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Home
There was a tinkling in the air. Silverware and mirrors hanging from wires clinking songs from the back porch. It was almost dark, almost, it's almost always dark.
The smell of sugar and vanilla filled the room. She'd spent the last two hours cutting intriciate cookies from soft white dough and decorating them just so. Each piece was unique; a flower, an umbrella, a tiny duck with yellow icing and blue eyes, a psychedelic mushroom with purple and orange spots.
She smiled as each cookie was finished setting them on a white china platter with tiny pink rosebuds painted so delicately. She had made an elaborate feast. The guests would arrive soon and then so would he.
She took the flour dusted apron off and looped it through the refrigerator handle and then skipped upstairs as the tiny grey striped cat followed her. She went into the bathroom to wash her face and hands. The water smelled sweet, well water, ice cold and soft. She brushed her teeth and then dried herself and walked to the bedroom. Their room.
She walked to the closet pulling open the white washed door and then perused the fanciful dresses she'd made from discarded old formals. She peeled her teeshirt and jeans off tossing them aside and then reached for the cotton candy pink dress she'd made from a wedding gown she'd dipped in red dye. The sleeves were removed and the skirt was cut just above her knees and billowed out in thick wispy layers of jagged organza speckled with rhinestones. She dressed and then pulled her hair back securing it with a white velvet ribbon. She walked to the bureau dusting herself with powder and sweetening her lips with strawberry gloss.
The doorbell rang. She smiled and ran downstairs stubbing her bare toe against the railing as she hit the downstairs floor. She hopped and reached over to see a small tear where her nail had been slightly torn from its bed. A thin ribbon of blood ran along the underside of her toenail. She frowned and bit her lip and continued to the door.
Seven people sauntered in dressed in their whimsical finery and holding elaborately decorated packages of all sizes. She smiled and lead them all to the dining room where the table was laid out with flowers and mismatched china and silver. They set their gifts on the table and asked when he'd be there.
She smiled and told them all. Soon.
Everyone smiled and laughed as music played, pretty notes of some kind that swirled like heaven birds around the room. Candles flickered in the waning night. Deep purple walls and glittering mirrors reflected the smiles and dancing light of the strung white lights and candles.
Then the sound of gravel grinding as his car pulled into the driveway.
"Shh!" she reprimanded in her sweet way as they skittered to hide.
She crouched behind the wall peering towards the door as she heard each footstep across the porch. His keys jangled as he unlocked the door. He paused a moment sensing a frenetic stillness he was unaccustomed to hearing but had heard before on an evening such as this.
Unable to control herself she ran for the door squealing with glee as she threw the door open and shouted, "Surprise!".
He stood in place as she jumped into his arms squeezing him with all the strength in her body.
"Happy birthday!" the friends cheered and laughed knowing in advance she would be unable to contain herself.
He set her softly down on the floor smiling passed her at their friends and then looked down at her beaming face.
It was good to be home.