At the end of dinner we went to the living room to go on with the conversation, even though the food smells were still there. The thunder made our windows tremble, making people notice. My mom was commenting with much enthusiasm about our vacation to the island, in the summer. The one who told us about this place was Auntie Eva. Until this time, she hadn’t looked into my eyes, avoiding crossing my lightning stare with hers. She thought she’s going to be able to get away from me, she was wrong.
When she got up to go to the bathroom, I jumped from my chair and followed her. She quickened her walk, and so did I. She got into the bathroom in a hurry, but before she could close the door, I put my foot in the way.
“Auntie!! What’s in that box? Don’t leave me waiting anymore, I’m going to get in the bathroom with you,” I said, forcing the door open.
“No, Lola!!! Stay quiet and don’t make a scene. Stop being so dramatic, everyone will notice! When we are alone, we will talk it through. Now, go! If someone suspects we have a secret, it’s all lost! And stop staring at me, I’m getting uncomfortable in front of the others.”
She whispered while giving me small kicks on my foot to release the door then closed the bathroom door in my face.
I went back to the living room, exploding, staring at that little box waiting for me with the other gifts. I sat back down on my chair. I guess conversation was so great, no one noticed I left for a few minutes. Except for him, always him.
“Lolis, did you get to talk with your aunt?”
“No, I didn’t, now stop! Let me be nice with you and stop irritating me,” I answered, whining.
Before he said anything, we were interrupted by mom bringing my favorite cake in one hand, a prinsesstarta pinned with seventeen candles. Besides being beautiful, it is delicious. Made with green marzipan on the outside, it may seem a bit weird for people from afar, but the taste… For my next birthday I will suggest number candles, my cake was getting too small for the quantity of candles pinned on it.
“Let’s sing Happy Birthday! Everyone to the kitchen! Where is Eva?”
“In the bathroom, honey,” said my father, all lovely, abnormal that.
They were trying to be enjoyable, at least while guests were around. My father acted like everything was all right, but I could see in his “brown” eyes a hint of fear, he was scared to death I would touch again on that subject from before. He could rest in peace. I wasn’t going to insist with him about that. Such a good mood between me and the three of them (mom, dad and Auntie Eva). Great!
“I’m here people! Are we going to sing Happy Birthday now? Yup!”
My family should open a theater. One is falser than the other at the art of ‘everything is just fine.’ Spare me.
They were all around the table looking at my boring face while that ordinary song of ‘Happy Birthday’ reverberated through the kitchen walls. I had to put my head down from disappointment when they started singing a horrible different version.
Happy birthday to you
You’re still single and blue
You could be marrying Gustav
And have a baby or two!!
Oh no, please! I didn’t know if I laughed or cried. The only one who liked it was Gustav.
Past the humiliation, we ate the whole prinsesstarta and all the candies on the table. We then went to the living room so I could open the gifts, only by looking at Auntie Eva’s box I felt dizzy. I found a way to push that little box behind the couch. If I could hide it, I could open it later, alone in my room.
Mrs. Lena gave me a dark green sweater full of stars, made of a type of wool that just from holding it kicked in my allergies. Her son Gigio gave me a flashlight. Told me it was for me to take better care when I left the house at night and not get hit again (I felt like telling him to do something else with that beautiful gift). My father got me rollerblades I had been wanting for some time. I’m sure he got them before all this mess, otherwise I probably would have gotten shoelaces. Gustav gave me a blue hat “to match your eyes” and to blend my bangs together since they were always apart, as he told me. From my mom’s guests, I got a Beatles disc (one of my best gifts), terrifying sweaters, and a vest which I’m sure is made for a boy. There weren’t any other gifts to be open besides that one. I tried to fake it, starting to thank everyone, but my mom saw one was missing, pointing to the package. My heart raced and my hands went cold, I didn’t want to have to open it. I searched for Auntie Eva’s eyes, she gave me an enigmatic smile asserting me with her head, insisting that I open it. It didn’t look like a death sentence, but it also didn’t look like a solution for my questions.
It was a heavy and small box that could fit in my hand. I swallowed dry and start to open it without any hurry. When I was finished with the paper, I saw what it was. A crystal ball.
“Isn’t it divine? I knew you would like it. It’s going to look beautiful decorating your room!”
“But what…” My face showed the confusion.
No one cared if I liked it or not. My mom turned the disc player on and put my gift on to play. Auntie Eva used the time to slip to a corner of the room. I was starting to feel the will to throw that ball at her head. What did this thing have to do with our conversation?
Thinking it over, she could be trying to disguise it. Of course! Oh, well.
The music started to muffle the rain noise, bringing life to the room, for other people at least. The oldest ones showed the biggest enthusiasm. It looked like teachers’ finals celebration. Mrs. Lena, who hadn’t partied since her last husband passed, was the first one to get up and dance. Even Rodrigo bounced with the music at his place on the couch, while Koda licked his mouth. I was the only one who couldn’t do what I wanted, and it was my birthday! I was biting my nails staring at the senior’s ball going on in front of me, through all that, Gustav tried to ask me to dance. Lucy, Mrs. Lena daughter, drooled sleeping in the corner of the couch while her brothers had fun drinking my father’s whisky without being seen.
I kept watching Auntie Eva while drinking Mats’ baptized punch, leaving his mom so proud of that. She just didn’t see when he poured a huge dose of vodka into the punch, one of the reasons why people looked so cheerful, more than normal anyway.
I was only waiting for the hour Auntie Eva was going to talk to me. My concentration was interrupted by the house phone that rang like there was no tomorrow. I ran to pick it up, it could be someone to wish me a happy birthday, but it was Mr. Heen. He wanted to talk with Auntie Eva immediately. I almost told him. Get in line, sir!
I made a signal to her holding the telephone, she left her music and came pick it up right away.
“Hello! What? Did they steal something? Is water coming in?”
“What was its Eva?” asked my father.
“Someone broke my store window and it is raining inside! Mr. Heen called to tell me. I have to go there now!” she said, hanging up the phone in a hurry.
The shock made me spit the punch from my mouth. That wasn’t fair! I ended up calling attention without intending to. My mom came to help me, thinking I was chocking.
It had been a long time since we had heard of any theft in the city. It had to be today? And, exactly with my aunt? She couldn’t leave without talking to me. I had been waiting all night for nothing, but I didn’t have another solution. Before she left, seeing my desperation clearly on my face, she hugged me and whispered in my ear.