Bears Know Best

Chapter 22: First Birthday

THE NEXT MORNING, I wasn't sure whether I was really fourteen, or one... the decorations Mom had put up overnight in the kitchen were confusing! I blushed as I took a seat at the kitchen table, still in my pajamas, and looked at her. She looked to be catching up on more work, but she sat her laptop to the side and said, "Happy Birthday!" and came over to hug me.

"Thanks... I think," I told her.

"Oh, come on, I had to have a little bit of fun with this being your first birthday as a girl," she told me with a wink. "I promise it'll come down before your friends come over tonight."

"Friends come over tonight?" I asked.

"I guess you have been a little out of it the last week... Alyssa, Danielle, and Breanna are coming over for dinner, along with Alyssa's parents, and then if you want, they can spend the night."

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked. I was excited that my birthday was actually going to be sort of a party. I didn't really expect anything after the last week.

"Well... I just was worried about whether you were up to it or not?" She suggested.

I shook my head, "I don't care if I am or not, I've been cooped up in that stupid hospital room for a week after just finally making some friends for the first time... They'll stay over!" I assured her.

"Okay," she told me. "They're supposed to come over at five... why don't you take care of stuff now, and then again about three so you don't have to worry about it again tonight while they're here?" she suggested. I wished I didn't understand what 'stuff' was, but I did.

"Okay..." A part of me wanted to cry about all of this still, but it wouldn't do any good.

I stood back up and went upstairs to take care of 'stuff' after I got a glass of water. When I finished up, I grabbed a cute skirt, a matching top, and headed towards the bathroom across the hallway. Mom was walking by right then and gave me a hug, "Your Dad is going to pick you up to take you to lunch in about an hour."

I nodded. It seemed fair to give him some alone time with me since he was going home the next morning. I could feel my eyes start to mist up a bit about that, but I forced the tear glands to behave and said, "Okay."

"Let me know if you need any help in the bathroom," Mom told me.

I sighed, "I've been able to shower by myself the last few days just fine," I told her a little exasperated.

"It's my job to worry sweetie," she told me.

"Alright Mommy," I told her.

I gave her a hug and went into the bathroom. It was my first shower back in my bathroom and I was looking forward to it. Almost as much as being able to take a bath again in a couple months... I used my body soap for the first time since entering the hospital and was so grateful for it! I took time to really wash my hair, and just stood there with the water rushing over me for too long.

I could feel the water starting to cool a bit from the hot water heater running low, 'Maybe I should get out...' I admitted to myself. I patted myself dry and stared at my reflection in the tall mirror that hung on the door. As much of a pain as everything had been, and still would be, I was grateful I looked like a 'normal' girl now... I still had some swelling, and bruising was very much still there, but it seemed like it was fading quickly enough. 'Hopefully by the time band camp starts I'll look okay,' I thought as I pulled up a pair of panties.

I got dressed and opened the door. Mom was standing next to the staircase like she had just walked upstairs. "Out finally?" She teased.

I nodded. "It felt so nice to have a shower in my own bathroom..." My mouth moved to make a large grin.