SirenBorn

Chapter 2

I woke to all the familiar sounds and smells of home, except for one.

Whenever there was a new aroma floating around, typically a fart or something, my mom would always joke, "inhale deeply through the nasal passages."  It used to make me laugh.

Sniffing the air I followed the smell down the stairs and into the kitchen, where my dad was bent over the stove.

BACON!!!!

I don't know how I didn't recognize it earlier!

"Happy birthday, Berry," he called over his shoulder as I plopped down in a chair. He started calling me Strawberry - shortened "Berry" - when I got the pink streak in my hair, which was not long after mom left.

"Mornin' dad," I replied. "Bacon, eh?"

"Yeah, I wanted to give my little girl something special before I break the bad news."

Uh oh. "How 'bout the bad news now, and we can save the bacon for coping?"

"You can do that if you want," he chuckled.

"Yeah - no. Bacon now!" I held my fork and knife upright on the table. I probably wont even end up using them; when there's bacon, all table manners go out the window.

"Alright," my dad handed me a plate. "Just tell me when you would like the news."

Uh, how 'bout never, I thought, I don't want to ruin this one day I get to stay home from school.  "Do I have to know what it is, or can I live without it?"

"You'll probably find out one way or another." He expertly flipped the bacon over his shoulder onto my plate like pancakes. "It really just depends on whether you'd like me to break it to you gently or someone else to do it harshly." He smiled knowing he had won me over.

Stuffing the bacon in my face, I nodded. "You can choose when the best time for it is."

"After presents then."

**

Sitting on the living room floor I stared intently at my dad, who stared right back.

He pulled a tiny box from behind his back and presented it to me. He presented the present. I laughed to myself.  What is going on in my head?

"Alright, first, this."

Hastily but carefully I untied the pretty pink ribbon and slit the tape with my nail.  I take pride in having freakishly sharp nails. It's also a heck of a challenge to maintain.

"Why must you be so impetuous?" my dad said.

Ignoring him I excitedly opened the little box inside, before even bothering to read the labeling. Turns out it was an iPhone 7.

"This thing is crap," I told my dad."Thank you." I hugged him, he smiled. "What's next?"

The rest of the presents went along similarly to that, all with various levels of enthusiasm.

"Last, but not least," my dad said as he handed over a package, about the size of a small book. I seriously hoped it wasn't. I wouldn't read to save my life.

I saw that he had sealed the envelope and frowned, "well, now we can't reuse this one."

"It's a small price to pay for what's inside."

I opened the envelope, and pulled out a mirror.

Looking at my reflection I thought, I didn't look too bad, if I say so myself, considering I haven't showered today yet.