• The Girl at the Party
    A Short Story by Mistress Micaiah

    As I walked up to Maylene’s door, I shivered with excitement. This party was going to be so much fun! I turned around one last time to wave good-bye to my dad, who had driven me to the party. As I knocked on the door, I could hear people dancing inside. I smoothed out my special forest-green party dress and played with the curlicue ribbon on my present’s wrapping until I heard the large oak door open. I looked up. “Ginnneeeee! ” squealed an excited Maylene. She pounced from the front stoop. “Hello-Maylene-“ I squeaked. “Happy-fifteenth-birthday-“ ”Oh, dear, I’m squeezing too hard! Sorry, Ginny.” Maylene took me inside of her house. It was total chaos. Loud, lame boy band music was blasting, and a handmade disco ball swivelled next to a 54 flat-screen TV with massive speakers. Confetti was all over the floor. The most noticeable feature, however, were the dancers. It looked like Maylene had invited the all of the local high school-I recognized ninth, tenth, and even eleventh graders on the dance floor. As I made my way through the room towards the kitchen, I passed eighth graders shimmying, ninth graders doing the sprinkler (they stunk), and a tenth grade couple smooching in a corner of the room. The boy gave me a dirty look as I passed by.
    I finally reached the quiet sanctuary that was the kitchen. I added my present to the present mountain that was stacked haphazardly on a kitchen table. I sat down on a nearby chair. I didn’t feel like dancing. Suddenly, my stomach didn’t feel so good. I traversed through the party room again (the party was even wilder than before) and tiptoed up the stairs to the bathroom. I reached out to grasp the knob when I heard a noise. What as it? I listened harder, trying to drown out all the other sounds. I heard it again. This time I could identify it-the noise was a sob.
    I eased open the door to the bathroom and walked in. I looked next to the toilet and saw a girl. She seemed to be about thirteen years old, with bright red hair and lots of freckles on her skinny, pale face with sunken eyes. She looked at me, her cheeks tearstrained and hollow. “Oh, dear, I’m sorry to intrude,” I stuttered, looking anywhere but the girl. “I’m Ginny, from the party downst-“ ”The party. The party! THE PARTY! ” she yelled to no one in particular. Fresh tears ran down her face. For the first time, I noticed how she was dressed-like a servant. She had on a ragged, brown shirt and a long white skirt with a black sash. She looked underfed and without sleep. She began to speak to me again. “My name’s Lilly,” she said slowly. “I’m a hired hand here-a maid. I work for the Missus Maylene. I’m...her birthday present. The Missus and her parents bought me because the Missus’s to lazy to do her chores...I’m not allowed to go downstairs during the party...” Lilly’s voice trailed off. She seemed stunned with her own story. Inside me, however, something was starting to rumble-and it wasn’t sadness.
    “C’mon, Lilly,” I grabbed the maid’s hand and pulled her up off the floor. “I have a few things to say to ‘Missus Maylene’.” Lilly and I ran to the stairs. “Can you turn the music off?” I shouted to Lilly. “Yes, ma’am. I know how to do it.” she yelled back. We pattered down the stairs together and snuck through the party room to the TV and the accompanying speakers. Lilly bent down and flipped a few switches. Suddenly, the music turned off. Everyone stopped and looked at us. It was silent as the grave in that room that had once been so jovial and loud. I pushed aside my stage fright and pulled Lilly up to stand next to me. “This is Lilly,” I said, pointing to the girl in question. “Maylene and her parents bought Lilly as a servant because Maylene was too lazy to do her own chores.” I focused myself on Maylene. “Maylene, this friendship is over. How could you do something this horrid to an innocent girl?” I turned to Lilly. “From now on, dear Lilly, you shall live with me, in a place where you will be treated as an equal.” “I would love that,” whispered Lilly. I whipped back around to face Maylene. “Keep my present, Maylene, but I will have you know that I won’t ever speak to you again. I hope you have a happy life.” With those final words, I marched outside to lead Lilly to her brand-new life.

    ~The End~