Emily Taylor - The Teenage Mum Read Online Free PDF

and
clap.
'As is the custom in these
parts when you reach maturity, that means you can make babies, you
receive a special present.'
She claps her hands as Jesus
and Azziz roll in a large round present about a metre across.
Womanhood, maturity,
babies!
I wonder what could be in it.
I'm a little hesitant to start opening it. It might be something
weird that I'm not quite ready for.
As I fumble with the knots
trying to untie the ribbon, waiters move the tables to one side and
arrange some river boulders in a circle to make a little fireplace,
then set flaming torches around me. The knot is too tight and too
tricky, I just can't untie it. I pull the fang from my belt and cut
the ribbon then tear the paper off. There's another layer
underneath.
'The custom,' continues
Janice, who seems to be greatly enjoying the mystery of it all, 'is
that you burn each layer as it comes off. Scrumple it up, set fire
to it and drop it in the fireplace.'
    I scrumple up
the paper, set fire to it and drop it into the circle of stones. It flames brightly, sending
sparks chasing skywards.
Layer after layer of
brightly coloured wrapping paper comes off. I use my fang to cut
through the string, ribbons, and scotch tape then scrumple each
layer up and drop it on the brightly burning fire.
    What could be
inside? It doesn't weigh much whatever it is. After about a hundred
layers I have a ball the size of a football. Another twenty and I
have a grapefruit. Ten more and I reach the last one. There's a
small silver box inside, almost like the one I used to put my teeth
in for the tooth fairy. I open it expectantly. Diamonds maybe?
Inside are some seeds, a
bit of a disappointment at first, but then start wondering what
they will grow into; they might be pumpkin trees or spaghetti
bushes. It's been such a neat evening that I must thank everyone. I
look around to get everyone's attention and putting on my biggest
voice say, 'Thank you everyone, it's been such a wonderful evening.
Tomorrow I'm going to burn my old clothes and plant these seeds;
who knows what might come up. Thank you for coming. It's been the
best birthday ever.'
     
'Make sure you give them plenty
of space,' says Jesus. 'If you like, I can help.'
'Yes please,' I say. If anyone
knows their seeds, it's Jesus. 'Don't tell me what they are though.
I like a surprise.'
'I won't. I hope that one day
your babies will climb in their branches.'
Everyone claps.
All this talk about babies
makes me feel a little embarrassed. My body might be ready for
babies but I'm not. 'I'm not having any babies just yet,' I say
quietly. Everyone seems to hear.
It's almost morning by the time
the party finishes. I watch the last slither of Venus disappear
behind the hills as I splash my way back along the beach, firmly
clasping the little box of seeds in my pocket.

 
     
     
5
     
I wake up to a crash of
thunder and the sound of rain drumming on the windows. Negrita,
who's curled up by my feet, snarls at me, blowing little sparks in
my direction, then stretches and makes herself comfortable again.
I'm bursting to pee but don't want to get up so turn over and
snuggle deeper under my covers.
Knock, knock, knock!
Frapping on the door gets me
up. Who could possibly be out in weather like this?
'Hang on a moment,' I yell, and
go to bathroom before pushing boxes out the way so I can answer the
door.
It's Jesus. He gives me a big
hug and a kiss. It's always so nice to see him.
'We've got things to do,' he
says.
'We do,' I say, looking out at
the sheets of rain. 'Come on in. Let's have a cup of tea
first.'
He comes in and trips over the
boxes.
I laugh and help him to his
feet. It's funny, but I'm the same height as him now. When he's a
human he's way taller than me, like he's about six foot tall. Azziz
is a bit shorter and stockier. I throw a bit of wood on the stove
and give the grate a rattle to get things going then put the kettle
on. I fill it right up so it takes longer to boil.
'It's perfect weather for it,'
says