Annabel

Another suit, another formal black tie event, with my mother and father. At another famous hotel. Celebrating the birthday of a little girl, the daughter of a rich business owner who owned the worldwide company, Frames. Reports from servants mentioned she was around my age now, just turning five. Only two years younger.

It would be the same. Again and again, polite smiles, a pinch on the cheek, an "Isn't he darling?" or two. Pretending I was as intelligent as a normal seven year old was quite easy. I pitied the current young genius, about my age. He was mobbed by business owners asking him to be a business partner in several deals. My IQ score was much higher than his, but at least my parents were smart enough to not tell my score to the whole world.

If people don't look for another little boy with the genius IQ, they won't find one. Simple as that. So all they'll see is a cute little seven year old boy who was a heir to a large company at a little girl's birthday, who was also heir to a large company, surrounded by other heirs to large companies and their parents who were using this occasion to make business deals, who were the current owners of large companies.

The typical 5-tier cake eating, opening of million-dollar presents, happy birthday song sung by hired professionals, acapella, of course. Then for the next for the next few hours, some talking among adults while other children my age smeared cake on each other, except for the birthday girl who sat staring unhappily at her cake piece, untouched but for the traditional first bite. Quietly she got up, and left the table. No one noticed her, except for me, as far as I could see. I pitied her.

Imagine, at your own birthday, hundreds of people come, and not one of them come for you. Some for propriety, some to gain profitable business transactions, others to say that they had 'come to Frame's heir's birthday last week, of course', so they could brag about it later, but not a single person for you. I got up noisily, as a normal seven year old should. If I had been quiet, too quiet, people would have noticed the absence of sound. And I followed the girl, invisible among adults.

She finally stopped in an empty hallway. And turned to face me. She look at me silently in an expensive brand name dress custom fitted, hair, makeup, and matching shoes. The girl who has everything, and yet she's missing something. She spoke. Coldly, like an adult.

"What do you want?"

In my mind, I shook my head at the kind of world that made little girls grow up so fast.

She would expect a "Why didja go?" or "Wanna play with me?" typical of a child my age. So, instead, just this once, I decided to do the unexpected.

I went up to her, and quietly whispered in her ear, "You're all the same? Is that what you wanted to say? Because I know that's what you were thinking."

Her eyes widened.

I smiled into her ear. "Follow my lead, agree with what I say. I won't harm you. I want to show you something."

I distanced myself, but not too far. She nodded.

"Matthew," I called out. As I suspected, Matthew stepped out of a dark corner. A bodyguard always watches his client.

"Yes, young master?" he asked politely. He, as everyone else did, expected a seven year old little boy with a request for something ridiculous. By all appearances, it was true. And so I started out my act.

"Can ya take me to da top of this building? The very top, the top of the roof. I wanna go see da stars. Wid Annabel," I asked, batting big blue eyes angelically. Annabel looked at me, but masked her surprise. Of course I knew her name.

"Of course, young master. Anything else?"

"Nope," I giggled like an idiot. The things I do for people.

He led the way to an elevator. We went up, level after level. To the top. Matthew stopped in front of the door leading to the stairs to the rooftop.

"I wanna a blankie," I whined suddenly. "I wanna soft blankie."

He sighed, and opened a nearby closet, bringing out a towel. "Here you go, young master."

I grabbed it. Snuggled. "Tank you." I smiled at him. He looked back at me, smiling back. Idiot. We went up the stairs, and he opened the door.

It was cold, just as I expected. And nighttime. Matthew went around a few boxes, probably air vent systems and such, and inconspicuously hid himself. Downwind, of course. He was going to smoke, then. I appreciated the fact I wouldn't inhale any unpleasant toxins, even if it meant he could hear Annabel and me talking. I gave Annabel the towel. She took it without a word, wrapped it around herself, and stopped shivering.

"So why did you do this?" she asked, curiously

I looked at her. I gave her a childish answer. "I was bored."

She shook her head. She looked into my eyes carefully. "That's not the answer."

I gave her another answer, a truth. "So you could look at the stars."

She frowned. "I know that's not all of the truth. Why?"

I smiled a little. Somehow, I knew that those answers wouldn't have worked for her, like it would have for anyone else. So I gave her the whole truth.

"I knew how you felt sitting in that chair. I know what it's like to be aware that no one's there for you. I remember wanting someone there for me, I guess. So I wanted to give someone something I never had."

She looked up at the sky again, and then back at me. "That's nice. Thanks," She said softly.

I shrugged.

"No, I mean it. Thanks. For giving me a bit of yourself to make me happy and to go through all this trouble for someone like me."

I glanced up at the stars, nervous and embarrassed and yet peaceful. "You're a special person, Annabel. Don't ever forget that. And we're not all the same. Every single person makes a choice to be different in some way. We may act the same, but we aren't."

She smiled at me. "Okay."

Matthew came around the corner. "Time to get up kiddies. You have to get back down with everyone else," He said cheerfully.

I looked at him. And then I gave him another childish smile. "Okay! C'mon Annabel."I said energetically.

She followed my lead. "Yay!"

We made our way back down, Annabel and I chatting cheerfully with Matthew striding slowly ahead of us. We made it back just in time to hear someone ask "Where's the birthday girl?"
Annabel called out, "Here!"

And she went over to make conversation. She looked back at me, and mouthed "Thank you". I smiled. And for once, it wasn't for any other reason than because I was happy.