The Yellow Umbrella

Chapter Eight: The Party that Changed Everything

When we were younger, Grayson was only allowed to invite three friends to his annual birthday sleepover extravaganza. It was considered the party of the year amongst our grade for two reasons. The first being that the boys mistook the unintentional exclusiveness as coolness, rather than the fact that Grayson's parents did not want a ton of pre pubescent boys running around their mansion. The second being that it was insanely over hyped. One year, rumors spread that Grayson's parents rented a petting zoo, and the year after there had been word of a dessert bar with four chocolate fountains.

In actuality, it was just a Costco cake and some chocolate bars in the goody bags.

It also didn't hurt that Grayson was the most popular guy in school since the day I could remember. He could walk in a room, say nothing, and everyone would applaud him. 

For the entire month of November, every guy in our class would kiss his ass and bribe him with treats from their lunch boxes to try to secure one of the three spots. All the guys knew that I was the first invite, always. Then of course, Wyatt. It drove everyone up the wall. 

Nonetheless, every year, a different boy in our class was chosen to be the third invite. And every year I wondered who would it be. Would it be Tatum, the best kickball player in our grade, or Parker, the kid who was dared to eat five worms and ate seven? My money was on Tatum, even though I much preferred Parker. He was kind, someone who never made fun of me for missing the ball in gym, unlike Tatum. But he was sorta quirky, and the worm thing was pretty gross.

The year Grayson turned twelve, he did not invite a boy, he invited a girl.

Lily Choi. She was one of the prettier girls in our grade. Like her name, she was delicate and petite like a flower. Lily was a ballet dancer, every step she took looked like she was gliding on water. Out of all the girls who drew their initials in mulch hearts with Grayson's during recess, he chose her. I had never even seen them talk before. Actually, she never really talked to anyone, spending her recesses underneath a tree reading. She was quiet, smart, spelling bee champion four years in a row.

So of course I was surprised she was the final invite. I was even more surprised she said yes. Wyatt, however, was not pleased.

"I just don't see why you invited Choi!" He huffed, tossing his sleeping bag in the corner of Grayson's living room, "We can't do our annual traditions! Belching contest? Shirtless wrestle?"

"You hate wrestling." I pointed out.

I hated it too, but I sucked it up every year for Grayson's sake.

Grayson shook his head, "It's my birthday dude. Chill out."

Wyatt rolled his eyes ."But Choi? She's so boring! When we play kickball in gym, she sits on the bleachers. The one time the teacher made her kick, she bunted."

I cringed. Grayson hated people who bunted the ball. He considered it cheating, a sleazy trick. He was the kind of guy who slammed the ball so hard, it hit the ceiling and bounced all over the gym. No one dared to catch it. 

"Lily's nice." I argued, taking a sip from my juice box.

Wyatt made a face of disgust, "Why don't you marry her then?"

I stuck out my tongue. The doorbell rang, we all froze. Grayson sprinted to the door. Getting up. I peeped my head through the blinds and saw a blue van parked beside his mail box, the balloons tied to it already deflating.

Grayson took a deep breath before he opened the door. He cheeks were red, was he nervous?

I glanced out the window again, Mrs. Choi watched carefully from the driver's seat. We locked eyes. She smiled sternly and waved to me. I waved back. When the door closed behind Lily, her mom drove off.