Читать книгу Reading Lips - Claudia Sternbach - Страница 8

I didn’t know who the heck Trader Vic was, maybe a friend of my dad’s, but that was where we were going for dinner. For my tenth birthday dinner. We were going to Trader Vic’s.

But first I had to go to school. Right on my birthday, which I didn’t think was fair. Birthdays should be school holidays. Except people do make a big deal about you and you get to open presents in the morning before school, at least I do, and then if you get something new to wear, you can because it’s your birthday. You are the BIRTHDAY GIRL!

I got this new red cardigan sweater with ribbon trim. So I’m wearing it today. It goes perfectly with my favorite skirt and blouse, which used to belong to my cousin Sandy. The blouse has a pin you can wear with red plastic cherries with green leaves. And with the sweater on, you can’t even tell I am missing the belt that goes with the skirt. I like the skirt ’cause it is quilted. I like how that feels when I sit in class and rub my hand over it when we are listening to stories. If I thought nobody would notice, I’d suck my thumb. I don’t care if I am ten today. I just would.

So tonight, I’m telling my best friend, Babs, my dad is coming over to our house to take us to Trader Vic’s for dinner. Me, the twins, my mom, and my dad. And Ellie isn’t coming. Ellie is my stepmom, who used to be my mom’s friend and my dad’s secretary. And Ellie’s husband, Chuck, was my dad’s partner in their business, which is being lawyers.

“So why is he coming and take you all out to dinner?” asked Babs. We were right at the top of the hill where you could see the school. Sometimes Teddy would be at the gate waiting. He lives closer to school and gets there before I do.

“Because I asked. I just asked him when he came up last Saturday. And then he talked to my mom. And I don’t care if he talked to Ellie. Who cares about her? And now we’re going.”

We heard the first bell ring. It was the warning bell.

It meant we had five minutes to get to class. We ran down the hill. It always scared me to run down the hill. It was steep. And felt like you could tip over and fall on your face. I could imagine the scrapes. I could imagine my teeth falling out. Even though it had never happened. I could imagine things. I think that made my dad mad. Because I could think about what might go wrong.

Sometimes when he comes to visit on a Saturday he takes Carol and Cheryl and me up into the hills to rent horses. We each get our own. They’re poky old things. And dusty. And their tails swat back and forth because of the flies. And we ride on the trails in a single file. And I imagine the horse running away with me and tripping in a hole and then I fly off and land on my face and then the horse steps right on my head. This is what I think about while we ride and my dad is saying, “Hurry him up a bit. Give him a kick.”

He can tell I’m scared, and he thinks, What’s wrong with her? Doesn’t she know I was a marine in the war? I can do anything. And she is my daughter. So she should be brave.

I know this is what he is thinking when we finally get back to the stables and I get to turn in my horse and finally I can smile and maybe even laugh. And then I try to make him laugh.

But one thing we both like is books. I love to read, and so does my dad. And when he takes us all to the bookstore, then I think he does like me. Because I show interest. And I always read the books he buys me. And I don’t even care if they’re used.

So those are the best Saturdays, when we go to Holmes Book Store downtown.

And tonight he is coming to take us all to dinner.

I don’t even remember when he used to live with us. Not really. I don’t remember where he sat at our kitchen table. Our table doesn’t seem to be missing anybody. I sit by the drawer. The skinny drawer right under the tabletop. I hide my food in there when I don’t want to eat it and Ma won’t let me leave until my plate is cleaned. Because you know about those starving babies in China. I think I should send them the drawer food.

Babs is right next to me when we get to the school yard. And Teddy is waiting. He has to go to his class too, but he touches my hand really quick before he has to go.

And then the morning just goes on and on.

My mom is in her room for a long time. And when she comes out she smells like perfume. My sisters for once in their lives don’t fight about what dresses to wear. My mom just gets out the flowered ones and tells them, “That’s it girls. I don’t need any arguing.”

I put my hair up in a ponytail and then make a bun out of it. I think it looks older. And I am now, double digits. But I leave on the same skirt and blouse and sweater because it is still my favorite.

My dad has the top down on his car when he gets to our house. But he puts it up. It isn’t even sunny. It looks like it might rain. And we all go out and get in the car.

By the time we get to Trader Vic’s it is raining and we have to park the car and run to the front door of the restaurant. Now I see it is a restaurant. There are tiki torches by the door. I don’t know why the fire doesn’t go out in the rain.

Inside a man takes my mom’s coat. But I want to keep my sweater. Because I don’t have a belt. When we are walking to our table I see a case filled with things to buy. There is a fake rose with a little piece of fur around it. A red rose. With real mink, I’m sure. Like Marilyn Monroe would wear in a movie. I ask my dad if I can have it. And he buys it. And I stick it in my hair right by my bun. I sit at our table with a fake rose with mink around it in my hair and feel very beautiful. I cannot wait to tell Babs.

There is a canoe hanging over our heads. A big, long painted canoe. And there is more tiki stuff everywhere. And when my sisters look at the giant menus, my mom helps them choose. But I want to order myself. I choose lobster. The tails. Because Ma says she thinks I would do better with just the tails.

It’s dark in the restaurant. There are candles on the tables. And you can hear the rain on the roof. There is even a leak. It drips right by the people next to us. I think it is funny. To have water leaking in your restaurant and have a big canoe all ready if you need it. Mr. Trader Vic is no dummy.

My mom is helping my little sisters. My dad keeps asking the very dumb how-is-school question, and the rest of the time we are quiet. And then a waiter brings me a special dessert with coconut and a candle, and more waiters come and sing happy birthday to me.

And then it is time to leave. We drive in the hard rain. And we get to our house and my dad helps my sisters get out and kisses them good-night. And then he kisses me and tells me happy birthday. And his voice sounds kind of funny.

When my mom comes in to tell us all good-night after we took turns in the bathroom brushing our teeth she reminds us to say our prayers. But we always do. We never forget.

“God bless Mommy, Daddy, Claudie, Carol and Cheryl, and all who are dear to us. Amen.”