Page 56 of Releasing 10
“No, not pukey.” She paused for a moment before saying. “More like hiccups.”
“In your throat?”
“No, hiccups in my belly,” she corrected. “And butterflies in my throat.”
I frowned. “So…you have flutter-cups?”
“Oh my God, yes!” She nodded eagerly. “I have flutter-cups!”
“Fuck.” I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped me. “You’re so strange.”
“Say it again.”
“Fuck?”
She grinned. “Fuck.”
“How are your flutter-cups?”
“Still there, but it’s okay,” she laughed. “They don’t hurt.”
“That’s good to know,” I replied.Because I think I caught them, too.
“What did you mean on the bus?” she asked then. “About me being right.”
Aw double crap.
“Uh…I’ll tell you later.” Pushing the car door open, I sprang out before I embarrassed myself further. “Come on.” Smiling, I waved at her to follow me. “Let’s go inside and play.”
STARS ARE BETTER THAN SQUARES
Lizzie
OCTOBER 31, 1994
AFTER THE CAKE WAS EATEN, WE WERE ALL SENT INTO THE LOUNGE TO PLAY BECAUSEit was raining too heavy to go back outside. Cadence played with a few dolls from Claire’s toy box, while the bigger boys wrestled and jumped around to the music playing. Claire and Gibsie were bouncing on the couch, playing the Five Little Monkeys Game.
I wasn’t sure what to do.
I didn’t know how to talk to everyone.
I missed Shannon.
I wished she had come to the party.
She didn’t like to talk a lot, and I liked that about her. Sometimes it was nice tonottalk and still be friends.
Sitting on the window seat, I dangled my legs off the side and watched everyone. It was so loud. It made my head feel dizzy. Like it was spinning. I felt hot, too, like I was in front of the fire.
My attention switched from one side of the room to the other. I wanted to run away, but we couldn’t go outside, so I sat on my hands to stop them from scratching. Shaking my head, I tried to smile, to not feel so cross, but I didn’t like this.
It was too loud.
My mind kept flicking back to when my piece of cake fell on the floor and Marybeth laughed.
She was talking to Hugh now.
I narrowed my eyes.
