.” “See?” Mike said. “Our boy is growing up. He’ll be nuts about this little surprise.” “Little surprise, huh?” Paula gave him her look. “Pretty extravagant for a 14-year-old, if you ask me.” “We’ll get some use out of it, too. And it’s very educa- tional. Plus he’ll love it, trust me.” “Hmm, I don’t hear him listening to those downloads you gave him at Christmas.” “That’s just a matter of time,” Mike said. “Any boy with my DNA in him will get into Led Zeppelin before long. But this one’s on a whole different level. For a guy his age, it ranks right next to girls.” “Still,” said Paula, “I’m not so sure this was the best choice.” Mike’s eyebrows shot up. “You think I should’ve gotten him a girl?” Paula beaned himwith a wad of gift wrap. Todd, sport- ing his new jeans, appeared in the doorway just in time to witness the violence. He glanced between the two of them with a puzzled grin. “What?” “Oh, nothing,” chirped Paula. “Just a little discussion. So, are those the kind you like?” “Yeah, thanks. And they fit just right,” Todd said, kick- ing his foot out to show how the cuff fell. “Well, for the next fewmonths anyway,” said Paula, and kissed his cheek. “Happy birthday, honey.” “Hey Todd, come here,” Mike said, and opened the front door. “I want to show you something.” In the driveway sat a beat-up old car, as square as a shoe- box and not much bigger. It looked like a toy next to the family’s SUV. “Whose car is that?” Todd asked. “Yours,” Mike said. He dropped a key into his son’s hand. “Happy birthday.” Todd stared. “A car?” He stared some more. “Um, Dad? I can’t drive.” “I’ll teach you. By the time we move back to the States, you’ll be way ahead of the other guys.” “It’s mine?” A N IMPROBABLE BIRTHDAY GIFT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR A TEENAGE BOY FEELING STRANDED IN C ENTRAL A SIA . B Y J OHN M AHER “ H John Maher joined the Foreign Service in 1988 and is cur- rently posted to Yerevan. He learned to drive in a 1970s Fiat, a close Italian cousin of the redoubtable Lada. His story is a co-winner of the 2010 Foreign Service fiction contest.