Drawing from the Void-Chapter 1

Becoming

"I hate that cake," Ellie grumbled as her mother fussed over her pigtail braids. It's dry, and the frosting looks like sugar paste. She swatted her mother's hand. "Stop, Mom! You're gonna scratch my mark off my head."

"You want me to get Mee-Maw to do it?"

Ellie stopped complaining at that threat. Mee-Maw was an even rougher brusher than her mom. Then again, her curly hair didn't play well with others.

With arms crossed over her chest, Ellie pouted. Worst birthday ever.

As annoyed as she was, she couldn't say what she was thinking out loud. For the last month, her parents had dedicated day and night to this event. Elijah, her father, mowed and painted, procured propane heaters, and warded off overstepping family members-not to mention patiently managing Mee-Maw. Ellie's mother, Kimberly, sent out invitations, collected responses, organized parking, and made food. And, of course, she also had to entertain Mee-Maw when the old woman wasn't breathing down Elijah's neck.

The guest list was the most egregious irritation of all. When Ellie had complained, Mee-Maw used the most pathetic tone she could muster. "At my age, you're lucky if you still have friends left." Everything that escaped Mee-Maw's mouth was coated in an extra-thick layer of guilt. With an overdramatic sulk, she lifted her frail hand. "What's a few more families? It's like you don't want me to be happy."

"No, no, Mother. We do want you to be happy," Ellie's mother had replied. "I can always just double or triple a recipe." Mother always caved to Mee-Maw.

"There we go." Her mom set the comb down on the end table. Satisfied with the braids in Ellie's hair, she invited her daughter to partake in her excitement. "Have a look at them."

"Seen one braid, you've seen 'em all. Am I free now?"

"Ellie-Lynne!"

Ellie groaned loudly and took the pocket mirror from her mother. Just like the last ones and the test runs before those, the tight braids started near the top of her head and trailed down behind her ears, where they dangled down to her shoulders. Her curly mahogany hair twisted up at the ends past the hair-tie.

"Yup, looks great. Can I go now?" Ellie held the pocket mirror over her shoulder for her mom to take it.

"Oh, fine." Kimberly patted Ellie on the back, and she took the opportunity to run. "Don't go far," her mother called out. "Mee-Maw wants to introduce you to some people."

Spotting Mee-Maw and her friends, Ellie froze in her tracks. The sea of awful, stuffy, weird people had already begun. They only wanted to talk about local politics, crops, and gossip. The latest chatter surrounded the marriage of Candice Hurst to her third cousin, Damien Branham-Hurst.

"Scandalous choice," a snub-nosed woman commented.

"Little too close in the gene pool if you ask me," Mee-Maw replied. She always looked so smug when gossiping. "That's why we have been reaching out to our Canadian brethren..."

Ugh. Ellie normally tuned out the conversations within the first thirty seconds, but tonight, there would be no use hiding. She was the center of attention, even if her hideous hand-me-down outfit didn't give her away. Ellie hated the loose, white blouse covered by a black sleeveless dress with green lacy fringe and matching green ribbons crisscrossing down her chest and abdomen. The revolting attire was complimented by a green apron and tight, uncomfortable black flats.

During her first fitting two months ago, Ellie had pleaded her case. "It's 2014," she whined as her mom took in the waist of the old garment. "Can't we let go of some traditions or maybe jazz it up? Like we could keep the shoes, but maybe I could wear a normal green dress?"