By the Time You Read This Read Online Free PDF

the sound of the front door being banged almost off its hinges. I smiled.
    “Get up, you lazy thing!” shouted Carla as I opened the door. She was dressed in a pretty little baby-doll dress I could never wear, (not with my bandy looking legs) and huge trendy boots. “Change of plan. Your birthday party’s gonna be at our house!”
    Apparently, Mom had called from wherever it was sheand the Bingo Caller had gone and requested my thirteenth birthday party be shifted next door to Carla’s.
    “Charming!” I remarked.
    “Is your mom all right? My mom wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”
    “Probably had something better to do,” I said, feeling a little put out, but hoping she had a good reason for her missing my thirteenth birthday.
    Looking around next door’s tiny kitchen—which was almost identical to ours, but filled with pictures of the family and with Corey’s huge smelly sneakers by the entrance—it was clear a lot of effort had been made. Tiny cupcakes (soon to be decorated with hundreds and thousands) were baking in the oven; a wonky stool with dusty footprints was evidence of someone having placed colorful streamers on to the wall. A few friends from my school were invited (with Carla’s help), along with Corey’s friends, assuring a good turnout (even though I still doubted whether anyone would actually show up). Carla’s mom forced a red bow onto my head, even though I’d insisted on wearing jeans and not a dress. But for once I decided not to mind because it was my thirteenth birthday. The biggy.
    Mom rang just before the first lot of party guests arrived.
    “I’m really sorry I can’t be there, darlin.’
    “So, why can’t you come?”
    “You know what it’s like with flu. Thought I’d stay away so I didn’t spread it around.”
    “The flu? I never heard you coughing last night?”
    “It must have started during the, erm, night.”
    I shrugged off Mom’s explanation. Besides, I had Dad now, who’d cared enough to write to me every birthday. “That’s okay, Mom. You get over the flu.”
    “Really sorry, Lois.”
    “Don’t worry. I have everything I need here,” I whispered to myself.
    “Never mind, though, your actual birthday isn’t until Monday. I’ll make sure I’m there for that. Okay, darlin?’
    “Mom, I have to go now. People are arriving.”
    She started to mumble something as I replaced the receiver.
    People began to trickle in quite slowly. And quietly. No one saying a single word. There was the odd sound of a leg tapping against a chair as guests basically gazed at each other, as if waiting for someone, anyone, to utter anything mildly witty. The silence was deafening and my life flashed before me—grand confirmation of my big fat L of a Loser status at school. But just as I thought the party was more than over, Carla’s mom turned up the record player and began to move expertly to the fast melodies of “Motown-philly” by Boyz II Men, complete with subway dress and a group of lustful eyes belonging to Corey’s friends. Soon, others followed. My initial fear of mass yawns and exits evaporated and I was free to find the bathroom to let out nothing but a sigh of relief.
    I shut the bathroom door behind me just as Carla’s mom, still on the “dance floor,” proclaimed it was indeed Hammertime!
    “Lo Bag, where have you been?” asked Corey, sounding like an old man. Voice all deep, as I shut the bathroom door behind me.
    “In the John of course!” I shook my head to this silly question, itching to return to my guests and new friends.”
    “I…erm…wanted to give you your present.”
    “Your mom’s already done that!” I replied. A roar oflaughter escaped from the living room and I longed to be among the joviality and not stuck with Corey the Moron outside the toilet.
    “When?” he asked with a puzzled look.
    “What do you think all this is about?” I said, gesticulating wildly toward my new pair of stone-washed jeans. “And the party!” The