Cowgirl Cat

Chapter 3

The Moment of Truth

"And one last gift," my mom announces dramatically. Sometimes, I think she should have been an actress instead of a writer.

I'm sitting at the head of the table, surrounded by my family, boxes of new clothing, and ripped purple wrapping paper. My brother is standing next to my grandparents, a smirk on his face as he watches me. I wish I knew what he's thinking. On the other hand, maybe it's better that I don't. Brooke hasn't arrived yet. She called earlier to tell my mom that she was running late. Typical. At least Cassie and her mom are there.

Growing up, Cassie was almost always at our house. My mom refers to her as her half-daughter. One summer, when her parents were going through the big D, she literally lived there. That was the year whenI decided to label my dresser drawers in green permanent marker, something my mom didn't find half as useful as I did, I even wrote Cassie's Stuff on the bottom drawer. Yeah, Mom was really ticked off about that, especially when I wrote Bubbing Suits on another drawer. How was I supposed to know it was really bathing suits??? I was only like seven or eight. Anyway, Cassie still keeps extra clothes in it, including a toothbrush and special hairbrush that I'm not allowed to use.

The empty boxes of pizza are on the counter and the half-eaten ice cream cake is back in the freezer. As soon as we finish with the cake, I'm finally allowed to open gifts: one dress, two T-shirts with cats on them, a pretty necklace (Marcus always gives nice jewelry), a headband with cat ears on them (thank you Alex), funny cat slippers (from both Cassie and Jamie, my other bestest friend who are clearly pandering to Marcus) and a book about horses from Cassie's mom (already have it but I feign a genuine 'thank you so much').

"I think you're forgetting one, Cat."

I look around for another package since I thought I had opened everything.

Mom clears her throat. It's her standard call for everyone to pay attention to her. Creative. That's my mom. She loves to do things in a dramatic, fun way. Probably why she's a writer. Suddenly, I'm excited. If she's making a big deal about giving the gift, there's still a chance that it's something really good.

Now, everyone is looking at me. Even though it's only my family, I feel nervous, especially with Cassie staring at me. Hope flickers inside of me. Can it be? Is it even possible?

Mom hands me a small envelope which I take with a trembling hand. Is it just cash? Or is it something else? I open it and it's just a card. But inside the card, she has written a poem:

Birthdays come but once a year
And turning thirteen is very dear.
To help you celebrate all year long,
Look behind the wireless song.

Wireless song? I look up at her and she gives me one of her funny smiles as she watches my reaction. What on earth is a wireless song? I think. "Huh," I say. "I'm stumped, Mom."

Alex laughs and looks like he's about to say something, but Nina gives him a stern look which silences him right away.

"How can you look behind a song, Mom?"

She shrugs.

Wireless. Wireless. Wireless song.

Suddenly, I figure it out. She must have hidden something behind Alexa, our wireless device that plays music. Mom always has something playing on it when she's cooking.

Nervously, I get up and start to walk around the table to the cabinet where the black speaker is. I peek behind it and gasp. There it is: the all-too-familiar shaped box.