8/8 (even more)

Yes, I accepted Cooper’s “hand of friendship”….hehe. After we talked for a few more minutes, I felt calm enough to head back to the party (no matter how upset I was, I knew the guest of honor shouldn’t do a disappearing act). How was it possible to have this nice warm feeling about Cooper, and at the same time still be so angry with Sophie and Gray? We saw that Dad had just started serving the burgers and dogs, so I headed over to where Mom was overseeing the food table. She handed me a plate with a burger on it, and at the same time cupped my cheek with her hand….are you okay?….you look tired….do you want to talk about that surprise…..I didn’t know about Gray being here today… I just gave a small smile and a shake of the head, and Mom got the message…not now.

Smelling the burgers and dogs cooking, made me realize how starved I was. My stomach was growling loudly, so I took my plate and went to sit across from Heather and Tessa. I could tell by the surprised looks from them, that I was wolfing the burger rather ravenously, but I didn’t care at that point. Yes, that was definitely better. I started to get up to go get more food, suddenly Cooper came up behind me, and pushed me back down by the shoulder and took my plate out of my hand with the other.

Cooper: (huge cheeky grin on his face) Birthday princess, have you forgotten your humble birthday slave? You do not need to lift a finger, just tell me your wish.
Me: (feeling much better with a burger in my belly….and just a little mean) You lazy boy, where HAVE you been? Bring me a hotdog with mustard and ketchup, a little cheese and no relish, a handful of barbeque chips, potato salad, and a watermelon wedge. Oh, and some Dr. Pepper over ice, and make it snappy (I attempt a haughty sniff, which turns into a snicker and a snort).
Cooper: (winks at Heather, causing her to blush furiously) Yes, your highness. Your every whim is my command.

He gave a deep bow, left with a flourish of my plate like a waiter. Heather and Tessa watched him go, then turned their eyes in unison back to me, to stare with wide eyes. I just grinned and said nothing. Cooper was back in record time, with Matt in tow, who sat down next to me and elbowed me right when I was taking my first bite of hotdog, causing me to smear mustard across my cheek…brothers! So much for being a birthday princess. After Cooper got himself a plate and a drink, they sat on either side of me, teasing and being “royal” pains…hyuk-hyuk. They both talked and laughed with Heather and Tessa too, and we were having a very nice time, until I happened to glance around the tables and saw Jon, Sophie, and Gray sitting kind of off by themselves, talking seriously with their heads together. Sophie glanced over at me and said something, then Gray turned his head and looked at me too. Suddenly, I wasn’t hungry anymore, in fact I was just a little nauseated.

They were obviously talking about me. I wondered what they were saying. I was sure Gray was regretting coming to the party. SO WHAT??? I’m still mad, remember? I don’t care what he’s feeling….

I decided it was a good time for me to mingle with my guests, like I should. So I went around chatting and laughing with everybody there. I made a game out of saying the word “birthday” as many times as I could fit into the conversation, even when it made no sense, just to see who would catch me. It amazed me how many people had completely forgotten about the game (not such a winner with that one, eh Sophie? Okay I know….just being snotty). A few were on the ball, and I was able to get all of their stickers, but some didn’t catch on until I had said it 3 or 4 times. I had fun with it though, and ended up with stickers all over my shirt and shorts….and arms….and legs. I glanced over at my parents once and got an approving nod from Mom (yes, Mom, I’m a good birthday girl).

Soon it was time to cut the cake and they lit the candles and everyone sang the birthday song for me. I thought intensely for a moment about a birthday wish, then blew out the candles. That wish was seriously the first thing that popped into my head, and afterward I felt very embarrassed about it, but I refused to dwell on it at the time. No, I’m not going to write here what it was….that would be telling, I’m sure, and I still don’t want to jinx it…just in case.

After cake, Sophie had everyone gather around to watch me open presents (hardest part of the afternoon for me!). After I opened a couple, I realized that they were mostly gag gifts, which helped me relax a little…..it wasn’t going to be all serious or anything…..whew. I got a plastic flute from one of the other flute players and a huge pair of dark glasses to cover my black eyes (that was from Cooper…cute) Matt gave me a little remote control car that no matter how you crash it, it will flip over right side up again (that one got the biggest laugh). Mom and Dad gave me a toy lawnmower that blows bubbles when you push it….haha. Mom told me to look underneath, and taped to the bottom was a nice manicure set and about a dozen bottles of nail polish in all colors. I laughed, “Oh great, now I’ll have colorful nails while I push a mow lawns”…another laugh. Mixed in with all the funny stuff, there were a bunch of cards with gift cards in them (YAY! Shopping!!)

The last gift was a bigger box wrapped in paper matching the décor, so I knew it was from Sophie. I told myself I was still mad at her, but when I opened the box, that dried up and blew away with the breeze. She bought me a dozen pairs of pretty flip-flops in a rainbow of colors. But that’s not all. These were the all the pairs that I had been drooling over all summer from five or six different stores, but was too strict with my money to part with it….even if she got most of them on sale, it must have put her back up to $100 of her hard-earned babysitting money. I was speechless. There was a little note saying, “…So you’ll have a pair for every outfit.” As I tried hard not to get choked up, I went around the table and gave her a big hug.

Me: (whispering in her ear) They’re perfect…but I’m still mad at you. You’re not getting off that easy.
Sophie: (in my head) I know, I don’t want to. I’m soooo sorry, and I’ll totally grovel later, okay?
Me: Okay, you better. (We pull back and smile a little)

I got everyone’s attention and made a little speech (YES, ME!!!), thanking them all for coming and making my birthday so special, and for being such good friends…round of applause. That earned me another approving look from my parents…I’m really racking up the brownie points today!

Then the sun dropped below the treeline and it was time to clean up. Most of my friends helped with it, and no one would let me lift a finger (that’s probably a good thing, because I was starting to feel so tired). As soon as we got home, I started writing this, because I can tell it’s going to be another early-to-bed night for me. I am wiped out.

Mom just knocked and said I have a guest downstairs….sigh. Wonder who that could be…I have a guess.