Chapter 95

November 24, 2017

Dear Ms. Diary,

Before going downstairs to breakfast, Heather texted the parameters for next Thursday’s competition to the Go5, Dad, the Moms, Celeste, and Meka: “Casual and at least a bit daring.” After breakfast, we girls got our homework done, leaving us free to play all weekend. The Paleceks arrived around 11, and Gracey and I were closest, so answered the door.

“It’s great to see you. Come on in!”

“Thanks, Gracey,” Kalina started, but Civia already had Gracey wrapped in a tight hug.

When I looked back to Kalina, she was slowly shaking her head and rolling her eyes, so I grinned at her.

She looked down at the back of her daughter and said, “You might let the rest of us at least get in the door.”

As she released Gracey and stepped farther into the house, Civia replied, “I’m sorry, but I’ve been going through Go6 withdrawal. This is the first time I’ve seen them since Sunday.”

Jeff responded, “I seem to recall someone in the house mentioning that very thing once or ... a few hundred times this week,” after which he looked at Gracey and me and grinned.

By then, the rest of the family had arrived at the foyer. After the round of hugs, both families gathered on the deck where Dad had just lit the coals. Unlike yesterday, it was already fairly warm and heading toward 70 degrees.

Jeff said, “We have an announcement, which is something of a birthday present for Civia.”

I went through some rapid cogitating, then raised my eyebrows in question and hope.

“What, Dad? What...” Civia’s eyes rounded abruptly, after which she asked, “Is it the house?”

Jeff looked at her and mimicked Kalina’s head-shaking and eye-rolling, then said, “We have signed a contract to rent, with an option to buy down the road, the house in the neighborhood.”

To say that Civia was ecstatic would be something of an understatement. She went on a tear, hugging her parents and everyone else, all while squealing with delight. After at least a couple minutes, she hugged her dad again. He hugged her hard right back, and she began sobbing.

After she got herself in order, she turned within Jeff’s arms and said, “I’m sorry for acting like a little kid.”

“Civia,” Dad responded, “there’s no need to apologize. You only rarely behave anything like an 11-year-old, and we could certainly excuse this display of happiness if there were anything to excuse. But there’s not.”

Kalina added, “We agree with Charlie: there is nothing to be excused. That reaction was something we hoped to see, as you still have a tendency to hold your feelings in, although that has been changing since you met your friends.”

“Thanks, Mom, Charlie.”

She looked around and that subtly sly look that she gets when she’s about to come out with a zinger emerged onto her face, only to be replaced by an almost blank expression.

“Thanks, Mom, Charlie. Thanks, Dad for the news. I guess I’m happy about that.”

When she got the grins and eyerolls she expected, she grinned in response and turned and hugged Jeff again.

About ten minutes later, Meka drove down the driveway and parked out of the way. Civia raced down the steps and threw herself into Meka immediately after she exited the car, and we could hear her telling Meka about the house. Eventually, the two of them joined us on the deck, and Meka held out a grocery bag.

“Thanks for picking those up. I can’t believe I forgot them.”

Meka grinned, then responded, “I understand that happens frequently when people get old.”

Dad rolled his eyes at her while the Moms cackled, then turned to me and asked, “Would one or more of you girls cut these limes into sixths or eighths, please?”

Heather was closest, so she grabbed the bag from Meka just as another car came down the driveway.

Kalina said, “Another of Civia’s birthday presents has arrived.”

Civia asked, “What? Who’s that?”

Nobody answered, as we all knew and wanted her to wait and see, which didn’t take long at all.

“CHARLIZE!”

Civia followed that exclamation with another hellbent race down the stairs and another banging of two bodies that we could almost feel one story up. Charlize’s parents also stepped out of the car, and the four of them mounted to the deck, where Charlize introduced her father.

After sufficient time socializing with the Sandersons, we girls went to the kitchen, ostensibly to deal with the limes, which we did, but spent the time required to slice the limes ... and then some, gabbing.

The grilled lamb-meatball gyros that were the main course of lunch were a big hit, and Dad publicly thanked Carol for running across the recipe and saving it. About 12:30, the Moms brought a large sheet cake with frosting and candles and ice cream out to the picnic tables on the deck; we observed all traditions. Under cover of indicating that the birthday girl did not have to help with cleanup, we surprised her. She was caught up in conversation while sitting on a bench facing away from the table to which the bench was attached. Charlize and I moved her three presents to the table right behind her. Once that was accomplished, Dad interrupted the conversation.

“Excuse me. There’s another birthday tradition that we need to get to now. Civia needs to open her presents,” he stated as he waved his hand vaguely in her direction.

“What? Presents?”

Because the two of us were sitting on the other bench at the same table, she turned to look at the two of us, and saw the wrapped packages.

“This is already the best birthday ever! You didn’t have to get me presents.”

“Nonetheless, young lady, start with the smallest one,” Jeff insisted.

It was a small, flat box from which she extracted a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and read it, then stood and hugged both her parents.

When she resurfaced, Heather asked, “Well. What is it?”

Civia inhaled deeply, let it out, then read, “This certificate is good for one emergency trip to end Go6 withdrawal. It may not be used to avoid or delay punishment, but the bearer may request from either or both parents immediate transportation – if available – to the Williams residence or elsewhere in Elkton to join her sisters in the Gang of Six. If the situation permits, it also allows staying overnight with her gang members after transportation. Use it wisely.”

Civia’s voice got strained at the end, and she turned after finishing and hugged Jeff and Kalina, again. When she recovered her equilibrium, she returned to the presents.

“The medium-sized one is next,” Carol informed her.

She read the tag on it, saying, “From your adoptive parents.”

After getting the wrapping off and the box open, she pulled out an apron. When she shook it out and read the words on it, Civia squealed, then held it up to show it around. It had her name above the breast pocket and the phrase “Chef in training” on the center. She stepped rapidly over to Dad and the Moms and gave each of them a hug, thanking them.

“May I leave it in the kitchen here?”