First Among Peers
Pre-teen legends are born in ‘The Birthday Party’ by Melisa Gregorio. This story came out in the spring of 2020, when we wondered if birthday parties were every going to happen again. Enjoy this excerpt below, or pick up the print issue of Pulp Literature Issue 26, on sale now for the throwback price of $8 from now till July 15th!
The Birthday Party
Melisa Gregorio
Even at nine years old, Ashley was the type who knew and used our teacher’s first name. “Irene,” she whispered to us. We repeated it among ourselves, the name as forbidden as a swear word. On the day of Ashley’s birthday party, the eight of us lined up outside her house. We poked each other and dared one another to ring the doorbell. When someone finally lifted a hand toward the door, it was opened by Ashley’s mom. Our feet were already too big for the tsinelas she offered us, but after we took off our rain jackets and boots, we shoved our feet into the jewelled slippers.
In the living room, we saw Ashley bouncing from couch to couch. The plastic coverings made her slip with every jump. Balloons were scattered across the floor, bobbing up and down as if afraid to land on the carpet.
Instead of saying hi, Ashley leapt off a couch onto a balloon. Pop! Immediately, we started jumping on the balloons, causing a gunfire of pops. We had dropped our gifts to join the fun, and there was a sudden silence when Ashley picked up a present and opened it. How dare she? We stood, frozen — everyone knew it was food, cake, games, then presents, goody bags, home. This breach of party etiquette was typical of Ashley: she did what she wanted.
Ashley unwrapped the gift to reveal Little Women. “What a waste of money,” she said, and dropped the book. “We have this in the library.”
The shocked silence continued. Ashley picked up another present, but dropped it when her mom came in from the kitchen. On the living room table, she set down platters of lumpia and pancit. “Come eat! It’s no good cold,” she said. Everyone grabbed a plate and helped themselves to spring rolls and noodles. Ashley didn’t eat, but instead sat cross-legged on the couch.
We finished eating and carried our plates to the kitchen. Ashley’s mother asked if we were ready for cake. We nodded and returned to the living room, only to see Ashley was gone.
Her mother called her daughter to the table. When Ashley didn’t appear, we searched for her. We looked behind the couches, in the kitchen, and in the closets. We were too shy to open the closed doors we knew were bedrooms.
Find out what happens next in Issue 26, Spring 2020, on sale now till July 15th for only $8!
Melisa Gregorio’s fiction has appeared in Pearls, Ricepaper, and elsewhere. She is completing a collection of short stories and revising her first novel. In addition to being a writer, Melisa works as a master’s-prepared registered nurse specializing in education and clinical informatics.
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