Yay, I'm twenty.

He sat up in bed and reached for his phone. His message to Rachel lingered unanswered, and he wondered if she would ever text him again. He went downstairs to take a whiz, and when he left the bathroom his grandma said, "Well, it's your birthday."

"Yep."

"Twenty years on this earth."

He ate breakfast and took a shower, and drove the car to work. He walked into the shop to see Mike behind the counter. "Well, today's the big day," he said. "How does it feel to be twenty?"

"Not that different, actually."

Tyler checked his phone again, and went to sit at the table.

********

At lunch, he waited in the McDonald's drive-thru, and looked at his phone. Rachel must have been on her break, but she didn't call. He tapped her name and asked, Can we talk? He bought a bag of food, and circled the parking lot. He shoved a few fries into his mouth, but she didn't call. He finished his lunch and drained his soda. He drove back to the feed store, but she didn't call.

********

The store closed early on Tuesdays, and he drove home in the middle of the afternoon. He parked close to the shed, and went in the kitchen door. The sweet smells of vanilla and sugar filled the house, and he glanced into the oven. The cake was baking, and he found his grandma in the living room, looking at her phone.

"Well," she said, "your mama's on her way. How was work?"

"Fine," he said. "Same as always."

"Don't open the oven. The cake won't rise."

"I know."

He went to the kitchen, and stood in the back door. He could still get together with Rachel, he thought. There were those Saturday-night youth meetings, and he could see her every Sunday at church. But it wasn't really a date. It wasn't just them together. And it wouldn't be the same....

His phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. Oh good, she had called... no, she hadn't. The text was from the Missouri Department of Corrections. It reminded him that it had been thirty days, and his next home visit was approaching. What delightful news, Tyler thought. What a wonderful birthday surprise....

He pushed open the door, stood on the porch and stretched. One branch of the elm tree was just low enough to grasp, and he walked to it and heaved himself up. He wondered if his right arm was stronger than his left, and did a series of experimental pull-ups. Falling back to his feet, he heard a car door slam. He crossed the grass to the driveway, and saw that his mom's car had pulled in, and she and his dad were strolling toward the house.

Tyler went back through the kitchen, and crossed the living room to the door. "They're here," he said, and his grandma set down her phone. His parents came in, and his mom said, "Well, there's the birthday boy." She put down her purse and hugged him. "Twenty years. I can't believe it." And his grandma said, "Seems like just yesterday you were just a little bitty thing."

They each found a seat, and Tyler sat between his parents. "Well," his dad asked, "how's work?"

"Good. It's good."

"What do you do all day?"

"I measure animal feed and I lift heavy sacks and sometimes I drive them out to the country."

"Well," his mom said, "I guess you're building up your muscles."

"Oh, yeah. I couldn't lift a hundred-pound sack when I first got here. But now I'm like Goku."

"Who?"

"From Dragon Ball."

"Oh." She laughed, and his dad asked, "How do you drive.... Do you use Mike's truck?"

"Mm-hmm," Tyler said, and heard a car door slam. "Speaking of Mike...."

He saw his two uncles through the window, and a minute later they came in. "Well," his grandma said, "let me go check on the cake."

********

The kitchen table was set, and the cake was smeared with frosting. Twenty candles stood in its center, and his mom transferred a match from one to the other. When they were all aglow, his grandma switched off the lights, and Tyler tried not to laugh while his family sang "Happy Birthday." At least they weren't the kind of people who applauded afterward.... He bent down and blew out the candles, and if birthday wishes came true, he'd be hearing from Rachel by the end of the day.

********

"Well, how are things going?" his mom asked, as they ate their cake and ice cream. "How's life?"

"I don't know," Tyler said. "I guess it has its ups and downs."

"Are you making friends down here?"

"Yeah.... Well, I was."

"He's been hanging around with Christian Matthews," his grandma said. "Paul Matthews' son."

"Oh. Well, he's probably a nice guy."

"Actually, he's... he's more like a weird guy."

His mom laughed. "Is he?"

"Yeah."

"In what way?"

"Oh, you know... in a 'preacher's son' kind of way."

His dad put down his fork. "Maybe if you had acted more like a preacher's son...." And Tyler laughed to himself as he thought, Well, maybe if you had hugged me more....

********

The sugar-eating part was over, and Tyler pushed in his chair. "Where's Marigold?" he asked, and his mom said, "I think she ran up the stairs."

"'Cause she's going to turn into a little cake thief if it's left unattended."

His grandma stuck the cake in the fridge, and they went back to the living room. A stack of envelopes sat on the coffee table, and Tyler sat before them. He opened the one from his parents, and a few gift cards fell to the floor. He picked them up, and saw that for the near future, he'd be good for games and music. He read the birthday message, and ripped into another envelope. His grandma had enclosed an Amazon card, so he'd be good for just stuff. One envelope remained, from Mike and Lee. He tore open the seal. It was only a birthday card, and he'd hoped for more, but tried to hide his disappointment. "Well, thanks, everybody."

"You do have something else coming," Mike told him.

"Oh, what?"

He glanced at his husband. "We're going to raise your salary."

"Oh, okay," Tyler said, and laughed. Well, that disappointment was brief.

"We'll talk about it at work tomorrow."

"Okay. Well, thanks, you guys."

He gathered his presents, and looked at his phone. "Did you have a good day?" his mom asked.

"Mm-hmm."

The only thing that could make it better was something other than a black screen.

********

That night, he lay on the couch. The house was quiet, and the light was off. His uncles had left, and his grandma was asleep. His parents were spending the night in the attic, in Tyler's bed, before the long drive home. The fan blew a cool breeze throughout the room.

His phone rang, and he picked it up. The name RAPUNZEL shone on the screen.

Hey, she had said. Is today your birthday?

Yeah.

Did you have a happy one?

Yeah but it would have been nicer if you were here.

A minute later, another message popped up: I wish I could have been.

Tyler flipped over to his back. His thumb moved on his screen, and he said: We can't just stop seeing each other.

But we have to.

I could come to your window in the middle of the night. And say Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your hair. And I could climb up.

That wouldn't work in real life.

I guess your hair's not that long.

Also it would hurt.

Tyler thought for a minute. Can we talk? he asked. Instead of texting?

No we shouldn't my parents would hear.

Ok.

I don't see why we can't keep going out, he said. Just tell your parents you're going somewhere else.

Like where?

You could just say you're going to a girl's house. Tell them you're going to see your friend Tyleena.

But I can't lie.

But the thing is, he typed, you don't think it's wrong, do you? For us to see each other.

No. I don't think it's wrong.

Then do it anyway.

No I can't.

The cat stepped into the room, and meowed as she approached the couch.

Christian and I were just talking about it, Rachel said. He explained to me in great detail why we should always obey our parents and never question their authority. And he gave me some Bible verses to read.

Christian needs to get laid, Tyler started to type, but then thought better of it. His thumb moved on his screen and he said, Christian needs a girlfriend.

Yeah he probably does.

Does he go out Friday nights?

He usually just stays home and plays Christian video games.

There are Christian video games?

Yes.

So that youth meeting thing is his whole social life?

Yeah I think but like I said we don't really talk about it.

Tyler thought. So was that the first time you'd really talked about a guy? When you were talking about me?

Yeah basically.

So the first time you talked about a relationship was them telling you not to.

Yeah.

What about that guy you went to the prom with?

I didn't tell my parents. He didn't pick me up we just met there.

Marigold leapt up at his feet, and snuggled into his leg.

Isn't there any way for me to redeem myself? Tyler asked. In their opinion?

I seriously doubt it.

He put down his phone, looked at the ceiling, and sighed.