ꫝꫀ᥅ ꪊᜣ᥅ﺃᦓﺃꪀᧁ

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑶𝒏𝒆

I walked down the street, my briefcase and coat in hand. I wanted to go to the bar with Giuseppe after school, but he's sick again.

Gis was always sick back then, and I still don't understand why nobody other than me and my parents tried to help him. He wasn't the stuffy nose and cough sick. He was the crying and angry sick. His folks used to say if he continued to be like that, they were going to send him to a crazy house. I despise them.

I sat down, shamefully out of breath. I don't think I'm out of shape, I just don't exercise much. I never have the time, school has me in knots.

"Hello, Pat." I looked up, Gis was walking towards me.

"Hello, Gis." He sat down next to me, ruffling his hair. It was quick long for a man. "I heard you were under the weather."

"That was last night, I'm jolly now." He looked like he had been crying. I hated seeing him like that. "Are you putting on the Ritz for tomorrow evening?"

I smirked, fixing my hat. "What's for tomorrow?"

"Your birthday, bo!" He laughed, I loved his laugh. It's better than the sobbing.

"Come get some giggle-water with me. There's nothing else to do."

"And how."

---

We spent a few hours there, popping our gums over school and family. Giuseppe didn't talk about his folks unless he was all drunk. His father was beating on his mother again, and his mother was beating on him because of it. I don't get his parents. He was the oldest, and he would've rather be beat than have one his sisters get the whack. I find it strange how two bastards had such incredible children. They had a lot. If they're not beating on each other, they're having a ball in the bedroom.

There was Giuseppe, my best friend, since our early years in school. He was a real great guy. He was just always so sad. If he wasn't getting thrown around, he's being shouted at. Then the twins. Beautiful flappors. Soon came his little sister. He loved that kid. Then, a little baby girl. As of now, she's pregnant again.

"Get ready for your birthday." He was red in the face with laughter. "It'll be the bee's knees!"

"We'll see." I adored his happiness, I knew it was short-lived.

I liked many things about him. I liked his voice, I liked his words. I liked his eyes.

I don't understand a lot of things, including myself. I'm ashamed to admit that I looked at Giuseppe like a woman. I know I'm not supposed to be doing that. I want to kiss him sometimes when we're alone.

---

"Patrick, love, finish your peas."

My parents both came to New York from Ireland before I was born. I wouldn't say they're strict, but they're not laid back. They really care for me, especially my mom. I'm the baby, and she keeps an eye on me from morning til night.

"I can't believe you're turning nineteen tomorrow, can't fucking wait." She kissed my face over and over again, making me laugh and turn red. "Is Giuseppe still not well?"

"He's well, at least for tonight." I felt my stomach get all hot. "His ma was hitting him again."

She sucked her tongue. It hurt me to think I let him go back there, but he stayed with us a lot. During August of that year, he was here all day. He was actually happy.

"He's excited for your birthday, love. He told me all about it." I looked up at her. I will always remember how pretty she was. "He told me he has a gift for you."

"Can't wait." I smiled, then went quiet. I thought about what Gis was doing. I hoped his parents weren't being assholes.

---

I dreamt of her that night. She's a dash. Her hair is black and cut to her ears. She wears white pearls and red dresses. She looks so happy. We kiss. We love each other.

---

I took the day off for my birthday. My friends and I went to a women's march. There's been many this week alone, and I consider myself a feminist. Not as much as Gis though, it was his idea to go. The ladies were wearing trousers. They looked as fashionable as the doll the poor girls had.

"If a broad could wear those, I can wear a dress." He grabbed a long purple one and put it over his suit.

You should've seen him, a true gal! He looked so happy, spinning around and giggling. I loved to see him like that. We danded in the streets as we heard the ladies popping their gums.

"Happy birthday, doll." He was sweaty from dancing, holding his new dress in his hands as he walked home. "Here." He gave a box, a tiny one. "For my bo."

When I got home, I opened it. There was a note. It said not to open it until Christmas. That sap!

How I wish I had opened it that night. I could've known before.