I think that's all you have to know about me and my family. If I missed something please let me know.

So, today's mom's birthday. And this year is special. Not because she's any special age now, like forty or something. No, it's because I'll be ten in a week. You might ask why mom's birthday's special when it should be mine. You see, mom's mother was murdered a week after her, mom's, tenth birthday. And that's still very important for mom. And so it is for all of us.

Mom has been a little nervous the last few weeks. She's afraid something will happen around my tenth birthday. Usually dad's the most superstitious of us all. But with this, …

People say I'm very much like my mother. And not only looks wise. I think I've a lot from dad too, but that's only me. Well, mom says so too. And I was born on my grandmothers deathday.

That's got to mean something.

So today might be the first day of some strange weeks. And if not … mom and I will definitely be waiting for something to happen. If bad or good … we'll see.

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Meanwhile, Matty and I got up early today and we made breakfast. Now, we'll wake up mom and dad.

Ha-ppy Birth-day too youu, Ha-ppy Birth-day too youu, …

Happy birthday, mom!

Happy birthday, Jor.

It's a nice morning. And mom likes her breakfast. Unfortunately, we've got to go to school.

Kids? Can you two please promise mom something? As a birthday present?

What, mom?

So this is it. The start of the Waiting for Something.

Can you be very good the next two weeks? Not just normal good. But extra good?

Matty and I both nod. We know what this means. Do nothing we could regret if something bad happens.

Thanks. I love you both.

We love you too, mom.

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Evening.

The day's been pretty uneventful. Just ordinary plain mom's birthday. Like a lot of other years.

There was a little party at grandpa's bar. With mom's friends from work.

Mom doesn't like birthday parties. Never did. But we still celebrate every year. I think mom does like her parties. She just doesn't want anybody to know. So she says she doesn't.

The party was nice. The adults drank alcohol stuff. As usual. I don't see how they can like that. It smells awful. We kids had sodas. There was lots of talking and laughing. And jokes only morgue people can make. Personally I think those are the best.

And mom got presents of course. Matty and I gave her a CD of a reading of one of her favorite books. Not just anybody reading but Matty and I. We read chapters in turn and recorded them. Mom liked it very much. Now she can listen to us reading in the car.

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Next day, evening.

The second day of the Waiting was like any other day. Nothing unusual.

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Two days later and still nothing.

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Another three days and nothing.

Tomorrow's my birthday. And halftime for the Waiting. Let's see if anything happens at all.

Good night everyone.