Epilogue
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Eight years old
I wiggle on the mattress until the blanket covers my freezing toes. I peek open one eye and yawn. Happy little bubbles float around in my tummy and there’s no way I can nap one more second with how excited I am.
“Zane, are you awake?” I try to whisper but my voice comes out loud and squeaky. Mommy says I get it from Aunty Blossom.
“I am now,” he grumbles. “You think anyone is here yet?” he asks, peeking over at me from the top bunk.
“I don’t know. . . What if they started the party without us?” I ask, nervous that everyone might be having lots of fun without me.
“Don’t be silly, Zara. It’s our birthday, they would never start without us,” he says in that, ‘I know everything and you’re so dumb’ voice that I hate. He’s only two minutes older than me, but he acts like it’s two years.
I hop out of bed and stare at the beautiful dress Mommy laid out for me to wear. It’s sparkly blue and I can’t wait to put it on. The door creaks open, and I whip my head toward the noise. I throw my hands behind my back, so Mommy doesn’t think I was messing up the pretty dress.
Her face pops into the room. She wears a big smile that makes me smile too.
“How’s my special birthday girl?” I run to her with a squeal and throw my arms around her neck and squeeze tight. “C’mon handsome, we’re waiting for you too.” Zane slides down the bunk bed stairs and flies toward us. He’s a little too fast, and we all topple to the floor when he crashes into us. Mommy laughs and starts covering our faces with kisses until we groan and push her away.
“Okay, okay. Too old for Mommy’s kisses I see. Everything is ready for your special day, so let’s get you guys dressed before your guests start to arrive. Zane, Daddy has your nice clothes. He’s going to help you get dressed, and you, little missy, we need to fix that hair.”
Zane rushes out with a happy yelp, and after what feels like forever, I finally have my long blonde hair braided and my sparkly dress on.
The doorbell rings and Daddy gives me the okay to open the front door. Rushing over, I swing open the handle and see my favorite people in the whole world.
“Uncle Chase! Aunty Blossom!” I screech as I run over and give them bear hugs. I haven’t seen them in weeks, and I’ve missed them so much.
With a little nudge from Uncle Chase, Fox walks up to me with a big present. “This is from Mom and Dad and me. Happy Birthday, Zara.” He hands me the gift, and my cheeks get warm as the happy bubbles in my body pop, pop with excitement.
“Thank you, Fox,” I say shyly. He grins at me before taking a matching gift over to my brother. Uncle Chase wiggles his eyebrows, and I stick out my tongue at him. He better not tell Fox how much I like him.
I run to the kitchen and wait at the door while Mommy and Daddy kiss. Yuck. I tap my foot on the tile to let them know the birthday girl is waiting. After they are done being gross, I run right for Daddy who grabs my waist and picks me up. I let out happy squeals when he lifts me up high into the air.
“You’re almost too big for me to do this you know,” Daddy says as he sets me back down.
I give him a proud smile. “That’s ‘cause I’m this many years old.” I hold up eight fingers and wiggle them.
His hand flies to his chest. “No way, you can’t be that old already.”
“Yes huh, I’m all growed up.” I giggle.
“I suppose you are.” He leans down and gives me a kiss on my forehead. “But you’ll always be my little princess.”
After we open presents and sing Happy Birthday, all of us kids are finally allowed to go play in the backyard. I step outside, and as my friends and classmates shout with excitement, I stand quietly and look up at my favorite place in the whole world.
I remember the summer that Daddy made it, the giant play castle where me and Zane spend hours playing pretend. When you climb to the top little tower, you can look out and see across Lake Iris. Sometimes, I pretend I’m on the lookout for pirates or a giant kraken.
My favorite part of the castle is the big board where pictures of everyone I love hang from little clips. There’s one of Aunty Blossom and Uncle Chase’s wedding. Another of Fox from his last birthday (he’s two years younger than us and gets mad every time I remind him). One with me and Zane playing catch with Daddy, and a gazillion more.
I stare at all the happy faces until I hear a noise that sounds very not happy. I move up the little steps in my castle and see a little boy crying in the far corner. It’s not very nice for someone to be so sad on such a happy day. I stomp right over to tell him off, but stop when I get a closer look.
He looks familiar, I know he’s in my class, and of course I had to invite everyone.
Mommy said it wouldn’t be nice to leave any kids out.
He looks so. . . yucky. His shoes have big holes in them, there’s dirt on the back of his neck, and his shirt looks like it might fall right apart.
I take a deep breath, and remember what Mommy always says. “Just because someone looks different, or doesn’t have nice things, doesn’t mean they are a bad person. It might just mean they really need a friend.” So, I make my nose stop wrinkling and I sit next to the sad boy.
He looks over with big brown eyes and wipes away the tears. “What do you want?” he sneers.
“Why are you so sad?” I ask, using my best quiet voice so I don’t scare him. He reminds me of a frightened rabbit and I have to be gentle.
“My dad he. . . left home today, and my Mama won’t stop crying. She was even crying when she dropped me off at your house.” Tears well up in his eyes again, so I rub small circles on his back like Daddy does with me when I am scared or sad.
“My mommy used to have a daddy that would leave her, and a mommy that would shout at her all the time and say really mean things.”
“Really?” He sniffles.
“Mhm, now she’s basically famous just like my daddy,” I say proudly.
“Wow, famous? What for?” he asks, his tears forgotten in his curiosity.
“Mommy wrote a book for kids like us, and Daddy colored all the pictures for it. It’s about twins with magical powers who protect other kids and fight off bad monsters. Mommy got the idea from me and Zane, so I guess you could say I’m kinda famous too.”
“How did she become so happy and famous if she used to be sad like me?” he asks, his forehead all wrinkly as he tries to think.
“Because she had the best of friends to help her. You know, I could be your friend if you want,” I say with a little shrug.
At this, he finally smiles and nods.
“You’re Vince, right?” I say, finally remembering the name of the boy who always sits in the last row in class.
His smile gets bigger. “Wow, you remembered me. Nobody ever remembers me.”
I shake my head. “Well that’s just silly, I won’t ever forget it. Now, do you want some birthday cake? Bet I could get Daddy to cut us extra big slices.” I clap excitedly.
He grins. “Okay. And could I maybe see the book your parents wrote?” he asks with sparkly eyes.
“Sure, I bet I can even find you a copy to take home.”
“Awesome! Wow, you are so nice, Zara,” he says as we make our way out of the castle.
“I learned from the best people in the world. I’m strong ‘cause of my mommy. I’m nice like my daddy. I’m loud and caring like Aunty Blossom, and I’m stubborn like Uncle Chase.”
“You’re so lucky,” he says with his jaw hanging open.
I laugh as I run ahead. When I turn back toward the boy, I give him a big toothy grin.
“I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”