“Why does that sound more like snark than an apology?”
“Which do you think it is?” Carrie winked.
Emma shook her head. She drained her drink and nodded at Carrie. “Let’s get going, Carrie.”
“Fine, fine.” Carrie’s blue eyes were still twinkling and Emma knew that the jibes she was going to receive from her friend that night were far from over.
*
The party started at seven the next day and throughout the night, Emma and Carrie exchanged tired looks. It just was not their scene. There were several oldies, that was what they called those in the same age group as Carrie’s parents and older. It was a beautiful party nonetheless and they enjoyed the food and the cake.
When the time was just shy of nine, Carrie pattered over to Emma and whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”
“Are you crazy, Carrie? It is your parents’ party, their anniversary party even. You can’t just up and leave.”
“What else is there to do? We’ve taken the family pictures, we’ve cut the cake, I've mingled with their friends and my siblings’ friends. I have been everywhere. I don’t even think I'll be noticed if I slip away now.”
“I still don’t approve. Besides, where would you rather be on a Sunday night instead of with your family?” Emma asked her friend in a reproachful tone.
“That new club, Minto, a friend knows someone who can get us in. Come on, let’s go. It’s going to be so much fun. Come on, Emma.” As she was speaking, Carrie was already pulling Emma into the house from the garden where the party was being held.
And Emma was still voicing her disapproval. They got to the front doors and a voice said, “Indeed you are right Emma. This is a terrible, terrible idea.”
The two girls jumped and turned around to find Carrie’s elder sister staring at them from the top the stairs, an amused look on her face. She climbed down and stared at them. “Where are you both heading to?”
“Emma has a tummy ache and...” Carrie started saying when Emma nudged her side. Her eyes gave a message. ‘Don’t you dare use me as an excuse. Remember I don’t approve of this’.
Carrie groaned and confessed, “Fine, we were going to head out to a cool, new club. Please don’t tell mom and dad, Helen.”
“Let it be known that I do not approve of this,” Emma said, glaring at her friend.
Helen chuckled and she took a sip of her wine, “You don’t need to say that, Emma. We all know that Carrie is the bad influence on you and not the other way around. Frankly, we don’t know why you hang out with her.”
“Hey!” Carrie glared at her sister.
“All right, fine. You both get out of here and have fun. We the older ones will bear the pain of this party for you,” Helen said with a smile.
“Thank you, thank you,” Carrie hugged her sister and jumped back. “Come on, Emma.”
“Thanks, Helen,” said Emma who had watched the exchange quietly. She was starting to feel out of place in the presence of the sisters and was suddenly looking forward to being in the club and having some fun. There she could stop thinking of the things she did not have, like siblings.
As they ran down the front steps, Carrie looked at her friend and asked, “You okay?”
“Uh huh. Let’s go have some fun, right?”
“Oh yes, we shall!”
The club was packed with screaming adults and the airwaves were filled with electronic music. The friends found their way to the bar, away from the flashing lights of the dance floor. As they settled to get their drinks, Carrie was already tapping her feet and swaying to the music. The bartender slid their drinks across the bar to them.
“Here you go, a bloody Mary and mimosa.”
“Thanks,” the girls said in unison as they took their drinks.
“I honestly don’t know why you are drinking a baby’s drink. We are in a club, let’s have some fun!” Carrie squealed.
Emma pouted and stared at the tall glass of mimosa in her hand. She took a sip and said, “Mimosas are not baby drinks.”
“A drink that looks like orange juice is a drink for kids,” Carrie postulated.
