A Splash of Vanilla by Best-seller Bethany Lopez (Adult and Child Voices)
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
he's gone press. I was hiding in the pantry as usual. It was my favorite place to hide because not only could I shut myself in and get some time alone away from my sisters, but because there were snacks, I could hear my mom talking. And since she said press, I knew she must be talking on the kitchen phone to her sister Priscilla. I scooted back farther into the pantry, shoving my small eight year old frame into the corner, just in case she decided to open the door and look inside for something. I mean, he left. His clothes are gone, his office is empty. He's gone. He left us, my mom said, her voice getting high like it did when she was about to cry. He's with her, He's with her. I just know it. I wondered briefly, who she was talking about and why she sounded like she was about to cry when she never cried, then went back to reading my favorite Nancy Drew book. I was getting to the good part and just had to know what happened next. I had my flashlight, a bag of cheddar goldfish and a yoo hoo I was good for at least an hour. A couple of chapters later, I heard movement right outside the door and looked up to see the handle. Slowly moving. The door swung open and my sister, Milly stood there. Her long brown hair was a tangled mess, and her face was streaked with tears. What's wrong? Meals? I asked as she dropped to her knees and crawl toward me. Danny's gone, she said, her breath hitching. I put my book down and pulled her in for a hug. Her body was shaking with sobs, so I rubbed my hand over her back, hoping it would help. What do you mean he's gone? I asked my mind, wandering back to my mom's phone call with Aunt Priscilla. Had she been talking about Daddy? And if so, what did she mean by He's with her daddy moved out. True, Pasha said she saw him getting into his car this morning, and it was full of boxes and suitcases that night. 1,000,000 Mom sat outside, waiting for dad to come home, and this time my mom held Millie while she cried. Tasha are younger. Sister refused to come out of her room. She didn't eat dinner, take a bath or even come out to watch TV. I wasn't angry like Tasha or sat like Millie. I was numb. I never been his favorite. That was Millie or the one who got the best grade. That was Tasha. I spent my life feeling like I wasn't good enough for him to pay attention to me. So was leaving. Didn't really mean much to me. If it had been our mother, well, that would have been different. But our father I never wanted to see him again. Chapter one drill. I looked around the banquet room, which we converted into a speakeasy for my 29th birthday party and forced to smile. Yes, it was perfect, decorated exactly how I wanted. No, it actually turned out even more awesome than expected. But that didn't change the fact that it was a party to celebrate my birthday, not mine and Millie's. It was the first year since birth that we hadn't agreed on a theme, spent hours finding the perfect cake and argued over who got to open presents first this year, Millie had requested that we do separate birthdays with each of us getting to choose our own festivity. She often to have a small lunch with just US sisters Millie, Tasha and me, along with her boyfriend, Jackson. While I'd gone the more drew like route with this big blowout, I guess that had been Millie's point that she wanted something more low key and didn't want to rain on my party parade. And although I'd said I understood and agreed, it had still hurt my heart. Everything was starting to change, and I hated it.