Sometimes You Need To Let Down Your Hair

Chapter 16

       After a surprisingly nice breakfast, mother went over the itinerary for today. Apparently we were going to go horseback riding, eat lunch at a nice restaurant, watch a movie, then come home for cake and gifts. I was kinda excited for my birthday now, although I wish Lucas could come over for cake. Anyway, soon we were off and mother drove to a random forested area where we proceeded to walk down a dirt path to some new looking stables. I rode on a tall white stallion named Max, and mom rode a small brown mare named Flower. The owner of the horses made us wear riding helmets so we would't get hurt as much if we fell off, and told us to have them back after an hour. 

       Mother led us down a horse trail, and we went around he forest until we came back at the stables after an hour had passed. During the ride I was half-tempted just to ride off by myself and never look back, but I quickly shot down the idea. After the peaceful ride we went back to town and drove around until it was time for lunch. Then we stopped at a nice looking restaurant that I've never seen before. In all fairness though, I didn't get out much and the only place I've been outside of my house is the diner Lucas took me to. 

       At the restaurant mother and I ate a nice meal and made small talk. Afterwards we went to the movie theater and watched an animated movie. It was really good, and I ate some very buttery popcorn! It was great watching a movie in the theater for the first time. In fact, it was so great that I didn't stop talking about it until we came home. 

       At home mother told me to run upstairs and pass the time by reading a book or something while she baked my cake. I laughed and ran up the stairs to my room. It was ironic that after being allowed to leave my room, that I actually wanted to go up there. After getting into my room I saw a surprise sitting on my bed. 

       Mother must have stashed a present in my room before we left because a large box wrapped in sparkly pink wrapping paper was currently sitting on the edge of my bed with a note attached to it. It said, 'Happy birthday darling, here is one of your gifts. Try to find the others!' I smiled and opened it up to find a cute summery dress. It was cream colored and covered in lace. I immediately tried it on and saw that it only went to my knees. After looking in the box one more time I saw that a braided brown belt also came with it. I put it on then looked in my mirror. I looked pretty cute. 

       There was only one thing missing. I looked on my desk and saw the bracelet Lucas had given me. Without a second thought I put it on and thought my look was complete. Then I second guessed myself and thought my braid was to messy. Then that led to me taking it out and brushing it, and then before I knew it mom called me downstairs for cake and ice cream. I took one last look in the mirror before deciding to just keep my hair down. I felt like letting loose. Today was great, and all a sudden the future looked brighter. The fears and uncertainty I had worried about for the past week vanished as I felt myself gliding down the stairs.

       When I came into the dining room mother squealed, "oh you look so cute!" Then she tried to squeeze the life out of me with a giant hug. I couldn't stop myself from laughing, this was so unlike my mother. After hugging me we sat down and ate cake red velvet cake with vanilla ice-cream. Mother even put candles on the cake. It was really nice, and for once we had something to talk about. It was so nice that when we stopped talking to find my presents that I was actually a little disappointed.  

       Mother handed me a hand drawn map of the house with clues written all over it. I laughed at how silly it was. it was like a scavenger hunt for presents. Mother and I went all over the house, and even outside to find my gifts. A book was hidden underneath the sofa in the living room, a sketch book was hidden in the library room on top of a shelf, and a pack of colored pencils were hidden in my flower garden. After finding those mother told me that there was one more in my room, so we both went upstairs. 

       The clue she gave me said that "In a tower, an adventure lies just out of reach, and hides among many colors." It was kinda confusing, but I figured out that was a book in a high place somewhere in my room. I figured the 'hides among many colors' was either talking about my art stuff or my clothes. Either way, I keep both in my closet so that is where I decided to look. There wasn't a book hanging in my closet in a bag so I figured it must be on the top shelf.

       I was tall enough where I didn't need anything to stand on to reach up there, but I couldn't see what was up there. I usually just felt around for what I needed or got my desk chair to stand on. I was too lazy to get the chair so I just put my hand up there to grab a bag or book, or whatever wasn't supposed to be up there already. I felt my hand brush up against a bag, so I pulled it down, but as soon as I did I threw into the corner of my closet. 

       It was Lucas' book-bag! I forgot that I had put it in my closet. It had the rope in it, his laptop, and a few movies. I mentally face-palmed as I reached back up to my shelf. Mother stood back, so I don't think she saw what I tossed into the corner of my closet, but I'm pretty sure she heard it. I heard her ask, "What was that?"

       "Nothing, just my bag of art supplies. I just tossed it to the side so I could find the present," I said in a slightly hurried voice. I rolled my eyes at my voice. Why did my heart beat faster and my words come out all shaky? If she saw the bag I could lie and say it was mine. She wouldn't look in it anyway. Shaking away the thoughts, I continued to search for the present. When my hand wrapped around something rectangular and wrapped in paper.

       I pulled it down and moved away from the closet. I carefully tore open the wrapping and was surprised on what I saw. It was a book about Canada. Then I went over to my bed and sat down. That was when I noticed that something was in between the last page and the back of the book. With a curious smile I opened up the book to find a passport shoved in the back. I was so shocked that I didn't even notice mother going into my closet.