Love, Rosie (138 page)

Almost
over?
Isn’t
it
just
beginning?
And
if
I
had
any
lucky
stars

they
would
be
well
and
truly
sacked
by
now.
What’s
so
great
about

my
beautiful
baby
growing
up
and
become
spotty
and
bitchy
while

I
decay
right
in
front
of
my
very
own
eyes?
The
older
my
child
gets,

the
older
I
become.

Ruby:

Rosie:

Clever
discovery
there
Rosie.

But
that’s
not
allowed
to
happen.
Because
I
haven’t
even
started
my

own
life
yet,
never
mind
bringing
another
one
into
this
world
and

helping
her
through
her
own.
I
haven’t
actually
done
anything
of

substance
yet.

Ruby:

Rosie:

Ruby:

Rosie:

Some
may
argue
that
creating
life
is
of
substance.
Anything
I
should

bring
to
the
party?

Just
yourself.

Damn
it,
anything
else
instead?

You’re
coming
whether
you
like
it
or
not.

love,
rosie

211

Ruby:

Rosie:

Ruby:

Rosie:

Ruby:

Rosie:

Oh
alright
then.
At
least
Greg
won’t
be
there
wrapping
a
leash

around
your
neck
to
hold
you
back
from
Alex.

Yeah
I
just
might
be
able
to
hump
Alex’s
leg
in
peace
this
time.

Here’s
hoping.
So
what
do
I
get
for
the
teenage
girl
who
wants

everything?

Straight
teeth,
magic
spot
removal
cream,
Colin
Farrell,
and
an

organized
mother.

Ah,
now
the
organized
mother
bit
I
can
help
out
with.

Thanks
Ruby.

from
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to
:

subject
:

Alex

Rosie

Flight
Details

My
flight
is
landing
at
2:15
p.m.
tomorrow.
Really
looking
forward
to

meeting
up
with
you
and
Katie
again.
Will
what’s-his-name
be
there
to
greet

me
too?

from
:

to
:

subject
:

Rosie

Alex

my
HUSBAND

His
name,
my
husband’s
name,
is
Greg.
GREG.
Get
it?
And
no,
he
will

not
be
there
to
collect
you
because
he
is
away
on
business.
He’s
in
the
States

so
you
two
have
luckily
swapped
countries
for
the
next
few
days.
Let’s
hope

that
will
be
far
apart
enough
for
the
both
of
you.

TO
MY
WONDERFUL
DAUGHTER,

YOU’RE
A
TEENAGER!

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
DARLING,

LOTS
OF
LOVE,

MUM

212

TO
KATIE,

YOU’RE
A
TEEN
TODAY,

HIP
HIP
HIP
HOORAY!

IT’S
A
JOYOUS
DAY,

YOU’RE
A
TEEN
TODAY!

GREG

Cecelia
Ahern

YOU’RE
A
GROOVY
CHICK!!

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
PET,

LOVE
YOU
LOTS
LIKE
JELLY
TOTS!

LOVE
GRANDMA
AND
GRANDAD

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
GLITTER
GIRL,

TAKE
THIS
MONEY
AND
BUY
YOURSELF
AN
ITEM
OF
CLOTHING
THAT’S

NOT
BLACK.
I
DARE
YOU.

LOVE
RUBY,
TEDDY,
AND
GARY
(GRUDGINGLY)

from
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to
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subject
:

Katie

Rosie