Birthday

"Elliot!" Nastasia said in a heavy whisper. Elliot was sleeping on the other end of the room. The three siblings in one bed, the lone Elliot on another. Elliot raised her head from her pillow to look over the heap of blankets at her cousin, Nastasia.

Nastasia signaled something in the dark, of which Elliot only understood the downward motion she made with her hands. Elliot sighed.

Elliot felt the ache in her hands, but even then, she couldn't bring herself to ignore Nastasia. She lifted the blanket off herself and gently lay down on the ground. Under the beds was where they usually held their secret meetings, and so Elliot quietly crawled toward the meek flashlight that Nastasia had lit, the light casting shadows on her soft features. Elliot adorned a smile despite her exhaustion.

They were now face to face when Nastasia pulled the plate forward. A small chocolate cupcake with a single candle flickered between them.

"Happy birthday," said Nastasia, sounding more like she was relaying information than congratulating.

And it was news to Elliot. "It's my birthday?" she asked incredulously.

"I figured you'd have forgotten."

"Yes, I did. I was a bit busy, you see—"

"Yes, I know. You were bent over that—thing till late at night. Under the blanket," said Nastasia, staring at the candle that was melting onto the cupcake.

"I thought you wouldn't see."

They whispered, careful not to break the silence and wake the children that slept on the beds above.

"With a flashlight that bright and a blanket that thin?" Nastasia asked Elliot as if she implied something rather stupid. She flicked the strand of hair that came over her face. "Anywho, make a wish."

"Wait," Elliot said with a momentary pause. She crawled back out, leaving Nastasia whispering loudly. "Elliot! The candle will melt!" she cried, but Elliot was quick.

"Elliot, the candle's gonna melt!" Nastasia reminded her again as Elliot put the small statue of Agolat beside them.

"First we pray," said Elliot as she brought her hands together in prayer.

"Agolat is not going to participate in a pagan celebration," said Nastasia as she looked between the statue, which was almost out, and then back at Elliot.

"Agolat would want me to be happy, no?" asked Elliot. Nastasia shrugged at the logic before she, too, joined Elliot in prayer.

"Good lord of knowledge and wisdom, make this the best year for Elliot Kursik," said Nastasia, making a quick note and then returning to Elliot.

Elliot, however, was more than intent on making a grand wish. "Good Agolat, mark this day as the start of our fortunate days. Make us happy and healthy, give us knowledge and compassion, grant us closeness to you, and make me win the Boffim Boze Battle this year. Please, please, please make me win it," Elliot pleaded at the small statue, its small features set in stone, staring at nothingness. Elliot then quickly turned to the candle that was almost out, blowing on it.

"The Boffim Boze Battle? Didn't Mama tell you not to go near it? Is that why you've been out so late?" Nastasia cried, her expression screwed, her voice rising. Elliot tried to shush her, but she continued with her questioning.

"Ah, you've been working with that wizard Eleuterio? Mama warned you, Elliot!" Nastasia said loudly, albeit in a whisper.

"I said shh!" Elliot cried as she put her hand on her cousin.

Nastasia removed the hand that held her mouth shut. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked with a tone so delicate, Elliot could sense the hurt, never mind the stare she gave Elliot.

"Make use of your walnut-sized brain, Nastasia. Why would I be working on a gadget that late?"

Nastasia paused, as if pointing it out made the matter clearer to her.

"Why? Mama told you to stay away from Eleuterio and that competition."

"Aunt Ruth is just superstitious. If Eleuterio was truly a wizard, he would've turned me into a frog already," Elliot said as she picked up the cupcake and bit into it.

"He's turned you against Mama."

"I'm not against Ruth. I'm just getting Eleuterio to help me win a competition," said Elliot, completely abandoning the whispers and hushed murmurs.

"Why?" Nastasia asked, gulping down as she saw Elliot eating the cupcake.

"It's the prize."

"What's the prize?"

"Two tickets to the Carnival Island."

Nastasia gasped loudly. "Two tickets—!"

"Shh!" Elliot put her hand over her mouth again, tossing over the small statue in her pursuit.

"Mama will never let you go," said Nastasia as she removed the hand over her mouth again.

"She will, and you will help me."

"Why will I help you?"

"Because I'm taking you with me," said Elliot.

For a moment, they remained in silence as Elliot chewed the cupcake and Nastasia contemplated the offer. Nastasia looked up and then down again, questioning whether or not to say what she wanted to say next.

"Is this because you want to find Apostegia and Marla?"

There. She said it.

"No—no. This—this cupcake is so nice," said Elliot with a practiced nonchalance.

"Yes, I made them specially to your taste. You like them slightly undercooked," Nastasia answered, forgetting her original question in the excitement of Elliot finally asking. She had planned all afternoon for this moment, and for this question, she had planned for a week.

"You made only a single cupcake?" asked Elliot.

"I made more, but Sean ate some. I forbid him, but Mama said not to. I hid some under that old cot if you want some?"

"No, I—I think I'm full."

"What's the matter? Are they not to your liking?" asked Nastasia as she licked a small crumb that had dropped from Elliot's cupcake.

"No, they are. It's just—I'm sleepy."

"Oh."

"Yes," said Elliot as she looked up at her cousin, attempting to conceal her exhaustion.

"Well, goodnight then," said Elliot as she took hold of her god and crawled out from under the bed.

"Goodnight," Nastasia replied sadly.

Elliot shimmied back into her bed. But Nastasia remained, watching with a sort of melancholic frown, as if disappointed with Elliot. But Elliot was also disappointed with the conversation. She got back onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her face, quietly wishing Nastasia had never brought up the mention of her two sisters. It seemed to burn her beating heart to char—the mention of Apostegia and Marla. Two names almost forgotten before Nastasia brought them back.

Elliot was happy, at least, that it was brought up at night and not during the day. She took a deep breath on a heavy heart before she squeezed her eyes shut.