Chapter 1
“Jackie! Wake up, sweetie. It’s time to get up. You’ve gotta get ready for school.” Daddy rubs my shoulder, rocking me gently to wake me up.
I groan and roll over into my pillow. “No, Daddy. Just a little longer? Please?” I do not like mornings. Daddy says that I got that from Mommy. Both of us would rather stay up late at night and sleep in. Daddy says that means I’m a night owl, like Mommy was. She died when I was born.
I tell people that and it makes them act funny. Like, they all of a sudden don’t know what to say to me anymore. Daddy says it’s because they are uncomfortable with the thought of death. That they feel sorry for me and worried that they’ll say the wrong thing.
I don’t know why. Like, it would be sad if I had any memory of her. But I don’t. She died giving birth to me. All I know are the stories that Daddy would tell me about her. How they met on one of his trips to the capital. How she swept him off his feet immediately and he single mindedly pursued her. How they had a whirlwind romance and he still loves her to this day. How much I look like her. He’s the one that I feel bad for, not me. Because Daddy is all the parent I need. He takes great care of me. Always has.
“You don’t even wanna get up for birthday pancakes?” Daddy says, teasingly.
I sit up, nearly headbutting him in the nose. “Pancakes!”
Daddy laughs loudly. “Come on, sweet girl. I’ve got chocolate cake pancakes with sprinkles and whipped cream waiting downstairs. You don’t turn nine everyday!”
I jump up and down on my bed, super excited that it’s my birthday.
Daddy grabs me around the waist and pulls me into his arms, giving me a huge hug. I feel something wet on my forehead as he holds me to him. This is the hard part about my birthday. It’s hard for Daddy to separate the happiness of having me here with him and Mommy dying. He can’t separate the two.
But he tries to. He tries to be happy in front of me. And for that, I love my Daddy even more.
“You get dressed in your new birthday outfit. I’m going to go finish making your pancakes. Hurry up before I eat them all!” Daddy says, turning away from me quickly so I don’t see him wiping away his tears.
“Ok Daddy,” I say, tempering my excitement. I try to keep it under wraps until he gets himself together. This is normal for him and Daddy doesn’t like it when I make a big deal about it, so I just head to the bathroom to get ready.
I quickly shower, brush my teeth, and put my hair in pigtails with pretty rainbow bows. Our neighbor, Katie, taught me how to do my hair in a lot of different ways this summer. She left for college this fall, but she treated me like a little sister. She took me shopping for my back to school clothes, taught me how to do my hair, and took me to get my ears pierced. Katie’s a lot of fun. She told me that next summer, she’ll teach me how to do make-up!
I go into my bedroom and pull out the blue dress that Daddy had gotten made especially for me. Our housekeeper, Ms. Lawrence, steamed it for me yesterday and hung it up in my closet so that it wouldn’t get messed up. It’s beautiful. Shiny and poofy and the skirt flares out when I twirl. That’ll make Jenny Scarabini super jealous. I can’t stand her at all and I can’t wait to see her little pug nose screw up with how annoyed she is at how pretty I’ll look in my dress compared to how she looked on her birthday. That pink monstrosity that literally shed feathers everywhere. Her birthday was three weeks ago and I just found a feather in my backpack last night when I went to do my homework.
No, when people see me in my dress, all they’re going to think of is how beautiful I look, not about whether I’m going to be sending them home with undesired presents.
I pull on a pair of white knee-high socks and my black Mary Jane shoes. I look at myself in the mirror and am very happy with my appearance. Suck it Jenny Scarabini!
I skip down the steps, smelling Daddy’s famous birthday pancakes. I’m so excited. Daddy only makes these on our birthdays and they are my absolute favorite, but I also know that they are really difficult for Daddy to make. He woke up mega early to put this together because he loves me. My Daddy is the best.
When I get downstairs, Daddy is putting pancakes onto the plates on the counter. I see Ms. Lawrence trying to get up from her seat and Daddy points his spatula right at her.
“You get up again, Abigail, and you won’t get any pancakes.” Daddy’s using his serious voice on her, meaning that he really means business. “Now sit down before Jackie gets here. The only thing you’re allowed to do is put on the candles once I’ve got the pancakes decorated.”
“Mr. Murphy, are you sure. I would love to help you - “ Ms. Lawrence says and I can see that she’s starting to stand.
“Abigail! What did I say?” Daddy’s still using his serious voice, but he’s smiling at her.
“Ms. Lawrence, you better listen to Daddy. He will eat your pancakes right in front of you. He did it to one of my friends because she didn’t listen to him on my sixth birthday,” I say as I walk in the room.
“Happy Birthday, Ms. Jackie!” Ms. Lawrence says as I walk in the room.
“Thank you very much!” I say smiling from ear to ear and giving her a huge hug.
Daddy smiles at me. I’ve always been a very well behaved and polite child, something which Daddy is very proud of. “You look beautiful, Jackie.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I say, blushing a bit.
As I pull up my stool at the kitchen island, Daddy puts his homemade whipped cream on all of the pancakes and then tops them with sprinkles. He pushes my plate over to Ms. Lawrence and she tops it with nine candles.
“Don’t light them yet! Not yet! I’ve gotta get the camera!” Daddy says.
I giggle, super excited. This is one of my favorite days in the house. Not just because, well it’s my birthday, but also because Daddy is super silly. He always works to make my birthday special.
When Daddy comes back, Ms. Lawrence lights my candles and she and Daddy sing to me. I blow out my candles and then dig into my pancakes. They are the best! I eat all of them, though I eat them carefully. Can’t mess up my pretty dress.
Once we’re done, Ms. Lawrence collects all of our plates. Daddy is really nice to her, but she does have a job to do and he will have to take me to school. But not before he gives me my birthday present.
“Alright, little one. Time for you to get your backpack. We’ve got to get going.” I would think that Daddy was being serious, but he has that little sparkle in his eyes. Daddy’s teasing me.
“Is that really it, Daddy?” I giggle at him.
“Of course. I mean, what else would we do?” Daddy asks, though there’s a smile pulling at his lips.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe something for my birthday?” I ask, giggling even more.
“What do you mean? I made you birthday pancakes. Isn’t that all you’re supposed to get?” Daddy says, acting like his surprised that I would ask him for something else.
“Daddy! You’re being so silly!” I cry out, hugging him.
“What? What am I being silly about?” he says, tickling me.
“My present, Daddy!” I squeal out as he tickles me. “My birthday present!”
“Oh, no. You’re too old for those, aren’t you?”
“No, Daddy!” I squeal.
“Oh. Ok. Well, I guess it’s a good thing that I got you a present, isn’t it?” Daddy reaches under the counter and pulls out a present.
I squeal, taking it from Daddy. I rip open the present to see a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set. They are just like the ones that Mommy is wearing in her wedding picture with Daddy. Ones that I’ve always wanted, but Daddy said that I was too young to have.
“For real, Daddy?” I ask, smiling widely.
“Yes, little one. You are ready,” Daddy smiles down at me, taking the necklace out of the box and putting it on me.
sweet start.