The Arrangement

Chapter Two

    I leaned over the wooden kitchen table as I blew out the eighteen birthday candles on my chocalete cake that said: Happy Birthday Rosa.

Everyone around my applauded as the snapped a few photos, then they finally turned the lights back on. I smiled looking at all my siblings and my cousin Francesca was here as well. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and a killer smile. She was very pretty, but Francesca and I didn't always get along so well. She's only a year older than me so we grew up together as siblings.

Her parents died in a car accident when she was five so she was sent to live with us sense my parents were her god parents and her legal guardians. She was born and raised in Italy so when she came here we had to teach her English and everything about the United States.

I leaned back into my chair, sighing to myself. Is this it? It's my eighteenth birthday. I should be throwing some huge wild and crazy party by now, but no. I'm staying at home with my Mom and siblings, doing nothing but have cake and ice cream.

"vaniglia o al cioccolato?" (Vanilla or chocolate?) Elisabetta asked every one around the table as her and my Mom gave us each a slice of cake and ice cream on the side.

"Zia Rosa, open my present! Mamma, get my present for Zia!" Sera shouted, on her sugar rush. Her face was full of chocolate from the ice cream and cake, and her hair was tied back in a messy little pony tail. Her curls were sticking out at the front and she gave me a small toothy grin with her little baby teeth.

Giuliana chuckled at our niece, she stood up frrom the kitchen table, "I'll go get the presents for her, bambina." Then with that Giuliana walked out of the kitchen to the living room where all the gifts are.

Michael walked up from behind Sera, he took the plate from her as she was about to get another piece of cake. "No more, Serafina." he scolded her and she frowned, and pouted her lip out.

I had to bite my lip to hide the "Aww: that threatend to make it's way out of my mouth.

"Papa, please!" she begged, pouting again, and giving him her puppy dog eyes.

"No, Serafina." My mom told her as she was cleaning the empty plates around the table, "Listen to your papa."

Serafina frowned now, and her lips started to quiver, she was going to put on the waterworks not, "But Nonna-"

Elisabetta butted into the conversation, "Serafina, one more word about this and you will go in to time out. Do not talk back to adults."

Sera's face scrunched together as she crossed her arms over her chest and let out an angry huff.

Giuliana came back in to the room with Bruno, the both of them holding the presents.

"Open mine first!" Sera said, her mood immediatley changing at the sight of the presents.

I chuckled as I grabbed the small present from the pile, that read : To: Zia Rosa From:Serafina

Sera started clapping her hands together while I was unwrapping the pink barbie wrapping paper. I looked over at Michael and Elisabetta and they both shrugged.

Underneath the wrapping paper was a picture frame. In the picture frame was a picture of Sera and I a couple months ago. I smiled and thanked my niece giving her a big kiss on the forhead. The other presents were pretty good as well.

Bruno and Giuliana got me two tickets to six flags, which was great sense I've been wanting to go for months now, Jade's going to be so excited! Michael and Elisabetta got me a diamond bracelet that probably cost them a fortune. I told them that I couldn't accept such an expensive gift and they both told me not to worry about it.