Sorry for keeping you waiting so long...had a bit of writer's block. But just saying that there are only two or three updates left. So, enjoy! What's your favorite part?
I jumped back in surprise, landing on Conor’s foot, and he gave a yelp of surprise. The lights (that I never knew were in the barn) came on, and I realized that it was really cleaned up. I looked around. There was a brand new hayloft, the floors were clean, there was a table with food and drinks, and there were about thirty people there. All my friends from school had come to this, along with my new Irish friends.
I stood there in shock as people swarmed around me. “Jenny, happy birthday!” was the general cry.
Rachelle walked into the barn behind me. “Hey! Was that good enough to confuse even your genius self?” she asked, grinning.
I grinned and gave her a hug. “You all did a fabulous job!” I exclaimed. “I was so confused!”
Mom came up behind me. “Happy birthday! Wow, what we went through to keep you from finding out!” she teased me.
I flushed. “Well...”
Damian laughed, appearing out of nowhere. “I bet you thought that I had been stupid and brought you home too early, huh?”
I grinned. “Yeah. I did.”
Everyone started laughing at this and relaxed, starting to mingle. Music started playing through a speaker that was set up. Damian and Conor stood next to me and we just studied the party.
“Hey, Conor!” Damian finally exclaimed, turning to him and giving him a ‘man hug.’ “Nice to see you again! Thanks for working with our plan.”
Conor grinned. “Hey, Jessie. No problem.”
I smiled at the reference to Jessie’s Girl. “This place really looks nice,” I said, looking around.
“Yeah. You know all those times Rachelle seemed to just disappear? And your mom? This is what was going on.” Damian winked at me. “You better appreciate it!”
“I do. I really do.” I gave him a hug. “Thank you.”
Conor cleared his throat and looked away. Damian shoved him jokingly. “Dude, it’s okay.”
“Mm,” Conor said, clearly not believing him. “Well, anyways, let’s party, eh?”
I laughed and we partied. There was a dance floor in the middle of the barn and a lot of people were already out there.
Damian held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”
I laughed and took his hand. “Sure, but let me tell you something: I can’t dance.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” Conor whispered from behind me. “Neither can he!”
Damian laughed. “Hey, hey, hey! I’m a lot better now. But let’s dance anyway.”
We went onto the dance floor and did the “eighth grade sway.” It was comfortable and I relaxed, looking around again. “Wow, I haven’t seen the barn looking this good since...well, I’ve never seen it like this. How long did this take?”
“A while. But it was worth it.” He smiled down at me and we kept just dancing silently. People kept coming up and wishing me happy birthday, and I kept thanking them with a smile. It was almost too much to believe. They had kept this secret very well.
After the dance, Mom called everyone in. “Okay, okay. This is a birthday party, and what do we do at birthday parties?”
“Open presents!” someone yelled.
“Eat!” someone else yelled (it sounded suspiciously like Logan).
“All of the above!” Mom said, smiling. “So can we have the birthday girl walk up here?”
I walked up and said, “You do realize that it can’t be all of the above unless there are more than two options, right?”
She laughed. “My daughter, the nerd. Sit down. Time for presents!” She got out her camera and prepared herself.
I sat down almost timidly. This was always the part I liked least. People stared at me and made me feel uncomfortable. It was awkward.
I opened several presents while everyone looked on. My mom took plenty of pictures, and I was finally done. I looked down at the pile of gifts and shook my head in astonishment. People loved me.
I finished up and thanked everyone again. I could breathe a sigh of relief when they started eating cake and stopped staring at me. I had always been opposed to that part of the birthday party. If only people could just give me money, I would be truly grateful and could get my own gift without them staring at me. I laughed at that thought and took the cake someone handed to me.
The music started up again and I sat and listened, eating my cake in thought. People passed by, saying happy birthday and stuff like that. I nodded at them and just kept thinking, when I sensed someone sit beside me.
“So, what do you think?” Dee asked.
“It’s amazing,” I said, smiling at her. “Thanks.”
She grinned. “You better be thankful! It was so much work.” She looked around. “But it was so worth it, wasn’t it?”
I agreed. “Yes, it was.”
The music was cut off to the dismay of a few dancing couples. Damian stood at the front of the barn. “Um...I’d like to say something,” he said.
I saw a few people look confused at what he just said, but other people translated for him.
“Jenny turned sixteen today. That calls for a very special moment. This song that I’m about to sing is an old classic, and well...I’ll just be quiet and sing now.” He nodded at someone, and music started up.
I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I just stood up and held my hand in front of my mouth.
Damian’s voice filled the barn. “Tonight’s the night I’ve been waiting for...” he started, and soon he was right into performer mode. He sang straight to me, and it was the highlight of the party, and even maybe his stay.
When he finished, we walked over to me. “Happy sweet sixteen, beautiful,” he whispered in the silent barn.
I didn’t say anything. I just gave him a hug.
He hugged me back, and music started again. I turned to stare at Keith as he walked to the front of the barn, holding his guitar. He motioned for the music to be cut off. “Now, as we’re performing for Jenny, I want to sing a song.” He started strumming and he went into the first lines of Mountains of Mourne.
“This is my favorite song that he sings...” I whispered.
Damian smiled down at me. “I know.”
Keith finished with a “Happy birthday, Jenny!” and everyone started clapping.
Damian turned to me. “Why didn’t they clap when I was done?” he joked.
“For them to not clap was more profound than if they had,” I said softly. “They were appreciating your song and letting it soak in.”
He laughed. “I know. I was joking.”
Mom walked up. “Anyone else want to perform for Jenny?” she asked, laughing.
Rachelle was pushed up to the front of the barn. “Okay, okay, I’ll perform!” she said, laughing. “What song?”
“You should sing Place in the Choir!” someone yelled with an Irish accent.
Rachelle turned. “Well, if I do, you have to also, Conor.”
Conor was silent.
Everyone started chanting, “Conor! Conor! Conor!” He was turning redder by the second, starting to protest.
“No, no, guys. You don’t understand. I’m not Damian. I can’t sing like him.” But someone pushed him up next to Rachelle anyways. He stood there at a loss for a moment before turning to Rachelle. “Well?”
“I’m guessing we’re doing Place in the Choir,” Rachelle said, glaring at him.
He frowned. “Yeah. About that. It’s not going to happen.”
Everyone started chanting again. “Rachelle! Conor!” over and over again.
Keith pulled out the Heritage CD he had found and put it in. He found the song we all wanted and started playing it. Rachelle laughed and started singing along. Conor started mumbling about halfway through the first chorus. At the line dancing part, Conor finally broke free and started dancing happily. He did about as well as Damian did, but he had fun!
Everyone was cheering and screaming loudly. I wondered briefly if the neighbors would call the police, but the police wouldn’t find anything bad anyways, so why worry? I laughed and started yelling as the song ended. It was marvelous.
Conor grinned and bowed clumsily. Rachelle just smiled at me and walked back towards the refreshments.
“Anyone else?” Mom called from the front of the barn.
People looked at each other, raising their friends’ hands, joking around, but nobody volunteered. Mom laughed and motioned for Keith to turn the music back on.
The beat boomed so loudly, I jumped. I didn’t expect such a heavy song, but it was okay. A lot of other people looked surprised for a moment, then relaxed.
I sat back and enjoyed the rest of the party.