would be too easy. Besides, the ankh itself actually existed in ancient Egypt, whereas C. J.’s body…Well, it’s new. It’s hard. It’s…begging to be handled.
This is the best worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
“I don’t see a resemblance.”
“That’s what everyone says. We’re fraternal. Poor C. J.,” responds Gabriel, deadpan.
“Poor you!” C. J. counters, laughing.
Kerry enters, holding a buttercream - frosted cake from Rossi’s Bakery topped with sixteen glowing candles. She heads toward me, smiling, and I ready myself to blow out the flames while all the zombies, vampires, and witches sing the “Happy Birthday” song.
Of course Gabriel has to mark the moment and leans in to me, saying, “It’s a good thing you met me before your birthday, or you would’ve wasted a wish.”
“Right,” I chuckle.
I decimate the candles with one sharp breath, and everybody claps. But birthday wishes coming true must not really be a thing, because Sethe doesn’t instantly disappear. Or else, I don’t really want him to go.
Bernadette cuts the cake, and Kerry quickly passes out its slivers, no doubt wanting to eliminate all remnants of my birthday as quickly as possible so that the party can resume on her terms.
Gabriel and I continue to chitchat throughout the evening, but nothing he says registers. I’m too caught up in Sethe and his improbable arrival. But should it be such a surprise? Haven’t I met him around the time of my sixteenth birthday before?
I watch him from the background, surrounded by admirers, the star of the party. He’s a new guy, the one everybody wants to befriend. Fresh meat is a rarity in the town, and being an athlete to boot? He’ll rule the school. Finally, Sethe is moving up in the world.
The hours melt away and finally C. J. approaches us.
“Let’s go. This party’s dying,” C. J. says, motioning to the emptied living room.
Kerry attempts to intercept us as we head for the door. She pretends to be saying a sweet good - bye but whispers in my ear angrily, “You’re taking both of them? Seriously, can’t you leave one for me?”
“But I need a spare. Besides, it is my birthday.”
“Fine.” Kerry harrumphs.
“Thank you so much for the cake. I really appreciate it,” I murmur consolingly.
“Yeah yeah yeah,” she says with annoyance as she turns away to deal with the other stragglers.
C. J. lingers a second to give Kerry his own farewell while Gabriel lightly takes hold of my arm and steers me into the darkness.
Even though I live only blocks away from Kerry, I divert our walk to prolong my time with Sethe — I mean, C. J. I’m not sure I can ever get used to his modern name.
This’ll be a challenge. Being with him makes me so jittery; I can barely look at him. I hate that he causes me to react this way. I just pray that Gabriel doesn’t notice.
We take the “scenic route,” leading us to the York River. The waters run past, though the edges are starting to freeze in white opaque chunks. As my eyes linger on the still active parts of the flow, I notice that C. J. seems as caught up in it as I do.
“Behold! The Nile of York,” I exclaim, gesturing dramatically at the sight before us.
“If this is the Nile, I can’t wait to see the Sphinx,” Gabriel responds with a note of sarcasm.
“Tell me, C. J., just where did you get your costume?” I ask, my voice breaking as badly as Howie’s when he first hit puberty.
“Amazon.”
But how did he know to do his eyeliner like that? Or how to tie his corded belt just so? Those tiny details must be second nature to him, even if he doesn’t realize it yet. He looks at me and parts his lips. Even his teeth — they’re the same as in my memories. Perfect. White. Sparkling. And his muscular arms look as welcoming and protective as a girl could hope for. If only I didn’t want him to wrap them around me.
We continue along, past the whitewashed First Parish Church and the red - washed Old
This is the best worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
“I don’t see a resemblance.”
“That’s what everyone says. We’re fraternal. Poor C. J.,” responds Gabriel, deadpan.
“Poor you!” C. J. counters, laughing.
Kerry enters, holding a buttercream - frosted cake from Rossi’s Bakery topped with sixteen glowing candles. She heads toward me, smiling, and I ready myself to blow out the flames while all the zombies, vampires, and witches sing the “Happy Birthday” song.
Of course Gabriel has to mark the moment and leans in to me, saying, “It’s a good thing you met me before your birthday, or you would’ve wasted a wish.”
“Right,” I chuckle.
I decimate the candles with one sharp breath, and everybody claps. But birthday wishes coming true must not really be a thing, because Sethe doesn’t instantly disappear. Or else, I don’t really want him to go.
Bernadette cuts the cake, and Kerry quickly passes out its slivers, no doubt wanting to eliminate all remnants of my birthday as quickly as possible so that the party can resume on her terms.
Gabriel and I continue to chitchat throughout the evening, but nothing he says registers. I’m too caught up in Sethe and his improbable arrival. But should it be such a surprise? Haven’t I met him around the time of my sixteenth birthday before?
I watch him from the background, surrounded by admirers, the star of the party. He’s a new guy, the one everybody wants to befriend. Fresh meat is a rarity in the town, and being an athlete to boot? He’ll rule the school. Finally, Sethe is moving up in the world.
The hours melt away and finally C. J. approaches us.
“Let’s go. This party’s dying,” C. J. says, motioning to the emptied living room.
Kerry attempts to intercept us as we head for the door. She pretends to be saying a sweet good - bye but whispers in my ear angrily, “You’re taking both of them? Seriously, can’t you leave one for me?”
“But I need a spare. Besides, it is my birthday.”
“Fine.” Kerry harrumphs.
“Thank you so much for the cake. I really appreciate it,” I murmur consolingly.
“Yeah yeah yeah,” she says with annoyance as she turns away to deal with the other stragglers.
C. J. lingers a second to give Kerry his own farewell while Gabriel lightly takes hold of my arm and steers me into the darkness.
Even though I live only blocks away from Kerry, I divert our walk to prolong my time with Sethe — I mean, C. J. I’m not sure I can ever get used to his modern name.
This’ll be a challenge. Being with him makes me so jittery; I can barely look at him. I hate that he causes me to react this way. I just pray that Gabriel doesn’t notice.
We take the “scenic route,” leading us to the York River. The waters run past, though the edges are starting to freeze in white opaque chunks. As my eyes linger on the still active parts of the flow, I notice that C. J. seems as caught up in it as I do.
“Behold! The Nile of York,” I exclaim, gesturing dramatically at the sight before us.
“If this is the Nile, I can’t wait to see the Sphinx,” Gabriel responds with a note of sarcasm.
“Tell me, C. J., just where did you get your costume?” I ask, my voice breaking as badly as Howie’s when he first hit puberty.
“Amazon.”
But how did he know to do his eyeliner like that? Or how to tie his corded belt just so? Those tiny details must be second nature to him, even if he doesn’t realize it yet. He looks at me and parts his lips. Even his teeth — they’re the same as in my memories. Perfect. White. Sparkling. And his muscular arms look as welcoming and protective as a girl could hope for. If only I didn’t want him to wrap them around me.
We continue along, past the whitewashed First Parish Church and the red - washed Old
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