Team Girl

We were Team Girl — Jeff, Raven and I. I was pretty sure of it. Looking at Natalie’s pretty pregnancy glow and the shape of her belly, I could’ve bet one of my kidneys it was a girl. 100%.

I would’ve been short one kidney right now because as the balloon was popped, out came a confetti of blue. A boy. Everyone was thrilled just the same.

It was the first time I’ve ever been to a gender reveal party and it was actually quite fun. There were games such as Baby Bingo and one where you make nappies out of toilet rolls. While everyone tried not to break the roll in order to create a continuous rhythm that would wrap around their partner’s waist and thighs, I tried to keep my heart from breaking at the sight of all the toilet paper waste as if I was still stuck in the time of the COVID pandemic.

But, you know, abundance. It’s all a matter of perspective. Either way, Raven and I didn’t win any of the games although we placed third on the nappy game. Except that there was no third place so we didn’t get any prize.

Which was alright because we took home a lot of stickers on the tables that were free for taking. I’m embarrassed to say this now but that, we did. While other people were piling their plates with food, Raven and I were busy collecting cute stickers.

When Raven wasn’t going back and forth to the table for chips and/or stickers, she was writing letters to the baby. Letters. She must’ve written about three — each one on different coloured papers. The first letter she wrote on a pink stationery, when she thought it was going to be a girl. After the gender reveal, she wrote another one again on a blue paper and addressed it accordingly. The third one, I don’t know what she wrote. She just seemed to be having a blast writing her messages down.

And, no, I didn’t tell her what to write. That was all her. I couldn’t believe it myself how deep and insightful her note was, considering her age.

I think I got a Star Child in my hands.