It was a rainy day as Darrin Stephens looked out his window
at the city streets forty floors below from his office at Tate, Stephens,
and Stephens. As President of the second largest advertising agency
in the country with his old buddy Larry Tate as Chief Executive Officer,
he was very busy at the top end of the company. Still he missed the
old hustle and bustle when he was the McMann and Tate's chief account
executive. His daughter Tabitha, also a partner, and other younger
employees were in charge of handling the clients and their accounts.
Darrin felt a little bit left out as he looked out the window. Today
was his thirty-fifth anniversary. He had been married to Samantha
for more than half his life. Even with his success in business, his
good health and two wonderful kids, something was still not right.
He was in the evening of his life and he knew that his wife and kids
would be here long after he was gone. For the first time in his marriage,
he felt the limitations of being mortal, though he offered no apologies
for it. He had always stood up against whatever his magical in-laws
had done to him because he had his pride and a wife who stood up with
him. Since it was a very special day, he decided to head home.
"Betty, cancel my afternoon staff meeting. I'm finished
for the day," he said over the intercom.
"Good night, Mr. Stephens,” Betty replied.
As Darrin drove up to his home, he couldn't help but think
back to their first home at 1164 Morning Glory Circle. Both of their
children were raised there. Now they had a big five bedroom colonial
in Stamford. The house was very empty with the children having moved
out. Tabitha lived alone in an apartment in the city. Adam preferred
being a warlock and lived in the other realm working as the booking
agent for the Cosmo Cotillion. Darrin no longer had problems with
his in-laws and their magic after the children had grown up. Since
Samantha’s relatives hadn't aged and they had somewhat accepted
the mixed marriage, they had stayed away and went on with their own
witchy lives. On the other hand, Samantha made herself look the part
of the aging wife and still kept house for her husband and loved every
second of it. Darrin and their children were her life and her greatest
love.
Sam greeted Darrin as usual at the front door. Even though she did
have a live-in housekeeper. She always was there to greet him when
he returned home.
"Hello, darling. You look tired. How was your day?" asked
Sam giving him a quick kiss.
"Oh, Sam, I don't know. Work just isn’t the same with Tabitha
and her co-workers the doing all the REAL work. I guess I wasn't cut
out for sitting at the top of the heap. I'd love to roll up my sleeves
and really get back into the game. But the firm has to have new fresh
blood to keep up with the times. I guess I'm just an old dinosaur,"
sighed Darrin.
"No you aren't sweetheart. Besides if you want to start all over
again you know how we can," teased Sam with a twinkle in her
eye.
Darrin put up his hand to stop her. "No, that's quite all right.
We don't need any extra hocus-pocus in our lives. Besides I wouldn't
change a thing. Well, a few things that I went through I have done
without," Darrin said a little softer. "I love you, Sam,
I just am sorry I won't be around to be with you much longer."
"Now STOP talking about that," she said looking quite serious.
"Today is today and we will continue living one day at a time.
Just like we always have. Remember you have two wonderful children
and a wife who love you more than anything. And if it will make you
feel any better, there hasn't been a bit of hocus-pocus or any visits
from any of my relatives for over three months now except for Adam
and he drove here from the city. Now you go rest up. We're going out
to dinner. Thirty-five years together is something to celebrate."
"All right, sweetheart. I'll see you later," Darrin said.
He went into his home office and laid down on the couch.
On another astral plane, Endora was sitting in a lounge smoking a
hookah speaking to her grandson Adam.
"I have always said you had more sense than that whole family.
At least you didn't turn your back on your heritage," remarked
Endora as she took a deep puff.
"Remember, Grandmama, that's still my family you're talking about.
I did find it advantageous to be a warlock, but then I am half mortal.
What have you been doing lately?" asked Adam.
Endora replied looking very indifferent. "I was thinking about
going to Argentina for the llama races, but they were such a bore
last year. Maurice, your grandfather, did invite me to Paris for the
opening of the opera season, and I just may put up with him and go.
And then I may not. How is your mother, my dear boy?" asked Endora.
"She is just fine, Mother dear." Samantha replied popping
in next to her.
Endora’s eyes lit up. "Samantha, my dear child. How are
you? I haven't seen you in weeks. And how is my dear granddaughter
and, you know who, what's-his-name?"
Samantha let out a disgruntled sigh. "DARRIN is fine. And Tabitha
is fine, too. She has been working very hard and we are both very
proud of her." said a glowing Samantha.
"Hi, Mom!" said Adam waving slightly.
"Hello, dear. You will be home later, before your father and
I head out tonight, won't you? Your father's feeling down and really
needs a our support," said Samantha.
"I never miss your anniversary, you know that," explained
Adam. "I've been booking new acts for the Cosmos Cotillion. If
Tab sees anything new, please tell her to let me know."
"Well, it's probably better if we don't try mixing the mortal
and witchy world. You better keep looking around here. Mother, you
aren't going to try anything, since this is our thirty-fifth anniversary
together?" asked Sam.
Endora replied, "You don't have to worry about me. I grew tired
of that ten years ago. I'll just let time and tide take care of him.
Speaking of time, do you have to keep putting on that...that old crone
face? You look like my grandmother! That is positively revolting.
No one in my side of the family EVER looked so decrepit!”
"No, I don't have to look like your grandmother, but I do have
to look like their Mother. Besides I like the look. Darren and I still
make like a cute couple. Good-Bye, Mother. Remember...no tricks! Bye,
Adam dear. I will see you again later," said Samantha. She kissed
them both and popped out.
Samantha popped into Darrin's study and gently kissed her
sleeping husband. It had been a wonderful thirty-five years, but how
could she make this night extra special? Darrin started to stir and
saw his beautiful wife looking lovingly down at him.
"Feeling better, darling?" she asked.
Darrin gave her a crooked smile. "I'm not as tired, but the old
aches and pains are still there. I know you're only as old as you
feel, but it still takes getting used to... I'm ready to go and take
my best girl out and celebrate." His voice trailed off. "Sam,
I just can't keep thinking about what your mother said years ago.
Here I am late in life and you're still a young vibrant witch. You
deserve more in the years ahead."
"Darrin, I married you for richer or for poorer, in
sickness and in health. You're the one I love, you're the one I married,
and you're the one I am going to stay with, period. I loved you thirty
years ago and I will still love you for the rest of my life. And with
two beautiful children you are loved and you will be loved for a long,
long time. Now, go get ready for our date and don't dawdle. I still
have some pretty young ideas about you," explained Samantha as
she sent him on upstairs.
"Why should I really worry?" thought Darrin as
he finished checking himself out in front of the mirror. "I am
still living a fairly normal mortal life, considering I haven't been
turned into a toad or a dwarf in a long time. I just have a family
that is going to outlive me. By centuries! What's so normal about
that? Why can't I shake this feeling? I know why. Because I never
know when one of my nutty in-laws will be around the corner. And through
all this I do have Samantha, who gave up her whole enchanting life
just for me. She does love me. If she doesn't mind me looking seventy,
then I shouldn't mind. Despite all the aches and pains and father
time looking me in the face, I will put on my best face I can and
we will celebrate."
Darrin finished and headed downstairs.
At the bottom of the stairs stood his whole family, wife Samantha,
daughter Tabitha, and son Adam each looking as young as they really
were.
Darrin hurried down the steps without a huff or a puff and was surprised
when he looked in the mirror. He saw his old self not more than forty
years old standing up straight and tall.
"Sam, what the..." started Darrin as Sam but her hand over
his mouth.
"Not another word, dear. Not one word. You once said that before
we met you were looking for magic. I just wanted to show you that
the magic was still there, whenever you want it or need it. So for
just tonight, darling. Happy Anniversary!" Samantha said quietly
looking at adoringly.
Darrin gave her a sheepish grin saying, "Thank you, Sam. I always
loved you. Happy Anniversary." And he gave her a passionate embrace.
Hugging Tabitha and Adam the entire bewitching Stephens family went
out to dinner together.
The End
DISCLAIMER: All characters in this story
belong to Columbia Pictures.
© All literature found on this page was produced by Doug Laird.
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