I watched through the window as the thunder echoed through the air, and the wind sent the leaves dancing in the air. Everyone had run for the safety of their homes, closing and locking the doors, and latching the windows. Everyone knew it was the typical weather here in Chondria, the place of wild weather and annoying birds that flew overhead in the fall and spring. As the thunder roared and the lightning flashed, Mother came in, and said sternly, “Fiona, It’s time for bed!”

“But mother! I won’t be able to sleep. Tomorrow’s my birthday!” I cried, with my little 5-year-old voice. “Well tomorrow will come faster if you go to bed!” I sighed and crawled into bed. Mother left, and I waited for my father to come in. When he did, he closed the door and begun the usual bed time routine. A story, a song, and a kiss on the head. “Good night, my little lemur,” he said, as he pulled up the covers and left, leaving the door slightly ajar.

The next morning, I woke up and raced around my room, pulling on clothes and socks. I ran into my closet and leaped onto the numerous bins to get high enough to reach my birthday hat. I pulled it down and hopped to the floor. Mother came in and said, “Time for breakfast!” I put on the birthday hat, and she guided me downstairs. I ran to my spot at the table and climbed up. I looked at Dad and he said, “Hello pumpkin! We’re going to go fishing, seeing as it’s a normal day with nothing special happening.”

I gasped and said, “you forgot my birthday?” He laughed and said, and he picked me up and said, “No silly! You’re turning 6! How could I forget?” he put me down in my chair and plopped a pancake on my plate and put milk in my cup.

He served my 4 brothers and 2 sisters, Mother, and finally, himself. We ate, and I got many “Happy birthdays” along the way. When we were done, mother started to pack up, putting paper plates and party hats in a bag. Dad picked me up and tried to put me in the bag as well. “What?” he asked when Mother gave him a stern look. He carried me into the car and loaded in the rest of the family into the car. When mother came over to our red and blue truck, he started the car. The early January weather chilled the car, but it heated up fast. Mother climbed into the front seat next to Dad, and we were off.

Dad drove for a while, but I don’t know which way. After about 20 minutes, we stopped. The pizza sign in the front announced our arrival to the party house. Dad unloaded the car and mother took us all inside. The others ran all over the place once inside, running straight for the arcade. I stayed with my oldest sister, Elise, and she guided me to a little table with some little trinkets that she brought along with her.

Soon, the pizza arrived to the table and Mother rounded up the kids. Jake, my little brother, started to whine. “But I don’t want to sit down and eat. I want to play in the acade!” Mother glared at him and said, “no, and it’s an arcade. Now get over here and sit down!” jake sat down and stared grumpily at the pizza.

Dad sat down and mother served pizza. I was still very full from breakfast, but I ate a little bit of pizza anyway. Once the pizza was gone, we got to run around and play. I went over to the games and rides and got loaded into the carousal, going round and round in circles. I went on the ride a couple of times and then Elise directed me to the cake.

It was a red velvet cake, with white frosting and a big sugar butterfly topped it off. I blew out the six candles and I wished that one day, all my family would be with me on my birthday. My grandma and grandpa never came, so I never saw them much.

We ate a little cake and Mother started to pack up. I went for the ball pit, and dad helped Mother pack. My siblings went into the car, but I didn’t know. I thought it was some other family. Soon, they were gone. I looked around and I saw a television nearby on the wall. A reporter was on it and reported a family of 6 driving off a bridge. In a red and blue car. My mouth was left gaping open and I crouched down onto the ground.

All of a sudden, I woke up, sweating, and screaming.