That was the reason I was regretting my outburst. I had told Rickie I hated him, but he was the last person I would ever hate. I could talk to him about everything. He had never talked down to me, even though he had reached the advanced age of sixteen. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #contemporary

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“Eat.”
I consumed my sloppy joe and carried my plate to the sink. Mom handed me a dishtowel.
“Dry.”
This meant she was going to do the dishes by hand, instead of using the dishwasher, and I was going to dry them while listening to a lecture. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #contemporary #shortstory

“I hate you,” I screamed, and then I ran to my bedroom, threw myself on my bed, and gave in to hard raucous sobs of self-pity.
I cried for a long time, but eventually hunger drove me back to the kitchen. Mom was sitting at the table, but when she saw me she stood.
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays

“I’m going to marry you,” Rickie said.
There was a moment of silence. My parents were taken aback by his statement. I was astonished and angered at his cruelty. I couldn’t believe one of my oldest friends would tease me at a time like this, even if he was a boy.
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays

He was on the high school A-list, having made quarterback for the junior varsity. The varsity quarterback and his backup were graduating at the end of the next term. Rickie was expected to move up.
“It sucks,” I replied, moving some of the sauce with my fork.
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #contemporary

Normally I loved sloppy joes, but the one waiting on my plate looked unpalatable, and the scent of chili pepper annoyed me.
“I hate this food.”
My dad scowled, and my mom sighed.
“It’s not bad,” Rickie said, using both hands to take a ginormous bite.
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #contemporary

It was no surprise that only two girls bothered to show up at my party, and they made excuses to leave after one hour, no doubt heading to Cybil's party. I was invited, but I knew I would be the subject of pity and gossip, so I declined her gracious invitation. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #shortstory

And to top it off, Cybil Hart had moved to our town, was attending the same middle school as me, was placed in the same homeroom class, and had the audacity to be born on the same day I was born. She was kind, pretty, talented, and clever. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #shortstory #contemporary

Monica Bellucci b 1964 was in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Debrah Farentino b 1959 was in TV's Earth 2 Antoinette Bower b 1932 guested on original #StarTrek Angie Dickinson b 1931 guested on Men Into Space #SciFi #birthdays #popculture #sciencefiction #trivia #history

Wacked out Ezra Miller was in The Flash (2023) Greyston Holt b 1985 guested on The 4400 Stark Sands b 1978 was in Day Of The Dead (2008) Al Leong b 1952 was in Big Trouble In Little China (1986) #SciFi #birthdays #popculture #sciencefiction #trivia #history

Twelfth Birthday

It was my twelfth birthday, the worst day of my life. I had recently experienced puberty with aches and pains, body bulging in places I could not ignore, and zits that looked like evil aliens trying to force their way out of my face. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #contemporary

🍿 Today’s Featured Birthday:
On this day on September 29, 1904, British actress, Greer Garson [Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), Pride and Prejudice (1940), Mrs Miniver (1942)], was born in East Ham, Essex, England
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“It’s amazing how much your mother looks like you.”
“Gran says I’ll look just like her when I grow up.”
Mom chose that moment to walk by the hallway. She was rubbing her face and hair with a towel, so she didn’t see us right away. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #contemporary #shortstory

Hastily I licked my fingers and tried to rub them away, but I only made it worse. I knew I would hear about it from Mom, but there was nothing I could do at the moment, so I shrugged and forgot about them. I did another cartwheel while Rickie studied the picture. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays

I did a cartwheel down the hall and then another back to where he stood. “Gran says I look just like her at that age.”
I bounced up and down, and then I lifted my foot to see how high I could touch the wall, but when I lowered it I noticed toe marks on the wall.
"Oops."
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays

I was leading him toward my room, intending to show him my new game console when I realized he had stopped. He was looking some old photos my mother had mounted on the wall in our hallway. I waited impatiently, bouncing on my toes. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #shortstory #contemporary

When I went to investigate, I saw Rickie.
“Hi.” I unlatched the door, so he could enter. “I thought you weren’t coming?”
“The A’s were behind by ten runs, so I asked my dad if we could leave. Did you have a good party?”
“The best ever.”
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #shortstory #contemporary