backside. She’s just
staring at me – knowing, and waiting for me to say something. What
does she know?
“What was that?” I ask her. I know my tone is
accusing but I don’t care. She knows something and she needs to start talking.
Rose shakes her head. “How do you feel?”
I look at her, incredulously. “How do I feel? I was
just sitting by the pool with Alec. There was a bright light and I was falling.
And now I’m here. Do you know what is happening to me?” I can hear my voice
shaking.
Rose looks around, a worried look on her face.
“Keep your voice down. Alec said you wanted some fresh air from the party and
you took a walk. He’s inside. Are you feeling okay?”
I shake my head. “I guess not.”
“It’s beginning.” Pure happiness spreads across
Rose’s face.
Suddenly, I’m panicking. What is going on around
here? I feel more lost now than I’ve been since moving to Apollo Beach. “What’s
beginning? Is this what you meant when you told me strange things would
happen?”
Rose nods her head. “Yes, and it’s a wonderful
thing. Katrina, I promise you. Don’t be afraid of this. Embrace it.” And then
she says the words that make my skin crawl. “It’s your enchantment.”
I shake my head, confused. “But, I was just there
and now I’m here. Alec must think I’m a lunatic.”
Rose drops her hands from my face and shakes her
head. “No, he’s quite enamored with you actually. But I’m sure you’re oblivious
to it. Come with me. We’ll cut the cake and before you know it the party will
be over. Just don’t make any wishes. Come.”
“Wait, you want the party to be over? Why can’t I
make wishes?”
Rose smiles. “We have a lot to talk about.” Not
knowing what else to do, I follow her through the back entrance of the house,
past the pool and back patio, into the house where all the guests are now
migrating. Guests greet me as I pass them. I try to smile back with everything
left in me.
Looking around, I finally spot Alec. He stands off
to the side of the room with his parents who look uncomfortable in the midst of
this madness. I smile, knowing that I like them already.
I search Alec’s eyes, wondering if what Rose told
me is true. Did I tell him I needed fresh air? He looks as happy as ever,
smiling back at me with a boyish grin on his face. I melt.
“Hello everyone.” Rose cuts off my thoughts as she
begins to speak. She stands on the first step of the grand staircase,
microphone in hand. The many speakers around the house amplify her voice. Just
then a three-tiered cake is wheeled into the room. I do a double take. White
frosting with green trim. It reads “Happy 16 th Birthday,
Katrina” in gold lettering. Gold leaves are scattered around the second layer.
I recognize this cake from my vision.
I am still staring down at the cake as Rose begins
her speech. My insides churn at the familiar sight.
Rose steps beside me. “I just wanted to take a quick
break to thank everyone for coming here today for our Summer Solstice
celebration.” Thunderous applause ensues and I am shaken back to the present. I
look around the room again admiring the bizarre, yet intricate costumes that
fill the room.
Rose smiles brightly. “You all look enchanting as
ever.” She puts her arm around me now. There’s that word again. Enchanting. There is a spattering of laughter coming from different parts of the room. I
notice Darla French among them. She’s staring directly at me – as if
investigating me with her eyes.
“I hope by now you’ve all met my granddaughter,
Katrina. I couldn’t be happier to have her here celebrating this special day
with us. Happy Birthday, Katrina.” There are cheers from the crowd as Rose
takes a pause from her speech to embrace me. Her grip is surprisingly powerful.
Rose continues. “Unfortunately, this year our
celebration has to come to an end earlier than normal, but before you all leave
I just want to say a few words.” As if on cue the
staring at me – knowing, and waiting for me to say something. What
does she know?
“What was that?” I ask her. I know my tone is
accusing but I don’t care. She knows something and she needs to start talking.
Rose shakes her head. “How do you feel?”
I look at her, incredulously. “How do I feel? I was
just sitting by the pool with Alec. There was a bright light and I was falling.
And now I’m here. Do you know what is happening to me?” I can hear my voice
shaking.
Rose looks around, a worried look on her face.
“Keep your voice down. Alec said you wanted some fresh air from the party and
you took a walk. He’s inside. Are you feeling okay?”
I shake my head. “I guess not.”
“It’s beginning.” Pure happiness spreads across
Rose’s face.
Suddenly, I’m panicking. What is going on around
here? I feel more lost now than I’ve been since moving to Apollo Beach. “What’s
beginning? Is this what you meant when you told me strange things would
happen?”
Rose nods her head. “Yes, and it’s a wonderful
thing. Katrina, I promise you. Don’t be afraid of this. Embrace it.” And then
she says the words that make my skin crawl. “It’s your enchantment.”
I shake my head, confused. “But, I was just there
and now I’m here. Alec must think I’m a lunatic.”
Rose drops her hands from my face and shakes her
head. “No, he’s quite enamored with you actually. But I’m sure you’re oblivious
to it. Come with me. We’ll cut the cake and before you know it the party will
be over. Just don’t make any wishes. Come.”
“Wait, you want the party to be over? Why can’t I
make wishes?”
Rose smiles. “We have a lot to talk about.” Not
knowing what else to do, I follow her through the back entrance of the house,
past the pool and back patio, into the house where all the guests are now
migrating. Guests greet me as I pass them. I try to smile back with everything
left in me.
Looking around, I finally spot Alec. He stands off
to the side of the room with his parents who look uncomfortable in the midst of
this madness. I smile, knowing that I like them already.
I search Alec’s eyes, wondering if what Rose told
me is true. Did I tell him I needed fresh air? He looks as happy as ever,
smiling back at me with a boyish grin on his face. I melt.
“Hello everyone.” Rose cuts off my thoughts as she
begins to speak. She stands on the first step of the grand staircase,
microphone in hand. The many speakers around the house amplify her voice. Just
then a three-tiered cake is wheeled into the room. I do a double take. White
frosting with green trim. It reads “Happy 16 th Birthday,
Katrina” in gold lettering. Gold leaves are scattered around the second layer.
I recognize this cake from my vision.
I am still staring down at the cake as Rose begins
her speech. My insides churn at the familiar sight.
Rose steps beside me. “I just wanted to take a quick
break to thank everyone for coming here today for our Summer Solstice
celebration.” Thunderous applause ensues and I am shaken back to the present. I
look around the room again admiring the bizarre, yet intricate costumes that
fill the room.
Rose smiles brightly. “You all look enchanting as
ever.” She puts her arm around me now. There’s that word again. Enchanting. There is a spattering of laughter coming from different parts of the room. I
notice Darla French among them. She’s staring directly at me – as if
investigating me with her eyes.
“I hope by now you’ve all met my granddaughter,
Katrina. I couldn’t be happier to have her here celebrating this special day
with us. Happy Birthday, Katrina.” There are cheers from the crowd as Rose
takes a pause from her speech to embrace me. Her grip is surprisingly powerful.
Rose continues. “Unfortunately, this year our
celebration has to come to an end earlier than normal, but before you all leave
I just want to say a few words.” As if on cue the
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