So, it was a fact, something was happening. What would she tell me? What was this secret no one could know? Already, out of the store, I could feel a bad taste in my mouth, I think it was only my nerves. A thunder told me the weather was changing, a very bad storm was coming. I ran back home, I needed to rest my legs. I have to admit that for someone who had just been run over, I was abusing my health.
I spent the rest of the afternoon counting the hours, it was like forever. Meanwhile, my mom and I cooked for the dinner (never bringing that subject up). This party was going to be more hers than mine, because many of her colleagues from the university were invited, I barely know two of them. At least she remembered to invite Gustav, my only friend. She wanted everything perfect, so no one could gossip about it.
I turned the radio up a little louder than her standards. Loud music helped me to shut down my thoughts. It sometimes worked, but not this time.
Not even a disturbed mind like mine could imagine what was about to happen.
Chapter Three
The Purple Eye
After endless waiting through the afternoon, the night was finally here. And it brought with it a storm like this city hasn’t seen in years, a bit abnormal on the cold days. Even so, no one missed the dinner. I couldn’t have a birthday party only with my friends because I didn’t have enough friends for that. Except Gustav, I had to accept my failure as a teenager and my moms’ guests. I put a half-smile on my face and went to welcome people who were arriving. Almost no one noticed, but when Gustav put his eyes on me, he knew something was bothering my agitated mind. I couldn’t take my eyes off the street. Someone was still missing.
“You are very pretty birthday girl!” my fatty friend said, looking at my new outfit - a red wool turtleneck with a jean dress, garden-style, and red socks that came up to my knees (I had looked at this outfit in the store window for weeks).
Koda, who is completely scared of thunder, was hiding under the table and didn’t leave that spot for the rest of the night. You can tell he is very smart, I don’t think there’s a better hiding spot in the house, where he can be safe and fill his stomach at the same time.
In a few minutes, there were already around fifteen guests in our living room, a house record. Even with the storm outside, everybody walked around in their colored socks, polishing our wooden floor. I had learned that here we must take off our shoes while visiting someone’s home, so we don’t bring dirt from outside into the house. What do you think about a day like today, full of mud and water puddles—how would the house’s floor would get?
Mrs. Lena and her children came bringing a punch made by her middle son, Mats. She was all proud to tell us her son prepared the drink with fruit, sugar, and cinnamon (wow, congratulations!). She came in to complete the ninety percent of the guests who were over 40 and then some. This allowed them to make embarrassing comments and questions, such as ‘Did you break anything in that accident? What a miracle!’ or ‘Don’t you have a boyfriend yet?’ or, even, ‘Wow, your face is so big, take care or you will get fat.’ I was as comfortable as I would have been in a tight elevator full of people. My half-smile turned to a quarter now, and I kept my eyes on the street.
Lucky me, I could divert myself from the questions when my mom asked me to help her set the table - roast beef, chickpea nuggets, vegetable pie specially made for my father, the only vegetarian in the house. The food’s smells brought up everyone’s appetites, just like on Christmas night.
The rain was pouring outside, and inside our night was very animated, maybe to make up for the failure of the rest the day. The mood between me and my parents was cloudy, it seems like they had amnesia about my questions, and everything seemed just fine. That was just for them because I felt my stomach-turning upside down.
My eyes were tired from watching the rain pouring down on the street and on the parked cars, I wanted so badly to see that blue Beetle. I had been waiting for it the whole day. It was not the Beatles or the Swedish Prince. It was the only person who could shine some light onto this weird story my parents wanted to avoid. It was the blessing called Auntie Eva. I only stopped biting my nails when she arrived, an hour late. My heart almost came out of my chest when I heard the car’s engine turning off in front of the house.
“Hello, people! What’s up with this rain? I almost couldn’t come! Happy Birthday, dearest! I brought gifts! One for you and another one for auntie’s little baby, my favorites,” she said, moving her yellow hair from one side to the other while hanging up her coat. My aunt looked like the special attraction of the party when she arrived, wearing a long dress full of sparkles shining more than a new galaxy. She smashed me into a hug with one arm while pinching Rodrigo’s cheek sitting on my father’s lap with the other.
“Of course, we are the favorites, we are your only family,” I answered while tried to breath over her shoulder.
“Jessica, I had to bring this moose teddy for Rodrigo. It just arrived at the store, isn’t It so cute?”
“He got one like this last week, but thank you. I’ll take it to his room later, now let’s start eating, we were waiting only for you,” my mom said, without even looking at the poor moose.
“And for me?” I asked widening my eyes. Auntie Eva knew what I meant.
“I was going to give you a crutch, but I can see you don’t need it! Hahaha. Of course, I brought you a gift, anxious girl!” she said shaking a box.
“Later! Now, let’s eat.” I knew by my mom’s pressed together eyebrows that I should obey.
Auntie Eva left a box that could fit in my hand with the other gifts in the living room. She wouldn’t reveal our secret with that gift in front of everybody, or would she? That little box could be a “ticking bomb” in the middle of the living room, my mouth trembled to think about it.
My mom’s guests sat around the house holding their plates, only a few stayed at the kitchen table. I had to tell a thousand times the story of my accident between my forkfuls. To be honest, I wanted everybody to leave so I could stay alone with Auntie Eva. It seemed that the more of a hurry I was in, the more they decided to stay late.
The rain outside was far from ending. The wind coming in by the single open window at the kitchen brought a few chilling drops to the inside, getting my dress wet by only stepping closer trying to shut it. The guests’ stuffy noise only got louder inside the house.
Koda watched from under the table to see if someone would drop their food, just as closely as I watched Auntie Eva. I could only wish teachers at school would be just as captivating. She had my full attention.
“Lolis, by your ways you are ready to beat up your aunt. You haven’t taken your eyes from her since she is here,” Gustav whispered in my ear. My face turned as red as my shirt.
“Me? You’re imagining things! It’s just that she asked to talk to me afterward, I’m only curious.”
“About what? Can you tell me?”
“No, I can’t! It must be something silly anyway, maybe she wants to pull my ears for skipping class today. Now, let’s go back to eat.”
I don’t like to be rude, but sometimes people ask for it. I couldn’t tell something that I don’t even know what it is. By the way, I don’t like to share personal stuff, especially stuff that makes me nauseous. What hurts my soul I like to deal with by myself, in this case, with Auntie Eva’s help.