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doggone tray was rattling. She managed to place the tray on the table beside the bed without spilling anything.
    Beth tried to act as if nothing was wrong but now her voice failed to work right. “Ha-happy Bi-birthday Jesse…I wanted t-to surprise you with breakfast in b-bed,” Beth stuttered and that made her even more embarrassed.
    “Thank you, pumpkin, that’s very thoughtful of you,” Jesse said after finally finding his voice.
    Beth just merely nodded and turned to leave. She stopped when she was halfway to the door,
    “Jesse, wou-would your fr-friend like something to eat or a cu-cup of coffee?” Beth asked without looking back.
    Jesse, having just taken a sip of coffee, sucked it down the wrong way and started coughing,
    “No, no baby, I’ll just share what you brought me,” he finally choked out.
    Again, Beth nodded and, with her head held high and back straight, she walked out of the room. Before Beth even had the door shut, she heard the woman burst out laughing, although it sounded more like witch’s cackle to Beth. Then Beth heard the woman mocking her to Jesse, “J-J-Jesse would your fr-friend like a c-c-cup of cof-coffee?” Then she laughed repeatedly. Beth heard Jesse tell the woman to be quiet because she might hear her. Beth heard her alright and she would never forget her cruelty or her laugh.
    Beth took off running as fast as she could. She was so humiliated. She was crying so hard she was gasping for air when she finally stopped beside the deep sparkling pond. She didn’t know how long she had been there when Jordon found her.
    Her dad sat down beside her, put his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her close to him.
    “Beth, honey, do you want to tell me why you are crying?” Beth just shook her head no. So Jordon picked her up, as he did when she was little and carried her all the way back to the house. He climbed up on the back porch, walked over to the old cypress porch swing, and sat down with her still in his arms. Jordon held her cradled in that position swinging for what seemed liked hours. Beth loved him so much at that moment. He never questioned her again about why she was crying, but he did tell her if she ever wanted to talk about it he was there.
    For days after the awful incident, Beth tried to avoid Jesse. She didn’t know if she would ever be able to face him again. However, after a few days, she came out of hiding and started talking to him. He never mentioned it and neither did she.
    But that was then, and this was her 16th birthday and she wasn’t going to allow any more unpleasant thoughts to enter her mind.
    It didn’t seem but a few minute later that Jesse was shaking her awake. Beth couldn’t believe she actually fell asleep. “We’re here, little darlin’, you need to wake up. It’s time to bait your hook.”
    “Oh no, big boy, that’s what I got you for,” Beth said as she poked him in the ribs. This made him jump because he was very ticklish. “Besides it’s my birthday, Jess.”
    “Okay, being it’s your birthday I guess I’ll do it for you.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    It was on a Friday night that Susan allowed Beth to stay at Becky’s house for a slumber party.
    Becky’s parents were gone for the weekend and they were not going to be home until Sunday.
    Beth had no intention of relaying that information to Susan and Jordon. Julie was the one to be in charge and that was a joke. Julie had gotten her boyfriend to buy them four cases of beer.
    They were all sitting around the pool deck. Beth sat on the edge with her feet swishing in the cool water. The smell of chlorine floated on the gentle breeze that brushed across the water.
    Becky’s new REO Speedwagon’s eight-track tape blared ‘Keep on Loving You’ in the background. Beth just watched everyone else drink at first, but the more they drank, the more they dared Beth to. Finally Beth gave in, walked back to their circle, and told them to hand her one. She had never been good at turning down a