Page 43 of The Sweet Part
“Now there’s no more chips,” Sophie says in a small voice. “That was my favorite kind that we only get on special occasions, and now it’s ruined.” Her voice cracks.
Shit. She’s going to cry at her own birthday party. I bolt into action, taking the bag from her hands. “I’ll get another bag of chips just like this one.” I pull my phone from my back pocket and take a picture of it. May holds out the garbage bag, and I drop the chip bag in. “No reason to cry now, okay? I’ll be back before you can say pin the tail on the unicorn.”
“Pin the tail on the unicorn,” she says, still sounding teary.
“Let’s play that game,” May says, holding the garbage bag behind her back. Liz swoops in to dispose of it. “Everyone to the dining room.” She turns to me as the girls stampede out. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.”
“No problem.”
She turns and follows the girls into the dining room. Alice starts vacuuming chip crumbs.
I head out the door, the silence such a relief that my shoulders relax. I wasn’t sure why I was here since Sophie was so busy with her friends, but now I know. I’m the potato chip guy.
* * *
By the time I get back, the girls are eating pizza at the dining room table. Guess there’s no potato chip emergency anymore. I kinda liked the idea of being the hero.
A unicorn taped to a wall has rainbow tails all over it. Looks like I missed a lot. There was a crowd at the store, and I couldn’t find the right brand at first. I went up and down the aisle several times before finding it on an endcap in the next aisle. Seems there was a sale.
I hand the bag of chips to May.
She smiles. “Thanks. After this is karaoke, cake, and party favors; then you can go.”
“I still want to talk to you.”
She shakes her head. “Not necessary.” She holds up the potato chip bag. “Who wants chips?”
“ME-E-E-EE!” the girls say in near unison.
My head throbs from the noise. I look around for Liz and Alice, but they’re not here. I walk out to the living room, where Liz is cleaning up and Alice is lying on the sofa with a washcloth over her forehead.
“Can I help?” I ask Liz.
Liz shoos me away. “You’re a party guest. Go join the party.”
“But it’s so loud in there.”
She laughs. “That’s why Alice is battling a migraine.”
“The things I do for my niece,” Alice says. “I’ll hold out for cake, but then I need to get to a dark quiet room.”
“May will understand if you need to go,” Liz says. “You can celebrate with Sophie at the family party.”
“I took some medicine,” Alice says. “I think I can make it to cake.”
Hmmm, there’s a family party, but Sophie wanted me here at her friend party. Why? I’m so out of place, and I feel like a lurking giant. Not that I want to go to a family party pretending May and I are just friends. If we’re even that anymore. Besides, meeting her family is like inviting a woman to a wedding. Oh, wait. I already did that.
“You must really like May to endure six-year-old madness,” Liz says, looking at me expectantly.
“We’re friends,” I say noncommittally.
“Ha!” Alice says, and then, “Ow, my head.”
Liz pats my shoulder and puts the vacuum away. Back to the party and then, when all the guests leave, May and I will finally clear the air.
* * *
May
