(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-18 07:32

SANFORD, Mich. - Amber Birdsall didn't have a long birthday wish list. All she wanted in exchange for turning 7, she told her inquiring mother a few weeks ago, was for her stepfather, Army Spc. Glenn Johnson, to return home from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he had been assigned since May.

A seven-year-old girl pulled pink wrapping paper off a refrigerator box and gleefully discovered a stepfather inside as her birthday present.

During her birthday party on Sunday, she and her 9-year-old sister, Kathy Birdsall, pulled pink wrapping paper off a refrigerator box and gleefully discovered Johnson inside.

The girls, who had not seen their stepfather for 10 months, had suspected that the giant package contained a pair of bicycles.

"This is way better than bikes," Amber told The Bay City Times for a story published Monday. The girl's actual birthday was Friday.

Trisha Johnson, 34, relayed Amber's wish to her 39-year-old husband the same day that the girl expressed it. Glenn Johnson immediately started on the paperwork, not expecting his request for a leave to be granted because he is scheduled to come home for good in June.

Much to their surprise, his request for more than a week of leave was granted.

The soldier's flight arrived in Flint early Sunday afternoon and he was whisked away to Northern Lanes Recreation, a bowling alley in Sanford where his stepdaughter's birthday party was taking place.

Northern Lanes employees also were in on the ruse and kept him hidden in the bar.

In June, the family will move to Fort Hood, Texas, where Johnson will be stationed. His wife of five years said he may be deployed for another overseas stint starting in October, but until then they will be together.

In the meantime, besides spending a lot of time at home with the family, the couple was planning a late celebration of their five-year wedding anniversary, which was on Valentine's Day.

"I told her she needs to get a baby sitter and a new outfit," he told the Midland Daily News. "I'll take care of the rest."