Fly Away Girl

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Emmy

***

I don't say a word when I begin to notice. It isn't hard to observe the extra junk food in the pantry, or the way that I sometimes catch her napping when she's supposed to be at work. I think that I'm trying to convince myself that it isn't true. The truth is, I don't think I can handle another one. Well, not without Gran.

She left a week ago, after a bout of tearful goodbyes.

Until she left, I hadn't realized how much I relied on her to take care of the little ones.

Today is Lucas's ninth birthday. Sofia and I wake up early and make him his favorite breakfast; pancakes, bacon, blueberry muffins, sausage, and hot chocolate.

Lucas is a tiny wisp of a kid, but he has the appetite of a starved army.

Around the time that Sofia finishes up his pancakes, Maria and Marvin wander into the kitchen and sit at the table, getting to work on their gift to Lucas with crayons and colored paper.

I glance at my watch. 6:33 AM.

I might be late today.

I go over and take the seat beside Martin, observing his drawing in the process.

"That's really good, Marty," I tell my brother, and he beams up at me.

I look around at the busy kitchen, and suddenly I realize that Sammy is missing.

"Baby, where's Sammy?" I ask Martin.

"I dunno," he says, not looking up from the tree that he's coloring in. "He left early. Said he'll be back in a little bit."

I'm taking him to have a drug test, I decide.

"We're done!" I turn to see Sofia and my completed work of art. An oval shaped plate sits atop a black tray. On it are four pancakes, each thoroughly drenched in syrup, five pieces of bacon, two sausages, and a blueberry muffin. In a white mug sits a steaming mass of hot chocolate.

We may be poor, but we don't take birthday's lightly at the Ramirez house. I try and stretch every single dollar.

"Let's go," I say. I grip both ends of the tray firmly. Sofia holds the hot chocolate. Maria and Marvin each clutch a drawing in their hands.

We go upstairs.

As expected, Lucas is sleeping. I quietly slide the tray of food onto the nightstand before is gently shake him awake.

"Lucas," I sing.

"Wha...?" Lucas, still half asleep, sits up and rubs his eyes.

"Happy birthday!" Maria shouts.

Lucas is awake all of a sudden. He looks at me, delighted, and I plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Happy birthday, Lucas," says Sofia. "Emmy and I made you breakfast."

Not to be outdone, Maria brags, "We drew you birthday pictures." She thrusts her and Martin's drawings at Lucas.

"Wow, Maria, these are great," he says, hugging his sister.

"I'll be right back," I say to Lucas. I hurry back to the girls' bedroom and pull a large wrapped box from the closet before darting back to Lucas.

"This is from all of us," Sofia announces. "Even Rosa donated that quarter she's been chewing on."

"We gave six dollars," Martin grins, throwing his arm around Maria's shoulders.

"Open it!" I urge.