Sisters at Thirteen

Summer was my absolute favorite time of the year. Just like most kids, I hated being in school, and would have much rather been outside riding my bike or swimming. On this particular day, we were outside by the pool. The laughter of children my age filled the deck. Armed with the most high tech squirt guns money could buy, we were all chasing eachother around, battling it out to an aqua-infused “death.”

Kylee, my best friend, had taken center stage and had teamed up with me to strategically plaster everyone while also watching one another’s backs. Today was Kylee’s birthday, and my parents, who had been fostering her for several months now, had decided to throw her a party at my pleading. It was the first real party that Kylee had ever had and she was beaming with joy.

The two of us had become inseparable that year. We had become fast friends during a group project in one of our classes. Now, we were absolute besties. When Kylee told me that she had been dragged into another foster home that was unloving to her, I begged my parents to take her in. “She doesn’t even have a home to call her own, mom!” I had begged.

Mom relented, and after going through all the relevant background checks and working with social services, they had finally managed to bring Kylee were home. We were both over the moon! Kylee, of course, had her own room, but we never even slept separately. When she told me one night that her birthday was coming up, I knew exactly what needed to be done.

So there we were. Running around the pool while my mom shouted “DON’T COME ANYWHERE NEAR THAT CAKE!” Aaah, yes. The cake. It was the biggest birthday cake I had ever seen. Three tiers, mermaid themed, and yet somehow it was pinker than pink could be. Mom had gone to the best bakery in town for this cake, and the shenanegans taking place around her had her anxiety so close to the edge that I’m sure she was going to implode at any moment. If only there was a place inside the house she could stash it until the shenanigans were over…

“To your left, Sarah!” Kylee exclaimed. I expertly aimed my soaker to my left, targeting James Loughlan as he prepared to fire. I pulled the trigger, sending a huge blast of water his way.

“Aaah!” He squealed. I wasn’t done yet, though. Pumping my gun, I continued to hold the trigger, wasting the entire contents of my tank on James as he ran away from me. I went back to the bucket for a reload, and Kylee held my six.

“Alright, lets go!” I said, my toy now filled. I was screwing the tank back on as James entered range. “To your right!” I exclaimed at Kylee. She doused James in yet another tank into James. When he was retreating once more, we switched places as she refilled her tank.

It was then that I realized we had made a terrible mistake. “Uh, oh. Kylee! Hurry!” I exclaimed. Fed up with being the fish of the game, we were being surrounded. Every last one of them had shit eating grins plastered to their revengeful faces as they slowly approached us.

“Sarah. I think its time to surrender!” Kylee whispered.

“Neverrrr!” I exclaimed, holding my toy up triumphantly. “We either live or die trying!”

Noting my bravery, Kylee stood next to me, leveling out her gun to everyone that we faced. Just as we were getting ready to enter the final battle, my mom’s voice boomed across the pool deck.

“Alright, kids! It's time for presents and cake!”

The crowd filled with moans and grumbles as everyone put their toys down and headed back to the patio. On the table was a mound of presents for Kylee. More than even I had ever seen! She deserved them, though, for being such an awesome friend. I had gone shopping with mom and we had picked so many things out! New clothes, toys, electronics, a phone, tablet, and so much more. I watched as she opened everything that we had gotten her, along with what the other kids had brought her, too. If cloud nine was a real place that existed, this would be it for Kylee.

Just when she finished unwrapping everything, my mom and dad both presented themselves to Kylee. "We have one more present for you, sweetheart.” My mom said to her. She and my dad held a manilla envelope together, tied up with ribbon and a pretty pink bow.

Curious, Kylee opened it. Her small hand reached in and pulled out a sheet of paper. In big, bold letters, the words “ADOPTION NOTICE” were spread across it. Eyes going wide, she looked at my mom, and then my dad. “Really?” She gasped.

“Welcome to the family, Short Stuff.” My dad said to her. Kylee ran into their arms, and they held her tightly while she cried.

“Wait. Does that mean Kylee is my sister now?” I said, my mouth ajar.

“It sure does!” My mom confirmed.

“KYLEE IS MY SISTER NOW!” I hollered as I ran in to join the family hug.

Everyone in the crowd cheered. Kylee cried. I cried. My mom cried. We were all so happy! When the hug ended, my dad lit the candles. “Come stand next to me!” Kylee beckoned, gripping my hand and pulling me front and center with her. We sat down next to eachother as everyone began to sing happy birthday to her.

Everything was so surreal. The most perfect day that even I had ever had. Kylee was getting a family, and I was getting a sister. It was more than we could ever dream of! Just as they got to “Happy Birthday, Dear Kyleeeee!” her hand, hidden behind the cake, reached out and grabbed the bottom of the tray. It all happened as if it were in slow motion.

The cake began to fall. “Hap-pyyy birth-daaaaaay” The tiere separated one by one.

Top

Middle

Bottom

Frosting began to splatter as fondant and molding chocolate began to crack and detatch. Kylee was suddenly falling to the ground, in the direct path of the cake. “Toooooo”

“Kylee!” I shouted, pushing her out of the way. As I did so, I entered its path. My body became plastered in its sugary stickiness.

“Youu-“ The singing stopped before the last note finished and everyone gasped.

Kylee began to cry, her palms and knees scraped up as my parents rushed over. “Sarah? Why?” She sobbed.

“Sarah!” My dad began to yell at me as my mom began to console Kylee.

Confused, I had no idea what he even meant. “I didn’t!” I cried.

Then, came the words that sealed everything that my future was going to become. “Sarah didn’t mean to knock the cake over, Daddy. I know she didn’t! It was an accident!

"Maybe she is just upset because she doesn’t get to be the only child anymore.”