The Beginning
"So! Are you excited about tomorrow?” I wonder.
“Yeah, it's nice that this is over. Now I have to find a job.” She laughs nervously.
“Oh, f**k that! It's summer, and we are free." I exclaimed happily "Tomorrow you have graduated and we can enjoy this summer together!”
Hannah's white graduation dress hangs freshly ironed on the closet door with the pink flats underneath. The dress is knee-length and quite tight to show off her long legs.
It has sections of ruffles on the front and a heart-shaped cut at the bust that gives her the perfect pushup effect.
She's going to be so cute. Her long wavy cinnamon-brown hair is a sharp contrast to the white dress. I am so excited!
This whole week, my mother and I've prepared for the graduation party. Dad and our little siblings Noha, May, and June have also helped. They are in the way mostly, if I am going to be completely honest. But they tried!
After Hannah and her classmates have done the 'runout', our family will gather here at home for a party. Some of Hannah's and my friends will come later in the evening.
Since mom turned motherly this evening, she is in full swing with putting the "little ones" to bed, we, my sister, and I are currently hiding in her room. I lie on my back on the floor and look up at the ceiling. The luminous stars that mom and dad put up when we were little are still there. Hannah was and still is afraid of the dark. She never dared to stay with me on the lawn and look at the stars at night. So she got a sky of her own when she turned ten. It suits her!
"Is Erik also coming tomorrow night?" Hannah asks, looking down at me from the edge of the bed with a big grin and wiggling her eyebrows. Her Deep sea blue eyes sparkle with mischief.
I laugh at my silly sister. "Yeah! Why?"
"Just curious!" She answers, hovering.
“Oh, I get it! You are not wondering if Erik is coming, you're wondering if Sam is coming. Am I right?"
Her blushing cheeks reveal her true intentions, and now it's my turn to grin ridiculously and wiggles my eyebrows.
The evening goes slowly, but that's always the case when you are waiting. Suddenly my mother sticks her head into the room.
"It’s all clear now!"
"Finally!" We both sigh excessively. Hiding is fine if you want to hide. Otherwise, it’s irritating to wait!
Mom has prepared tea down in the kitchen. We all take a cup and go out to the porch at the back of the house. The garden is almost complete. Dad is home and is putting up fairy lights in the trees surrounding the lawn for tomorrow.
"Then it's bedtime for both of you, it's going to be a long day tomorrow!" Mom tells us more so smug than caring.
"But mom…” Hannah whines. She is like a kid. Mentally I roll my eyes at her for even trying.
“Young lady!” Mom scowled annoyed about Hannah's attempt to contradict her. Her irritated tone is my signal, I spaced out and doesn't hear a word here on. I’m not in the mood for bickering over petty things, like sleeping. So I focus on the woods before me, surrounding our home like arms holding us. They sway in the wind as if rocking us to sleep. The sound is calming, mesmerizing. The site is like in a movie. Tomorrow when it’s all in order; when the lights are on, the guest is here and we all are having a good time, it's going to be perfect. Thinking of it makes me giddy.
In the background Hannah huffs with anger but says nothing more, she knows that mom is right. She punches my shoulder and looks at me prayerfully. I shrug my shoulders at her, I’m not doing this, and I’m not taking this fight. Mom is correct, but I will not say it for her to hear. And if she wants to play mom tonight, so be it!
We sit there together in the evening sun, I'm delighted and enjoying the warm breeze, the air, and us. The sun is slowly setting behind the treetop. This is as close to perfection as possible.
I could sit here curled up in the chair under my blanket forever. But as with everything in life, it must come to an end. The sun goes down, the night comes and I say goodnight.
"Goodnight Sofia!" My mom answered absently out into the night.
***
The morning of Hannah’s graduation is a total frenzy and chaos. Mom insists on overseeing the time plan for the day one more time. I’m not sure why as she has never managed to be on time and I don't think this is the day that will change. After helping Hannah with her hair and makeup this morning. I am now on breakfast duty. Madeleine, Hannah's friend picked her up a moment ago. The entire class is going to have breakfast together. With our “little ones” fed, my mother and I turned our attention to all the preparations; tablecloths, setting the tables, last-minute decorations, preparing the food as far as possible, setting the gift table, mixing the welcome drinks. And everything else that needs to be accomplished in time. Occasionally my phone pings and up pops a picture or a movie from Hannah, she seems to be having fun! Dad has prepared the wagon that Hannah and her class will ride in after the 'runout'. It's has been decorated with birch leafy. There are also a lot of balloons hanging from the sides in many bright colors. It looks nice!
When mom and I are finished outside, I walk up to my room for a long, warm, wonderful shower.
After my shower, I quickly untangle my hair and turn my head upside down to dry it. When it's all ready I take my place in front of the wardrobe mirror with the curling iron. I help my Honey blond hair and my natural curls. I'm beautifying them. My hair reaches past my shoulders despite my curls, which are helping to frame my oval face. I have my navy blue Audrey Hepburn dress with a black belt that emphasizes my waist, the wide 50's skirt ends above my knees and hides my wide hips perfectly. Which is needed, my body has the shape of a pear. After a light make-up where my slightly almond-shaped deep-sea blue eyes get to play the main role and with a little lip gloss on my soft pink lips, I feel satisfied. I am going to have fun tonight! The afternoon and evening will feel endless, high heels are unfortunately out of the question for someone who prefers boots. Black flats should do the trick. I give myself a quick wink before I leave my room to go down to mum. Down in the kitchen, the scene in front of me is hysterical. My mother runs around in her underwear with a screaming June under her arm. Her wet hair is tightly wrapped in a towel and the floor is covered with breakfast cereal. In the middle of the mess is May. She is sleeping on a pillow under the kitchen table.
"Help me goddammit!" Mom hisses, her face crimson from exhaustion. June tries to wriggle out of our mom's grasp while screaming furiously. My first reaction is to break into hysterical laughter. I laugh until my eyes water and I have trouble breathing. Mom glares daggers at me while I try to gather myself. Once I have settled a little and dried my eyes, I take a screaming June from her. I'll help June get ready so that my mom can get dressed. After another half hour, the kitchen is cleaned up from cereals and we are all ready to go. The girls are strapped into their car seats. Noah is staring down at his phone. And mom is putting on make-up in the passenger seat while I drive towards town in a hurry. Dad got going a long time ago and is already there with the wagon waiting for us.
