I don’t want to eat it and Ma won’t let me leave until my plate is cleaned. Because you know about those starving babies in China. I think I should send them the drawer food.
Babs is right next to me when we get to the school yard. And Teddy is waiting. He has to go to his class too, but he touches my hand really quick before he has to go.
And then the morning just goes on and on.
My mom is in her room for a long time. And when she comes out she smells like perfume. My sisters for once in their lives don’t fight about what dresses to wear. My mom just gets out the flowered ones and tells them, “That’s it girls. I don’t need any arguing.”
I put my hair up in a ponytail and then make a bun out of it. I think it looks older. And I am now, double digits. But I leave on the same skirt and blouse and sweater because it is still my favorite.
My dad has the top down on his car when he gets to our house. But he puts it up. It isn’t even sunny. It looks like it might rain. And we all go out and get in the car.
By the time we get to Trader Vic’s it is raining and we have to park the car and run to the front door of the restaurant. Now I see it is a restaurant. There are tiki torches by the door. I don’t know why the fire doesn’t go out in the rain.
Inside a man takes my mom’s coat. But I want to keep my sweater. Because I don’t have a belt. When we are walking to our table I see a case filled with things to buy. There is a fake rose with a little piece of fur around it. A red rose. With real mink, I’m sure. Like Marilyn Monroe would wear in a movie. I ask my dad if I can have it. And he buys it. And I stick it in my hair right by my bun. I sit at our table with a fake rose with mink around it in my hair and feel very beautiful. I cannot wait to tell Babs.
There is a canoe hanging over our heads. A big, long painted canoe. And there is more tiki stuff everywhere. And when my sisters look at the giant menus, my mom helps them choose. But I want to order myself. I choose lobster. The tails. Because Ma says she thinks I would do better with just the tails.
It’s dark in the restaurant. There are candles on the tables. And you can hear the rain on the roof. There is even a leak. It drips right by the people next to us. I think it is funny. To have water leaking in your restaurant and have a big canoe all ready if you need it. Mr. Trader Vic is no dummy.
My mom is helping my little sisters. My dad keeps asking the very dumb how-is-school question, and the rest of the time we are quiet. And then a waiter brings me a special dessert with coconut and a candle, and more waiters come and sing happy birthday to me.
And then it is time to leave. We drive in the hard rain. And we get to our house and my dad helps my sisters get out and kisses them good-night. And then he kisses me and tells me happy birthday. And his voice sounds kind of funny.
When my mom comes in to tell us all good-night after we took turns in the bathroom brushing our teeth she reminds us to say our prayers. But we always do. We never forget.
“God bless Mommy, Daddy, Claudie, Carol and Cheryl, and all who are dear to us. Amen.”
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