Two Streets Down [R.D.J]

Chapter 3: Twenty

     Grace's last birthday party was on her twelfth birthday. She was not a fan of parties after that. She rather spend her birthdays with her parents than her extended family accompanied by people she did not know. Grace preferred going out to the movies with her friends and having dinner with her parents than spending the day thanking people for attending her party. Her family finds any excuse to throw a party. In her family, parties were a regular thing. Grace did not want her birthdays to be another excuse for one. When Lily turned one, they threw her a birthday party. Grace thought it was ridiculous. In various situations, Grace felt as the black sheep of the family.

She did like parties, just not as excessive as the rest of her family. They do not respect week days, they throw parties any day of the week. She had once made the mistake of attending a party, on a week day,with her friends- her first year of college -she lamented it the next morning when she had to drag herself out of bed because she had a lecture at eight in the morning.

She had received several calls on the course of the day, the majority from her family members, wishing her a happy twentieth birthday. Her mother had been the first one to call. Grandma Mary and Grandpa Ben (her mother's parents) had called from Chambersburg, where they have lived their entire life. She did not think they would remember, but they surprised her every year. She would receive a call from them every year on her birthday and an envelope with a birthday card and two hundred dollars.

Grandma Al and Grandpa Joe had called as well. Amelia had tried to lure her into allowing her to organize a last minute party. Grace had respectfully refused. There were birthdays coming up, with their extensive family there was at least two birthday parties per month.

"Feeling old yet?" Diana nudged.

Grace scoffed, continuing to pack her materials. She had only two classes, luckily for them Mr. Collins, the Life Art professor, was out for the day; they were dismissed early. Mr. Collins detests having someone else teach his class, he rather cancel it entirety.

"I am as young and beautiful as I was yesterday," Grace retorted.

Diana laughed. They collected their portfolios and sauntered out the door. It was hardly noon. Life art lasts two hours, with a twenty minute break half way in. That said, Grace had two unexpectedly free hours. Mondays and Tuesdays, her day consist of four classes. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, she has three. Fridays through Sundays she is college free.

She works at a cafe five days a week. Usually, she has a weekday and a weekend day off. Grace had asked for Thursday off, not necessarily for her birthday, but for the gallery. She was scheduled to go in the next day, Friday, at three and until closing time.

"Oh man," Diana groaned. "Julian is still in class. Now instead of waiting twenty minutes I have to wait over two hours."

Julian is Diana's boyfriend, also her ride. "I can give you a ride," Grace offered.

"Thanks beautiful life saver," she squeezed her into a quick hug. "Hmm should I work on my paintings or catch up on my show?"

"Both are tempting," Grace shrugged.

"I have the apartment to myself for two hours," she thought out loud, "Brenda is working. I'm definitely watching my show in my underwear while eating ice cream from the tube. No cups."

Grace laughed, shaking her head. She secretly agreed with her, she sometimes walks around the apartment on her underwear. She sleeps in her panties and a oversize shirt.

"Brenda woks until four," Diana grinned. Brenda is their friend, she shares an apartment with Diana. Brenda doesn't have classes on Thursdays, but she does on Fridays. "She hates it when I eat ice cream from the tube instead of getting a cup."