Chicago Illinois, US
August 2nd, 1925
My father was someone I always wanted to be like. He is very successful in his field, working his way up the ladder so he and his family could have the lavish lifestyle we have now. With his and my family's hard work, we were able to become one of the richest families in all of Chicago. He prides himself on his success and his work, throwing a party nearly every month or so to show it. These parties were extravagant to say the very least, with seemingly endless nights filled with bottomless liquor, and the brightest lights. Affording these lavish parties was no problem to my father, of course, he never seemed to lack a couple of bucks. I could always hear these parties from upstairs in my room.
I was never invited to these parties. I'm sure part of it was because I was only 15 and there was always an abundance of adult beverages and subjects. I don't doubt that that is a factor. However, there is a part of me that believes that I'd never be allowed to show my face at my father's parties. I don’t think I impressed my father enough to be known as his son to his peers, especially with my weird habits and behaviors.
I've come to find that I'm not the most… social person. I have a hard time relating to other boys my age. I also hate eye contact, it made me exceedingly uncomfortable, though the rest of my family found keeping eye contact with another showed politeness. There were lots of things that made me uncomfortable that plenty of people wouldn't bat an eye at, however. One of these was certain foods I ate and drank. I was always hesitant to put anything in my body I wasn’t “comfortable” with. I don't know why I did that, anyway, I was always eating the same thing. I have an abundance of other undesirable traits I don't believe I'll ever grow out of.
That's probably why I was told to stay in my room for the remainder of the night while tonight's party would take place. Usually, I would be fine with this, but this was the night my sister could be allowed to attend for her first time. I have no idea why should would want to go in the first place, I'm pretty sure that the parties consisted of small talk about business ventures and complaining about life. Then again, I was envious that I couldn't go in her place, so I am no better.
She was only 10 months older than me, which seemed unfair that I was unable to go as well. I would never blame her for this, however, as she rarely got special treatment. She was on an even stricter set of rules than me, having almost everything she did constantly monitored and controlled. What she was eating, what she was wearing, and even who she was talking to was kept under constant surveillance. I was only ever told to keep my room tidy and to be conscious of who hung out with me, though I had no problem with that. It goes without saying this caused her to be quite rebellious. She recently got suspended from school for starting a verbal argument with one of her teachers and making them cry. She was far from a disrespectful person, though, as she has a heart of gold. She very often would save small injured birds from our garden and nurse them back to health. She's always the one to check up on me when I was feeling under the weather, my mother being of no use as of late. I do greatly admire her, even if we don't have the best relationship at times.
As though she could read my thoughts, she stormed her way up the stairs and to my door, kicking it in. This startled me quite a bit, I peeked my head up from my book in response. She had a quiet distasteful look on her face, snarling before going on an unwarranted rant. "Oh my god, River."
“ I cannot believe Dad!” she said, angrily making her way toward my desk, her long orange hair flowing behind her.
She was wearing a sparkly blue dress that had a boyish cut, black frills along the skirt rim, and the skirt cut down to just above her kneecaps. Her look was completed with her long orange hair, which matched mine, tied up in a bun. She looked atrocious in my opinion, but she thought she looked good so it's not like she would take my opinion anyway. I rest my head on my hand, leaning against the face of my desk. My eyes wander back to my book, trying not to attend to her emotions.
“ What does he do to upset you now, Gabriella?” I say, uninterested, yet trying to humor her dilemma.
“ He- He- OOO!” She seethed before kicking my trash can over. “ He really likes to insult my features, you know.” She finally began, “ He enjoys putting me down just to brag about himself, have you noticed that?” she detested.
Before I could say a word to answer the question she asked, she continued her tangent.
“ Oh! Do you want to know what he said? He said that even though he had all the money anyone could ever ask for, it still wasn't enough to “fix” my teeth.” Gabriella threw her hands up in the air in frustration, whilst still maintaining an uncomfortable amount of eye contact at me.
I could sense her looking at me, and her growing frustration with our father's words. I looked up from my book, “ Didn't you want to get your teeth fixed?” I ask her, “ Father said you wanted it.”
Gabriella started to aggressively pace around the room.
“ No! That's what he wants to happen. He wants to fix my teeth, I like my tooth gap. I think It gives me personality.” she finished, turning back towards me from the middle of my room, arms crossed.
“ Hm… heaven knows you need some of that.” I chuckle. Gabriella was not amused and rolled her eyes in response.
I decided I didn't want to hear any more of her bickering, I would much rather go back to my book.
“ I do believe that does suck, however, I would like my peace and quiet,” I say, getting up from my desk and making my way towards her. “ You have a party to attend to, anyways, so it's best you make haste and be on your way back downstairs.” I reprimand, pushing her gently towards my door.
“ I am NOT going back down there” she snapped. She pulled herself from my push and started back toward the back of my room.
I groan, “ Whyyyy? I would do ANYTHING to be able to show my face down there, why don't you just go? Enjoy the privilege your brother doesn't get.”
She crossed her arms as she looked out the window that rested on my back wall.
“ Nah. It's boring anyways.” she said snarkily, “ It's much more fun pestering you.” She turned towards my bed and threw herself onto it. I scoffed at her nonsense.
“ I just want to read.” I put my head into my hands in desperation, “ Why won't you just let me read?”
“ I'm not stopping you.” Gabriella detested
“ Yes? You are.”
“ Nuh Uh. You can easily read a book right now.”
“ Not with all your yammering!”
“ Fine. If I promise not to distract you from your book can I stay here?”
I pondered her request. I don't want her in here, but I know that she really didn't want to go to the party if she would rather spend her existence around me instead.
“ Fine! You can stay here, just, stop talking.”
“ Yay!” she said heartily before plopping her face into my pillow.
I began reading peacefully without disturbance for a few minutes, putting my glasses back on my face. Though, I did have to re-read the page again to figure out where I left off. Repetitive, but I was used to repetitive habits at this point. I read a few sentences before I was interrupted by a ceaseless popping sound. I picked my head up from my book and grumbled. I looked to my right, to where the popping sound came from, and saw my sister wearing a mischievous smirk.
"What?" She asked naively, "I wasn't doing anything." She finished before presenting another cheeky grin.
I rolled my eyes and just went back to the book, trying to ignore the sound. I knew she was doing it to annoy me, so I wouldn't give her that satisfaction of a reaction.
I stared at my book, pretending to read it, but really I was still thinking about the party that proceeded downstairs. I gave up hope of ever being able to attend these parties. I don't think I want to, I'm just curious is all.
Or, maybe, I just wanted to prove I could attend.
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