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everything they could.
    “Ava! I need you down here!” Mom yells at me. I slip on my flip-flops and I quickly brush through my hair. It has gotten too long for my liking, and I end up putting it up into a bun. I don’t even bother wearing make-up. If it’s just going to be family, who do I need to dress up for?
    I look over myself one last time in the mirror and I turn to walk out of my room. I make my way downstairs and I can already hear people showing up. I hear my aunt and uncle talking to mom. I know it’s my Aunt Lynn just by her loud and obnoxious voice. My poor uncle Danny. I see him trying to escape the kitchen but Aunt Lynn grabs his arm and continues to talk to mom.
    I slowly waddle my way into the kitchen and when mom sees me smiles. “Ava, why don’t you take this and put it on the table outside with the rest of the food?”
    “Okay, mom.”
    I take the plate of raw vegetables and waddle to the door. I shut the sliding door behind me and when I look up, I stop in my tracks.
    There’s pink everywhere.
    It looks like someone threw up pink shit everywhere outside.
    This is too much pink. Pink streamers, pink table clothes, pink paper lanterns, and oh let’s not forget the pink cake. I love my mom, I really do, but she really over did it with the pink. I shake my head and place the plate of food on the table just as I was told. I know mom’s just trying to help. I can’t even imagine what she actually got for the gift. Lord help me. Maybe I can pretend to be sick and skip this whole thing?
    “Ava, come back inside and greet your guests!”
    Okay, maybe not.
    Following mom’s request I walk inside to see more of mom’s family coming in the door. Uncle Jake, Aunt Sara, my granny Linda, and my great grandma, Grace. Then dad’s family file through the door. Dad has five sisters and they all walk in carrying tons of gifts. I never figured out how he survived having so many sisters. There’s Tammy, Carol, Faith, Nancy, and Debra. I’m glad they decided not to bring their husbands. I greet everyone and spend the next hour talking to everyone. I still feel overwhelmed with all the people here. I know they mean well and just want to help out, but I can still see every one of them staring at my stomach. They try to be nice, but I know they are secretly judging me too.
    When the doorbell rings, I take my chance for a breather. I take a deep breath wondering who else would be coming. I open the door and my day just literally went to hell.
    “Tina? I didn’t think you were coming.”
    “Of course I would be here. Anna, you’re carrying my grandchild.”
    I don’t even bother to correct her when she calls me the wrong name again. I let her inside, resisting the temptation to slam the door in her face. She hasn’t spoken to me in months. Why would she even bother coming? She walks inside and I can see her looking at my parent’s home with disgust. Of course their home isn’t up to her tastes. She rubs her hands together like she’s trying not to get dirty. I really hate this woman. I also notice she’s the only guest that didn’t bring a gift. Not that I was expecting her to. That’s just how she is.
    “Come on this way. I’ll introduce you to my parents.” I tell her and I can see her shock at me telling her what to do. She rolls her eyes at me and lifts her nose. Where’s the rain when you need it?
    I pull mom and dad aside and I introduce them. I stand a few inches away trying not to listen to Tina talk down to my parents. It really bothers me she thinks she can treat people this way. I look at mom as she looks at me and I mouth ‘sorry’ to her. She nods, seeing for herself how Tina is. I’ve told her so many times how Tina treats me and acts when she sees me. I know there’s nothing I can do to make Tina act differently. She was bred to be the way she is.
    I’m so thankful to my Aunt Faith for suggesting we eat and then open gifts. I think she saw how horribly Tina was acting and was