Not Really Sorry

Hi, Alicia,

I'm writing to tell you that I'm sorry for crashing your birthday party. Truthfully, I'm not sorry, because I had a great time, but I AM sorry that I lied.

When your Aunt Lily asked me how we met, saying that we met in fifth grade was just too boring, so I embellished. I told her that I was choking in the school lunchroom. You should be happy about this part, because I made you out to be the hero. Do you remember giving me the Heimlich maneuver? Well, evidently it happened in some alternate reality. You were so great at it that the piece of chicken nugget flew out of my mouth and hit a third grader square on the forehead. I had to go to the office for throwing food.

Your Aunt Lily patted my shoulder and said, "You poor, sweet dear. You shouldn't have to go to the office for an accident like that." Never mind that we're 19 now. I love your Aunt Lily.

I kept stealing glances in your direction, but you were surrounded by friends and family. Since I wasn't technically invited, I kept my distance.

The next person I met was your cousin, Sam. He said his mom made him come even though he wanted to stay home and play Call of Duty with his friends. I told him I was on level 7 even though I 've never even witnessed the game. He said, "You're Iridescent? Wow, man! How long have you been playing?" I shrugged. He said, "That long, huh? I'm Diamond, but I'm almost Crimson. We've got to team up. My friends and I always take something to really feel the game. You should come over." Come to think of it, he did look a little high on something.

You might want to keep an eye on Sam.

Then, I found your cousin, Jenny, Sam's sister. She was hiding behind the piano with a partially eaten cupcake on her lap. She looked bored. I asked her, "What's your favorite flower?"

She told me, "Roses." She smiled at me and added in a whisper, "Alicia likes tulips, but don't give her a bouquet because she thinks dying flowers are sad." I love Jenny too. I asked her, "Do you play the piano?"

She said, "I know Chopsticks."

I said, "It's your lucky day! My grandfather taught me some, so I know the bottom part."

Do you remember us playing the piano? I know you looked at least once. Jenny and I had the best time. Then, I played Happy Birthday for you. Everyone sang along. I know they were applauding you, but I felt great about giving you that moment. Your smile said it all.

Jenny asked, "What else can you play?" Since my grandfather is old and was taught by someone still older, I played, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Some people were even dancing.

That's when things took a turn. It's too bad someone stepped on the cat and made it jump up and tip over the dessert table. Those remaining cupcakes seemed to fly through the air in slow motion. I saw your brother, George catch one. No wonder he's so great at baseball. I saw one end up in some lady's hair. She didn't look like the type to take kindly to having her hair messed up. Yep, she screamed in a goat-like manner.

I learned a lot that evening. I now know that, like mine, your family isn't perfect. I learned that, like mine, they're pretty special.

Please accept this bouquet of tulips that I painted for you.

They come with an invitation to dinner at a restaurant of your choosing. I promise not to eat chicken nuggets.