**** 
                          
Just like every year, my German aunt (Adali) insists that she didn't forget my birthday. I know she did though- why else would I have had to call her first?
                          
"Es ist okay. Wie geht's ?" I say. 
                          
"Ich bin gut. Kann ich mit deinem Vater sprechen?" Damn, she wants to talk to Dad. I have to tell her the truth about him now.
                          
"Tante Adali, tut mir leid, er wohnt nicht mier hier."
                          
"Was? Wieso?" She sounds confused, slightly upset.
                          
"Es ist kompliziert. Er hat eine Freundin."
                          
She doesn't say anything for a while. I hate to be the one breaking the news to her. She is, after all, my father's older sister and she loves me and Alex even though our father hates us. When she speaks, she speaks in English and so quietly I have to strain to hear her.
                          
"Sammy, I'm so sorry."
                          
"Don't worry. It was a long time ago and Alex and I are fine."
                          
"No, it's not fine. When I get my hands on him, he's going to be sorry he ever messed with you."
                          
I chuckle. I can't help it. The idea of my aunt- kind, caring, loving, not at all violent- doing something to my father- rude, evil, cruel, abusive- is too funny. Especially when I know he won't dare lay a finger on her. 
                          
"Sammy, when did this happen?"
                          
"Two years ago. A week before my fifteenth birthday."
                          
She takes a while replying. "Is this why Kaitlyn went missing?"
                          
"Yeah."
                          
"Okay, I've got to go now Sammy, but I'll call again later. Tschϋss!"
                          
"Ja. Auf Wiederhören!" I hang up.
                          
Alex, who was without a doubt listening to everything, asks, "Who did you call?"
                          
"Aunt Adali. You know she always forgets our birthdays."
                          
"I thought she didn't know English."
                          
"Of course she does. She and Dad are half- Australian remember?"
                          
"Oh yeah."
                          
**** 
                          
"Get it out! Get it out!" Catherine screams and hides behind the sofa, shielding her face with her arms.
                          
"Come on, Cathy, it's just a pigeon," Jacob laughs.
                          
"Yeah, Catherine. I thought you were a tomboy." Alex laughs too.
                          
"If you're so brave why don't you get rid of it?" She asks sourly.
                          
None of the boys say anything.
                          
"Yeah that's what I thought."
                          
I, on the other hand, am trying to lead the bird out of the house. It's not working. Maybe it's scared? Or is it hungry? Maybe it wants seeds or breadcrumbs.
                          
"Alex, get a handful of poppy seeds from the kitchen."
                          
He does as I say and comes back with a packet of seeds. I take them from him and pour some into my hand. I walk up to the pigeon slowly and show it the seeds.
                          
"Are you hungry? Come on, I'll show you back to the garden."
                          
I let it eat some and walk towards the front door. It follows me. Once I'm in the garden, I let it eat the seeds in my hand and then it flies away. 
                          
"You're good with birds," someone says.
                          
I know that voice and I hate it. John is standing a few feet ahead of me. "Go away!"