Closure

Chapter 4: Abigail's New Boyfriend

Art ain't mine

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It was Abigail's birthday, and she was today's princess. Her dress was full of light pink frills, white laces and polka dot ribbons, she had pink fairy wings strapped onto her back and a pink fairy wand in her hand that would let her command the day. She had a silver tiara with a bunch of white gemstones decorating it.

It wasn't Jenny's birthday, but I still thought she had the prettiest dress. Her parents got it for her just a few days ago. It was a darker pink, with less polka dots but with swirly white designs. I really liked it. Even if Jenny didn't have a tiara, I could still imagine it sitting on top of her head.

The other girl was wearing a purple dress.

I was wearing a blue dress. I liked the colour blue. This wasn't my dress though. Jenny let me borrow it. She lets me do that when there's a really big event, like a birthday party.

"You can keep that one, it looks better on you anyways." She said, her eyes on the small ripped fabric pieces and loose thread. I just smiled, and said thank you.

When I brought the dress home, though, my mom got really upset and I didn't really understand why at first.

She told me, "this dress is ripped, Maddy! It's dirty and old and falling apart!"

I looked down at the ground, feeling bad because I really wanted to wear that dress. Even though I could see some holes in it, I wanted to wear it because it was Jenny's, and she's important to me.

My mom sighed and kind of just looked at me for a long time until she finally clicked her tongue and said, "oh alright, I'll see what I can do."

I felt my heart surge and a really big smile appear on my face. It felt like relief that my mom approved.

"I really don't like that girl, Maddy. Is this how she's treating you? Like this torn up, dirty dress that she can easily throw away?" In that moment, I felt a weird, heavy feeling in my chest that I wanted nothing more than to push away.

"No mom, what do you mean? Jenny is my best friend."

I was getting upset that my mom was saying things like this about Jenny. Even more now that she looked at me like she didn't believe me.

"Best friend, huh. Alright go wash your hands. Dad made lunch." At the sound of food my feet started to move towards the bathroom sink. "What kind of friend is she," I heard my mom quietly say.

The blue dress that Jenny gave me looked as good as new within a few weeks.

I was really happy; I gave my mom a big hug and a big kiss.

– – – – –

On Abigail's birthday, in the evening, there was a fairy ball. Her rich-nowhere-to-be-seen mom rented a huge ballroom and organized the entire party. That's how it usually goes.

There were lights, leaves, music, party games, all of Abi's friends, a lot of parents, but the one person that Abi wanted to see was her mom.

I don't think anybody has seen Abi's mom, actually. Not even Jenny, although she claims to have seen another lady at Abigail's house. Then Abigail nervously explained that it's her aunt. Her mother was in Brazil that day, she pointed out, making pretty important business deals, whatever that means.

These grand parties, celebrations and balls are how Abigail's mom tells Abigail that she loves her. She's never there to actually say so, though. Her father is there to say it instead.