My family isn’t like the others I see at the school gates. I don’t get invited round houses for play dates or to join the kids that go to the park every Friday afternoon. No one talks to my mom either, they huddle together and whisper and sometimes point. Even the teacher treats me differently, she always picks me first or lets me go to lunch before everyone else but sometimes when she thinks I’m not looking, she huffs and rolls her eyes as if she doesn’t really like me.
My mom pulls a bag out from under my bed and hands it to me. I forget about my breakfast, reaching inside to pull out a pair of denim dungarees. No way! These are the fashion right now; everyone will think I’m so cool! I jump up to hug her, feeling all giggly and excited inside.
“Let’s get you dressed; you don’t want to keep your dad waiting.” I see the tightness of her lips, but I bet that’s because my surprise is a huge party and she’s not used to having so many people around. I’ve never had a birthday party, but I’ve been secretly hoping this year I’ll get one. I’ll walk outside and there will be a bouncy castle and a magician and a petting zoo and a whole table of cake and ice cream. But best of all, all the kids in my class will be there waiting to play with me. Not like when we are in lesson and they avoid sitting near me as if they are scared.
Mom pushes me into the bathroom to wash and then braids my hair while I pull on the dungarees and snap the metal links together over my white t-shirt. When I’m finished, Mom takes my face in her hands and kisses me on the forehead, her smile seeming sad and her eyes glistening a little. After strapping on my sneakers, I skip from my room and down the huge staircase.
We moved into our house when I was in second grade, after Daddy had it built especially. I’ve always thought it was too big though, since he is away for work a lot so it’s just me and mom unless you count the guards. There’s been a lot of new ones lately and they don’t bother with me, but a couple have been around since I was born and they are like strangely quiet uncles who fill the empty gap where the rest of my family should be.
I hear voices in the kitchen so I head that way, looking for balloons or decorations as I go but there isn’t any. Yet. Rounding the corner, I see Charlie, Gunner and Arti sitting around the middle island. Charlie smiles widely, his dark hair brushed to the side so I can see his blue eyes. I’ve always liked Charlie, even though he’s ten years old than me and wears too much jewellery for a man. He’s studying to be a lawyer and goes to some fancy university in the week, so I’m surprised to see him here. Obviously, he had to see me for my birthday.
Arti reaches out to pat me on the head like a giddy puppy and passes me a small box wrapped in pink foil with a bow double the size of the gift. I hurry to open it, finding a pink bubble watch inside. Its chunky strap is not as heavy as it looks, a gold hand ticking with each second beneath the glass face. I laugh as I put it on, knowing this is Arti’s way of saying stop asking for the time. I know he can’t answer since his nickname is short for ‘inarticulate’, not that I know what that means but it’s probably something to do with the jagged scar across his throat. But still, sometimes I get so lonely and even his irritated frown is better than being ignored completely. Besides, his watch is so flashy he should be happy to show it off.
“Come on Kiddo, your dad’s already waiting.” I bob up and down while the men pick up their bags and lead me outside, two caddy’s parked side by side waiting for us. I hop in with Charlie, his hair blowing in the wind as we tear across the huge lawn behind the house. We have eighty-two acres of unneeded land, so much daddy had to buy these caddies to get around. I spot a few gardeners dotted around, mowing the grass near the house for my party no doubt.
We drive towards the woodland area towards the back of our grounds, a clear line of trees standing together like soldiers waiting for an order. I’m not usually allowed to go into the woods, but sometimes when daddy is away, Mom and I will sneak over to hunt for pinecones to paint or hang homemade suet balls for the squirrels and birds.
Charlie parks and offers me in hand before walking with the other two behind, following a trail of dirt amongst the fallen leaves and tiny plants growing all around. Acorns crunch beneath my shoes and the pine-filled air travels into my nose. I love the woods, the spots of sunlight poking through the shade and sounds of animals rushing around. I’m about to ask Charlie how much further it
