12.02.1961: twelve! {Living Minutemen}

[missjuspeczyk]

Today is my 12th birthday!

Mom and I spent all last night baking!  We made our own cake!  Who knew following a recipe could be so easy!  I even frosted it myself.  Well, Mom did help.  A little.  She wrote on it "Happy 12th Birthday Laurie" in pink frosting, and she even added a little heart over the 'I'!  And we put real flowers on the cake!  Roses

Comments

[sallyspectre]

I hang up the phone slowly, a mixture of anger and frustration brewing within me. None - none - of Laurie's friends can come. They're all 'sick', which is bullshit, but there's no use in pushing it. I just don't understand... why? It can't be Laurie; she's the perfect child, and I'm sure she gets along with everyone. Is it me, then? Do the girls' mothers not want them here because of me?

I glance back at Laurie. She's sitting on the couch, her lips twitching, and I can tell she's trying very hard not to cry. In that moment, I hate those little girls and their mothers. God help them the next time I run into them at some school function or another.

I need to salvage this. I cannot tell Laurie no one's coming, and there won't be a party after all. I stare at the phone, thinking... and then it comes to me. I know it's not the same as having her friends, but at least it'd be something. I could ask Hollis, Nelly, and Bryon - they'd all come, I know they would.

I call Hollis first, and of course, he says he'd be delighted to come - and so does Nelly. Bryon takes a bit more convincing, but in the end he too agrees. I hang up slightly satisfied, but now I have to find a way to tell Laurie the six little girls she expected aren't coming - instead, what's left of the Minutemen are.

For a brief moment I think of Eddie, but there's no way in hell I'd invite him. I'd have to have gone insane to even seriously consider it.

I take a deep breath, sitting beside Laurie on the couch and forcing a smile. I hope the others aren't too long. "Laurie, honey... there's been a change of plans."

[niteowl_i]

I always loved hearing from Sally, and when she asked me to show up at Laurie's birthday party, of course I agreed. Laurie was a sweet kid, looked more like her mother every day. And I'd been planning on dropping by to wish her happy birthday sometime this week. Might as well be today. I forced her present into the back of my car, securing it with some twine and drove to Sally's. If I was going, Byron and Nelly would probably be there as well. Should be quite a party, bunch of retired masks running around, trying to trip over an assortment of twelve-year old girls.

[missjuspeczyk]

Oh no. OH NO! Everyone at school hates me. I know it. I tell Mom this as tears stain my cheeks.

"Mamaaaaaah! This is the worst birthday ever!" I whimper loudly, burying my head into her embrace. "Everyone hates me! I have no friends, and no one even wants to come over for cake!"

I'm so tangled up in my sadness that I don't even hear the doorbell.

[sallyspectre]

"No, Laurie... no one hates you." I speak soothingly, stroking her hair gently. "Your friends just... caught a bug that was going around. It's that time of year, sweetie... it doesn't mean they don't like you." I can't stand to see her cry. I wish I could do more, but all I can do is work with what I have.

"Your birthday is not over yet," I say firmly, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. The doorbell sounds in the background, and I smile. "C'mon. Let's go see who that is, shall we?"

I rise off the couch and pull Laurie with me. As we walk to the door, I rack my brains, trying to think of anyone else I can invite. Someone who might be able to provide entertainment - not that Hollis and the others can't, but... something a twelve-year-old would enjoy.

The idea comes to me as I pull open the door, smiling down at Laurie.

Moloch.

[niteowl_i]

Sally opened the door, and she looked as beautiful as ever. And Laurie was standing half behind her, and looking less than thrilled. Poor kid. I grinned at her.

"Hey Sal." I greeted her, then spred my hands out and said, "Got your present in the car, Laurie. Too damn big to drag up to the house."

[missjuspeczyk]

"Uncle Hollis." I sniffle, attaching myself to him in a wave of sobs. "It's awful! I don't have any friends!"

I feel like such a baby. Such a stupid, whiny baby. No wonder no one wanted to come to my party. No self respecting sixth grader wants to hang out with a cry-baby jerk like me.

[niteowl_i]

I patted her back awkwardly. Sally looked amused, and I resisted the urge to sigh. I carefully disentangled myself from her, and knelt in front of her.

"I bet you've got loads of friends, Laurie, sweet kid like you. This time of year though, lotta kids get sick. I've even got a touch of a cold myself."

I faked a cough, hoping it was convincing, before saying, "So come on, you wanna see your birthday gift, don't you?"

[missjuspeczyk]

I nod, wiping my cheeks with my hands, and carelessly tugging on my boots. Mom chuckles softly as I drag on my coat and mittens. It may just be out to the drive, but it's cold! I probably look like a freak of nature in my coat and party dress, but right now, I don't care. I've been promised a present, and I will have it.

"What is it, Uncle Hollis?" I wrap my scarf around my neck and tug my hat over my curled hair. "Is it socks? Please don't let it be socks! I already got three pairs from Aunt Bella..."

[niteowl_i]

I tugged her hat down over her eyes, chuckling.

"Not socks, I promise." I assured him. Sally was laughing...hope she stayed laughing after she saw what I'd gotten for Laurie.

"It's in the trunk of my car, kid." I told her. "Let's go take a look."

I took a few backwards steps down the walk, grinning at her.

[sallyspectre]

I smiled gratefully at Hollis, tugging on a coat and shoes as I followed them outside, feeling a bit apprehensive. What could he have gotten her that was too big to bring into the house?

I laughed at Laurie's eagerness, remembering that long-ago spark of excitement right before you open a present - the thrill of the surprise, wondering what it could be.

I'm just as clueless as she is, so I can't help but feel a bit eager myself.

[missjuspeczyk]

I resist the urge to run past Uncle Hollis and throw open the trunk myself. I'm twelve now, old enough to act like a lady and not like some dumb baby. I can be patient. Or not.

I scurry after him, trying to keep up through the snow-dusted walk. We reach his car, Mom just half a step behind, looking just as excited as me. I can't help but squeal, "What is it?! If you don't tell me I think I'll die!"