Suggested Prompt: What was your earliest memory, and how did it make you feel?

I’m Free!

Annie sits on the floor of her bedroom playing with her toys, while her mom sets up her birthday party. The big 3! Annie is so excited she almost can’t contain herself. She runs into the kitchen, where her mom is finishing up her birthday cake. “Momma, when are people going to get here?”

Just then, there’s a knock on the door; Annie runs to answer it. “Nana!” she runs into her open arms, “Look, Mom! “Nana brought Jake and me Happy Meals!”

“I see that, honey. Take them and sit down at the table; I’ll get your brother.”

As soon as Annie and Jake finish their Happy Meals, another knock comes. This time Jake answers the door. It was their family from out of state. “You came all the way here for my birthday?” yelled Annie from the table.

Her aunt and uncle smiled, “Of course, dear, we wouldn’t miss it!”

Then Grandpa, then the other aunts, uncles, and cousins. Even other extended family from out of town stopped in. All for Annie’s birthday. She’s never felt so important and loved.

Everyone is talking, laughing, and eating all the food Annie’s mom made. When Annie finishes eating, she goes to get a toy from her room.

Her brother Jake and their cousins follow her shortly after, asking how old she is.

“I’m free,” answered Annie. Then Jake, along with their cousins, burst into a roaring laughter.

 Confused and taken aback, she walks out of her room with her toys in hand and goes back into the living room with the rest of her family.

She can still hear the laughter of hyenas coming from her bedroom. She hangs her head while she plays with her Hot Wheels cars.

A few moments go by, and it’s time for Annie to open her presents. Mom and Dad got her first bike. It was purple and pink with training wheels. The bike also came with a horn, and the handlebars had purple and pink tassels hanging from the ends. Once she finished riding her bike, she came inside to play with her other presents.

Just then, Jake and their cousins approached her, asking how old she was again; “I’m Free!!” Annie yells.

This time, Jake pointed at her, belting out, “She can’t even say it right!” Then the cousins chimed in to cackle some more.

Annie runs to her mom and dad, crying. “Jake is making fun of me because I can’t say free!”

Dad says, “Oh, but, honey, you just said it.”

Annie looks at her dad, confused. “Huh?”

“Just because you can’t say a certain word the way everyone else pronounces it doesn’t mean you can’t say it.”

“But Jake said…”

“I don’t care what Jake said.” Mom chimes in, “You are our little girl, and that makes you special, no matter what.”

Annie wipes her eyes. “Then why is Jake always making fun of me?”

“That’s just what siblings do.” Her dad said. “You should ask your aunt Shirley how mean I was to her when we were growing up.” He lets out a soft, gentle chuckle.

Mom smiles. “We love you, Annie.”

“One of these days, a long time from now, you all will be all you have left,” her dad added.

Annie didn’t truly understand what he meant by that until later in life.

Feeling comforted and loved by them, Annie realizes that her parents' words were far more valuable than her brother's teasing. She takes a deep breath, wipes away the last of her tears, and decides not to let the laughter ruin her special day. 

“Now, are we ready for some cake?” asked Mom.

“Yeah!” Annie answered excitedly.

“I second that!” added Dad, with a smile.

Years pass, and just as her dad predicted, Annie and Jake grow up. Whenever they gather for family holidays, they still bring up the story of her third birthday. Only now, it’s Annie who's leading the laughter, proud of the little girl who was always "free.”