“Cameron Mae Kennedy, wake up! Breakfast is ready!” Mom screamed as I heard the rain splashing on my window pane in the dreary shadows of my room. I realized that the weather must be in sync with my mood, and of course, today would be the unexpected rainy day that the weatherman forecasted wrong again. It usually went that way in Fort Smith, Arkansas though. One day it’s unexpectedly sunny, the next unexpectedly rainy, and then the next day we’re out of school because of the damage an unexpected tornado did the night before. We tend to anticipate the snow days we never get, but the one night we all do our homework and are ready to go to school the next day – we have a storm day.
Go figure.
As I rolled over, I saw the letter lying next to my pillow written in the same handwriting I saw once a year.
I felt my stomach drop.
Mom never fails to put it in the same spot each year, and I never have the heart to tell her that it ruins my day to read it each time, knowing that even bringing up the subject would tear her apart.
So I read it anyway:

Happy Birthday, kiddo! I hope it’s a wonderful day for you. Big 16! You’re growing up faster than I imagined. Listen kid, I know I haven’t kept in touch lately, but I want you to know that I’ll always be here if you need me. You can always come visit me in Colorado at anytime you want. Just because your mother and I have our differences doesn’t mean I don’t love you! Call me anytime you need me, and let’s try to keep in touch, okay?
Love, Daddy.

And every year, it’s the same letter with the wrong number. Today is May 29, 2008 – my 17th birthday.
Hearing my stomach growl, I threw on my washed-out red bathing suit, black Soffe shorts, and an old Southside High School homecoming t-shirt. Running down the stairs, I got a whiff of Mom’s famous egg, bacon, tomato, and cheese omelet, and as I began running faster with anticipation, my foot got caught on the shoes Mom has been begging me to take up. I face planted right onto the kitchen floor.
“SURPRISE!” a united scream echoed throughout at the room as the lights flipped on.
It then fell silent – my friends staring down at my crumpled body on the floor, really making the most of the moment.
“Wow Cameron, you look really great this morning..”
“Shut up, Kimberly,” I muttered, desperately trying to get myself together.
“Happy birthday, honey! I figured you would want something special today, so I invited everyone over for breakfast!”
“Thanks, Mom. Really, I appreciate it,” I said sarcastically, secretly wishing that I could disappear.
Heath shoved a small, golden box in my direction. “Here, I got you this. Hope it wasn’t too much..,” he mumbled.
Heath Mitchell Graham – he’s had a crush on me since Kindergarten, and not that I don’t like him as a friend, but I just don’t like him as anything more. Though Mom always wishes it were that way.
I’ve only ever had one boyfriend – Cody Beyers, Kimberly Kate Combs’s current boyfriend, which probably tells a lot about why I’m not with him to this day. Kimberly is very harsh in her ways. She drinks beer, smokes, and uses obscene language I’ve never even heard before. She’s pretty much what she would call a ‘badass.’ Some people say that her last name was really destined to be ‘Kombs,’ giving her the initials KKK, but I like to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I pulled out another piece of jewelry I would never wear. “Thanks, Heath. You really didn’t have to get me anything..”
Morgan bounced over to my side then, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “I’ll give you my present at the pool, okay? I don’t really want your mom to freak out on me.”
Morgan’s been my best friend since the beginning of high school. Although she’s no Kimberly, she is a little bit more experienced than I am and likes to try and push me to have more fun – I’ve always liked that about her.
“Okay, get going! You guys are going to be late for your first day back to work! Happy birthday, Cam. Have a wonderful day!” Mom squealed as she shoved us out of the house.
The six of us have been working as lifeguards at the Village Harbor Pool since 10th grade. We all just kind of stuck together ever since, whether we like it or not. As usual, we all stood outside deciding who would drive, despite the downpour overhead. Besides, it was beginning to let up, and we all had our bathing suits on anyway.
“Whose turn is it to drive? Not mine and definitely not Cameron‘s,” Heath said, grinning at me.
“I’LL DRIVE!!!” Kimberly screamed excitedly.
“Of course you will, Miss I-drive-a-brand-new-Range-Rover-and-like… sneered Morgan quietly, flipping her wet hair as she walked towards the car.
Then, she stopped abruptly in her tracks, distracted by a car driving by. “Dang Kim, that dudes got your car! How’s that make ya feel? And he’s freaking hot too..,” she blurted, mouth open
EDIT: okay– Morgan says “I drive a brand new Range Rover and like to flaunt it” (It cut it off.)

And here’s the rest!

How’s that make ya feel? And he’s freaking hot too..,” she blurted, mouth open and without thinking.
Glancing over at the boy in the car, my stomach dropped as it did this morning when I read the letter from my dad. For some reason, I felt like I had seen him before, and in that split second – he jerked his head intensely in our direction. I felt my body freeze, my heart drop to the floor.
Well.. Cameron can be a girls name too..

Haven’t you heard of people doing that? Taylor is a boys and girls name.. etc

By: Caroline
Asked on: 2009-05-18 09:02:05