the twenty-fifth. Shopping for girls had never been my forte, so I watched for clues, some sign of something she wanted that wouldn’t be weird for me to buy.
Books were a good bet, but I didn’t want to get one she already had. Knew she liked classical music, and chocolate ice cream, and flowers…but flowers were for mothers and girlfriends and the sick and those categories didn’t fit.
Could’ve played her party, but she refused to have one.
So, I treated her to a meal at our favorite burger joint.
“You picked up the check last time,” she complained.
“Bethie, it’s your birthday. Enjoy my generosity.”
She sighed and sat back on her side of the booth. “It’s just another day.”
“Why do you dislike your birthday so much?”
She shrugged. “I don’t…I just don’t think it’s special.”
“Well, accept that other people do and milk it.”
“That what you’re doing?”
I grinned. “Haven’t had to lift a finger. Wouldn’t believe all the dosh comin’ in for my birthday or graduation. I’ve never been so happy to see the mailman as this week.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course everyone loves you. You’re charmed.”
“Seriously. Just wait for it. I’ve gotten congratulations from folk I don’t even know, just ‘cause Mum does. People like your parents, so it’ll happen to you, too.”
She didn’t look convinced. “S’pose it’ll help you move to London.” I’d accepted the enrollment offer and would be leaving this summer to find a job before school started. “What happens to your car?”
“Dunno. Probably sell it. Mum doesn’t need two. Gonna get your license now?”
“Eventually.” She stirred her milkshake. “Thanks for taking me to the parking lot before I got in with Dad. I needed the practice.”
“Still drivin’ your mum around?”
“Yep. Think she likes having a chauffeur. But Dad’s the one to declare me ready.” She slurped up the last drops in her glass. “I’m done, so we can go. You probably need to be somewhere.”
I stood. “Yep.” I draped an arm across her shoulders once she slid out of the booth. “With you. It’s your birthday, dummy. I’m takin’ you to the mall.”
“Eww, why?”
“So you can pick out what you want. And I thought you were the brainy one.”
Beth socked me in the ribs. “Shut up.”
She hit hard for such a petite little thing.
Going into a Barnes and Noble with her was a lesson in patience. Normally, she didn’t like shopping and went straight for what she wanted and left—if you got her in the mall in the first place. But take her to a bookstore and you might as well kiss your afternoon goodbye, especially if she was allowed to buy.
She flitted from this possibility to that, taking forever to decide which book was the one. Made me happy to see her smile, though, so I followed along and didn’t complain.
If Bethie’s birthday was quiet, mine a week later was in stark contrast.
My house was filled with friends, food, and loud music, and that was after coming back from the rented movie theatre. The actual date of my birth was a Thursday, so the party was two days later and I hoped it lasted all night.
Never felt so alive, being the center of adoration for so many people. It inspired me to grab my electric and accompany the stereo.
Too bad my best friend had bailed earlier, but I couldn’t make her stay in a crowd.