the Internet for Aladdin-themed craft ideas and together they set the scene for the slumber party Maddie constructed a life-size camel out of balloons while Carol made a festooned elephant from garbage bags and a throw rug Together they built an oasis out of a kiddie pool and papier-mâché palm trees Maddie enjoyed having someone so crafty in the family The most creative thing her dad ever did was to spell out Go Team in cocktail wieners for his annual Super Bowl party It was only a few minutes after he left that Holden’s tablet began to vibrate Maddie peeked at it and saw that Holden’s dad was trying to video chat with him He was going to be so disappointed that he missed the call When Maddie’s friends arrived the mini replica of Arabia in the living room earned their highest rating five OMGs Maddie’s friend Tasha Simmons even called it the coolest party ever to which Abby Chou enthusiastically replied Uh-huh Maddie and Carol shared a secret high-five as the girls tried the chocolate chip hummus Success Suddenly the front door flew open and a grouchy voice rang through the house Worst birthday ever Holden was home And he was soaking wet Maddie had been so caught up in decorating that she hadn’t even noticed it was pouring rain outside How was zip-lining she asked timidly Horrible Holden griped as he took his first look at the decorations Almost as horrible as all of this garbage Well I have some good news Your dad tried to video chat with you How is that good news I can’t call him back now He looked at the clock It’s after midnight in Germany It’s not even my birthday there anymore He shoved the balloon camel out of his way and stomped upstairs angrily Maddie’s dad shook his head sadly The storm hit just as we got there It was too windy for the zip lines and too rainy for everything else I took the guys to lunch but they were pretty bummed out Once again Maddie felt bad for her stepbrother As jerky as he was it wasn’t right
for anyone to be sad on their birthday She decided she would do something nice for him to cheer him up First though she had some guests to entertain Maddie’s dad surprised them all by dressing up like a genie I will grant you three wishes he said in a deep voice as Maddie and her friends giggled One for stuffed-crust pizza two to watch a PG-13 movie and three to stay up until midnight The girls cheered There were four pizzas The first one to go was the veggie pizza Then the pepperoni Then the plain Then still hungry the girls opened up the last box which was pineapple anchovies and no cheese Holden’s favorite Maddie couldn’t imagine anyone but her weird stepbrother even liking such a freakish combination of toppings but her friends were hungry enough that they tore right through it Slice by slice the pie disappeared before her eyes Maddie couldn’t bear to think of Holden not getting any pizza on his own birthday so she quietly slid three slices onto a paper plate and snuck away from the table She found Holden in the kitchen poking through the refrigerator for a snack Thought you might like this she said holding out the weird pizza slices Holden didn’t turn around He didn’t even acknowledge her Look I’m sorry your birthday was ruined she said Holden still didn’t acknowledge Maddie Now she was starting to get annoyed Look I saved you some pizza The least you can do is Finally Holden turned around pulling earbuds out of his ear He was listening to music on his tablet Sorry were you talking I cranked up the new Hashtag Number Sign album Hashtag Number Sign was Holden’s favorite band He’d begged his mom to let him go to their concert but she said he was too young Ugh I don’t know why you like that band Maddie said They’re so loud they drive me crazy Funny enough that’s why I like them Plus they help drown out all the high pitched shrieking from your party
Come on It’s not that bad Maddie laughed I think slumber parties stink big time but I’m glad you’re having fun Really Maddie was stunned to hear Holden say something so kind Maybe all the time they spent together in fairy tales had made him more thoughtful Holden shrugged Not really but I told my mom I’d be nice to you and she’s upstairs wrapping my present right now so y’know Maddie smiled Well I think hoverboards stink big time but I hope you get one Aw thanks Holden said ripping off a chunk of pizza with his teeth As Maddie turned to leave their parents entered Carol held something behind her back You weren’t kidding Carol said to Greg They really are getting along Holden flashed a charming grin Why of course We’re like brother and sister Maddie struggled to control her impulse to roll her eyes She knew it was all an act so he could get the hoverboard Carol smiled Since you’re in such a good mood maybe now’s a good time to give you something Holden stepped forward Why whatever could it be A birthday present of some kind Well I don’t think there’s anything I want is there Carol sighed Honey I know you wanted a hoverboard but Holden stopped smiling But what he said His voice was sharp with anger Greg decided to step in and deliver the bad news We decided they’re just too dangerous Broken bones blood permanent scars And the way they sometimes burst into flames That’s why I want one Holden protested Well I think you’re really going to love what we got you Carol held out a small box barely the size of her hand Open it What is that Holden said stepping forward He quietly took the box out of his mom’s hand flipped it over and inspected it All at once the anger came rushing back to his face If it’s not a hoverboard he said it’s garbage He threw the present across the room into the trash can where it landed on top of a
bunch of pizza crusts and soda cups Then he bolted out of the room Holden Benjamin Carol shouted Whoa Maddie thought She must really be mad if she used his middle name Let him go Greg said resting his hand on Carol’s shoulder Maddie couldn’t believe they were going to let him run away so she followed him instead When she got to the living room she found him standing in the middle of her friends ranting angrily I hope you’re enjoying your miserable party he said Because let me tell you what’s wrong with Aladdin What kind of guy gets three wishes and uses them to become a prince and to have some princess fall in love with him No guy I’ve ever known Being a prince sounds lame No thanks And if the genie’s been in the bottle for tens of thousands of years why isn’t he a Neanderthal He should be talking like someone with a primitive brain like Duh what you wish Most of all though any halfway-intelligent person knows to exploit the three-wish loophole What’s that Maddie asked The loophole is that you can use one of your wishes to wish for infinite wishes then the genie is yours forever But that’s mean Maddie said So Holden shrugged Genies aren’t people They’re made to serve us Any genie would probably be thrilled to have you wish for infinite wishes Carol and Greg entered to see what Holden was shouting about He looked directly at them And once you wish for infinite wishes your second wish should be for no parents He charged upstairs leaping three steps at a time so he’d be gone as fast as possible The last thing everyone heard was the sound of his door slamming followed by loud rock music blasting Holden was officially calling an end to this birthday
