Surprise!

Her eyes didn't stray from the screen once since the play button had been hit and the movie had begun. The face that filled the screen had the young girl hooked. She laughed uncontrollably at his funny faces and even the slightest hint of his comic prowess caused a smile to escape her lips.

The young girl's mother watched on, smiling too, though for different reasons. She let Rae watch his films because he was funny. She didn't let her watch all of them, only the ones for kids, of course. But oh, how she wished she could tell her the truth. Reveal the secret so she didn't have to keep it all to herself like she had been for these past 10 years.

Now, at seventeen, Rae was growing increasingly curious. All her life it had been just her and her mother. She'd never questioned it too much before, but now, all her friends, and even Rae herself, were more knowledgeable, and as a result, more curious than they had been when they were kids.
"Mum," she asked one night, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday. "What ever happened to my father? Why isn't he around like everybody else's fathers?"
"He..." her mother started to say, stopping herself before she ended up saying something she might regret later. "He's not here honey. Does it really matter where he is?"
"He's my Dad, Mum," Rae said, pleading in her eyes. "I want to know who he is."
"Maybe one day you'll find out." Said her mother. "Now, off to bed. You have a big day tomorrow."
Once her she'd left the room, Rae's mother let out a sigh of relief. Her daughter was getting smarter, and, she realised, she just couldn't hide it from her any longer. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello," she said once someone picked up, not missing a beat. "I need to speak with Adrian,"
"Doesn't everybody?" asked the man on the other end of the phone in a sarcastic tone of voice.
"You don't understand," she said, trying hard to keep a grip on her patience as it began to squirm in an attempt to get away. "My name is Gina. Gina White. I'm not sure that he'll remember me, but he knew me once, years ago. Please! I need to talk to him. It's important."
"Alright lady, alright. I'll see," said the man, reluctantly. "But I'm not making any promises."
"Fine," said Gina as the line went dead and she waited.

"He-lo," answered no one other than Adrian M. McLaurin a moment later in one of his trademark comical voices. Gina couldn't help but laugh as a wave of memories, good memories, from her time with him came flooding back.
"Adrian," she said once she'd regained a little composure. "Hello."
"What can I do for a lovely fan like yourself?" he asked.
"Adrian..." she stopped, realising what he'd said. "Adrian, I'm a fan, of course, but... do you remember me?"
"Remember you?" He asked. "Where would I remember you from?"
"Oh, around eighteen years ago," she said, trying to sound casual. When he said nothing, Gina went on. "The summer of about... 1996, you and I had a little fling."
"We did, did we?" he asked. "So, to what do I owe this lovely reminiscent little trip down memory lane?"
"Adrian, there's something I'm going to tell you, that I should have done years ago."
"Yes?" he asked, sitting down as he waited.
"Adrian you have a daughter," said Gina quickly after taking a breath.
"Wow," said Adrian after a long silence. "Does... Does she know? How old is she?"
"No," Gina said. "She doesn't know. Not yet. Her name is Rae and she'll be eighteen tomorrow. But Adrian, I'd like to ask a favour if I may."
"What is it?" Adrian asked, scooting to the edge of his seat. "Money?"
"No, nothing like that. Will.. Will you come to see her tomorrow? For her birthday? It'd be a dream come true for her."
"She doesn't know though, does she?"
"No, but she's grown up watching your films Adrian," Gina said. "You've made her laugh more times than I can count. She's watched your films over and over..."
"Alright," he said, letting out a heavy breath as if it were the most difficult task in the world to agree. "Always happy to oblige a fan."

Rae blinked at the sight before her, then started to shake her head. "A... Adrian?" she stuttered out. "Adrian M. McLaurin?"
He nodded, smiling at the happiness his simple presence had caused his daughter, even without her knowing the truth.
"Wow! I...  I don't believe this! Mum how did you...?"
"Sweetie, you wanted to know who your Dad was.."
"Guess you'd better start calling me Dad," said Adrian, trying to relieve the tension with humour, as was often his tactic.
"Adrian M. McLaurin, the man I grew up watching on movies my entire childhood, is my father?" Rae asked, staring at her mother.
"It was my way of letting you see him without actually telling you," Gina said, her eyes falling to the floor. "Rae, you weren't old enough..."
"But he's my dad?" Rae asked, finally turning to look at him.
"Yes."
"Surprise!" said Adrian, comically throwing his hands out to the side, a big, goofy grin on his face.
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In memory of the late, great Robin Williams, whose comedy is a cherished memory of my childhood and hopefully, a man who's humour will be passed down through the generations for years to come. Rest In Peace.