An Extraordinary Life

Funny How the Pages Turn

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Isabella, happy birthday to you!"

Isabella was suddenly startled awake, despite how softly the four adults were singing to her. She couldn't even be surprised to see Freddie there, smiling widely, as the sudden surge of grief that pulsed through her veins took over immediately.

The girl had been dreading her birthday for months now, the closer it approached. It would be the first without her parents and her sister. She knew it would hurt, but she had no idea how terrible it would feel to see the wrong people standing in front of her with a stack of pancakes in hand. A number one and a number two candle stood side by side on the stack, lit up and glowing. She sat up nervously, and backed herself further towards her headboard, barely awake now.

When Phoebe held the plate closer to Isabella, she backed up even more, until her head gently thumped the back of the wall.

"I-" Isabella started, shaking her head quickly. "Please blow it out, blow it out!"

Multiple pairs of eyes widened, each hastily coming to the realization that maybe putting fire so close to the girl's face wasn't such a good idea. Phoebe pulled the plate up to his lips and extinguished the flames.

"I... always liked the smell of burnt birthday candles," Joe said awkwardly, trying to dissipate the sudden tension in the room.

"Sweetheart," Mary sat on the mattress edge, just by Isabella now. "We're so sorry, we didn't even think."

And just like that, Isabella burst into tears, now feeling guilty on top of her grief. "I- do I have to go to school today? I don't think I can do it."

Mary sucked in a breath. Her natural instinct was to say yes, you need to go to school. But she turned to the other adults, and their faces all said the same thing:

Let her stay home.

"Oh, dearest," Mary reached over and cupped Isabella's shoulder. "If you do, you mustn't stay in your room alone all day, it won't be good for you."

Isabella sniffled, and drew in a few breaths before she spoke again. "I won't be, Freddie said he'd... spend a few hours teaching me piano today."

Mary's brows knitted together, and she turned to Freddie, before turning back to Isabella.

"Should we head?" Joe whispered to Phoebe, both of them having retreated back towards where Freddie was near the doorway.

"Think so," Phoebe nodded, and gave Isabella one last look of support before heading downstairs, pancake plate still in hand.

Freddie, by this point, was very confused. He never promised Isabella such a thing. In fact, they had barely spoken all week, between the time he spent in Munich and just having gotten back last night. For the first time in months, he had a consistent week with Winnie, no fights at all, and it was difficult to leave him. But he knew Phoebe wanted to be home for Isabella's birthday, and he secretly did too.

"Freddie?"

Freddie stepped forward, hesitant now in fear of the freshly twelve year old in front of him, still half tucked under the covers, brown curly hair frizzing around her wet cheeks. He didn't know why Isabella had lied to Mary, but he knew that of all days, today wasn't the day to challenge the girl.

"I did," Freddie cleared his throat, shoving a hand into the pocket of his dark green dressing gown. "I promised her I would if she passed her maths exam, which she did. Didn't know it would be today, but if that's what the birthday girl wants, it's what the birthday girl shall get."