My Birthday Gift

"Truth or dare, Maddie?"

I turn away from the window I had been staring out of. I sighed and smiled.

"Truth."

The girls in the room giggled with delight. I was the oldest and most quiet. I was surprised that these four girls actually came to my slumber party.

"Ok, Maddie. Is it true that you've been to five different schools?"

Of course, my history. It didn't surprise me though. I was asked about it constantly. I didn't like to say much about it.

"Yes. My mom and I travel a lot to different places, and that moves me to different schools."

"What does your mom do?"

"One question, Tina. That's the rule"

She slumps down in the beanbag chair with her indignant smile. I noticed the other girls were tired. I wasn't particularly tired, but I wasn't normally on this kind of night. I decided we needed to sleep anyway.

"Ok, Tina, Leslie, Courtney, Fallon, let's go to bed."

Tina groaned. She wasn't tired. But she would fall asleep if she knew what was good for her. The other girls looked relieved and settled down easily in their sleeping bags on the floor.

Within an hour, I thought everyone had gone to sleep. Except for me, of course, but I had something to do.

I creeped out of my bed and nimbly tiptoed around the girls toward the window. It was a beautiful fall day, just like every birthday of mine.

When I arrived to the window, I opened it. I felt a calm breeze make its way into my room. I looked around outside. There he was. My father.

I only see him once a year on my birthday. Mom tried to keep us apart by moving, but every year, without fail, he sees me. He knows I'm special. I'm not like these girls.

He makes his way to the window, and he smiles. He strokes my face and kisses my forehead. I could hear him tell me that this year I would get a gift, like no other girl had.

I looked at him and smiled. Just then I heard a shriek. I turned and see Tina wide-eyed and looking at my father.

He curses and asks me why she was awake. I start to tell him about the party, but he was having none of it. He said she can't stay because she saw him.

"No, Dad!" But it was too late. He lifted her and left. He said he would bring my gift tomorrow.

I turn from watching him leave to see Courtney crying.

"What just took Tina?"

I felt something new and dark inside of me. I looked at the clock. 12:01. It was tomorrow. Father's gift.

Courtney stared at me. "Jessie?"

"It was my father, but I can't have you telling others. Now you need to go."

And with a flick of my wrist, she was gone. I think I will enjoy this gift. And I am even more special and different now than ever before.