Page 13 (1/1)

1

Elizabeth

My eighteenth birthday is shaping up to be coe for e that smells so bad you can practically taste it if you breathe through your mouth

My parents make decent reat and they’re well-adjusted at school The only proble as I can remember, they’ve all treated me like a wet rat that just landed on the table in thedinner

I h It’s beco tally of all the different ways they find to hurt h breakfast for everyone but me, or the fact that no one else in the house has chores excepta “B” onstuff The whoppers Like the tie fund to pay for beer runs and vacations--but hey, at least I had a college fund at some point There was also the time they “accidentally” left ree day with about three thousand percent huht ahen I finally buer’s phone to call theator Farrabbed dinner because they all miraculously clai to stop

So when I say e, par-for-the-course kind of eighteenth birthday, that’s exactly what I uess lect of me to an entirely different level and leave o celebrate my birthday without me So, you know, at least I was invited to my own birthday party! Hooray for me

The restaurant is my family’s favorite: Jasper’s Alehouse The booths are oversized, the portions are oversized, and even our waitress must be at least six foot two Countryloudspeakers, but it’s barely audible over the drunks at the bar ear flannel shirts, cowboy hats, and sunglasses even though we’re inside

“They said they would be here by seven,” I say, sneaking a glance at h a little nervously “Which means they have minus thirty minutes, but I know they’ll come”

Erica sighs dra a roll of her er than hter my parents wish I was She has silky black hair that falls straight past her shoulders Everything about her screams perfection, but it only takes half a brain and a few minutes to see past that “Your friends ditched you, Elizabeth Wake up and smell the rejection”

“So should we break into the cake?” asks my dad His eyebrows are pinched in a permanent expression of scrutiny, like he just can’t quite believe what he’s looking at The only time his expression softens is when he looks at my mom, Erica, or Anise, my other little sister To be fair, he has been known to look pretty lovingly at hot wings too, but I don’t think that counts

Anise claps her hands together excitedly “We should’ve broken into the cake thirty o” Anise hasreputation with my parents, but where Erica is thin as a rail, Anise has enes and wears her curves proudly

Myto start cutting the cake The first slice--and the biggest, goes to Anise, who digs in right away Erica gets the next slice, which is just a touch sh Erica will probably only take a bite or two Then my dad is served, then my mom serves herself, and then she cuts a sliver of cake only a little bigger than a mouthful off and serves it to me

“It looks really good,” I say, eyeing the cake I know it’s hopeless, but I hope if ive me more than a hamster’s portion

“Most cakes do,” snaps ht, how many times have I told you?”

I do as I’m told because that’s the only way to survive in this fa to drag it out and savor it as el, who prout tells raduation party instead