24 Divided By 2

~~August~~

My sister Francesca told me that when you turn twelve, you get B.O. She absolutely swore by it. So, when I woke up on the morning of my twelfth birthday, even though I felt absolutely ridiculous doing it, I took a sniff of my armpit. Sure enough, there was a hint of something foul going on there. Still, my armpits had been steadily getting stinkier, so I think that you start to stink on last stretches of being eleven.

So B.O. was the first thing I thought of on my twelfth birthday. Not cake, not presents. B.O. Go figure.

Today was a Saturday, so I could finally have a party on the actual day of my birthday. I was so excited. My mom was taking me and Keely and Mia to get pedicures. Then we were getting smoothies and going to the park, where my dad would set up a picnic and we could eat and open presents and fool around. Then we were going to have an all-out, pillow fight filled slumber party of fun. Keely and Mia would be going home tomorrow at eleven.

~~~~

My mom had gotten my a brand new expensive skirt for my party. It was beautiful--and not washable.

So, needless to say, it got ruined.

It started innocently enough. My friends and I were running around and being silly. I didn't even realize that my little sister Delia was at the top of the play structure, dumping the contents of her smoothie cup on her unsuspecting sister below.

Not until it plopped onto my head and rolled down my back, of course.

Delia clapped with glee. Meanwhile, I was yelling for my mom to get over here!

The picnic was cut short. However, the slumber party began. It was tons of fun--a three hour gossip session, all out pillow fight, everything I had wanted.

But something was wrong.

It wasn't just that my brother was leaving for UC Davis in three days. That was bad enough. But suddenly, Keely and Mia were full of secret glances and knowing looks.

I finally asked them what was up when they looked at each other and started giggling. "What are you guys laughing about?"

"It's just, Lulu, that...." Keely started.
"Well, this party was kind of silly. I mean, you're turning TWELVE years old. A picnic at the playground? Come on. When I'm turning twelve, we're going for a shopping spree," said Mia.

I couldn't believe it. I had been having so much fun. Hadn't they?

"But we went for pedicures, too!"
"Yeah, that was nice, but..."
"Didn't you have fun?"
"Not...really," Keely said.

Mia jumped up. "I'm going to brush my teeth."
Keely said, "Me too."

And they walked out of the room.