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It wasn’t that Annie didn’t like her birthday. She could appreciate a cupcake and some well wishes, and it was the only thing that stayed consistent between her new identities, but it had never been a big thing. Her mother and father had unpredictable schedules, and once she was on the move from country to country, there wasn’t much time to keep track of some random day. It used to be important to Robert, when they were young. When their parents were gone, he would drag his little kid chairs into her room and build a blanket fort, draw her a picture, and insist on singing to her.
But that was ages ago, before Annie had decided she was too cool for blanket forts and toys and her little brother. Before Robert started asking about where their parents had gone, and her mother told him he was “all grown up” at six years old. It had been a point of contention between her parents, the age they should learn about it all. Still, her mom was an independent woman, and she preferred making decisions about her kids on her own, so Robert and Annie learned on her terms.
She told Robert first.
Annie knew she would.
But Annie had honed her skills in putting the past behind her. Her family didn’t do birthdays, and that was fine.
Except apparently now they did. This new family got each other presents and pulled pranks and Annie wasn’t sure how to approach that. She wasn’t sure if it applied to her, either. They might share a father and a house, but did that make them siblings? Did it matter? As welcoming as they were, the “city spies” clearly had a bond she couldn’t match, even with her own little brother.
Speaking of little brothers, the one she had to share a room with was rushing through his math homework, making far too much noise for 6 in the morning. It was a rarity Robert was ever up early by choice, but he had gotten caught up in some video game last night, and was now mumbling about quadratics on the other side of the room.
“Shut up,” she groaned.
“I’m almost finished.”
“I don’t care. Be quiet.”
“Fine.”
Annie hardly blinked before her alarm was blaring her awake. She dragged herself up, running her hands through her hair as she walked out to the bathroom, which was, of course, already occupied. She missed sharing a bathroom with just her mother, or a boarding school roommate. Minimum four people, plus when the boys decided to cut in, every morning was too much wear on that poor sink. She turned back around, returning to the room where Robert was still going on about formulas or something.
“Okay, get out,” she said, grabbing her uniform from the closet.
“You get out.”
“I need to change.”
“Change in the bathroom, then.”
“Sydney’s in there. Get out.”
“You’re so bossy.”
“Robert–”
“I’m literally leaving right now, I’m just saying.”
“Leave faster.”
“You see, that’s really bossy.” But he was already out the door before she could reply, making her close it behind him.
She pulled off her shirt, and again the door opened.
“By the way–”
“Robert! Get out!”
“Happy birthday, okay? Just happy birthday!” He ran out again, leaving the door open behind him for a second time. She kicked it closed with her foot as she continued with her uniform. At least he had remembered, unlike his math homework, which was still lying on the desk.
As she descended downstairs, finally able to slip into the bathroom and get properly ready for school, she kept an eye out for anything amiss. Well, more of an eye out than her usual. Apparently, Rio pulled pranks for every birthday every year, and she wasn’t looking to get splashed again, or eat bugs. She clearly wasn’t the only one who remembered the water incident, as Rio jumped up as soon as she walked into the kitchen.
“Happy birthday! I promise, I have no pranks, and I’m still really, really sorry about last time.” He seemed nervous, more than she’d ever seen him, and Annie wondered for a moment if she had overreacted.
“He has a sensitive soul,” Paris joked, seeming to catch on to her worry.
“You have a sensitive soul,” Rio snipped back.
“Aw, really? Thanks. That’s so sweet of you to say.” Paris dropped his false-sincerity, turning to Annie again. “But Rio has an idea, right?”
“Oh, yeah! So, ultimate prank, we put food coloring in all the school taps, so that the water comes out blood red–”
“The other one,” Paris interjected.
“Huh? Oooooooh, that one. We prank Cairo for your birthday, since you took his birthday prank.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“To be honest, I’m still thinking about the red taps. I was sorta hoping you’d have something.”
“Put the snake in the cereal,” Paris said, putting his dishes in the sink.
“What?” Rio said. Annie wasn’t sure if she misheard him, or if this was some secret spy code.
“Your mechanical snake? The one you used on Brooklyn. Put it in a box of cereal and he’ll freak.”
“Paris, you’re a genius!” Rio yelled as he ran up, probably to get the aforementioned snake.
“What else is new?” He said to himself. “Annie, this is for you.” He handed her a small bag, cinched at the top with a black ribbon. Inside was a small but sturdy compass, its surface unblemished.
“I know you’re not interested in the whole MI6 thing, but everyone should have some survival skills. I’m sure your parents have taught you…a lot, but if you need any tips, my door is always open. Well, if you need anything, actually.” He stepped past her, heading up the stairs after Rio.
Annie shifted the compass in her palm, watching the arrow hold true. It was nice, hanging on a thin golden chain, and the weight of it felt nice in her hands. She had read a book once, when she was very young, about a compass that always pointed home. She didn’t remember the title, anyhow. Probably something about dragons, she’d always liked those. She turned to the fridge, searching for something for breakfast.
Robert had not liked the snake, but his scream faded into laughter quickly. Sydney had snatched it up, and was still carrying it around when they met up after school.
“Did you bring that to all your classes?” Paris asked her, walking beside her.
“He’s my little buddy,” Sydney replied, petting its plastic head with the tip of her finger.
“It’s not a he, it’s an inanimate object?” Kat commented, giving Sydney a look.
“He is a he, he’s Rio,” she argued.
“It’s what now?” Rio asked, breaking off from his conversation with Robert.
“He’s you as a snake.” Sydney triggered the mechanism, wiggling it in Brooklyn’s face. She squeaked and jumped back, mumbling an “ew” under her breath.
“That’s also what I do when I see Rio’s face,” Paris quipped.
Rio just stuck out his tongue.
When dinner came around, Annie realized Paris’ present wasn’t a one off. Just like they did for each other, they all had presents for Annie. Kat handed her a book titled A Short History of Nearly Everything, the receipt tucked between the pages.
“I wanted to cover all my bases, including if you didn’t like it,” she said.
“I’ve never seen her so unsure about a book recommendation,” Paris joked, but Annie was, in fact, rather intrigued.
“Thanks, Kat.”
Sydney followed, slipping her an envelope with her name in fancy calligraphy. Inside was a gift card for what looked like a clothing store with–
“Woah, that’s uh…ah-thank you, wow.” Annie was questioning if she had ever held this much money in her hands, even via store credit.
“It’s technically from Tabitha, but…yeah. Thought you might like it or something. We could go together, if you need a second opinion.”
“I’d like that.” Annie would need someone there to tell her how to spend all this, anyway.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, clearly wasn’t the most elegant in her wrapping, but the box under the haphazard pile of paper was undamaged. Annie had heard of the game before, Codenames, but her mother wasn’t big on group games. She liked leaving them with a puzzle and getting about her day.
“Get it?” Brooklyn asked, “It’s a game about spies, cause like, we’re, you don’t like it. That-that’s okay. I shouldn’t’ve gotten it.”
“No, it’s nice. Really. I’m going to absolutely smoke you, but I’d argue that makes it a pretty good gift.” Brooklyn laughed, and Annie couldn’t help but join her.
“How about you, Cairo? Did you get her anything?” Sydney asked.
“I baked the cake! Well, I helped Monty bake the cake, but I think my presence is a gift alone.” To be fair to Robert, it was a pretty delicious birthday cake.
The final gift was from her father, a black box with an intricate gold design. Annie was pretty sure it was meant to be a puzzle, her mother’s contribution, so she pretended to struggle as she worked quickly through the system. Her mom really needed to update her bag of tricks. Still, the movements were familiar, bringing back memories of her mother’s challenges, and her guidance. Inside, there was a note, which she placed to the side, avoiding the possibility she’d cry at its contents.
The necklace inside nearly brought tears to her eyes anyway. She recognized it well, from pictures of her father from all throughout his life. He had told her about the cross necklace many times. His grandmother had gifted it to him when he was born, and he wore it as a symbol of community, of family, more than religion. He rarely took it off, even on missions. She realized he hadn’t been wearing it recently. He hadn’t been wearing it when she met him again, either.
He didn’t have to tell her. Her father’s entire life had changed after the fire, this was just one part. A big part. She lifted the necklace in her hands, running her fingers along its edges, worn down by time. She placed it carefully back into the box and thanked everyone again, carrying her things upstairs as she made an excuse about homework. The other spies hadn’t recognized it, and she didn’t want them to.
There was one other person who knew that cross like the back of his hand, and Annie knew he must’ve recognized it. So it came as no surprise when, after a long night of messing around on Smash and hopefully actually doing his homework, Robert walked over to her, half-lit by her bedside lamp, and asked, “Can I see it?”
“Of course.”
“I think I forgot about this thing. It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. I did, too.” It had become clear in her memories, though, and she could no longer picture her father without it.
“I can’t believe he gave it to you.” Annie wasn’t sure if Robert was implying it should be his, or that their dad should still be wearing it, but it made her think. Robert got everything first. She was born first, but he got to learn about her parents’ work, learn her mother’s puzzles, see their father again, and meet all these new people, before her. Even in their names, people said “Robert and Annie” more often than not. She wondered if he was their parents' favorite, or if he felt the same way about her. He was her favorite, though. Out of every person she’d met all around the world, she’d never met anyone quite like Robert. There was no argument, her words flowed unhindered.
“Take it. It’s yours.”
“No, Annie, I didn’t mean–”
“Do you want it?” She asked bluntly.
“It’s yours, dad gave it to you.”
“And I’m giving it to you. I couldn’t wear it. You should.”
Cairo didn’t respond, staring at the little silver cross.
“I want you to, Robert.”
“If you’re sure.”
She helped him with the clasp, and they laid down, Annie flicking off the last source of light. It was quiet, and she could feel sleep claiming her after a long, amazing day.
“You want to build a fort, don’t you?” She whispered.
“More than anything.”