We said our goodbyes and I got off the bed and walked over to my adjourning bathroom, starting the shower I slowly peeled of my pajamas and stepped in. I let the hot water cascade down my body and quickly washed my hair, body and shaved my legs. When I was done I stepped out wrapping a fresh towel around my body and padded to my room.
I quickly dried myself off lathering my body in my favorite cucumber melon lotion and body spray, I pulled the dress on and slipped my feet into my new boots. After brushing the tangles out of my hair and applying a soft makeup, I made my way down stairs.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!" my family yelled as I entered the dining room, everyone was sitting around the table staring at me.
"Come sit Beth" my brother said. " We've all got gifts for you." I smiled and took the seat at the head of the table where my father usually sat. Shawn handed me a baby blue box with a white bow and told me to open it. As I opened the box I found a black sating bag, I pulled the strings on either side and tipped the bag so the contents fell into my palm. It was a necklace, three hearts all falling into one.
"It's to symbolize the three of us," my brother explained " you see, I'm the big one, Maggie is the medium one and you are the little one." He smiled.
"Its beautiful Shawn, I love it thank you so much." I stood giving my brother a hug and asked him to help me put it on.
"Well for your gift, we all have to go outside." My father said as he stood and led us all out the front door and onto the porch. "Now Bethy, your mother and I made a promise to you, that if you kept up with school and your share of the farm work we'd give you the truck. Well you exceeded our expectations. Happy Birthday, she's yours." He smiled and held the keys out to me.
"Thank you! Thank you!" I said as threw my arms over both of my parents giving them each kisses on their cheeks.
My mother laughed and reminded me that I would be late if I didn't get my but in gear, I quickly went back into the house for my book bag and gave each family member a kiss and hug thanking them for the gifts and made my way to my new old truck.
When I got to school I was bombarded by my best friend, Sasha we'd been friends since kindergarten when Sasha punched Jimmy Samuels for throwing dirt at me and pushed me down, we've been inseparable since. We were total opposites though, where I was pale she was a rich mocha color and beautiful, her black curls pulled back out of her face to show off her intense chocolate eyes.
"Happy birthday, Girl!" she practically talked me as soon as I got out of my truck " Oh my god Beth I love your outfit!"
"Thanks Sasha," I laughed as she made me twirl, showing off my new digs " The dress is from Maggie, boots from Glenn, necklace from Shawn and of course the truck from momma and daddy." I said as the biggest smile graced my lips.
"They did good!" she squealed. " Oh which reminds me!" she pulled out a gift bag from her purse. " This is for you." Sasha handed me the bag.
I took it and began pulling out the wrapping paper, fishing out the gift at the bottom, I pulled out a brown leather cuff with my name engraved into it.
"Sasha! I love it that you so much!" I hugged her. "Did you all coordinate gifts because this cuff matches my boots perfectly!"
We both laughed. "Maybe. We might have all met up and planned our gifts." I rolled my eyes and the five minute bell began ringing.
As Sasha and I said our goodbyes, promising to meet up for lunch, I began my trek to first period English 11 with Mr. Mamet, I was walking down the hall toward my class when someone grabbed my arm pulling me over to the nearby locker, I was so surprised it took me a minute to register who grabbed me. When I looked at them I was met with the familiar face of Jimmy Samuels, whom I briefly dated at the beginning of the school year, It wasn't anything serious but to him it was everything.
"Jimmy." I said with a sigh. I really didn't want to have this conversation. Again.
"Happy birthday Bethy." He smiled. Jimmy was cute in that annoying brother way. Beside the whole dirt incident in kindergarten Jimmy was actually very sweet but that was part of the problem he was just too sweet.
"Thank you Jimmy but I really gotta get to class."
The rest of the day went by at a blur, I got through all six of my classes but when I got home I saw that my parents had set up the front lawn to look like a picture out of a magazine. My mother had a table set up with a white table cloth, accented with yellow napkins and out best dinner ware, in the center was a vase full of my favorite sunflowers. It was absolutely perfect.
I quickly walked up the front steps and opened the front door, my nostrils were invaded with the sweet smell of my momma's famous apple pie baking in the oven, the hearty smell of pot roast and biscuits. Could this day get any better?
"Momma?" I called as I walked into the kitchen smiled at the beautiful feast on the counter.
"Hey baby, how was school?" she asked as she exited the pantry with a roll of foil in her hands. Annette Greene was absolutely stunning, she had a dirty blonde colored hair pulled back in a neat braid, her eyes the same shade of blue as Beth's, her womanly shape gave her the right curves and the perfect amount of tightness.
Beth sighed wishing she could look more like her mother or Maggie, wishing she was more shapely instead of gangly. "It was good, I have a lot of homework so I'm gonna get that finished before dinner." I smiled at my mother, snatching a green apple off the counter and left her quietly humming.
An hour and a half later I was in my room sitting at my old oak desk, trying to figure out how to start my English essay, I had to write a two page essay on the symbolism of Romeo and Juliet. As I stared at my computer screen I was thankfully saved when I heard my mom calling me from the bottom of the stairs. I quickly saved my paper and closed down my computer.
I walked down stairs and immediately heard laughter coming from outside. I walked out the front door and down the porch steps and saw my family standing around the table that was set up outside, the sun already having gone down, my mother lit the candles on the table and plugged in the twinkle lights wrapped around the surrounding trees, it was breath taking.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHY!" my family said in unison.
"Come sit baby girl." My mother said as she ushered me to my seat. Everyone following.
"This is amazing guys." I gushed.