Chapter 15 - Tweedle-Tay's Story
March 14, 1999 - Tulsa Oklahoma

I rolled over in my bed and looked across the room at Michaela. She was lying there, fast asleep in a baggy T-shirt. I smiled to myself. Finally everything had returned to normal. Once Michaela and I had found out about the family secret our mental imbalances had balanced themselves. Somewhat. Michaela and I had not even kissed since that night and Michaela had actually forgiven me for the rape. She was under the somewhat misguided belief that she must actually have been subconsciously asking for it or else the September occurrences would never have happened. And so, although I'm sure the events plagued us both, they hadn't been mentioned in around six months. Michaela and I were now normal teenagers in every way except that we were locked in an attic (and I was still quite attracted to her).
Because Michaela was still asleep, I took the opportunity to use the bathroom, as I was sure she'd be in there for a good twenty minutes once she woke up. As the hot water in the shower poured over me I tried to remember what day it was. Oprah hadn't been on television yesterday, but it had been on the day before....... that meant it must be a Sunday....... Sunday, March 14. It was our birthday! I hadn't gotten Michaela a present, but I was sure she'd understand, it wasn't like we had any money or materials to make a present with. I got out of the shower and put on my old leather pants that I used to wear all the time, when I used to be famous. They looked really stupid, because they sat four inches up my calves. Funnily enough however, they weren't too tight, or at least they weren't any tighter than they were back when I was fourteen. I brushed my hair and teeth and walked out of the bathroom.
Michaela was lying on her bed reading a trashy 'Sweet Valley' book. She had obviously dressed while I was in the bathroom. She was wearing a red Alliah dress that was about two sizes too big for her. She'd done her hair and make up extra quickly too. "Hey Kay!" I said. "Do you know what today is?"
Michaela looked thoughtful for a few seconds and then said, "Sunday."
I gestured towards the calendar. "What's the date today?"
Michaela thought again. "The fourteenth......" Her face brightened. "No shit! Happy sweet sixteen Tweedle-Tay!" She dropped her book and ran over to give me a hug.
"Happy sweet sixteen to you too!" I replied.
"Wow...... I can't believe I completely forgot," Michaela said guiltily.
"Oh don't worry," I replied. "I forgot too."
"But sixteen is such an important birthday! I didn't even get you a present." Michaela paused. "You didn't get me a present either?"
I shook my head.
"Oh well, at least we're even," Michaela confirmed. Michaela's mood dampened slightly.
"What's wrong Kay?" I asked.
"We've haven't left the house since we were fourteen and a half...... what if we're still here on our seventeenth birthday?" Michaela said, biting her lip.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll get out soon," I said unconvincingly. "Hey," I added, "I wonder if our mother will let us out for a birthday present?"
Michaela gave a little smile. "Fat chance. I wonder if she'll even remember that it is our birthday? This will be good test to see how much our parents actually think about us these days."
And if our parents had been graded on that test they would have received a big fat F. While Michaela and I entertained ourselves in the usual way (i.e. television) the rest of our family were probably out at church and then having a family picnic. The same sort of thing they always did before the attic, before Manson, before we were mobbed. Finally, at about 6pm, our mother came up with our dinner. She looked at me and smiled. "Tweedle-Tay! Those pants are a little short aren't they?" she said.
"Maybe," Michaela said sarcastically, "You could buy him new pants. I don't think you've bought him any in a year and a half...."
"Um..... I can't....... afford any," our mother said awkwardly.
"Right," I said.
"Anyway, here's your dinner," she said, handing us plates of cold mashed potatoes and sausages. She left the room without mentioning our birthday once.
I looked at Michaela and smiled. "She cares about us soooo much," I said sarcastically.
"Oh yeah. You know, I think we're secretly her favourites," Michaela said, with a mock eagerness.
And so our uneventful sixteenth birthday passed like any other day.