Linda O'Shea had wanted to do something big for her thirteenth birthday, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Thirteen was a big deal- she was a teenager! She was going to have a lot of firsts- first boyfriend, first kiss, maybe a first job. Thirteen was a big deal! Therefore, her party had to be the greatest party she'd ever had.

"What do you want to do for your birthday?" Shelia Walters asked her friend.

"I don't know. Something fun, something big. Something I'm gonna remember forever."

"So you'll be inviting Kevin White?" Kevin White was the boy who was Linda's secret crush.

Linda smiled and blushed a little, "maybe."

"I think that's a yes," Sheila laughed. "Come on- I'll help you make birthday invites!"

Linda and Sheila spent their Saturday afternoon making birthday invitations for Linda's party next Friday.

"I'm glad your parents agreed to let it be a coed party," Sheila smiled as she hit her fist against the recently licked envelope.

"It's my first one. Can you believe it?"

"How's your Dad taking it?"

She sighed, "he was against it at first. Still is, I'm sure. But he's letting me do it, so... that's good."

"I'm glad they're letting you have one- they're much more fun than an only girl's party."

"I hope so!"

The party was about to start in an hour and a half, and Linda was helping her Grandma with last minute decorations.

"Nonna," she started, straightening the table cloth. "Where's Papa?"

"He said he was going to pick up your cake."

"Oh, good! I like that plan. Is it a chocolate cake?"

"With chocolate icing, just like you asked for."

Linda turned around and saw her sister, "Wendy!" She frowned, "you're leaving?"

"You bet your ass. I wouldn't be caught dead at a party with snotty thirteen year olds!" She waved and slipped out the door like she hadn't just crushed her sister's spirit. The door opened, "Sheila's here!"

Sheila came in through the door with a big present in her arms, "happy birthday, girl!" She put the present on the round table marked "Presents" before hugging her friend. "Where's your sister off to?"

Linda sighed, "somewhere else."

"Where's your brother?"

"Oh he's banned to his room for the night. I told him he couldn't be here- he ruins everything," she was maybe being dramatic, but Jimmy just didn't treat her like he used to. "Mamma's at her sister's tonight- something about an emergency. Papa's out getting the cake."

"You can't have a birthday party without cake!"

"This is true... wanna help finish setting up?"

"Sure!"

The party was well underway, with Grandma Rosita in charge of rowdy thirteen year olds. Linda was having a great time; she had long since forgotten about Wendy leaving, and about her mother's flimsy lie. Though, at thirteen, she couldn't tell Marni was lying.

"Linda," Sheila came up to her, "why don't you ask Kevin to dance?"

"Well... I don't know how. What if he says no?"

"Asking a boy to dance is easy. Watch this." Sheila walked up to a boy she and Linda both despised. "Hey, Alan, wanna dance?"

"Sure!" He smiled widely.

"Maybe later- I'm busy." She went back to her friend, "see?"

She shook her head, "it's easy for you! You've had a boyfriend."

Sheila shrugged, then suddenly asked, "hey, where's your Dad with the cake?"

"I don't know... I can ask Nonna- she's in the kitchen."

"Mm... no, I have a better idea." She walked over to where the light switch was, "hey, everyone! Let's play spin the bottle!"

Linda's eyes grew wide- her parents would definitely frown upon this.

Sheila spun the bottle first, and kissed the boy it pointed to. She pulled her friend up, "your turn, Linda."

Linda bit her lip, but spun the bottle anyway. She was shocked when everyone moved out of the way, so only she and Kevin were sitting on the carpet. "Sheila!" She got to her feet, "you set me up!"

"I know. Now kiss."

She swallowed and looked at her crush, "they want us to kiss."

"I know. Guess we should."

"Guess so."

Right as her lips were about to touch his, the door slammed open and Tony stumbled in. Linda whispered, "oh no!"

"Lin'a!" Tony shouted at her, then stopped, seemingly trying to collect his thoughts. "Get thi' place cleaned up!"

"Papa, are you drunk?" She whispered quickly, trying not to yell or cry from embarrassment.

"'Course not!" His words were slurred, and he reeked of whiskey.

She swallowed the tears, "do you need help bringing the cake in?"

"Stupid f***ing cake! That thing broke so easily!" He completely botched the word 'easily'. "Stupid birthday part rui- ruin- ru'ning my night! Stupid cow- wish she never got knocked up!" He stumbled into the kitchen, leaving Linda standing there, so close to tears.

She swallowed, turned to her friends. "Thank you for coming, but I think you better go. I'm sorry..." her voice cracked and she ran to the stairs and into her room. So much for a magical birthday she would always remember.

There was a knock on Linda's locked bedroom door. "Leave me alone!"

"Linda, it's Nonna."

"I don't want to talk about it!" She hugged her stuffed animal closer to her chest.

"I just wanted to give you your birthday present."

"Enough with the birthday! It's ruined!"

"Linda," in Italian, Rosita sternly told her granddaughter to open the door.

She groaned and yanked the door open, and went back to her spot on the bed.

Rosita sat next to her, and handed her a package wrapped in purple paper with pink balloons on it.

Linda took it, "I don't feel like presents."

"You don't have to open the other ones. Just mine. Per favore?"

She sighed, starting to rip the paper off. She held the black velvet box in her hands, then opened the top. "Nonna..."

In the box sat Rosita's silver chain, the one she always wore and loved so much.

"Nonna, this is yours."

"It's yours now. When I was thirteen, my mother gave it to me. It's been passed down to the daughter for generations. I didn't have any girl children, so I had to wait to give it to my grandchild."

"But Wendy's older than me. This should be hers."

"Wendy..." Nonna took the box from Linda and picked up the chain. She fastened it around her granddaughter's neck. "This symbolizes purity; protect your heart, and wear this as a reminder of your promise."

"How will I know when to protect my heart?"

Rosita took Linda's hand, "you remember when I told you about the birds and the bees."

"Yes. You said I shouldn't have... shouldn't do that till marriage."

"That's right. I need you to keep that promise."

She hooked her finger in the chain, "I will... thank you, Nonna."

Rosita hugged Linda, "You're welcome, sweetie. I'll have a talk with your Papa, and tomorrow I'll take you somewhere special. Just me and you. How does that sound?"

"Good... I love you, Nonna."

"Oh, I love you too." She kissed her head, "we'll have fun tomorrow."

Linda hugged her grandma before Rosita left to deal with Tony. She slipped off the bed and looked in her mirror on her dresser. She fingered the chain and smiled, "I promise I'll stay pure, Nonna. How hard could it be?"

It wasn't hard to keep her promise until she met a rebellious teenager who had a reputation as a player. He would make keeping that promise nearly impossible. But despite her want to give into him, she kept her promise until she said "I do".