A Tribird’s Love

Chapter 7

Ariah

“Ariah, sweetheart…” my dad started to say, I just kept my face buried in my hands shaking my head. “You can understand why your mom is upset right? It’s not the point of you wanting my mom there. It’s the how, how you snuck around behind our backs to see her. You know you could’ve asked and I would’ve taken you with me whenever I went.” Of course he would say that, but we both know the truth, he would’ve had to get mommy’s permission and we both know what her answer was going to be. “No Daddy, you wouldn’t be able to take me. Mommy wouldn’t have agreed.” I had to share my thoughts, we both know the truth. “I would’ve snuck you with me, it would’ve been our little secret.” I lift my head up with wide eyes, did he just say he would’ve gone behind my mommy’s back in her face? Boy ‘O Boy am I happy the heavy tension has shifted to my dad and no longer on me. And mannnnn, that mean look she is giving him. I am grateful it’s towards him and not me. He puts his hands up in a surrender gesture, I can’t help but let out a little chuckle.”Mi’A, Honey it would’ve been safe for her to go with me then by herself. We both know when she wants something it always seems to happen with or without us.” That is true, once I put my mind to something, I become determined to accomplish it. “I guess you’re right about that. Hmmmmm, let me think this over and I’ll let you know my decision.” My dad smiles and winks at me when my mom agrees to give it some thought. Daddy to the rescue per usual. I caught on to what he did, he took the tension off me and put it on himself. He knows my mother never lasts long when the anger is towards him.

After our very heated conversation my mom went back to cooking dinner and gosh it smelled delicious. Neck bones with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, garlic roasted Brussel sprouts and sweet homemade rolls. She always made sure we had a full course meal at least six days out of the week. Dinner has always been my favorite part of the day (I’m a foodie, food is life) and dessert is always my dad’s. We sat around the table while mom set the table with everything for us to dig in. Once everyone has dinner on their plates we start to talk about plans for tomorrow. This is the first year that I’m actually excited about my birthday. As I grew older, birthdays became just another day for me. But my ‘sweet sixteen’ was something for me to celebrate, all werewolves celebrated their sixteenth birthday. That is the day we embrace our inner wolf and become one with our animal side.

“I know you don’t want a big party for your birthday as always, but it falls on a Friday this year. A party on a Friday night would be great, you know.” My mom is always trying to get me to have some type of bash. She loves to plan events and decorate, that is what she really does for a hobby. “It’ll still be small and intimate as you always prefer, you can even invite Nesha. Your shifting won’t start until the moon is at its highest. I’m sure that won't be until close to midnight.” She knows she got me with being able to invite Nesha, everyone knows I was hurt not being able to invite her to celebrate with me this year, every year she celebrates with me. Of course now I have the biggest smile on my face and nod my head eagerly in agreement. “GREAT! You’re going to love it.” She stands up and leaves (probably going to start this last minute party) beaming from ear to ear, which is a much better mood than earlier. “You know you just made her the happiest woman alive right now? She hasn't thrown you a party ever since you got old enough to tell her you didn’t want one.” Now my dad is looking at me smiling, he was right though, I stopped entertaining parties at the age of eight. I just shook my head and smiled back at him. “Well, dinner was great as always. Now I have to tell Nesha this fantastic news. I’ll be back to clear the table.” I jumped up out of my seat and ran upstairs to my room to facetime my favorite girl.

**Ringing**

Nesha: Hey BestFriend!

Me: I have some exciting news!!! (I get straight to it.)

Me: During lunch my mom convinced me to have a small party tomorrow night. (I’m literally smiling super hard.) Annnnnnnnnnnnnd she said you can come. Only thing is you won’t be able to stay the night over.

Nesha: (squeals with excitement) OMGGG! I can’t wait, you just made my night.

We talked for a little while longer before we decided to call it a night. I made my way back downstairs to clear the table and tidy the kitchen. But to my surprise everything is already done, looks like my daddy did everything for me. I head back up to my room and get myself ready for a nice hot shower and bed.

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I wake up to the most delicious smell I can ever inhale. My alarm didn’t have to wake me up this morning, that lovely smell did it instead. I sat up in the bed and inhaled deeply, my stomach started to rumble. I slid out of bed, jumped in the shower again, and when I got out I put on a cute emerald green blouse and some black slacks with some pretty emerald and black babydoll shoes, then I did two cute french braid bangs with beads and my two legendary puff balls. When I made it downstairs the table already had everything laid out. My mom might’ve over done it this time. I started drooling from the sight in front of me. We had brown sugar cinnamon pancakes topped with strawberries, scrambled eggs, toast, grits, fish, potatoes and onions, oatmeal and diced fruit. You would’ve thought she was cooking for a pack house with how much she made. But everything she cooked are my favorite breakfast items, given it is a special day I’m getting this special breakfast. I’m going to make sure to pack Nesha a carryout plate, she loves my mom cooking.

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Everyday my daddy drops me off at school, it’s been like that ever since I first started. And every year on my birthday he sends me off with a birthday card to make sure I start my birthday off right. Even when my birthday falls on the weekend, I wake up to a card and balloons. He always put his own touch to the balloons. However old I turned that year is how many balloons he gave me. The only time he didn’t give balloons was when I was in school. He knew I didn’t like the attention so instead he’ll give me just the card. This year he’s sending me off with sixteen rainbow roses and a card. When I get out of the car I hurry to my locker to put the roses in there, I grab my books for my first two classes then lean against the locker and open the card.

The front of the card say’s “Happy Birthday Princess”, I proceed to open the card and of course my dad has to be extra. He added a spell to where when you open the card confetti and glitter pops out (just my luck right). After the shock of the mess I proceeded to read my card. Of course daddy always makes me smile, but this time a few tears escaped my eyes.

“There’s one gift you cannot buy.

A buried treasure precious and true.

It’s the gift of unconditional love.

Exactly what I get from you.

I’ve shared your joys.

Even let you cry on my shoulder.

There are some precious moments.

That makes our bond stronger, even bolder.

So I’m wishing you a ‘Happy Birthday’.

Coming from the bottom of my heart.

We’ll always have that special bond.

You make me and your mom a fabulous whole.”

Just as I wipe my tears away Nesha walks up to me beaming with the biggest smile on her face. Listen, my BestFriend is beautiful and I mean it, standing 5’7 tall she has the beautiful dark malani skin tone that always seems to glow. She always wears an asymmetrical bob sometimes curled sometimes straight and today it’s curled. Her hazel round eyes with lashes that are thick and long, oh and her smile I’ve always loved her smile. “Gooooood morning BestFriend! Today’s going to be a good day because it’s your BIRTHDAY!!!” I hush her as soon as she let birthday slip through her lips. “Gosh Nesha, keep quiet maybe? And to think I brought you some of mom’s breakfast, she cooked a feast this morning too.” The look in her eyes when I said that is priceless. Lol “Gimmie gimmie, I love Auntie Mom’a Mi’A cooking. It’s always the best, I really need to take cooking classes from her.” I give her the container and she does the exact thing I did this morning, deeply inhaling the delicious smell.