Stir

I'm Like a Bird // Nelly Furtado

"How can I possibly choose?" Ellete has her hands clasped under her chin, eyes wide and feet bouncing up and down staring at three different cakes set in front of her. Even though she's the older of the two of us, she typically acts much younger. My serious nature is another trait inherited from my mother. Ellete and Father have the playful spirit. They drive me crazy.

"Which one tastes the best?" I ask. Ellete pulled me away from the bakery in order to taste cakes and make our choice for the upcoming birthday celebration fiasco. We never bake our own cakes, using a rival bakery instead. We specialize in bread, anyway, not the sweet pastries. Today we have tasted chocolate, vanilla with raspberry buttercream and an orange cream cake. I always let Ellete decide because if she doesn't like the cake, she pouts.

"We had chocolate last year. And everyone always does a vanilla, so I guess orange cream would be an original choice." She attempts to reason with herself.

"Perfect. Let's place the order." I can't believe she's already decided! This usually takes the entire afternoon.

"Or is it too unusual and no one will like it. Then everyone will have a terrible time because the best part of a birthday party is the cake. We'll have so much cake left over that we'll have to eat it for the next month."

I knew this was too easy. I have a feeling we'll be here for a while so Ellete can argue with herself.

"Then go with the vanilla. Everyone likes vanilla." I don't bother holding my breath to hear her reply. Maybe I could sneak out while she's staring at the cake.

Ellete grabs my left arm and yanks me closer to her. "But everyone loves chocolate too."

"Then get chocolate."

"But we had that last year!"

"Ellete! You already said that. You're speaking in circles. This is taking too long. Make a decision so I can get back to the shop."

"No, you can't go back. We're expected at the mayor's house. Mrs. Naimer is hosting our party in her large hall. She wants us to plan the menu with her and the chef. Then we have to pick out the fabric for our gowns, because we have to coordinate our looks. I don't want to match, but we also need to look like we go together. You can't wear your potato sack to the party."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not wearing my work clothes to a party, Ellete. You would think neither of us has ever had a birthday party before instead of every single year." The mention of being in Mrs. Naimer's house immediately sets my emotions on fire. I want nothing to do with her. I certainly don't want to celebrate my birthday in her home. The home of the woman who told every nasty lie about my mother. Lies that continues to float through this town. I pull my arm out of her grip and step away from my lunatic sister.

"Ellete, why is the party at Mrs. Naimer's hall? We've always used someone's barn? It works just fine and fits everyone." I try to keep my voice level, so as not to indicate how wounded I am. Ellete and Father both know how I feel about Mrs. Naimer, and how disappointed I am in them that they don't feel the same.

"This year is special. I'm of age now. Mrs. Naimer felt a more formal setting is fitting for the occasion." Ellete sounds irritated with me. And I know she expects me to fight her on this. But how can I? I don't begrudge my sister these special moments in her life. We've both gone through enough since Mother left. It's not her fault that she got Father's sunny personality and I'm the picture of Mother's brooding outlook. I can bend on this one thing. I will even if I regret it each time I set foot in Mrs. Naimer's home.

"I see. You should have something special. I'll try to deal with it." It's the best concession she's going to get from me. I will deal with it, but I won't be happy about it.

Ellete has one brow raised, clearly not trusting me to behave. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ellete. If a fancy party for your twenty-first birthday is what you want, it is what you will get." Then I give Ellete a pointed look. "But next year is my turn to come of age, so I get to choose."

Ellete throws her arms around me, surprising me with her affection. "I never thought I'd hear you say that! Mrs. Naimer will be so happy! And I can't wait to dance with Lord Nicandros in her hall." Her last statement a casual addition as she pulls away from our embrace. The look on my face must be one of shock, because she follows up with, "You must have guessed that I would invite him as my escort."

I hadn't guessed. Honestly, I haven't spent any time at all thinking about the possible scenarios for this party. But it makes me wonder about an escort for myself. I have never had one, have never needed or wanted one. This year, however, I feel differently. There is someone I wish I could have asked as my escort. My anger rises to the surface as I imagine what people would say, what Mrs. Naimer would say, if I had been able to bring Drue as my escort. I would invite the entire village if I could. I should invite them anyway, but I know that wouldn't be fair to my friends. They don't deserve the treatment they would get.

'You're angry about Lord Nicandros accompanying me!" Ellete states emphatically, clearly frustrated at the look on my face.

"No, I'm not." At least, not about that. "Go ahead, enjoy yourself." Of course, the insufferable Lord would have to attend our celebration, escort or not. Mrs. Naimer would see to it that he secured an invitation. I turn to walk out of the bakery. Ellete can choose the cake on her own. Suddenly, I have no desire to even be part of the planning.

"Chocolate!" I hear Ellete declare to the baker as she rushes out the door to follow me. "Oh no you don't," she says when she catches up to where I am. "You are coming with me to Mrs. Naimer's. I need a buffer."

My eyes shoot over to her, " A buffer? I thought you just loved her?"

Ellete laughs. "How could anyone love being in her presence? The woman is self-absorbed. But she is connected to everyone who is anyone. I consider it a necessary evil to spend time with her."

I shake my head. That is another difference between us. I don't believe anything evil is necessary and I refuse to continue along with it if it is.

As we make our way to the residence of my most hated nemesis, I realize I've just been convinced to do just that.

I love the interactions between Daralis and Nicandros, how about you??? She HATES him so much it is just delicious!

As always, please comment with any feedback you can give! YOUR FEEDBACK IS SO HELPFUL and I can't say that enough.

Like a Bird  has so many interpretations for me, especially where Daralis, Drue and Nicandros are concerned...

https://youtu.be/roPQ_M3yJTA

Thank you so much for reading! See you tomorrow with more ;-)