3.8: Talitha’s Birthday

Jane became more anxious as Talitha got closer to her teen birthday. She did her best to hide it from her husband – she knew her anxiety was irrational, and it would only worry him if he knew. Besides, he wouldn’t understand. He didn’t come from a messed up family like she had, he didn’t know that now that she didn’t have young children to take care of, she could and would do nothing but be a bother and a burden to them, make them suffer as she had suffered.

Zosma, as the family party lover, took over the arrangments for her little sister’s birthday when she saw that no one else had started to plan anything. She’d been wanting to throw a formal dress party and her sister’s big day seemed like a perfect occasion.

On the afternoon of the party, Jane sat in the bathroom. The guests had gathered in the living room, all dressed in their fancy clothes, but somehow she just couldn’t face going out there. But she couldn’t disappoint her daughter on her big day, either. After several long minutes of handwringing, she opened the door and stepped out. She complimented her daughter on what a lovely young lady she was becoming, and fought back tears as she gave her a hug.

She then stepped back and watched Talitha blow out her candles. She tried to behave normally during the rest of the party, but couldn’t quite manage it. She avoided Beid, which confused him and hurt his feelings a bit. Talitha distracted him, however, by pulling him aside and giving him the third degree. Now that she was older, she wanted to get to know all her cousins. All the young people seemed to have a great time at the party.

Advertisement