Page 2 of Another Love, Another Time

Today is my birthday! I’m ten, which doesn’t mean anything.

My mom woke me up with butter on my nose.

She loves doing that to Ellie and me on our birthdays.

It is still a long way to sixteen—when I can get my driver’s license.

Then, I can drive to see River every weekend.

My dad asked me who was going to pay for all my gas.

I don’t really know what to say to him. I don’t know how to pay for gas right now, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

My mom says I’ll have to get a job. I don’t want to work, but if it means I get to see River, I’ll do it.

My mom had invited my whole class to my birthday party, and a lot of kids said they were coming.

My mom also invited our family friends, so my mom is currently running around like her head’s been cut off, shouting orders to Dad, Ellie, and me to get everything pulled together.

River will be here with Aunt Ashley, Uncle Kendall, Serena, and Brock.

We’ve been talking on the phone all week.

She was excited about giving me my birthday gift.

I begged her to tell me what it was, but her lips are sealed.

All she said was that I would like it. I like a lot of things, so that narrowed it way down (sarcasm).

This year, my birthday theme is Avengers.

I have an Avengers cake. Mom decorated Sprite cans like the Hulk.

Thor Rice Krispies treat hammers. Captain America cake pops.

Ironman fruit decorations. She also made up some Avengers games and activities, which include a superhero obstacle course, a photo booth, and a table for kids to decorate their own superhero masks.

My dad is currently setting up the obstacle course. There are prizes for whoever is the quickest. My dad asks me to help him. “You want to practice a little bit before your friends start showing up?”

“Yeah?”

“Go ahead. I need to see how hard it is. We may have to make some changes.”

My dad used our playground equipment for the beginning of the course.

He goes through the course, and I follow him so I will know the route.

Then, it is time for my practice run. I run up the slide, slipping once, but catch myself.

I grab the top of the slide and pull myself up the rest of the way.

Once I get up on the platform, I see the monkey bars.

I’ve done these a gazillion times, so I don’t have any problems crossing.

Once I cross them, I jump down, climb up the wall back up to the platform, and then slide down the pole.

The next phase of the course is running through hula hoops.

Then, I pop a balloon, weave in and out of orange cones, and finally burst through a wall of cardboard boxes.

After I finish, the only thing Dad changes is the monkey bars. If someone falls off, they will have to jump twice for everything bar that they miss. This is going to be so much fun! I practice one more time just so I know what I have to do. I can’t wait for my party to start.

Some of my classmates start arriving, and my mom has them start making their superhero masks.

If people finish their masks, then they can do activity sheets.

All the snacks are out, so everyone eats while doing their crafts.

My mom greets each of the parents and lets them know that they can stay if they like.

If not, they can pick up their child in two hours.

I have to be part of the welcoming committee.

So instead of hanging out with my friends who have arrived, I stand next to my mom with a big, forced smile.

Melissa is the next classmate to arrive.

Her parents are also friends with my parents.

She is also River’s cousin. They come to some of the other parties that my mom throws throughout the year.

Melissa is in a red dress with a Captain America shield on it.

I’m thinking, “How is she going to do the obstacle course in a dress?”

I hear my name being called. The next thing I know, I’m falling to the ground.

River has tackled me! River is wearing her Black Widow shirt and shorts.

She pretends to attack me and giggles. “Oh, I’m sorry.

Did I step on your moment?” she asks. River jumps off of me and pulls me up with her after reciting one of Black Widow’s lines. Her long, blond hair is in two braids.

We turn around. Melissa has her arms crossed and tells River, “Auggie and I were talking, and you interrupted. That’s rude, River.”

River looks at Melissa. They have never gotten along, even though they are family. River pulls me away again, looks back, and says, “Well, now you’re not.”

I am supposed to be greeting all the guests, but with most of the kids being here now, my mom lets me off the hook.

Everyone is sitting around the tables where they decorate their masks and eat.

There are two open seats next to Logan. Logan and I sit next to each other in class, and we play baseball together.

He’s the pitcher, and I’m the catcher. I hope he is on the same team as me next year.

River and I sit next to him. Black Widow is River’s favorite Avenger.

My favorite Avenger is Captain America. Logan is making a Thor mask.

My mom comes by and asks anyone if they would like to eat.

Aunt Ashley gives a plate to River, tells her to eat what is on it, and threatens to withhold dessert.

My mom has the photo booth set up with different props, covered with both superheroes and villains. A lot of the kids are having fun coming up with different poses for the pictures. My mom tells them she will send them to their parents.

“Hey, you want to take some pictures in the photo booth with me, Auggie?” River asks.

“Can I come with you all?” Logan asks.

“Sure,” we answer. After a ton of different poses, some of the other kids ask if they can take pictures with me. I don’t want to, but I know that my mom would want me to, so I do. Then, Melissa asks if she can take a picture with me.

I tell her “No.” I want to go outside to find River and Logan and play, but my mom gives me the mom look that says, “Don’t even think about saying no.”

“Sure, Melissa, but only one, okay?” I say.

She goes to protest, but my mom interrupts, “One more picture, guys and gals, and then we’ll do a group picture.”

Melissa wraps her arm around me in a half hug, and Mom takes a picture. Then, Mom starts corralling all the kids in for a group shot with the help of all the other moms. “Auggie, get in the center, please.”

I grab River’s hand to pull her with me to the center of the group. River’s mom and mine know this is just how it is. We do serious and silly pictures.

After everyone’s bellies have settled, we head out to the obstacle course.

I can’t wait to show River what my dad and I set up.

All the kids are lined up around my dad as he explains the course and the rules.

The parents have all grabbed their folding chairs to sit around and watch all the kids compete.

My mom has everyone choose a number to determine what order we will go in. She puts us in order. Then, she pulls me aside and asks, “Since you’re the birthday boy, you get to decide when you would like to go. Do you want to go first or last?”

“Last.”

“Okay. Head back there.”

River is in the middle while Logan is first. Melissa is the last one in line, so I stand by her. She starts to talk, but all I want to do is watch everyone going through the course. I ignore her, and she starts talking to her friend in front of her.

My mom and dad say I’m really competitive. I need to watch to see how everyone is doing and what time I need to beat. My dad places Logan at the starting line and says, “On your mark, get set, go!”

Logan takes off. He struggles a little bit on the monkey bars, but he doesn’t fall. He finishes running through the wall of cardboard boxes as my dad yells, “Two minutes, twenty seconds. Good job, buddy!”

Aunt Ashley is there to stack the boxes back up as my dad gets the next person ready. One by one, each kid goes. No one has beaten Logan’s time.

It’s now River’s turn. She is just as competitive as me; I know she wants to beat Logan’s time.

Once my dad tells her to go, she takes off.

She goes through the obstacles with no issues.

She gets through the monkey bars and does a little victory dance.

My dad tells her she'd better get her booty going, that she’s wasting time. He knows how competitive she is.

As she runs through the cardboard wall, my dad yells her time, “Two minutes, twenty-two seconds!”

“What? Uncle Eddie, no way!” she protests.

“Don’t give me any sass, Riv. You’re the one who wasted time doing a happy dance. Next.”

River stomps off towards her dad, probably trying to persuade him to get her a second chance.

Pretty soon, sassy River has been replaced by smug River. She comes to stand beside me and bumps my shoulder. “You got this, Aug,” she encourages.

Just then, Melissa turns around, says the same thing, and smiles at me. River rolls her eyes. “Melissa, how are you going to this in a dress? Aren’t you afraid that everyone is going to see your underwear?”

“No. Auggie’s mom gave me a pair of his shorts to wear under my dress.”

“Well, good luck, Melissa,” River responds just as my dad calls her name.

I’m up next, and I start getting nervous. “Will I beat Logan’s time?” I wonder.

River senses my nervousness and grabs my pinkie in hers. She looks me in the eyes. “Aug, don’t stress. It’s just a game. I know you will do great, but if you don’t, it will be okay.”

Whenever she does things like this, I always feel like someone is tickling me. I shake my head to refocus and respond, “Says the girl who just threw a fit because she didn’t beat Logan’s time.”