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We had just moved into our new house a week before my 10th birthday. I say house but it was a fricking mansion. Expensive furnishings everywhere you looked. The softest carpeting in the world under your feet. Works of art hung on almost every single wall. Twinkling chandeliers in every room. And trust me, there was a lot of rooms. It took me so long to figure out how to move from one side of the house to the other. My mother was in seventh heaven. She had her dream home and she wanted everyone to know it.
I loved exploring the garden with my father. That garden was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. A whole rainbow array of flowers. Creeping vines on the old wooden arbours. White stones under your feet and wrought iron fences bordering the different sections of flowers and green bushes. It was magical. I just wanted to wander around there for hours. She had other ideas though.
My mother wanted to take hundreds of photos of me in the house and plaster them all over the internet with quotes from me of what I thought of our cosy new family home.
'Austin, sweetie. Just say something.' My mother pleaded as she shakily followed us down the rocky path in her high heels, bright pink phone clutched in her perfectly manicured hand. 'Tell me how much you love the new house.'
'Alright, alright.' I rolled my eyes at her every time she got on my nerves. I rolled my eyes a lot at her. 'I really like the new house. I'm very lucky to be able to live here.' I let out a deep sigh as I plopped down onto the bench beside my father. It didn't matter what I said. She was going to change it to better fit the image she was creating of me on my social media accounts. Well, they were more like her accounts just with my name and face on it. I had nothing to do with them.
'Less of the attitude Austin.' She reached her hand out to brush the hair off my forehead, her sharp claws inches away from my eyes.
'Get off!' I pushed her hand away. 'My hair's fine. Plus, it's not like anyone can see me. No one's going to be taking my picture here.'
'You never know.' My mother tossed her bleach blonde hair over her shoulder before turning on her heel and strutting off down the path. 'Oh, and sweetie.' She glanced back at me. 'Don't forget to smile.'
'She can't be serious.' I turned to face my father; my mouth wide open in shock. 'I am sat in my own garden. I shouldn't have to worry about my appearance. It's only supposed to be us here. No paparazzi.'
'I know son, I know.' My father rested a hand on my shoulder. 'I'll get some new fences built. Really tall ones. No one will be able to see us then and they definitely won't be getting pictures.'
'Good.' I crossed my arms angrily as I looked out on the garden. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the murky green water of our new pool. I couldn't wait until it was cleaned and then I could just dive right into the crisp, cool water. I'd always loved swimming ever since my father first took me in the pool when I was 3.
'I can't make any promises that the fencing will be up before your birthday next week. Speaking of, what do you want me to do? It's your day.' He grinned. 'You're going to be 10. Double digits. Tell me what to do to make your day special.'
'Don't think we get any say what we're going to do.' I mumbled. 'We're having a party apparently.'
'When did you hear this?'251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyM9sBwre3
'Yesterday.' I began angrily kicking at the stones under my feet. 'I overheard mother talking on the phone about ordering a cake big enough for at least 200 people. None of whom I will actually know. Or like.'
'Are you absolutely sure it was a party for your birthday?'
'I'm sure. She was pretty loud on the phone.' 251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj9dS5H6qt
'Well, you never know, you might actually enjoy it. And I know you'll still pretend to enjoy it for your mother's sake my loving boy.' He gently ruffled my hair. 'But I'll tell you what, the day after this... torturous party we will do whatever you want. Just me and you. Your mother can come along if you want. You say what you want to do and we'll do it.'
'Can we have a movie day?' I asked excitedly as I sat up straight.
‘A movie day? Is that all you want?’ My father asked, a confused look on his face. He had clearly expected me to ask for something expensive or something way more exciting than that. But’s that not what I wanted. That’s not me. I just wanted a normal relaxing day sitting on the couch, eating junk food and watching funny movies.
‘I want a day out of the public eye. With anything else, we would be found out.’ I explained. ‘If I’m going to have to endure hundreds of pictures being taken of me on my actual birthday then I want one day where I get to decide who sees my face.’
’Well if that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get.’ My father smiled lovingly at me. ‘And maybe we’ll pray for a hurricane or something that will ruin this dreaded party you speak of.’ I threw my arms around his neck as he wrapped his around me. ‘I love you son.’
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