A Birthday Wish
The warmth of the sun's rays began to make their way through my window and onto my face as I lay in bed sleeping. I flutter my eyes open to a mess of colors throughout my room. Still dazed from sleep I rub my eyes until I can see clearly see. I can hardly contain my excitement when I see the floor of my room completely covered with balloons, leaving hardly any room for walking. Even though this has been my family's tradition to fill the room of the birthday child with balloons for years, I still felt the same excitement every year. I darted up from under my covers and jumped on my bed with glee. This is my day, I thought to myself, the one day it's all about me. And as tradition this day meant one wish, and I knew exactly what that wish was going to be.
I climb down from my bed and find a clear spot to place my feet on the floor. I run to my door kicking balloons out of the way till I find one that is my favorite color, pink. I skip to kitchen clutching onto my balloon, making sure anyone in my house who saw me knew it was my day, my birthday. As I round the corner into the kitchen I see both my brothers and mom already sitting at the table, my favorite breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and chocolate milk waiting for me.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Mom and Connor cheerfully shout, with Brandon reluctantly mumbling with them. I sit down and begin to devour my breakfast while discussing the planned festivities for the day with my mom. Full from the chocolate overloaded breakfast and growing restless by the minute my mom decided it was present time. I race to the living room with Connor and Brandon both running right behind me. I can contain myself and begin smiling from ear to ear. There were so many presents, big and small, in a pile in the middle room. Connor beat me to the pile and began to pick each of them up, examining their weight and size. Mom scolded him and reminded him that it was my day, not his. I knew he didn't mean to try to steal my day, he's only six and doesn't know better. My eyes scan the pile to find the biggest of them all. I rip apart the wrapping to unveil a Polly Pocket play house. I look up from the toy to mom to thank her, and that's when I realize something isn't right. Its Saturday why isn't he here I asked myself, he doesn't work on Saturday's so he should be here. I want to be excited about my new toy, but I can't shake the fact that he's not here. I go through the rest of the toys, trying to be enthusiastic as possible while trying to hide my disappointment from mom and my brothers. All these toys I got are great, but they're not what I had wished for the night before. As I gathered my things to take back to my room it hit me, he must be out buying me something special right now, that's the reason why he's not here I thought. He must be surprising me later on at the bowling alley!
I climb down from my bed and find a clear spot to place my feet on the floor. I run to my door kicking balloons out of the way till I find one that is my favorite color, pink. I skip to kitchen clutching onto my balloon, making sure anyone in my house who saw me knew it was my day, my birthday. As I round the corner into the kitchen I see both my brothers and mom already sitting at the table, my favorite breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and chocolate milk waiting for me.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Mom and Connor cheerfully shout, with Brandon reluctantly mumbling with them. I sit down and begin to devour my breakfast while discussing the planned festivities for the day with my mom. Full from the chocolate overloaded breakfast and growing restless by the minute my mom decided it was present time. I race to the living room with Connor and Brandon both running right behind me. I can contain myself and begin smiling from ear to ear. There were so many presents, big and small, in a pile in the middle room. Connor beat me to the pile and began to pick each of them up, examining their weight and size. Mom scolded him and reminded him that it was my day, not his. I knew he didn't mean to try to steal my day, he's only six and doesn't know better. My eyes scan the pile to find the biggest of them all. I rip apart the wrapping to unveil a Polly Pocket play house. I look up from the toy to mom to thank her, and that's when I realize something isn't right. Its Saturday why isn't he here I asked myself, he doesn't work on Saturday's so he should be here. I want to be excited about my new toy, but I can't shake the fact that he's not here. I go through the rest of the toys, trying to be enthusiastic as possible while trying to hide my disappointment from mom and my brothers. All these toys I got are great, but they're not what I had wished for the night before. As I gathered my things to take back to my room it hit me, he must be out buying me something special right now, that's the reason why he's not here I thought. He must be surprising me later on at the bowling alley!
I quickly raced to my room and got ready for the rest day. It was my day so I had to look extra nice, especially if he was going to surprise me. I put on my new jean skirt and bright pink powder puff girls tee shirt. I brushed out my unruly hair and bangs, deciding on a ponytail with a pink ribbon would be the best fit. Of course, only being newly eight years old I still had not mastered the perfect ponytail, so my mom intervened and helped. I slipped on my new white and pink sketchers and my mom placed my birthday pin on shirt. All that was left was putting on my tiara and I was set to go. We gathered everything up and made our way into our red minivan. As tradition the birthday child got to pick the music, and of course I had to play Aaron Carter, much to Connor and Brandon's dislike. As I gazed out the window all I could think about was how my surprise was soon to come. Silly mom, I thought to myself, she thought she could trick me but I knew he couldn't miss this day.
When we got to the bowling alley I quickly ran inside, not bothering to help my mom or brothers carry anything in. I run past the bowling alley clerk and gaze around. Not too many people were here so yet so he should be easy to spot. I run down one side and then down the other. He's probably just waiting till I open my presents, then he'll show up. I made my way back to mom and helped her set everything up. Soon all my friends and their families showed up and soon my only concern was making sure I won during bowling, after all it is my birthday. Hyped up on candy and soda my friends and I danced and sang our hearts out to the music playing across the intercom. Taking a break from this I glance over at my mom, whose sitting with her friends at a table above the bowling lanes. They're all giving my mom reassuring looks, as she talks with a sorrow expression on her face. Why is she sad, it's my birthday and she should know he's coming soon. He would never miss my birthday, he's never missed one since I was born! She must be trying to trick me again, so this must be a really huge surprise!
When we got to the bowling alley I quickly ran inside, not bothering to help my mom or brothers carry anything in. I run past the bowling alley clerk and gaze around. Not too many people were here so yet so he should be easy to spot. I run down one side and then down the other. He's probably just waiting till I open my presents, then he'll show up. I made my way back to mom and helped her set everything up. Soon all my friends and their families showed up and soon my only concern was making sure I won during bowling, after all it is my birthday. Hyped up on candy and soda my friends and I danced and sang our hearts out to the music playing across the intercom. Taking a break from this I glance over at my mom, whose sitting with her friends at a table above the bowling lanes. They're all giving my mom reassuring looks, as she talks with a sorrow expression on her face. Why is she sad, it's my birthday and she should know he's coming soon. He would never miss my birthday, he's never missed one since I was born! She must be trying to trick me again, so this must be a really huge surprise!
Soon enough it was present time and I found myself sitting at a table, with my family and friends all surrounding me. There were so many presents, and once again I couldn't contain my excitement. I opened each and joyfully thanked each person. Eventually there were 5 left, then 3, and then none. I glanced around the room and scanned for him. It was time for him to show up now, its present time he should be here. I can hear people around me asking me how I like my presents but all I can focus on him being here. Maybe he is here, and just waiting till I blow out my candles and make my wish. Yes that must be it I convince myself and yell out "cake time!" Mom carries over my cake, shaped like a Barbie with 8 candles plus one for good luck. Mom always went all out for my cakes, and this year beat them all. Wow, I thought this amazing cake and my surprise is about to come, I'm the luckiest girl in the world! With my cake in front of me I close my eyes and recite my wish in my head, careful not to whisper it aloud and ruin it. I take a huge breath and blow. I open my eyes to find I blew out all my candles. Yes that definitely meant my wish is coming true! I quickly scan the room, my eyes being blinded by cameras taking pictures. Thirty seconds pass by, but it seems like an hour. I close my eyes and open them again but nothing changes.
I don't bother to take a bite out of my cake. I go up to mom and ask her to be excused to use the bathroom. She always said it's unladylike to cry in front of others, so I quickly ran to the bathroom making sure that no one saw the tear going down my cheek. I find a stall and lock the door, the tears now pouring down my face. This doesn't make sense, wishes are supposed to come true when you really want them to. He's never missed a birthday, and he promised he never would. He promised me he would be here. As I sit there hurt and confused I hear the bathroom door open and my mom call out for me. I unlock the stall door and rush to hug her. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Dad's not here."
I don't bother to take a bite out of my cake. I go up to mom and ask her to be excused to use the bathroom. She always said it's unladylike to cry in front of others, so I quickly ran to the bathroom making sure that no one saw the tear going down my cheek. I find a stall and lock the door, the tears now pouring down my face. This doesn't make sense, wishes are supposed to come true when you really want them to. He's never missed a birthday, and he promised he never would. He promised me he would be here. As I sit there hurt and confused I hear the bathroom door open and my mom call out for me. I unlock the stall door and rush to hug her. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Dad's not here."