Lydia, 15, Tallahassee, FL
“Zee,” a voice hissed. “Zee, get up!”
Zero cracked his eyes open just wide enough to spot golden curls and the corner of a grey jumpsuit.
“Go ‘way, Haylee,” he muttered.
“Zee, it’s important.”
He rolled over, turning his back to her.
“Zero Taylor, if you don’t get up this instant, I’m going to sit on you.”
With a groan, he rolled back to glare at her sleepily.
“You mean sit in me.” But he sat up, rubbing his eyes and grumbling, “What do you want, Hal?”
“Shhhh!” Hazel eyes wide behind her thick black glasses, Haylee pointed to the man sleeping a few feet away. “Come out in the hall. I need your help.”
***
“We’re throwing a birthday party!”
Zee just blinked at her. “A bir-- why? For who?”
“Amy Miller! It was actually yesterday, but everything was so wonky yesterday that I forgot, and I don’t want her to feel left out because--”
“Slow down. Who?”
“Amy. She’s the baker’s daughter, and she’s just the sweetest little thing. She turned 7 yesterday. Don’t worry, you’ll love her.”
Zee spoke slowly, carefully. “Hal, is Amy… from the village?”
Haylee cocked her head quizzically. “Of course! Now, come on. I told her and some of the others to show up at noon, and that means we only have four hours to get everything ready!”
He looked at her for a long moment. “You do know I won’t actually be any help, right? Ask Cap, or Mr. Richards.”
“They’ll show up eventually. But I don’t need help lifting or carrying or anything tangible. I--” Her smile wavered. “Today I just need a friend. I can’t… I don’t want to face them alone.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
And suddenly the smile was back, the sun out from behind the clouds. “Yay!”
***
“Haylee…” One hand on the doorframe, Mr. Richards surveyed the piles of party supplies littered across the Mess Hall. “...are you throwing a birthday party?”
From up on a ladder, taping a bright pink streamer to the wall, Haylee gave him a one-handed wave. “Yep! For Amy Miller!”
“Ah.” His hand dropped from the frame. “She’s from the village, I assume?”
“Yes sir! She turned seven yesterday.”
“Is she…” The big man hesitated. “Has she arrived yet?”
“No, she’s showing up at noon with some friends. But we need to hurry!” Scrambling down the ladder, she spun in a circle, searching. “Zee, where’s the yellow streamer?”
From his perch on one of the tables, Zee pointed to a particularly large pile by the window. “Over there.”
“And the ghost is helping you, then?” Mr. Richards looked around the room again, as if perhaps this time he’d actually be able to see Haylee’s supposed “Zee.”
“Not a ghost!” Haylee called back cheerfully, scrambling to where Zee had pointed. “We’ve been over this, Mr. Richards. Zee’s not dead, he’s cursed!”
“...Right. Well. Seeing as ‘Zee’ can’t help you lift these decorations, would you like an extra hand?”
“Yes, please! Amy’s going to be so excited.”
With a wry smile, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
***
Over the next few hours, the rest of the Reserves trickled in. As if by unanimous decision, no one questioned Haylee’s spontaneous party. “Humor her,” said everyone’s eyes but no one’s lips.
Soon the room was full of people, laughing and talking, taping, pinning, blowing up balloons.
Haylee made her way across the Mess and flopped into a chair at Zee’s side. She had marker on her face and streamer in her wild blond curls, but her eyes were glowing with excitement. “They’ll be here any minute. I can’t wait!”
From out in the hall, the big clock began to toll.
Slowly, the room grew quiet. The Reserves shifted, everyone now uneasily awaiting the arrival of the birthday girl.
As the twelfth toll died away, Haylee shot to her feet. There was Amy!
“SURPRISE!”
Everyone jumped.
“Surprise?” A few muttered weakly, unsure who it was they were surprising.
But the little girl in long brown braids and bright blue overalls clapped her hands. She looked up at the wild-haired Haylee, beaming at her from the table, and mouthed, “For me?”
Haylee laughed, sprinting across the room and scooping the girl up in her arms. “For you. Happy Birthday, Amy Miller!”
Zee shook his head. Was this how the Reserves felt when they watched Haylee talk to him? It was a little disturbing, and more than a little sad, watching his best friend cradle and smile at thin air.
Haylee spun around, watching more of the villagers appear. She began to sing.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”
The Reserves looked on solemnly, in pity and compassion.
Watching their broken girl sing softly to a dead child only she could see.
Comments