Amirah sighed and shook her head I don’t know why I can’t decide she replied I want it to be delicious and different but beyond that I’m just not sure Try not to worry princess Mama said You still have a whole week to figure it out I know the perfect cake will come to you Amirah hoped so She had already worked out all the other details for her party from the type of piñata she was going to have unicorn shaped to the outfit she was going to wear rainbow striped dress denim jacket and silver glitter sneakers The candy bags Amirah would hand out to all her guests were even planned out Every little detail had been finalized except for the cake After breakfast Amirah spent the next few hours working on the last batch of party invitations Finally when they were all finished she left them to dry on her desk She grabbed her backpack and her pink sweater and hurried 6
down the path to the sidewalk Her neighbor Mrs Maria lived just two doors down Mrs Maria’s grandkids all lived in the United States so she treated Amirah like an unofficial granddaughter granddaughter Amirah didn’t mind one bit She loved to visit her for an afternoon of stories and conchas The sweet seashell-shaped treats were more of a breakfast food but Amirah loved that Mrs Maria liked to serve them in the afternoon too As she stood on the doorstep Amirah knocked on the door rap-rap-thud-thud-tap-tap-tap rap-rap-thud-thud-tap-tap-tap The special knock was a code to tell Mrs Maria that she’d come to visit And sure enough Mrs Maria swung open the door just moments later Her bright smile smoothed out all the lines in her face Happy New Year Amirah Mrs Maria exclaimed holding open the door for her Happy New Year Amirah replied I have something for you 7
Mrs Maria’s eyes sparkled Is this what I think it is she asked as Amirah handed her the envelope Oh good I was hoping to get one this year You’ll get one every year Amirah said with a laugh Then her eyes widened as she realized that Mrs Maria’s gray hair had a little something extra in it a lacy cobweb Luckily there were no spiders to be seen and Mrs Maria laughed as Amirah brushed the cobweb away I’ve been tidying my attic she explained I always like to begin the New Year with a fresh start And that includes the house too Amirah thought about the clutter under her bed and knew she should follow Mrs Maria’s example Come sit Mrs Maria said I want to open this invitation properly with a nice cup of horchata And I don’t suppose I could interest you in some Always Amirah replied 8
Mrs Maria bustled off to the kitchen and soon returned with a pitcher of cold creamy horchata and Amirah grinned a plate of conchas As she poured the horchata a frown flickered across Mrs Maria’s face She shook her head Ay me Something is missing She sighed What would make this food even more festive Amirah raised an eyebrow Are you thinking thinking of something colorful And sweet Sí sí that’s exactly it Mrs Maria replied I have just the thing Amirah said as she pulled the sprinkles out of her pocket Ever since Mrs Maria had discovered that Amirah always carried sprinkles with her she found a way to ask for them whenever they shared a snack or a meal Wonderful You are ready for anything Mrs Maria said Once their cups of horchata were topped 9
