Chapter 4: Twelfth Birthday + Chicken Pox Party

(Luci)

I’d finally be twelve on Tuesday! I wanted to make cookies to bring to school as a birthday treat, but Mom was too busy with my little sisters to help.

I stopped at Dave’s place on the way to school, like I did nearly every day. When I knocked and he opened the door, he smiled. “Hi, Luci! It’s nice to see you again!”

I ran the two steps separating us and grabbed his chest tightly. “I missed you, Daddy, so much!” I pressed my face to his shirt and sniffed. loved the combined scents of his chest and cologne.

“I missed you, too. Daddy loves you, sweetie.” He closed the door behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. He gently ran his fingers through my hair and asked, “How are you?”

I complained, “Tired. I didn’t sleep much. There was a lot of noise from my brother Sam’s room last night. His bed was squeaking and tapping on the wall. I wonder why?”

Dave was quite nervous explaining, “Unless they have a girlfriend or wife, sometimes men need to ... ahem ... fix something before they can sleep.”

I asked in confusion, “Fix what?”

“Uh ... fix something ... between his legs.”

I suddenly understood and felt myself blush. “Oh!”

His face was pink and reddening. “Best thing is, try to ignore it. Um, how are you, otherwise?”

After an awkward pause, I changed the subject. “I wanted to make cookies for my birthday, but Mom’s too busy with the babies again.”

He suggested, “Maybe Julie can help you. I gave her a cell phone last night. Let me call and ask her.”

I was jealous and annoyed. She took too much of my Secret Daddy’s time already, and now she could call him whenever she wanted! He gave her a gift that expensive!

“Julie will be happy to make cookies with you tonight, at her house. She’ll pick you up after school.”

I wouldn’t get to see Dave that night, but neither would my rival. “Yeah, that would be okay.”

He was curious and asked, “You don’t sound too happy about it?”

“I uh ... when I don’t see you, I miss you.”

“Awh, that’s sweet. I guess you can bake ‘em over here, instead. Ask her when she picks you up.”

“Great!”

“You better get to school, but I need a kiss before you go.” He leaned down and briefly pressed his lips to mine. Kissing made me a bit uncomfortable, but I dearly loved the rest of our time together.

I hugged him even tighter. I didn’t want to let go, but I had to leave. I released my grip and said, “See you tonight. I love you, Daddy!”

“Daddy loves you, too, my sweet Luci.” He kissed my cheek as I turned away.

My best friend Renee and I sat together in the cafeteria at lunch time. She dipped the corner of her cheese sandwich in her tomato soup. “Dunking your sandwich is weird.”

She explained, “It tastes good. Try it.”

I did, and it was delicious. “Wow! They go together great!”

“Told ya.” She scratched her arm. I noticed a couple of tiny red dots on her cheek. She complained, “I been really itchy today.” As she scratched her wrist, I felt a mild irritation on my neck and rubbed it.

The girl next to her said, “Me, too.” She had little red spots on her neck and face. She asked, “Where’s Jane and Shelly?”

A girl at the table behind us overheard. She said, “Shelly lives next to me. She’s out sick today.”

I felt an itch and scratched my shoulder.

A teacher stood on a chair and clapped, then loudly said, “Attention! Your attention, please! Quiet down, everyone.” Everybody turned to look at him. “School is closing early today. We’ll be closed the rest of the week, due to a major chickenpox outbreak. Don’t worry, chickenpox is only dangerous for babies and people over fifty.

“After lunch, busses will take you home. Tell your parents to watch the news and see when school will be in session again, probably ten days or so. Do not go to your next class. When you finish eating, get your things from your lockers and walk to your bus in a calm and orderly...”

Pandemonium interrupted him.

Dozens of kids jumped up, and many shouted. “YES! YAY! YEAH!” Most left their lunch trays and ran out, but Renee and I finished our yummy soup and sandwiches.

I went to Renee’s house with her, since it was on the way home and three blocks closer than my place. We walked inside and she asked her father, “What’s going on? Why are you home?”

“I don’t have any cases in court today, so I’m typing up some documents. I should ask you the same. You’re supposed to be in school, right?”

We gleefully smiled as she answered, “School’s closed, ‘cause lots of kids have chickenpox! Me and Luci, do, too.”

“Uh-oh! I’ve never had chickenpox. Stay back.”

“Okay.”

He continued, “I’ll call some people. Maybe you can stay with one of your aunts or your Uncle Dave a while.”

Renee and I smiled and said in harmony, “Dave is awesome!”

“Okay, I’ll try him first. Go pack some clothes.”

I went to her room and watched as she loaded up a suitcase. When we went back downstairs, her dad said, “Dave is too busy to pick you up right now, but he’s only three blocks down. You’ll stay at his place for two weeks. Does Lori need to call home?”

“She’s Luci, Dad.”

He turned toward me and apologized, “Sorry. Has your family had chicken pox, Luci?”

“Um ... I don’t think so.”

“You should call your parents, then. Dave says you can stay, too, if you want.” He slid the phone across the table, toward me.

Renee said, “We’ll have tons of fun! This will be great!”

I smiled from ear to ear. “Yeah! I better call my mom.” I dialed home and it rang a long time, over ten rings. “No answer.”

He sprayed the phone with a stinky chemical and wiped it with a tissue. “You can call from Dave’s place. It’s nice that all of you get along so well.”

I chuckled on the inside, as I thought, ‘If only you knew!’

Renee and I happily skipped all the way to Dave’s house, which was half a block from mine. He looked quite upset. He hung up his phone and slammed a notebook on the coffee table. BANG! “Dang it!”

“What’s wrong?”, I asked.

“I had three models booked to do a lipstick ad, but they all cancelled! Two are sick, and the other is afraid of getting sick. The company needs pictures by Friday.”

“Awh! I’m sorry.”

His expression suddenly changed, and I could see he had an idea. “Would you two help me out? Just do your faces with makeup, so I can get a few photos?”

From past experience, I knew he meant ‘a few gazillion.’ I’d never put on makeup before and wanted to try it. Better yet, if I were prettier, he’d like me more! I eagerly agreed. “Sure!”

Renee joined in. “Okay.”

He made a phone call, then told us, “Julie will help you make up your faces and be in the pictures, too. She’s staying with us ‘til you go back to school.”

My happiness deflated and I quietly grumbled to myself, “Oh great.” I had no doubt she would steal most of Dave’s attention, like usual. I wanted my Secret Daddy all to myself! So much!

He continued, “She’s picking up eye shadow, fake lashes, and things on the way. Who wants to help make homemade lasagna, for dinner tonight?” He walked toward the kitchen, and I eagerly followed. “Me! I’ll help!” I LOVE all kinds of pasta!

After we ate, Julie helped my best friend and I with all sorts of cosmetics; eye shadow, rouge, eyeliner, long fake lashes, lipstick, and others. I was glad and proud when Dave declared, “I ‘ve never seen anybody more beautiful! You three are amazing! Sit on the sofa and smile, while I get a few pictures.”