HAPPY NEW YEAR Amirah sang out Her parents looked up from their morning coffee Happy New Year princess Baba said You’re starting the new year off in a good mood Mama added Well you know what January first means Amirah replied Mama pretended to look confused The first day of the new year she teased Amirah No Amirah replied with a laugh Well yes But it means my birthday is in one week Just one more week to go until I turn eleven Oh of course Mama replied How could I have forgotten Amirah and Mama exchanged a big grin They both knew that she hadn’t forgotten not for a minute Birthdays were a very big deal in Amirah’s family and Amirah wouldn’t want it to be any other way All year long she looked forward to her birthday on January 8 Not just because of the presents or the delicious cake 2
though she definitely loved those parts of her birthday No the very best thing about her birthday was that it gave Amirah the chance to celebrate with all her favorite people She invited everybody in her small town in Mexico to her birthday party every year from her friends to her neighbors to the principal of her school Want some chocolate con leche Mama asked as she stood up and walked toward the kitchen Your brother will be awake soon and I know he’ll want some Yes please Amirah said The warm sweet drink was one of her favorites especially at breakfast breakfast time It was a traditional beverage in her country country but Amirah always liked to add an unusual ingredient a smattering of sprinkles from the container container she kept in her pocket No matter where she went or what she did Amirah made sure to carry some sprinkles with her She was a firm believer in the power of sprinkles and their ability to make magic happen just about anywhere 3
While Mama measured out the ingredients for chocolate con leche Amirah walked over to the little desk in the corner of the living room where she kept all her favorite art supplies How are the invitations coming Baba asked as he sipped his coffee Almost done Amirah replied Mrs Maria’s Maria’s will be the first one I deliver I’m bringing it to her later I’m sure she will like that Baba said I know your visits brighten her whole day I hope so Amirah said reaching for her favorite pink glitter pen Making personalized invitations for her party guests was one of her special traditions and Amirah had been spending spending a lot of time at her desk over the last few weeks as she worked on them Amirah had spent twice as much time on Mrs Maria’s invitation as all the rest Mrs Maria one of Amirah’s elderly neighbors and a close friend treasured the handmade invitations that Amirah had brought 4
her over the years She kept them on display year-round Oh good the paint’s dry Amirah exclaimed exclaimed Mrs Maria’s card had a birthday cake on it covered in colorful sprinkles of course A single candle in the cake burned brightly with a flame made from red orange and gold glitter Amirah carefully tucked Mrs Maria’s invitation invitation into the last envelope and added a handful of shiny confetti She loved birthdays so much that she even wanted her invitations to feel like a party when her friends and family opened them Amirah could tell from the delicious smell of chocolate wafting from the kitchen that her drink was almost ready so she wandered into the kitchen and sat down at the table Your invitations turned out beautifully this year Mama said as she stirred the pot of chocolate con leche on the stove I noticed you painted a lot of birthday cakes Any ideas about your birthday cake 5
