?Hi,? Ariadne growled at Jerry as she slammed the bathroom
door.
Helen tossed the silly bells under the bed and looked up at her
dad who was peeking timidly around her door.
?I didn?t know Ariadne was here. Again,? he said.
?Yup,? Helen replied, like it was obvious.
?Okay,? he said wavering in and out of the doorway. ?And you?ll
be at her house all day, I suppose? Working on that project for
school still??
?Yup.?
?Okay,? he said, confusion scrunching his brow. ?Uh . . . Happy
birthday??
?Thanks,? Helen replied with a nod. Then she stared at him until
he went away.
?Did I hear your dad say it was your birthday?? Ariadne asked
with wide eyes as she came back into the room.
?Uh-huh,? Helen said. ?Not a word to anyone. I just want to practice
and then come home and go to back to bed.?
?No! We should do something!? Ariadne protested. ?We should
take the day off and go shopping, then maybe go out for dinner!?
?I?m sorry, Ari, but I can?t. I just woke up and I?m already exhausted,?
Helen replied, hearing her voice sound low. ?Practice,
then back to bed. That?s all I want for my birthday.?
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Ariadne shook her head sadly and stared at Helen while she
made up the inflatable bed she insisted on sleeping in every night.
Helen could see that Ariadne wanted to argue, wanted to insist that
Helen at least try to enjoy herself on her birthday, but thankfully,
she gave in.
Helen could barely keep her eyes open, and she was starving. She