Chapter 2
I woke up. Dazed my eyes wondered around my room. Mom must have came in the room while I was sound asleep because all my books were tidied up in a neat bunch on the desk. Then I realised I was in my bed and it was bright outside. I checked my phone and it said it was 10 a.m. so I must have slept through the whole night. It didn't come to me as a surprise; after all I practically didn't sleep the whole night on the 25th because I was too busy watching films on television because all the best movies were always on Christmas day. Which reminded me, today must be the 27th of December. My 18th birthday.
I remember wishing to turn 18 but now it doesn't seem so exciting to me anymore. I'm still me, only one year older. Then I groaned because I remembered that my parents will be giving me presents and singing "Happy birthday to you" as soon as they spot me walking down the stairs. "Maybe I should stay in my room all day long?" I thought. It sounded like a great plan as I could have pretended to feel sick. But of course that wouldn't work with my mom, she knows I hate getting too much attention and would probably prefer to hide somewhere in the basement instead of celebrating my birthday. Hmmm, why did I have that strange dream about the basement? And then my granddad staring into my eyes. Granddad died nearly a year ago and I didn't even go to his funeral because he lived too far away, in a different country in fact, and we wouldn't have made it in time. I still feel very guilty for not going to his funeral after all, he was my granddad and I was his favourite little girl.
My sad thought ended when I heard a soft knock in the door. "Come in." I said. She came in with a tender smile on her face and sat down on the bed next me. "You know it's rude to keep so many people waiting for you." She murmured putting my hair behind my ear "I know you don't like attention, but please try to be nice this year and put up with us. It's not every year my daughter turns 18 and becomes an adult." She said smiling at me.
"Mom, I know. But you perfectly comprehend I hate being in the spotlight even once a year!" I mumbled trying to hide the tears building up in my eyes. She hugged me then, comforting the little child in me again. "I know, sweetie. But it won't be a big thing, I promise. We'll only have a small dinner and then you can do whatever you want for the rest of the day. If you want, you can stay in your room and watch some DVDs while I make you some jello with whipped cream." She said. I was amazed by how well my mom knew me. She knew exactly the right words to say to make me feel all happy again. "Alright" was all I could manage to say without getting emotional again.
When she left I tried to talk myself out of running downstairs and hiding in the basement. I even tried to lie to myself be saying that my family won't remember it's my birthday today, but unfortunately it didn't work. I strolled to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. Then quickly I brushed my hair so that I'd look half descent when I come downstairs to greet my family and possibly half of our neighbourhood! The thought of half of our neighbourhood being in my living room, waiting to see me made my stomach turn itself inside out. As quietly as I possibly could, I walk down the steps on my tippy toes but even that didn't save me, about half way through I stepped on one of the cat's toys that squeaked and made me jump. I closed my eyes trying to catch a breath and when I heard my step-dad's loud footsteps I wished I could just disappear.
"Look who's hear! She finally made it out of bed! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" he literally shouted. Then I heard more footsteps rushing in my direction and I saw the rest of my family (including our cat) making their way to greet me. I was horrified to see my neighbour with her son there too! They all cheered then and sang the "Happy Birthday" song while I tried my best to smile at everyone. It wasn't as bad as I expected but it was still pretty bad. But the worst thing was when my neighbour's son Aaron came up to me and gave me a hug. I was tomato red wishing the earth would open and swallow me up. The reason for that was simple, I used to have a big crush on Aaron for ages! And the humiliating thing was that he perfectly knew how I felt about him so I wasn't surprised to see him smiling at me now.
I can't say I didn't like the presents I got because they were brilliant! I was surely going to use them. My favourite and probably the most expensive present was a laptop. Although I already had a computer, I needed a laptop for colledge. "Mom, dad thank you so much for the present." I said when all our guests left. "It's great and just like I wanted it to be." I gave step-dad a hug then kissed mom and gave her a hug too. "You know what?" I asked while mom looked at me with curious eyes, "I love ye!" I said hugging mom even tighter. John came from the back and hugged the two of us. So we stood there in the middle of our kitchen, a happy family what more can I say? "We love you too, darling" mom whispered in my ear while John kissed the top of my head. "And happy birthday, daughter." He said after a short pause.
When I finished clearing the place from all the wrapping paper and empty envelopes I ran up the steps and into my room to set up me new laptop and have a proper look at it. It looked so shiny that I was afraid to even touch it because that could leave a mark on it. I installed some start up programs and even changed the theme. Yep, I realised I really liked my present. Then my phone rang making me jump. I begged whoever is up there for it to be anybody but Victoria, and I was stunned when my silent prayer was listened to. It was my grandma who rang me. My heart hammered with joy as I answered the phone. "Hi, grandma! I'm so happy you called!" I said with a lump stuck in my throat. I really missed grandma even though I talked to her nearly every day.
"Hello my daughter," she said in her sweet melodic voice "it's so nice to hear your voice. I said I'd give you a quick call to say happy birthday. You're an adult now. How did you get so old so fast?" she asked and laughed. I laughed too "I don't know grandma, you must be thinking that because you're so young!" I said knowing she will start protesting again. But this time she was still laughing so I just listened to the music of her beautiful laugh and imagined her right here with me, in the same room. The thought made my throat tight again, but thankfully grandma stopped laughing and asked me "So how was your day? Did you like your presents?" This put me back on earth and I scanned my head to remember what I got for my birthday and what I liked. "Oh, gran I got a new laptop from mom and Johnny and I love it! And guess what? Aaron came for my birthday and gave this amazing perfume! I'd say he still thinks I have a crush on him!" I went on. I knew I could trust my gran with anything so she perfectly knew everything about my love-life, or the lack of it should I say.
She listened to my endless chatter and commented in some parts and I couldn't feel any happier right at this moment. It was like she was really interested in my boring teenage life! Then she talked about her little garden and the different flowers that she was planning to plant early this spring. I listened and remembered myself when I was very young, I used to run around her garden like a headless chicken with her dog running after me, playfully, not intending to really attack me. then I used to pick some of gran's gorgeous flowers and bring them home, where I put them in water and leave them standing on the window. "Did you get my letter yet?" she asked. I thought for a minute but couldn't think if mom had given me any letters from grandma. "Hmmm, I really don't think so. Mom gave me different envelopes with cards in them but none of them were from you." I said still thinking. She paused for a minute and then said "Well I guess it's ok for now anyway. There was just something you granddad wanted you to have on your 18th," I froze. "He wrote you a little note before he died, so I sent it to you with the last letter. I really hope you'd get it soon enough." She finished in a rush. I wondered what it could mean but decided not to ask her instead I just said "Alright, I hope I will get it soon. I probably will though because I believe the post staff will be returning from their break Tuesday, so you don't have to worry about it that much."
She paused again, and I wondered if she was thinking what else to say and how to say it. "Whenever you get it, don't show it to your mom," she warned "it's something myself and your granddad wanted only you to have." She said. I couldn't hide my curiosity any more so I asked her "Grandma, what is it? What is it that you wanted me to have?" She was silent them and I was sorry I asked her, I didn't want her to feel so uncomfortable. I was going to say something like "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to", but she stopped me by saying "It's nothing too important, honey. You'll find out soon enough what it is. And I know you'll like it!" she said her voice getting normal again. "I love, my darling and I hope you'll have a nice evening now with you family and friends. I must let you go now, I don't want you to spend too much time talking to an old woman!" she said. I had to protest this time "Grandma, how many times do I have to tell you this? You're not old! You'll never get old!" I said rolling my eyes at her. Then I heard my favourite sound again, the sound of her laugh "I'll stay young as long as I hear your lovely voice, my daughter." She said making me smile again. "I love you, grandma." I said.
"I love you too, honey." She said and hung up. I stood near the window, staring into something far away. I was still thinking about that dream I had and the letter that I'm supposed to get when my phone rang again.
