Caoimhe’s eyes widened in surprise. “What did you just say?”
“Four,” I repeated, still cross with her. “I’m not silly.” I pointed to the candles on my cake. “One, two, three, four.”
Now, Mammy and Daddy were looking at me with big, wide eyes.
“Did she just…”
“Yes, she definitely did.”
“Oh my God.”
“She can talk.”
“Never mind talking. She can count.”
“Say something else,” Caoimhe commanded, sounding excited. “Come on, Liz, tell us something else.”
I frowned at her. “Like what?”
“Oh my God!” Caoimhe squealed, jumping from foot to foot as she clapped her hands. “She actually answered me!”
I always answered her, but she just couldn’t hear me.
None of them could.
“Am I talking out loud?” I asked, confused. “You can hear me?”
All three of them nodded.
They looked so happy.
They were smiling at me.
“What’s my name?” my sister asked, still bouncing.
“Caoimhe Young.”
“Oh my God,” she cried out, clapping her hands again. “What’s your name?”
“Lizzie Young.”
My sister yelped excitedly before pointing at our parents. “And who are they?”
“Mammy and Daddy,” I replied, frowning when I saw they were both crying. “Are you sad?”
“No,” Daddy choked out, throwing his arms around me. “We’re happy.”
OCTOBER 11, 1992
Lizzie
“SHE RUINED MY LIFE!” CAOIMHE SCREAMED. “ICAN NEVER SHOW MY FACE AT SCHOOLagain.”
“Caoimhe!”
“Everyone is talking about me.”
“No, they’re not.”
