Chapter 1

[Jen]

Chapter 1: Say Cheese
GABBY
1994
It was Tina's 9th birthday and our whole family was gathered at their mansion to celebrate. Oldies blared from the outside sound system… aunts, under the tent sipping wine and uncles, surrounding Tina’s dad like he was God.
I thought a Super bowl ring was supposed to be fancier… looked cheap to me.
We were having so much fun that our beet red faces and frizzy ponytails were the only indication of the 86-degree weather.
"I bet you won't kiss him." I dared Tina.
"Nuh uh!"
I rolled my eyes, "Naomi, you do it."
"Why don't you do it Gabby?"
"Because I have a boyfriend." I placed a hand on my small hip. "It's just a kiss! Watch this!
I popped my booty for the group of neighborhood boys while Tina and Naomi stood behind me and giggled.
Suddenly, Tracy stood tall over us. "Stop it, Gabby! You are too grown for eight and pull your shirt out that knot on the side." I wanted to challenge her, but the look on her face said she was ready.
"Now my shirt is going to be wrinkled!" I sucked my teeth and ran off.
When Naomi and Tina followed, I shooed them. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to play. You should have told me big foot Tracy was coming."
Suddenly, I felt a shove.
“You know you shouldn’t tease those boys like that Gabriella.” My big cousin Antoine cornered me on the side of the house.
“I was just dancing.”
When he reached for the small knots on my chest, I stood frozen.
“They could touch you like this.”
“Move Antoine!”
‘You like it!”
“No I don’t, stop it!” I pushed his arm away and darted back to the yard.
Such a creep!
I stood behind Grandma Jeans chair with my right thumb in my mouth and left strolling through her silky gray hair. I love my Grammy! She's the only one of them I love.
"Oh, now she wants to come outside. Watch this Mili." my Aunt Mary turned around in her chair, "Hey Melissa, you do know your daughter's party started at 3 PM right?"
"I'm sorry! I had a terrible headache and this sun just beats me."
"Mmmmhhhmmm" was echoed from all three of my Aunts and another whispered, “Say sorry to your damn daughter”.
"It's time to sing Happy Birthday." she flipped her long blonde hair and walked carefully through the enormous yard. She looked like a goddess in her white pants suit and large sunglasses.
The small crowd flocked to the tent filled with balloons, presents and gifts.
"2 hours late to her child's birthday party!"
"Who caters a kid’s party? It wasn't even that good."
I tuned out their gossip and stared as she placed her arms around my Uncles big brown neck and kissed him on the mouth.
They call her flashy, gold digger and a bad Mother. I think she's fabulous!
God had to get me and Tina switched at birth. She doesn’t deserve this life, I do.
“C’mon baby!” Grandma Jean broke my thought.
I pushed through everyone to stand beside Naomi and Tina.
"Mickey Mouse?" I snickered at her kiddy cake. I wondered why Naomi wasn't laughing but when I turned around, her Mother Millicent shot me the look of death.
I turned back to the table only to feel her eyes burning a harder hole in my head.
I cowered and looked around the room for my Mother. She was half drunk, stumbling to the table, singing her own "Happy Birthday" rendition.
"Back up and let the baby cut the damn cake." Millicent demanded.
"Mind your business Mili, we are not in your house."
"I know, you wouldn't be there if we were."
"Both of you hush." Grandma Jean chimed in.
"Let's get a picture of the girls before you cut the cake. Tracy get in." Pat interrupted.
I reached for my baby sister Venus.
"No, that baby is not getting in the picture.” Aunt Mili pointed at me. "Naomi, stand on the other side of your cousin Tracy."
Everyone got quiet and I could see my mother's look of shame. As soon as I can get away on my own, I am going to really hurt Mili.
That’s why your husband stayed with us last night!
"Lauren, you are old enough to run with the girls now, c’mon." Tracy shouted .
She leaped off Aunt Pat's lap and ran behind the table.
"Stand by me, pretty cousin." I put my arm around her neck tightly.
"Hold On! You know you each have to write a feeling on this paper." Grandma Jean grabbed a fancy pen out her large Crocodile purse.
"Mama, the kids want the cake. That will take too long." Millicent complained.
I folded my arms, waiting for my turn. It was awkward… everybody staring at us, especially Antoine.
"I wrote jubilant, Grammy!" Naomi passed the paper down the line to me. Of course I was last.
I couldn't roll my eyes at Grandma Jean out of respect, but when would she learn I would write the same thing every time? I didn't know no big words like jub or whatever and the whole family stopped smiling with expectation by the time it got to me, anyways.
I scribbled, “happy” with a smiley face and passed the paper back.
"Okay, okay, let's keep this party on schedule! Hurry and get the shot, Pat!"
"Beautiful drawing, Gabriella!"
The corner of my mouth turned up. Only Grammy made me feel that way.
"My girls, the starting five!" she smiled largely at the image of us standing behind the cake. Don't ever forget these times. Say cheeeeese!"
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