Birthday Glamour! by Julie Bowe

Author:Julie Bowe [Bowe, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Julie Bowe; Victoria Torres; Unfortunately Average; Social Issues/Friendship; People & Places/United States/HIspanic; Family/Multigenerational; Holidays & Celebrations/Birthdays; Diversity; 9781496505330; 9781496505378; 9781496523587; 9781496524799
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2015-05-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Abuela to the Rescue

“I should have asked you before I bought the tickets, Vicka,” Abuela says after I’ve calmed down and called her. “But there were only two left for the special program, so I snatched them up! What do you think? Will you go to the aquarium with me on our birthday?”

Fortunately, I’m calling Abuela on my old flip phone, so she can’t see me bite my lip nervously. I hate to disappoint her.

“Oh, dear,” Abuela says when I don’t answer right away. “Something is wrong, Vicka. I can hear it in your silence.”

Just like my parents, Abuela can tell when I’m hiding my true feelings.

I force myself to sound upbeat. “No,” I say. “I am excited, Abuela. It’s just . . . I thought maybe . . . we could go to the aquarium program on a different day? There’s a special event at the mall too. My friends and I really want to go, but Mom says I have to choose between a friends party and a family party.”

“The aquarium program is sold out, I’m afraid,” Abuela says. “But there will be other programs in the future, I’m sure. You are growing up to be your own person, Vicka, with your own interests and dreams. You have completed twelve years! It’s time for you to choose your own path.”

I feel tears brewing at the back of my eyes again. “I want to celebrate my birthday with my friends and with you, Abuela. I do want to make my own choices, but I want someone to tell me which choice is best.”

“You are a smart, thoughtful girl, Vicka. I know you will make the right choice, and I will be happy no matter what it is. Now tell me about this special program at the mall.”

I wipe a tear from my cheek and tell Abuela all about the GlamaRama! and how Queen Callie Flower will be there on my birthday.

“Queen Callie?” Abuela says. “I know her! She helped with the book drive at the library last month. She was wonderful. And how exciting for you to meet a queen on your birthday!”

“Queen Callie will pick someone to ride with her in the mall parade,” I tell Abuela. “My friends think she will choose me, since I will be the birthday girl.”

“Of course she will choose you!” Abuela says, cheerfully. “How could she resist?”

I tell Abuela all about the Space Odyssey theme and that I’m sorry about the aquarium tickets and that Mom is mad at me for wanting to change plans at the last minute.

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” she says when I finally pause long enough for her to get a word in. “I’ll talk with your mother. Lucas might like to go to the aquarium with me. I’ll find another way to make your birthday special.”

“Lucas would love going to the aquarium,” I say. “But stay away from the crabs unless you want to deal with a tantrum. He’s crab crazy lately.”

“Did someone say my name?” Lucas pokes in from the hallway.

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