hey this is my first story and I hope you enjoy it and please only constructed criticism

"Please bubbles please"

I lay sprawled on a blanket in my back yard, making a daisy chain for my little sister. The sun shone brightly as fluffy white clouds ghosted accords the endless expanse of baby blue. As I breathed in the thick honeysuckle and rose perfume of the Townsville summer, I could make out a few shapes. A really long legged caterpillar. A butterfly with one shredded wing. A fat white rabbit racing towards a tree. Nine-year-old Blossom danced around me. She wore a sparkly pink ballerina costume, her pony tail bouncing around with her every movement. She was a much younger version of our mother and the complete opposite of me.

Both possessed a slick fall of pink-ish hair and beautifully up-tilted golden eyes. Mom was short, barely over five-six and I wasn't sure Bloss would even make it to five-one. Me? I have wavy blond hair, big blue eyes and legs that stretched for miles. At five-eleven, I was taller than most of the boys at my school and I always stood out - I couldn't go anywhere without getting a few what-are-you-a-giraffe? Stares. Boys have never shown an interest in me, but I can't count the number if times when I caught one drooling over my mum as she walked by.

"Bubbles!" At my side now Bloss stamped her foot to gain my attention "are you even listening to me?" "Sweetie we've gone over this over and over again, your recital might start when it's sunny but it'll end at dark. You know dad will never let us leave the house. Anyway Mum agreed to sign you up for the programme as long as you swore to never throw a tantrum when you couldn't make a practice or a, what? Recital"

She stepped over me and placed her feet at my shoulders, her slight body throwing a large enough shadow to shield my face from the overhead glare. She became all that I could see, shimmering gold eyes pleading down at me. "Today's your birthday, and I know, I know I forgot this morning...and this afternoon...but last week I remembered that it was coming up- you remember how I told mum, right?-and now I remembered again, so doesn't that count for something? 'Course it does" she added before I could say anything "Daddy has to do whatever you ask. So if you ask him to let us go and...and..." So much longing in her tone "...and ask if he could come and watch me, too, then he will."

My birthday. Yeah. My parents have forgotten, too. Again. Unlike Bloss, they hadn't remembered - and wouldn't. Last year dad was a little too busy throwing back shots of malt and mumbling about monsters, only he could see, and Mum had been there busy cleaning up his mess. As always.

This year mum had hid notes in a drawer (I found them), and as Bloss had claimed, my younger sis had even hinted before flat out saying "Hey, Bubbles birthday is coming up and I think she deserves a party." But I'd woken up this morning same as always nothing had changed. Whatever I was a year older, finally sweet sixteen, but my life was the same. Honestly, it wasn't a big deal. I'd stopped caring a long time ago. Bloss, though, she cared. She wanted what I never had, their undivided attention.

"Alice Rose your off in your head again right when I need you most" said Blossom "alright fine" I said on a sigh. I just couldn't deny her. Never had, never would. "I'm not talking to dad though. I'm talking to Mum and making her talk too him." First sparkle of hope ignited "really?" "Yes really" a brilliant smile bloomed and her bouncing started up again "please, Bubbles. You have to talk to her now. I don't wanna be late, and if dad agrees we'll need to leave soon so I can warm up with the other girls on stage. Please. Nooowww." I sat up and placed the daisy chain around her neck "you know the likelihood of success is pretty low, right?"

A cardinal rule in the Bell household: you did not leave the house if you couldn't return before dark. Here, dad had worked up "reinforcements" against the monsters, ensuring non of them could get in. After dark, well, you stay put. Anyone out in the big bad world was considered open season.

My fathers paranoia and delusions caused me miss numerous school events and sporting events. I'd never been in a date. Yes, I could have gone on a weekend lunch date and other craptastical things like that, but honestly? I had no desire for a boyfriend. I never wanted to have to explain that my dad was certifiable, or that he sometimes lock us in the "special" basement he'd built as added protection from a boogeyman that did not exist.

Yeah just peachy.

Bloss threw her arms around me "you can do it, I know you can. You can do anything!" Her faith in me...so humbling. "I'll do my best""your best is-oh ick!" Face scrunched with horror, she jumped as far away from me as she could get "you're all gross and wet, and you made me all gross and wet." Laughing I lunged for squealed and darted off. I'd run the hose over myself about half an hour ago, hoping to cool down. Not that I'd tell her. The fun of sibling torture and all that stuff.

"Stay out here ok?" Mom would say something that would hurt her feelings, and I'd say say something to make her feel bad for asking me to do this, and she'd cry. I hated when she cried. "Sure, sure" she said, palms up all innocence gesture. Like I was buying that hasty assurance. She planned to follow me and listen, no question. Girl was devious like that. "Promise me." "I can't believe you doubt me" a small hand ran to her heart. "That hurts Bubbles. That really hurts" "First major congrats. Your acting skills have improved tremendously."I said with a round of applause "Second, say the words or I'll go back to working on a tan I'll never achieve." Grinning she rose on her toes, stretched her arms and slowly spun on one leg. The sun chose that moment to toss a amber ray, creating a perfect spotlight, for a perfect pirouette. "Okay, okay. I promise. Happy now?" "Yeah, okay I'm going now." With all the enthusiasm of a firing squad candidate, I got up and turned towards the house, a two story my dad had built the prime construction of his construction days.

My thongs clapped against the concrete making a mantra in my head, don't fail, don't fail. Finally I stood at the glass doors that led to the kitchen and I saw mum bustling around making spaghetti. Don't be a wuss, you can do this.

I walked in side. Garlic butter and tomato paste scented the air. "Hey" I said. "Hey baby, coming in for good or just a break?"mum asked "Break" I replied "so, um yeah" I shifted from one foot to the other "today's my birthday." Her jaw dropped and her cheeks bleached of colour. "Oh...baby I'm so sorry. I didn't mean...I should have remembered, I evens made myself notes. Happy birthday" she finished lamely. She was looking around the kitchen as if the force of her will would bring a gift "I feel terrible" "don't worry about it" I answer "ill do something to make it up to you, I swear. "Good because Bloss has a dance recital tonight and I want to go."