After Raul has left…I go to look for Michael. I find him in Mama Nadine’s room rehearsing his lines. Alida: Hey…want to go to the – I pause when Michael turns, appearing startled as if I’d just caught him in the nude, and I see that his face is completely made up. Alida: …gym? Wait…do…
Thinking about Claudia being forced to move out…knowing that the same thing will happen to the rest of us soon, kept me up half the night and also invade my thoughts and fears the next morning. So much so that I end up having to blow a few bubbles once again to calm myself down….
We take a S-Uber to the Skate Factory on the outskirts of Oasis Springs. The outside looks like an old factory building, but the inside opens up to a brightly colored restaurant and a skating rink. Claudia leads the way to the rink and immediately changes into roller skates. Michael is right behind her…taking to…
It’s Egg Day and as a consequence of being the last to bed last night…I’m the last one awake. It’s also Claudia’s birthday. She’s not in the room when I finally wake up. I’m guessing she’s in the bathroom getting ready. I walk into the kitchen expecting to see Mama Nadine, but she isn’t there…
It’s raining yet again when we leave for school the next morning. Outside… Raul: I’ll race you to the end of the block. I attempt to chase after him, but it’s hard to run while holding an umbrella…and my socks end up completely wet after splashing down hard in a puddle. Alida: No, you go…
It’s Michael’s birthday and he makes sure we all know it. Michael: *loud announcement* It’s my birthday! It’s my birthday! Mama Nadine: I know…and we’re all prepared for it. Blow out your candles and don’t forget to make a wish. Michael: I won’t. My whole life is a wish! *blows out candles and ages up…
Mama Nadine wakes us with a song as usual… Mama Nadine: *from the kitchen* ♫ Each morning I get up I die a little, can barely stand on my feet… Take a look in the mirror and cry, lord, what you’re doing to me?♪ I change into my school uniform and join her in the…
I go to the basketball court, but I’m not alone for long. After throwing up a few terrible shots, a couple of other people join me on the court…including some low-level celebrity girl who’s having her picture taken by some dude. I’ve heard that celebrity autographs can sometimes be worth a lot of money, so…
Mama Nadine has my birthday cake lit and ready for me first thing in the morning. Without even waiting for everyone else…I go over and blow out my birthday candles. I age up to a teen. Raul and Mama Nadine are the first to wish me a happy birthday. Raul: Lucky you! You get to…
I remain silent the whole ride back to Del Sol, despite Miss Hillary’s attempts to get me to talk. Suddenly, the things that excited me on the way up feel meaningless…none of it matters anymore. Miss Hillary parks the car in my neighborhood and we get out. She stands there watching me for a while,…
