Franny's Birthday
8
1The Gallagher house was unusually lively that afternoon. Balloons were taped crookedly to the walls, birthday decorations were scattered around the living room, and a few presents sat on the coffee table. It was Franny's seventh birthday, and Debbie was determined to make it a good one.
Carl was lounging on the couch, messing with one of the party decorations while Ian stood nearby, watching him with an unimpressed expression.
Carl: "Hey, watch it! I spent, like, five whole minutes decorating this place."
Ian: "You taped a balloon to a lamp, Carl."
Carl: "And it looks fantastic. You're welcome."
Debbie rolled her eyes, but her attention soon shifted to Franny. Her little girl hadn't smiled much all afternoon. While everyone else talked and laughed, Franny sat quietly, looking nothing like a kid celebrating her birthday.
Debbie: "Alright, I'm gonna go grab the cake. Nobody touch anything until I get back, especially you, Carl."
Carl: "Why am I always the suspect?"
Debbie: "Because you are."
Debbie grabbed her purse and headed towards the door stopping briefly beside her freind hey can you check on franny for me sjes been awfully quiet today just check on her okay ill be back with the cake in a minutes her freind glanced at franny who was sitting quietly at the kitchen table freind: yeahcsure shes probably just tired debbie: mabye just make sure shes alright okay? Debbie gave franny once lat glance before leaving the house her freind settled back in her seat occasionally glancing at ftsnny but nit thinkingntk much of her quietness after all it was a birthday party mabye franny was just distracted carl: Ian im telling you the balloon looks better over there! Ian: its a balloon carl nobody cares the two countied arguing amd debbies freind turned towards franny with a casual smile freind: so birthday girl you excited for your cake?! Across the room, however, Ian briefly looked over at his niece. His expression grew a little more curious when he noticed she still had not
Follow