Chapter 19. Birthday

"More colors!" I yelled as my eyes swept over the decorations. I had missed this: preparing and perfecting his birthday.

Since I was twelve years old, I had been in charge of my dad’s birthday celebration. Having just come from the kitchen, I saw they were doing a perfect job there.

"Why are knives missing from this table?" I yelled. Who arranges cutlery and plates without knives?

"I see you are back to your old habits," my dad's voice rang in my ear as he came up behind me, ruffling my hair. I glared at him playfully, but when I noticed he wasn't dressed up, my glare hardened.

"Why aren't you dressed up? Your guests will be here soon!"

It was a birthday dinner with a few invited friends of my dad. As usual, they would talk about work and laugh about boring things they found amusing. My brothers and I would be quiet the entire time, eating and answering a few questions thrown at us.

"Rela