Birthday Surprise
“Come on, Amanda!” said Mommy, who was trying to get Amanda’s baby sister, Amber dressed. “We’re going to be late.”
“I don’t see why I have to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house,” said Amanda. “I want to go with you.”
“Amanda,” Mommy explained. “I have to go shopping. I can’t take you with me today.”
“But today is my birthday,” said Amanda. “I want to go shopping with you.”
“Grandma and Grandpa are looking forward to having you for the day,” said Mommy. “They miss you.”
“Nobody cares that today is my birthday,” pouted Amanda. “Nobody cares about me at all.”
“Now, Amanda,” said Mommy. “That’s not true and you know it.”
Amanda’s older sister, April came down the stairs.
“Hi Amanda,” said April. “What are you doing?”
“I have to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s today,” said Amanda.
“Well, what is wrong with that,” said April. “Sure beats having to go to school, like I do.”
“But, it’s my birthday,” said Amanda. “Nobody cares, either.”
“That’s not true,” said April.
“Well,” said Amanda. “If it weren’t true, then why didn’t you wish me a “Happy Birthday”?”
“Gee, Amanda,” said April. “You didn’t even give me a chance to.”
Amanda did not see the wink that passed between her sister and her mother. Reluctantly, Amanda got ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
“Hello Amanda,” said Grandma when she opened the door for her. “How are you today?”
“I’m terrible,” said Amanda.
“Now dear,” said Grandpa, who was just coming up from downstairs where he had been doing some cleaning up. “Why is that?”
“Because it’s my birthday today,” said Amanda. “And, nobody cares.”
“Amanda,” said Grandma. “That’s not true. Grandpa and I care.”
“If you cared at all,” said Amanda. “Then you would have wished me a “Happy Birthday”.”
“Oh,” said Grandma. “You didn’t give us a chance to.”
Amanda, Grandma and Grandpa had a good day together despite Amanda’s little problem of thinking that no-one cared for her. She was in a bit better of a mood when Mommy came to pick her up at three o’clock.
“So,” said Mommy when her and Amanda were in the car. “Did you have a good day at Grandma and Grandpa’s?”
“Yes,” said Amanda. “I did.”
“That’s good,” said Mommy, smiling. “I’ve got to stop at the store for a minute. Do you want to come with me?”
“Sure,” said Amanda.
Inside the store, Mommy seemed to be taking an awful long time.
“Come on Mommy,” said Amanda. “I want to go home. What’s taking you so long?”
“Nothing,” said Mommy, who looked a little guilty. “Let’s go now.”
Mommy and Amanda entered the front door of the house. It was unusually dark inside.
“Someone turned out all the lights,” said Amanda. “Here, I’ll turn them on.”
“S U R P R I S E !!!” ten voices rang out when she turned the lights on. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMANDA!”
Amanda was shocked. There, standing in front of her, were her entire family and her best friends.
“Happy Birthday,” said Grandma to Amanda, hugging her tightly.
“How did you get here so fast?” asked Amanda. “Mommy and I just left your place.”
“Do you remember when Mommy took you to the store,” said Grandpa, coming over to give Amanda a big hug and kiss.
“Oh,” Amanda clued in. “That’s why Mommy took so long in the store!”
Once the shock was over, Amanda enjoyed herself immensely. She got lots of nice presents and she felt much better about everything now that she knew that everyone still cared about her.
