[ WP ] A world where kids dream of being accountants , cashiers , bank managers etc . In the adulthood their dreams are crushed when they have to become astronauts , cowboys , ninjas etc .

With Ryan in the other room, it was safe to lower my hands and open the door. Jessica, two steps behind me, kept her gloved hands up, palms-out, in front of her chest. Still in character, lest Ryan notice and throw a bitch-fit. 
 
 The Colvins, wearing their best all-black shinobi shozoko, were on the other side of the door. The box Jake had in his hand had white wrapping with red caducei on it. `` Hey, so glad you could make it!'' I said, shaking Jake's free hand and kissing Lisa's hooded cheek. Nice guys, but kind of stiff -- I guess it's an occupational hazard, `` tradition in all things'' and that crap. 
 
 `` Hello, Michael-san,'' Jake replied, walking in as Jessica and Lisa exchanged greetings. `` Got something for your young man here.'' 
 
 `` An'I Can Play Too' catheter set from Fisher Price,'' Lisa explained. The mask could n't hide the tone of pride in her voice. 
 
 `` Oh my God, he's going to love that. Please, come on in.'' 
 
 They followed us through the foyer and towards the living room, staring wide-eyed at the decorations: medical charts on every door, a cart of needle-shaped gummy candies in place of the antique cabinet we kept in the hallway. `` Wow, you guys went all-out, did n't you?'' 
 
 Jessica and I shrugged, side-stepping a six-year-old running with some toy or other in his hand. `` Well, what can I say? Ryan's in a urologist phase right now.'' 
 
 `` It was Congressional lobbyists last year, now it's urology. God only knows what he's gon na want to be next year.'' 
 
 `` Gas station attendant?'' Jake suggested. 
 
 I shuddered, raising my gloved hands up as we approached the main party area. `` Do n't even joke about that kind of thing, man.'' 
 
 The living room was a crash of noise and motion, with friends and neighbors trying to keep the noise down to a low roar. The Sullivans, their baby girl in Marie's arms, sneered at me from across the room. She'd worn her best pants suit; Tom was wearing a vested pinstripe suit with a red power tie. It was n't professionally-trained job pride, like what the Colvins had, that made them wear their work clothes to a five-year-old's birthday party; it was showing off, pure and simple. Fucking city councilman and surveyor for the greater Los Angeles area. And here I was in nurse's scrubs, plastic gloves, and a surgical mask, playing dress-up like I was five years old again too. 
 
 Some of the kids were a little too old for pretending to be doctors of any field, much less something as fanciful as urology. Those kids had n't even bothered dressing up and playing Pin the Scalpel on the Foreskin or other kiddie games -- they just grabbed cookies and punch and ran around talking, or starting fights, or whatever it is kids that gave up on having dreams do. I hated them almost as much as I hated the power couple across the room for getting to fulfill theirs. 
 
 I felt Jessica's hand on my elbow. Surprised that she broke character -- Ryan would certainly make her wash her hands again, as seriously as he took the concept of participating in a urethral reconstruction surgery -- I turned to face her. `` I know,'' she whispered, not unkindly. `` You're jealous too.'' 
 
 So, so jealous. I was mostly surrounded by kids who were young enough to imagine big things for themselves, not to wind up a stupid Power Ranger like their fathers, their fathers before them; by kids who'd just recently realized how fragile their dreams of suburban success really were; and by couples who'd somehow made it to adulthood with everything they ever wanted. The adults in the room that, like me, had to scrape by with whatever crap jobs they could get in this economy, did n't make it any better. 
 
 But Jessica understood. Some days, her love for me is all that got me through my shitty workdays, hours of piloting Zords and stopping intergalactic witches from destroying Earth ( in the greater Los Angeles area, at least ). 
 
 And as for Ryan... well, hell, he was just a little boy. Let him dream for now. 
 
 I smiled at Jessica through the mask, and dove back into the party.
