Two or Three Things I Forgot to Tell You by Joyce Carol Oates

Author:Joyce Carol Oates [Oates, Joyce Carol]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Social Issues, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Juvenile Fiction, Friendship, Death & Dying, General Fiction
ISBN: 9780062110480
Google: dzePlwEACAAJ
Amazon: B007ED2UHC
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: 2012-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

We hated Anita for saying such a thing. We did not—we DID NOT—want to believe that Tink, who was our friend, was suicidal.

11.

“SURPRISE, TINK!”

We’d planned a surprise party for Tink.

Is this a good idea?—we weren’t absolutely certain.

Tink had spoken admiringly of “wild, crazy surprise” parties on the “set”—(meaning the TV set, we gathered)—and not all of these were birthday parties. Could just be a party-party, to surprise somebody you liked who was maybe feeling a little blue.

We always did something for our birthdays, but we’d never yet had any party for Tink, who was new in our lives but who had come to feel like our oldest friend.

The pretense was: Chloe’s mother was going to be away, and so Chloe had asked Tink to spend the night with her; the rest of us would be waiting when Tink came in, and we’d surprise her.

We’d made funny cards. Tink had referred to non-birthday cards so we made them.

Chloe’s mom was divorced; Chloe had no sisters or brothers. So her mother was often involved in her life, and in the case of the surprise party for Tink, Chloe’s mother helped plan every step of it and insisted upon preparing most of the food, though we came over to help. (Tink’s favorite foods—vegetarian lasagna; ginger carrots and nutmeg spinach; arugula salad tossed with Italian dressing, raisins, and sunflower seeds.) Mrs. Zimmer even baked a cake—devil’s food with egg-white frosting spelling out HAPPY NON-BIRTHDAY TINK!

And then, Tink didn’t come.

She must have guessed that something was planned that revolved around her, and it wasn’t going to be just a night with Chloe but with others. So, she didn’t come.

We should have known. Tink hated fuss.

Chloe was upset. Mrs. Zimmer was hurt.

Chloe texted Tink and called her—no answer.

“She must have overheard us. Must have guessed something. Maybe she was afraid we were going to play old TV videos of her show. She’s weird.”

“Oh no, it’s our fault. With Tink, you can’t presume.”

Nadia said, “I feel so bad. I feel like this was my idea.”

Merissa said, “I think it was my idea. I feel terrible.”

Hannah said, “Do you think she’s angry at us? Some people just don’t like surprise parties.”

Martine said, “Tink wants to be the one in charge of surprises. Tink doesn’t want to be surprised.”

We gave up texting and calling Tink and decided to have dinner ourselves and to enjoy Tink’s non-birthday party without her. Chloe’s mother drifted away upstairs with the excuse of a migraine.

Chloe said, “This was all my idea. I can’t imagine why I thought it would be a good one.”

Merissa said, “The fact is—Tink warned us.”

“Warned us how?”

“She’s always said, ‘I’d like to be your friend—but only if you promise never, ever to count on me.’”

Merissa was right. We just hadn’t wanted to remember.

Then, as we were preparing to leave for our homes, at about nine p.m., Chloe’s cell phone rang: It was Tink.

“Hey, guys—it’s me. Bet you had a great time without me.”

“But how did you know?” Chloe was baffled.

“It’s a ‘surprise’ party, right? Don’t ask me how I knew.

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