Sing!

Chapter Eight: Elsa's Birthday

NO MATTER HOW CORRUPT, GREEDY, AND HEARTLESS OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR CORPORATION, OUR MEDIA, AND OUR RELIGION AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS MAY BECOME, THE MUSIC WILL STILL BE WONDERFUL

|Kurt Vonnegut|

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Booked two months in advance, not the kind of place you get a table on impulse, large mullioned windows, long embroidered curtains, dark walnut tables, flowers on each table, delicate live piano music, flagstone tile floor, lounge area with embroidered couches, oval coffee tables with splendidly proportioned cabriole legs, drinks served from silver trays by well dressed waiters.

The restaurant was full. The place was filled with busy tables. An old couple eating side by side, one glass of wine each, studiously bent over their meals. A group of young women in their thirties collapsing with helpless giggles as a stern woman dining alone nearby looked on and frowned. Businessmen in their grey suits lighting up cigars. Tourists, trying to decipher the menu. A family and their teenage children. The noise level was high. But it didn't bother Elsa's family.

Elsa and her entire family sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Elsa's family consisted of, herself, her sister Anna, Iduna, her aunt Arianna as well as her Uncle Frederic and her cousin Rapunzel. Her entire family was with her to celebrate her eighteenth birthday.

Elsa was the oldest at of the three girls. Rapunzel was next in line, which made Anna the youngest of the family. With Elsa being older, she had to grow up fast, so that she could be a good role model for Rapunzel and Anna.

Elsa, with a smile, opened the gift her aunt had given her. It was a small box, it had no wrapping on it. Opening it up, Elsa observed a small pearl choker necklace. It was stunning. It was nothing she had ever seen before.

"Aww, they're gorgeous," Elsa assured her aunt and uncle as she allowed Anna and Rapunzel to glimpse at the gift,"thank you so much," Elsa got up from her seat as she kissed both her aunt and uncle.

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At the front of the restaurant, Jack was arguing with the head waiter who was quarrelling over Jack's attire. Guests were supposed to wear a smart dress code and apparently a leather jacket was not considered smart.

"Will you excuse me," Jack retaliated with a slight attitude as he finally got bored of the argument, "I've got a friend over there," Jack pointed over to Elsa's table as he proceeded his way towards her.

"I've told your friend of our rules," the waiter informed Pitch who had been behind Jack the entire time. He had a girl under his arm, all dressed in red. Swiftly, Pitch gave the waiter some change for the trouble as they guided them to their table.

"Elsa," Jack announced with a smile as he saw Elsa. Turning, Elsa held a shocked expression as she saw Jack. This was the last place she would have thought to see Jack.

"Hello Jack," Elsa replied with a kind smile. Elsa felt how her little sister, kept nudging her in her ribs. Elsa ignored her irritating sister, as she overheard her giggle with their cousin.

"Can you believe this place? I walk in here, they want me to put on some crummy jacket," Jack informed them and Iduna glanced away, obviously no impressed, "I said 'blow it out your ass'."

The girls irrupted into laughter, as the parents took a sharp breath. Elsa let out a small laugh but bit her lip afterwards as she realised her mother would not be impressed. Nudging her sister to do the same, Elsa hid her face from her mother afraid she may see the amusement in Elsa's eyes and face.

"So...are you having a birthday?" Jack asked as he regarded the gifts placed on the table.

"It's Elsa's eighteenth," Arianna answered with a smile as she glanced towards Elsa. Elsa could not help but blush at her aunt for putting the attention back on her. Elsa never appreciated the attention, that was what Anna was for.

"You know me and Elsa are running that Sing thing down at the school," Jack informed the family who nodded in interest. Still, Iduna looked displeased that Jack was near her.

"Is that so?" Elsa's uncle responded.

"Yeah, kind of like, I got all the ideas and Elsa, here, agrees with me," Jack stated as he patted Elsa's back softly. Elsa nodded in response as she switched her gaze from Jack to her family.

"So..." Jack stated as he leaned over to Elsa, waiting for an introduction, "you must be Elsa's mother," Jack stated toward's Elsa's aunt. The girls suppressed laughter, but could not help but smile.

"No, I am her aunt. Rapunzel is my daughter," Arianna informed Jack as she gestured to Rapunzel who smiled shyly towards Jack. A blush arose from her cheeks.

"I'm the proud mother," Iduna stated flatly, not glancing up to make contact with Jack. Iduna had no interest in Jack. He was just another teenage rebel, whom Elsa could do better without.

Recognising a tension between himself and Iduna, Jack responded with a nod, "I've got to go, but can I just say it's been a sincere pleasure to meet you all," Jack stated as he tried to make a good last impression towards the family, "and Elsa," the two locked eyes, "happy birthday, snowflake," it was something in his tone that made Elsa appreciate the nickname. It sounded so much sweeter and softer than usual.

Jack walked away. Elsa continued to watch him leave, as Anna and Rapunzel giggled with one another. There was something there.

"I can't eat," Iduna announced as she looked down at the food. She was sickened due to Jack's presence. With her answer, Elsa couldn't help but roll her eyes at her mother rudeness.