His Pounding Sea

a's

s fu

y not discus

rresponsibl

ted birthday parties, and I am

n my room, sulk

ct that my parents had arranged

kindly excuse herself when someone had

hey would even consider

celebrating the worst day of my life. Getting older was not the issue. I c

ndsided by my parents. I still could

thdays ended u

as always my calm... my hiding place... and I could lose myself in the wav

ean in the air. The ocean was calling for

f the beach... a few parents walking with their famil

ho was standing with my

a heavy ner

pull myself

ut it now... except maybe enjoy

o happen," I sneered t

attention... I guess that would be the cat

hat my father would only sel

could be fashionably late... or even find a way to

me... as if that would ever be possible..

oking at all the small and d

facing the ocean. As a kid, I

busy with s

rm the guest room next to mine i

udio... scanning the room. Everything was st

ere still hanging a

table were waiting patiently f

missed

door startled me and I clos

d I please come in?

nd ignored her. I was

ing that she wouldn't back

ard not to show her any emotion, but angry

is birthday pass without having a celebration. I promise that it will be a night to remember, and nothing will happen to upset

y-first..." my words trailed off, "you know mom, I can't do much about it anyway, so I'm

you this much..." she said and I lift

if she must tell me something or not... Then a second or two later, she came to her decision and just smi

, and I blinke

was t

my mother

ng... my mother n

agging in the back of my min

ed to get ready and emotionally pre

mily we attended all my father's busines

nd the world on a sailing basis, but as a family rule,

occupied... the downside of such a weekend was that we had bodyguards moving with us, which was working on m

yet it never seemed to trou

a bath with some needed bubbles. I got

grabbed my fluffy white tile

ite box on my bed and next to th

ked the box in while

d my curiosity go

ard attached to the

arest

st Birth

Love M

knowing that my mother had a gift to

mask waited on top. It was spectacular, with sma

from the box and placed it on

beautiful, I in

icked would complement the masks an

the dress captive inside, not really worri

ed as I lifted the

he ballgown was the most beau

outdo hersel

ilt in around the torso which would push my assets to the top and complime

ing my eyes. My hand instinctively moved over the material, w

chosen a better

it open, then turned to face the full-length mirror

de sure to go all the way and ens

hind my eyes, feeling gu

d brat. I surely need to apologi

me wipe the tears from my face, trying t

please?" Julia, the

ou can come in

arly sixties. She had been working for m

wn, almost black eyes missed nothing, and t

here," Julia said, g

or a stylist to come and

e had the most delightful sense of humor... no one could leav

ss back on my bed, "please send him up," I a

long for Ant

girl!" He chanted

e, I have m

do with those beautiful

and then moved on to my makeup... He was surely a

hands happily, "You will be

iasm... there was no way that anyone could l

entered and helped

, and her body language told me she

she said as she straightened my dress,

d "You look so beautiful, like a prince

or me, and she waited f

g loudly from the lodge, and the

g that most of the guests must have already arrived..

if someone had tu

yelled at myself... "

a party?" A female voice

elieving it was ju

n enough, I exited my room a

, believing that I

any way ou

understand if I

ly waiting for me at the end of the stairs. They wer

ence they had. I internally groaned a

up my big girl panti

down the stairs, only

self, "You can do this! It's just for one night," I tried to moti

nd gave me a warm, comfortable smile

re I stood frozen, leaving my mom waiti

my hand and hooked

said with a proud look on his

I whispered, feelin

m, and he didn't look a day older than 35. He was a tall man, stan

ave tried to seduce my father... unfortunately for the

mile as soon as we took the last step and joine

sed with pearly white skin, and to complimen

red cocktail dress, and the color

y and no wonder my father was stil

ossip and ask a lot of ques

he absurd gossip and wo

shed that people would m

ite of my parents... and some days I w

odd friend or two... yet they were more occu

ndships nev

w rich people treated people

g in and around our home, yet my father and

nts surrounded themselves with... they w

my mom and mine, and together we

.. I know that at a certain spot on the path, the

lower background music, and I lowere

ntly the hall was decorated in all

d us to our table. He made sure we were comf

p in me again, creating a s

hide behind my ma

s voice boomed over the PA system. "Thank yo

corner of his mouth when he looked my way a

you fine folks with us tonight, celebratin

uldn't call me to the stage,

o join me on the stage so that we can

t onto me, and my blood r

ed visibly as I tried to ge

he stage, praying that I

my hand to help me to get onto the

and then wished me a happy birthda

en he started to play 'Happy Bi

the music and applauded as I went

as glad that the worst was over and I hoped th

out the food and drinks and wished e

came from my left side. She had an emerald green ball

I answered her, "I c

to see if there was a name atta

I don't know anyone else?" she whispered, and a gigg

sped out, "I

*