I was taken aback as I looked around at my friend's happy
faces, and tried to quickly wipe the stray tears from following out of my eyes.
"What's all this?" I asked, trying to sound happy.
"Well, we figured you needed a party, after all, you've been
through a lot, and most importantly, you only get to celebrate your 18th
birthday once!" Connie explained.
I had nearly forgotten that my birthday was tomorrow. I
couldn't wait to find out what else my mom had gotten me. "Wow, this is great,
guys, I really don't know what to say," I really was surprised, but didn't
exactly feel particularly ready to have fun.
"You don't gotta say anything, just sit back and relax,
after all, you are the guest of honor." Charlie smiled at me.
Somebody had turned on some music and pizza had arrived and
pretty soon everybody was laughing and having a good time, everybody except me,
and it was my party. I picked at the cheese on my pizza, I just really wasn't
hungry. My mother's words were still playing over and over in my head. Mix that with the music, and I had a migraine
coming on. I rubbed my temples, and tried to get some energy when Charlie
thrust a big box onto my lap.
"This is from all of us, to you, Cake-Eater." He told me, grinning.
I looked at everybody's faces, they were all smiling and
looking so excited, I really didn't want to ruin the moment, so I began to open
the present, pretending to be excited, but my heart really wasn't into it. I
opened the box; the team had chipped in to get me an autographed Red Wings
jersey, signed by Steve Yzerman, my second favorite player after Wayne Gretsky.
I had to admit, it was pretty nice, and way more than I ever expected from my
friends. "Wow, you guys. This is too much."
"For you, anything." Averman told
me in a somewhat mock sincerity. I could only roll my eyes in reply as I
scanned my friends smiling and happy faces.
I thanked everybody and tried to stifle a yawn, but Julie
noticed and suggested that they all leave so I could get some rest. Ever since
that whole "her name's Julie not Babe" thing, we had been pretty good friends,
even though she had a boyfriend, and it sure wasn't me. I was relived that she
had noticed, however, but also guilty that they had to leave so soon. "Bye,
Banksie!" Charlie called, with his arm around his girlfriend of four years,
Linda. Russ and Ken waved to me, and then continued their argument on the best
way to trash talk another player. Portman and Fulton followed pretending to
beat each other up, while Luis was making out with somebody outside my door. As
everybody else walked out they called their good-byes and happy birthday's to
me. After they had all left, I shut the
door, and looked at my now empty room; sometimes it was nice to have a single.
I held up my
I was suddenly extremely tired, and quickly fell back
asleep. I woke up a couple hours later, and realized that I had again fallen
asleep with my clothes on, "I gotta quit doing that," I muttered to myself as I
got up to take some pain killers, changed, then went right back to sleep.
It must have been
around
"Adam, honey, it's your mother. I just wanted to call and
wish you a happy birthday. Also, I was wondering if Dan and I might come and
take you to dinner, after all, there are things that we need to talk about."
I started to talk without really thinking. "No thanks,
that's really OK," I answered harshly, stifling a yawn. It was tough to be mean
when I was still half asleep.
I could hear my mother hesitating, and the crack in her
voice, "If that is what you want then, but I really would like to see you."
"No, I have schoolwork and stuff to catch up on." I
explained, as if that would make it OK.
My mother sighed, "Have a good birthday anyways then, I
guess I will give you your present when I see you next week," she told me, with
disappointment in her voice. "You have a doctor's appointment next Friday at
"I won't forget, and don't nag me." I told her, frustrated
with the way she always insisted on treating me like a child. I slammed down
the phone, angry that my day was seemingly ruined. I checked my watch; I could
probably even squeeze in a couple extra minutes of sleep. I hadn't slept that
well and I was so tried. Lying down in bed I pulled my blanket around me and
sighed. I hoped things would get better soon. "Happy Birthday to me," I
muttered.
"Adam? Hello?" I opened my eyes;
somebody was calling my name and pounding on my door.
"What is it?" I opened the door to
see Charlie standing there.
"What's up, man? You sick or something? You weren't in
Chemistry this morning and Luis said you never showed up for History."
"Oh, no," I groaned. I had
overslept and ended up missing my classes. My stomach had a sinking feeling in
it. I was going to be so behind now, and the teachers would be so mad that I
didn't inform them that I was missing another day…Then suddenly I realized that
I didn't really care right now, I had other stuff on my mind.
"Well, anyways, I just wanted to
remind you that we have practice today at
I nodded, "thanks, Charlie, I'll
see ya there." I closed the door and slid down it, so I was slumped on the
floor. I put my head in my hands and wished I could shake the heavy feeling in
my stomach. I rolled my neck and shoulders, I was so sore. I hated the way that
I felt when I was under pressure. I just wanted to hit something, or wake up and
have it all disappear, but I knew that I had to be realistic and suck it up,
just like I had been for the past five years. For the first time in my life, I
realized how tired I was from dealing with the pressures of hockey. Maybe this
injury was somehow a blessing and a curse.