Nikki and Deja Birthday Blues

It’s my birthday, it’s my birthday, it’s my birthday..” Deja makes a chant out of “It’s my birthday” and dances to the beat of it around Nikki’s backyard. It is a bright and shining Saturday morning, the best day of the week. “It’s not your birthday,” Nikki reminds her. “But it will be in seven more days, and I’m going to be eight way before you”. Deja stops her made-up dance so she can think about the next thing more clearly. She doesn’t want to say it out loud, so she says it in her head. And this time my daddy might come for my birthday. She looks up at the sky in search of a sign, then recites a little prayer. She glances over at Nikki sitting on the back porch, wondering if she can read her thoughts. “I’m getting heelies, boots, and a bright pink T-shirt with my name in rhinestones. I already saw it at Twizzles’ Fashions for Tweens.” Deja stops again to imagine herself wearing it. “With ‘Deja’ on it?” Nikki asks.
“I can get it put on,” Deja says with confidence, even though she doesn’t know where or how. Maybe her daddy will come, and maybe he’ll give her a hundred dollars to buy whatever she wants. “Write this down, Nikki.” Nikki takes out her pad, removes the kitty cap from her special pen, and waits. “We’re having games first, then the playoffs with the winners. Auntie Dee’s getting a huge stuffed panda bear as a prize. Then we’ll have a dance contest-with me as the judge-then pizza and punch, and then ice cream and cake. Deja takes a breath. “Then everyone will watch me open my presents. Then we’ll watch Mouse Queen Takes Hollywood, which I know I’m getting for my birthday, too”.