Ah Thursday. I spent most of yesterday freaking out about the week suddenly being half over, but I think I am back on stable ground today. Not sure why it is always Wednesday that gets me on the shortened weeks. I think because it is so clearly the midpoint and with Monday off it really feels like I just got started before the midpoint hit. I’m fine now. All mental adjustments to time made. So shall we start on the morning prompt? Fabulous. Timers set and off we go.
There is something about the dynamic of a golden child and not golden child that I like for dramatic dynamics. I’d have to figure the details of this one out but I like the idea of this being the final breaking point for Sarah.
Thursday, January 22nd: You won’t be joining us.
“You won’t be joining us,” Izzy said. She looked down her nose at Sarah who was already half risen from the couch.
“Oh,” Sarah replied. She blinked. “I thought it was a family dinner.”
“Only close family,” Izzy replied. She turned away and sauntered out of the room. Sarah blinked and sunk back onto the couch. She took a deep breath. Sarah knew that side of the family didn’t like her. They doted on Izzy and bragged about every little accomplishment no matter how small while Sarah was treated as the inconvenient extra.
She wasn’t sure why. She never seemed to do anything right in their eyes. When they complained about something, she adjusted. When they asked her to do something she did it. Yet she was always treated as something lesser than her older sister. Izzy was the golden child. She always had been. Sarah knew she was the accident. The second child they never expected and didn’t want. She was parked with babysitters while her parents and grandparents attended Izzy’s dance recitals and spelling bee competitions.
When she was old enough to stay on her own with out a sitter they were glad the expense of one was gone but that was the only change. She was left behind as they ferried Izzy to wherever she needed to go. If Sarah needed to go somewhere then it was expected she would get herself there or simply not go.
Sarah was used to being ignored, but she had never been deliberately shunned from a family event before. It was true that once she was old enough to get a job and pay for a second hand car more and more invitations to things were lost. Sometimes when there were outings for the family, Sarah was allowed to tag along even if everyone complained about the expense of the second child.
Lately they simply didn’t tell her there were outings.
‘But this is a family dinner,’ Sarah thought. ‘Izzy has to be wrong.’
Sarah stood up from the couch and went upstairs. She knew the restaurant was a fancier one and she would need to change if she was to go. ‘Izzy has to be wrong about me not being invited,’ Sarah repeated to herself. ‘The whole family will be there.’
Sarah opened her closet. All of her clothes came from the local thrift store but knowing the family was going out she scoured multiple second hand stores looking for something suitable. She finally found a dress she thought appropriate. The shoes she had to order on line as she didn’t have any dress shoes.
‘But I can wear them with multiple things,’ she told herself.
Knowing she still smelled like printer ink and sweat from work, Sarah moved to the attached bathroom. Her private bathroom was her one perk and it was only hers because all the other bedrooms had bigger and better ensuites. Still it was hers and Sarah was happy to slip into the shower and wash the scent of work away. When she emerged, Sarah felt clean and refreshed. She moved back to the bedroom and looked out if the window. Her heart plummeted as she saw the family car pull away, all but her inside.
Ten til Midnight 