Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Eighteen

It's the week before Christmas, and I'm lying in bed and reading a book. It's To Kill a Mockingbird, one of Alex's favorite novels. We're reading it for English class at school, and I'm really enjoying it so far. Scout reminds me a lot of me, courageous and loving of her family.

My phone rings, and a tinny version of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' begins to play. It's Harriet's custom ringtone, ever since Halloween. I pick up once I can't take the sound of canned Judy Garland anymore.
"Jim's Pizza, eat-in or delivery?" I bark into the phone.
"Hey, Kathryn." Harriet sounds amused.
"Wassup, Harriet!" I flop onto my back.
"I've got some good news!" She sounds excited. "The cast list for the spring musical is up."
"And you're exactly what you auditioned for?" Our school is doing The Wiz for our spring musical, and she auditioned for Glinda.
"Nope. You're talking to Dorothy!"

I let my head dangle off the side of the bed, my hair brushing the carpet. "I'm so proud of you! Y'all got it!"
"I can't believe it, honestly. I'm so happy." Harriet laughs.
I flip a pillow in the air with my feet. "I can believe it. Does Theo know?"
"Yup! I called her right before you."
I drop the pillow, and it lands on my face. "I'm always the last person to know everything."

John knocks on the door. "Kath, Alex wants to know if takeout pizza is good for tonight."
"Sure, Daddy." I fall off the bed with a loud thump.
Harriet giggles. "I had a question for you."
"And I have an answer!" I yelp as my book falls off the bed and almost hits me in the head.
"Make that two questions. First, what on earth are you doing?"
"I was reading, and then there was a pillow..." I trail off. "Never mind. It makes more sense if I don't tell you."
"Okay, fine. Anyway, my dad is taking me into the city to do some Christmas shopping tomorrow. Theo's coming, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?"

"I'd love to, but I have to ask my dads. I will after dinner tonight- Alex likes to talk then." I start to climb back up onto the bed.
"Alright! If you can come, text me to let me know."
There's a loud noise from her end of the phone, and she laughs. "I've got to go, my cat just broke a window. Hopefully, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye!"

I hang up and go back to reading. I'm on Chapter Ten so far, and I'm really enjoying it.
"Kathryn! Dinner's ready!"
I roll my eyes. "But I'm reading!"
"Then I'm eating all of the cheesy bread," Alex calls up the stairs.
I drop my book and go charging down the stairs. "Not before I do!"

After pizza (Alex forgot to go grocery shopping, so we have literally no food in the house except for some moldy pepperoni and three stale cupcakes), we sit at the table for a little while, just talking. John is trying to convince Alex to cut his hair.
"It'll be easier to take care of, baby..."
"If I cut it, I'm going to look like that Puerto Rican guy down the street." Alex is eating one of the stale cupcakes.
"Mr. De la Vega? He's nice." I steal the cupcake, take a bite, and then put it back. "I get coffee from him someti-" I realize my mistake. John lets me have coffee. Alex doesn't.

"You're drinking coffee?" Alex sits up and looks disapproving.
"Only sometimes! It helps me wake up."
"I'm sorry. I let her do it." John looks repentant.
"Don't do it again. I'd ground you, but it's Christmas break- I don't feel like ruining our holiday." Alex sighs a little and shakes his head. "You two are a pair of little criminals, but I love you anyway."

I put my feet up on the table. "I have a question."
"Feet off the table," John and Alex say in unison.
I roll my eyes and take my feet off the table. "Harriet invited me to go with her and Theo into the city tomorrow. Her dad is taking her holiday shopping, and she wants me to come along."
"What time does she want to pick you up?"
"I don't know. She hasn't told me."

Alex picks up his cell phone and dials a number. "Hello, Jefferson. Yes. No, no!" There's a pause. "That's actually what I'm calling about. I don't want to send my daughter off with you if I don't know what you all plan to do. No, of course I- I'm not!"
John brushes my shoulder. "Don't eavesdrop, Kathryn."
Alex is being too loud for it to count as eavesdropping. He's actually shouting now. "Really? Well, you're just a-"
"Best for you to go upstairs, maybe, honey. Watch a movie or something."