The Magical Land of Birthdays No. 2: The Mystery of the Birthday Basher
Don’t worry about it Paulina said These things happen Besides I’ll have another party next year and I know you’ll be there You can count on it Amirah promised After Amirah hung up the phone Mama came into the living room She could tell right away that something was bothering Amirah What’s going on she asked Oh Mama Amirah said Paulina had a birthday party yesterday and I didn’t show up because I never got the invitation and I know it’s not my fault but I feel terrible about it Mama wrapped her arm around Amirah’s shoulders You didn’t get the invitation she asked That’s so odd The same thing happened to your brother last month Amirah’s shoulders straightened Really she asked Amir was invited to a birthday party but his invitation never came Mama nodded Yes it happened during the week you were at camp she explained He was really disappointed to miss his friend’s birthday party too It’s not just missing the party Amirah tried to explain It’s I feel like I let Paulina down Birthdays are really important They deserve to be celebrated by everybody especially your closest friends But I didn’t even show up for her party Like I didn’t even care Just saying the words out loud made Amirah feel even worse But you do care Mama reminded her I’m sure Paulina knows that You know Amir made a birthday card for his friend and we made a special delivery Oh I’m already on it Amirah assured Mama She may not have known exactly what to say to Paulina on the phone but Amirah had plenty of ideas for how to make it up to her
Why am I not surprised Mama asked with that special smile she saved just for Amirah She kissed Amirah on the forehead and added Just let me know how I can help I will Amirah replied Thanks Mama Amirah practically skipped over to her desk in the corner where she kept all her favorite art supplies a thick sketchbook colored pencils in every color and of course a rainbow hued assortment of sparkly glitter Before she got started Amirah reached into her pocket for the vial of sprinkles she carried everywhere Amirah was a firm believer in the power of sprinkles to make everything better from a cupcake to a disappointing day And she knew better than anyone exactly how powerful sprinkles could be Just six months ago Amirah had embarked on the adventure of a lifetime when she found herself transported to a wondrous world called the Magical Land of Birthdays There she had explored enchanted places solved mysterious puzzles and even befriended a unicorn Best of all Amirah had met her very own B-Buds birthday buddies who all shared the same birthday Ever since that magical adventure Amirah knew deep in her heart that birthdays were more special and more important than ever Just as surely as she knew that someday somehow she’d see her B-Buds again It was hard to imagine waiting until their next shared birthday on January 8 but at least the wait was almost half over That’s why Amirah would’ve never skipped Paulina’s party never And that’s also why she was so determined to make things right Deep in thought Amirah picked up a pink pencil and started to sketch Paulina’s favorite color was pink just like Amirah’s and her doll collection was practically a legend in their town If only I could bake a cake that looked like a doll Amirah thought
to herself But not just any doll A sophisticated elegant doll A doll wearing a gorgeous ball gown in sparkly pink of course And that’s what inspired Amirah to try baking a doll cake for Paulina She sketched quickly even though it was hard for her hand to keep up with all the new thoughts popping into her mind When she finished sketching Amirah sat back studied her cake drawing and smiled to herself Yes It was perfect perfect for Paulina Now all Amirah needed to do was get some special ingredients at the store Mama and Amirah loved to bake more than just about anything else so they kept their kitchen stocked with all the staples butter sugar flour eggs But Paulina’s cake would need a little something extra Amirah bounded out of the room and found her mother in the kitchen putting away the clean dishes Mama Can you take me to the store she asked breathlessly What do you need Mama asked raising an eyebrow We just refilled the sprinkles last week I know Amirah said with a grin She showed Mama her sketch What do you think I want to make this cake for Paulina It’s beautiful princess Mama replied She’s going to love it I want to get some pink glitter candles and some sugar pearls for the dress Oh Maybe I can even get some candy flowers too Amirah exclaimed adding a few more notes to her sketch Mama reached for her keys I’ll get Amir and meet you at the car Thanks Mama Amirah said She impulsively stood on her tiptoes to give Mama a kiss on the cheek then bounded out the front door so joyfully that her curls bounced Despite the heat
of the summer day there was plenty of activity in Amirah’s neighborhood The postal carrier was humming as he traveled from door to door placing mail in the mailboxes Amirah’s special friend in the neighborhood Mrs Maria was enjoying a cold refreshing drink called horchata on her front porch And on the sidewalk in front of her home Amirah spotted a boy from school Billy who was walking four dogs at the same time Billy she exclaimed jogging over to him I didn’t know you had four dogs They’re beautiful They’re not all mine Billy replied as he pointed to a little brown dog Just this one This is Fiesta Fiesta wagged his tail at the mention of his name I started a dog-walking business this summer These other three dogs belong to some of my clients Amirah’s eyes widened You started your own business she said Wow That’s amazing It’s okay I guess Billy said Fiesta is such a great name for a dog Amirah continued bending over to let Fiesta sniff her hand Did you name him that because you love birthday parties Well Billy shifted uncomfortably Amirah wasn’t sure if maybe he was shy or just in a rush to get back to work Before Billy could finish his sentence a fluffy black shepherd started to pull at the leash A roly-poly dachshund yipped and ran in a circle around Billy’s legs while the chihuahua pulled the leash in another direction Soon they were all tangled up including Billy Amirah would’ve giggled but Billy’s face had fallen into a frustrated frown Here let me help she said not wanting him to feel even more embarrassed
