“What did you think of the trees?” Robin asked, a slightly playful and sarcastic tone in her voice.
“Oh, the trees? They were breathtaking,” Samantha replied.
“Breathtaking, eh? Pretty lofty compliment for some cutouts,” Robin replied with a laugh. “Okay, I think we have everyone. Are we ready to head home?”
Everyone was ready to go, so Emily and I walked out with the Jameson family and headed to our cars.
“We’ll see you tomorrow then?” I confirmed with Robin.
“Yep, everything’s all set. We’ll catch up tomorrow. Have a good night you two,” she said to Emily and me.
“Good night, Mrs. Jameson,” Emily said, and gave Robin a hug. “Bye, Daisy … bye, Delilah.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow night. We’re expecting a clear night for our flight. I’m looking forward to showing you the lights,” I whispered to Samantha as I gave her a friendly hug good night.
“I can’t wait,” she whispered back.
Emily and I walked to my truck together hand in hand. “Really great job tonight, kiddo. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad. This was my favorite show we’ve ever done.”
“I think it was my favorite too.” I helped her get buckled in. “You ready for tomorrow?”
“Are you kidding me? I could barely keep our secret tonight. I’m so excited to see all these flamingos.”
“I am, too, kid.”
We headed home, and Emily was already half asleep by the time we made it there. We were about fifteen minutes away, so I couldn’t blame her. What a big night. I tucked her in and checked my phone. I had a text message from Robin that said she’d secured all the hats I needed for my project. Score.
The next morning I got up bright and early and woke Emily up for breakfast. Normally, she’s quite the sleepyhead, but she bounced out of bed and got dressed faster than I’d ever seen.
“Come on, Dad, we gotta get cracking,” she said.
I laughed out loud. “Where did you hear that?”
“You say it all the time when you’re in a hurry,” she replied quite matter of factly. I didn’t even realize I said it that much, but it sure was funny coming from an eight-year-old.
“You’re right, kid. Let’s get this show on the road.”
We packed up some snacks and headed down to the hangar. When we opened the door, piled next to my plane were at least a hundred pink plastic flamingos. I needed more for what I was doing, but they were going to be delivered later that afternoon, and it was going to take all day to get them set up.
In retrospect, I probably should have recruited some help, but I didn’t want to put anyone out a few days before Christmas. People were spending time with their families, and I had Emily to help as long as I could keep her attention.
“That is a lot of birds.” Her little jaw was wide open. “What’s the plan, Dad?”
“Well, we’re gonna load them up on the trailer over there and take them out to the field next to the runway and set them all upright there.”
“Won’t she see them right away?” Emily asked. A very good question, but I’d thought this plan through.
“It’s going to be dark out when she gets here, so she won’t see them until the lights get flipped on, and we’ll already be up in the air by then,” I replied.
“Who’s going to turn the lights on them?” she asked.
“Rob—Mrs. Jameson has offered to handle that for us. She’s going to pretend that she can’t go flying, and then it’ll just be me and Samantha up there. Mrs. Jameson is going to turn the lights on, and the whole field will be lit up with flamingos in Santa hats. What do you think?” I asked her.
“I think this is the best Christmas surprise ever!” she squealed.
“Well, we don’t have a lot of time, so let’s get to it!” I held up my hand, and Emily gave me a high five.