Something Like a Birthday

"Birthday, come downstairs and eat!" Miss Lionel called out. My head lulled as I squinted at the window. Was it morning already? I contemplated on whether I should get up, or stay for longer.

"Birthday!"

Getting up it is then.

"Birthday"...

Who names a girl Birthday? I know who. The laziest people on the planet-my parents-well, my birth parents. I was given away at birth, to a place called 'Sunny' Orphanage. It was a far cry from 'sunny' though. The drabbiest, shabbiest, place known to man.

Having been here for 16 years, I've grown accustomed to it. The occasional water drip from the ceiling that used to be annoying, now calmed me. The itchy mattresses, now feel like an old sweater.

"Ugh."

My body peeled away from the splintered desk, my arms screamed like they were glued there. Which, they practically were. "Coming!" The creak of my footsteps against the old wood, sounded all too familiar and held much more weight today.

"Hey honey! You excited?"

"No, not really." Miss Lionel placed a kiss to my temple, and a plate in front of me. "Well, that's too bad." She sat across from me, saying a small prayer before eating, "Eat."

I stuffed a forkful of eggs in my mouth, before catching Miss Lionel's eye, "What?"

"Nothing. Can't one of us be excited at least?"

Shrugging, I took another bite, this time out of a chocolate pancake. "It's always the same result," I took a sip of orange juice. "A family claims to want me, then realizes I'm nothing like their replacement child who is probably dead or dying, and drops me back here."

It was the same old spiel that I fell victim to time and time again. No more.

"Well," Miss Lionel started, "I think this time'll be different." No it won't. She just wants me out since I'm the last one here.

"Just spend a day with them, and we'll go from there. Please." I sighed, Miss Lionel was and is the only person I 'love' and I can't really say no to her.

"Okay."

"Perfect! They'll be here in an hour. So get ready, okay?"

"Whatever."

__________________________________________

The hour passed much quicker than I anticipated. Hearing a knock near the door, I braced myself. What do they look like? Will I like them? Will they like me?

"Birthday! There are some people who are really excited to meet you!" Miss Lionel yelled from the bottom of the stairs. Slowly, I walked out, inching near the edge of the top. I could see their shoes. Very polished, clean, looking like they came from the north side of town.

Not my kind of people.

"She gets a lil' shy, don't mind her, she'll be down in just. a. minute." A giggle was heard from the couple.

Miss Lionel's pointed words, means she was very much aware that I peeking.

Whatever.

Here goes nothing.

One step at a time. One, two, three, four, and so on, I stared at my feet the whole way. My right foot reached the bottom floor much faster than I wanted to.

"Is this her?" I stayed staring at my feet, the only thing that could comfort me at the moment. "Yes, this is Birthday."

"Birthday, meet Mr. and Mrs. Vanderequestria."

The hell was that name? My eyebrows scrunched, and I'm pretty sure they saw, because the woman laughed, "Yes, we know, very unique."

"Why don't you say hi Birthday?" I looked up, and was faced with literal models, like from the 90s magazines that Miss Lionel lets me hoard. My brain had a lot to say, but all I could get out was a small, "Hi."

The woman shifted her gaze from me to Miss Lionel, then to her husband. Clearing her throat, she took a slight step back.

"Is she mute?"

I snapped my head. "Girl, I am not mute."

Mrs. Vanderequestria's body shook slightly and locked eyes with mine. "Well hello there Birthday, I am Mrs. Vanderequestrian and this is my handsome hubby, Mr. Vanderequestrian. We are so excited to meet you." She took my hand, softly grazing my palm.

She wants to ask me if I'm mute, she should ask her husband the same thing. He hasn't spoken once.

Anyways...

"Hi."

"Lovely, well, the Vanderequestrians wanted to take you for a little outside day-"

"Well, only if you're okay with it of course."

Hasn't Miss Lionel ever heard of stranger danger? Well, if they kill me, it'll be much more fun dying in the hands of rich people than Sunny Orphanage. I shrugged, "Why not."

Mrs. Vanderequestrian squeezed my hand in joy, "Birthday, we are going to have so much fun!"

"I hope so."

__________________________________________

They showed me around town. The North side to be exact. Just what I expected. This place was like a road mansion. Stores I dreamed of shopping at lined each side of the road. English words I've never seen like ' La Bibliotheque' on buildings.

"Wow."

"Amazing right!" Mrs. Vanderequestrian glanced back at me while Mr. Vandereqeuestrian drove through the road mansion. Of course it was amazing.

"Okay, so where do you want to go shopping? Maybe get some food?" Mrs. Vanderequestrian was basically staring into my soul waiting for an answer.

"Food."

"Food it is then." She tapped her husband's shoulder showing him something on her phone. Nodding, he proceeded to set the car-some fancy model by the way, to a place I've never even heard of.

Le Jardin d'Hiver

Seriously, what is up with these fancy names? "Okay, so this place is basically a buffet. Just go in get a plate and grab whatever your heart desires." Mrs. Vanderequestrian rambles to Mr. Vanderequestrian as I tread behind them.

I glance at my clothes, then the area, and others who are dressed way above my pay-grade, zero dollars a second.

Every so often, Mr. and Mrs. Vanderequestrian would always make sure I was near them, or in view at least. Maybe to make sure I wasn't lost or something?

I am literally 16, I'm not a fool.

We sat at a cushiony booth, and all I could do was stare. And they stared right back.

"So Birthday," Oh god, here comes the same onslaught of questions, "Why are you named Birthday?" Knew it.

"Because my parents had me on the day I was born."

I know, very bratty. But I'm always asked this question.

"Figured. Do you miss them?"

I shrugged, "Never met 'em."

"I see. Well, I'm Ruth and he is Dan."

"Yup, you already know my name."

Mrs. Vanderequestrian leaned forward.

"Do you have any questions for us?"

"Yes, why doesn't that man speak? Is he mute?"

Mrs. Vanderequestirans smile became tinier, and she shrugged. Whoops, enemy territory? "Well--"

"Because I enjoy hearing my wife talk. Have a problem kid?"

How sickeningly sweet--

Wait.

Kid?

Oh, I didn't before, but now I do.

"Not one old man, but it seems like you do."

"Old man?"

I took a sip of my water like it was wine, "Yes. Old. Man. O-L-D- M-A-N. You losing your hearing?"

Mrs. Vanderequestrian's eyes squinted as she feigned an awkward smile.

Mr. Vanderequestrian arched a brow, "You're bold."

"And you're balding. We all have our thing."

"..."

Mrs. Vanderequestrian let out a loud snort, like oinkingly loud. "This is going so well."

"And he's suddenly so talkative."

__________________________________________

The drive back to Sunny Orphanage, was pretty simple. The Vanderequestrians took me on a shopping spree, getting me a whole bunch of random things. In the car, Ruth and Dan made light conversation above the music. I don't know what made him want to open his mouth, but at least he isn't deaf or something. I'm too lazy to learn sign language.

I peered outside the window, watching the beautiful lush green trees turn a dull green. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you want to adopt a 16 year old?"

Mrs. Vanderequestrian, glanced my way, lowering the music "Well,"

"You wanted a replacement child, because yours died?"

Her eyebrows knitted, as if wondering where I got such a crazy idea from. "No, dear. We do this for a lot of children like you."

That is when my eyebrows knitted "Meaning?"

"W-well, on orphans' birthdays, we go to their orphanage and take them out for a day, to celebrate."

"My birthday? But that's tomorrow."

"In the records, it says it's today."

"Oh. So you don't want to adopt me?"

Ruth blinked. Dan stared ahead. The silence stretched like two trucks pulling on a rope.

I got my answer.

Sighing, I turned to face the window once more.

The air suddenly felt heavy as the car pulled towards the place I call 'home.'

Miss Lionel stood at the door, "How was it?" She hugged me and shook me excitedly. "Oh you know, the usual." Shrugging, I slid from under her hold and walked inside. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderequestrian talked with her.

I didn't care for the conversation, instead I went to my room and dumped everything on the floor, and slammed on the bed. I should be grateful for receiving these gifts and getting this treatment.

But it always sucks, cause it's always the same result.

The door downstairs shut, and footsteps were heard outside my door, "Can I come in?"

No answer.

With a creak, Miss Lionel, walked in, and sat on the edge. "I'm sorry sugarplum."

"Why? It's not your fault I'm unadoptable."

"Now, don't say that." She brushed her hand against my head like I was 5 again.

"I want to go to bed."

Miss Lionel didn't say a word. Kissing my head, she turned off my light and closed the door.

__________________________________________

"Happy Birthday! Birthdaaay!" Miss Lionel yelled from downstairs, as I groggily rubbed my eyes. Yay, the one day I dread the most. Slowly, I stretched, getting ready for the day. I at least had to look good.

I grabbed one of the new dresses I got from yesterday and slipped it on. Walking down the stairs, I saw they were decorated with balloons and ribbons of all colors. My steps slowed, as I walked further, into the kitchen area.

"Happy Birthday, Birthday." My body whipped around, stretching my back in ways I didn't know it could. "What the-"

Arms wrapped around me. "Happy Birthday." Ruth let out. "Why are you guys here?" Her face slightly fell.

"Well, I feel as though we left on the wrong note." She took a short step back.

Oh, wow, shame on me. I forgot to say thank you to these kind people, what the hell is wrong with me.

Embarrassed, I opened my mouth to thank them for yesterday. But Ruth had placed something in my hands. "This is for you. Dan and I were talking about it all last night," I unwrapped a the ribbon from the top of the box, "And we know that there's a lot of paperwork that comes with these things, or never thought of making such a huge decision like this," Slowly, I opened it, "But we're hoping that you would accept us as your family-"

My arms wrapped around the rambling woman.

"Oh!"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Ruth warmly wrapped her arms around me, "Awe, who brought out the onions?" Miss Lionel quipped.

"It's way to early for cake but, I feel like it's needed." Miss Lionel slid a small pan on the table, "Sit down honey." The lights were dimmed, the candles were lit.

Ruth, Miss Lionel, and Dan stood around me, as I blew out the candles.

"What'd you wish for?"

I looked at Ruth and Dan, and then faced the woman who has basically raised me all of my life.

As if knowing what I was thinking, Miss Lionel scooped me up, "I will always love you. You are moving on to bigger things my dear, so don't worry about me."

It was in her arms that I knew that it will all be okay.

"Aren't you lucky, an adoption and a birthday all in one." Dan just had to ruin the moment.

Rolling my eyes I shrugged, "I guess it's Something Like a Birthday."

__________________________________________

Authors Note: Hello you all, my name is Rielle Louis and this is my first ever 'published' work. I saw a TikTok that said writers should join more short story contests. So please bare with me and tell me if some parts were too rushed, the pacing was off, or if it was cringe haha! I would love the feedback. Thank you so much