Isadora Moon Has a Birthday
Page 3
“NO!” shouted all my friends.
“The cloud was more fun,” added Sashi.
“We will try to be more normal from now on,” said Dad. “We can see this party has been quite stressful for you, Isadora.”
“NO!” shouted all my friends again.
“Please don’t change,” pleaded Zoe. “We love you and your family the way you are, Isadora.”
“Yes, we do!” said Oliver. “We love that your family is different.”
“Just keep being you!” said Bruno.
I looked around at everyone and felt a big smile spread over my face. I couldn’t help it. I was just so happy! I even smiled at Cousin Wilbur.
“Really?” I said. “You don’t even mind that we got stuck on a cloud in the middle of the sky?”
“It was much more fun than a regular bouncy castle!” said Oliver.
“But I am hungry now,” said Bruno.
“Then it must be time for cake!” said Dad.
Everyone followed Dad back into the house and into the kitchen. A giant cake stood in the middle of the table, decorated all over with stars and bats and stripes. Hundreds of candles were stuck into the icing.
“That’s a lot of candles!” said Samantha.
“It’s the way they do it at vampire and fairy parties,” I explained proudly.
Mom and Dad smiled down at me, and then everyone started to sing.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy biiiirthday, Isadoraaa…”
I tried hard to blow out all the candles. It took a long time, and in the end everyone had to join in.
Dad started to cut the cake.
“This top layer is the red layer,” he said. “Specially for vampires.” He handed a piece to Oliver.
“The second layer is for fairies,” said Mom. “It’s got flower petals in it and changes flavor whenever you take a bite.” She cut a slice from the fairy layer and handed it to Samantha.
“The rest is regular human cake,” said Dad. “Who wants a slice?”
Everyone put up their hands, but no one wanted to eat the regular human cake. They all wanted a slice of the fairy and vampire layers.
“It’s so yummy!” said Oliver.
“You’d better have some red juice to wash it down with,” said Dad, handing him a carton from the fridge.
“This has been the most exciting party ever!” said Zoe happily.
“I’m sad it’s almost over,” said Samantha.
“Well, you can’t leave without your party favors,” said Dad, hurrying out to get them. He came back and handed one to each of my friends.
“Ooh,” said Sashi, pulling something out of her bag. “What’s this?”
“It’s a packet of seeds,” said Mom. “To grow your own flowers. Nature is very important.”
“I’ve got a pot of hair gel!” yelled Bruno.
“I’ve got a flower crown,” said Samantha.
“I’ve got some toothpaste in mine,” said Oliver, puzzled.
“That’s special toothpaste,” said Dad. “It keeps your vampire fangs nice and white. Very important!”
Oliver looked surprised. “But my vampire fangs are just pretend ones!” he said. He put his hand to his mouth and pulled out a set of plastic fangs. Dad’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“Wh-wha…!?” he stuttered.
“I bought them from the costume shop,” said Oliver. “They only cost fifty cents.”
“Fifty cents!” Dad gasped. “The nerve!”
He was still recovering from his shock when the doorbell started to ring. It was time for my friends to go home.
Zoe was the last to leave.
“Goodbye, Isadora,” she said, giving me a warm hug. “Thank you for having me!”
“Thank you for coming!” I said. And I meant it.
Zoe disappeared down the front path with her mom.
“Phew!” said Dad, leaning against the door. “I’m exhausted!”
“Me too,” said Mom.
Wilbur slunk into the hallway.
“I’m leaving now too, Uncle and Auntie,” he said.
“Ah, Wilbur!” said Dad. “I forgot you were still here. Thank you for your…help today.”
Wilbur looked a bit sheepish as he fiddled with his starry wizard hat.
“Ahem,” he said. “You’re welcome.”
Then he looked at me.
“Sorry, Isadora,” he said gruffly. “I should have listened to you more today.”
Then he scooted quickly out the front door before I could say anything. I was shocked. Wilbur had just apologized to me!
I still felt stunned as I followed Mom and Dad back into the kitchen to unwrap my present. Mom opened the cupboard under the sink and took out the gift I’d been waiting to open. We all sat around the table.
“This is a very special present,” said Mom, handing it to me.
“But today you proved you are definitely old enough to use it,” said Dad, smiling.
I started to unwrap the long, thin package. What could it be?
“It’s a…WAND!” I screamed, jumping off my chair and into the air. “My very own wand! Thank you!” I said, dancing around the kitchen and waving the wand so that sparks shot out of the star. “It’s the best present ever!”
Dad smiled and put his arm around Mom. Mom yawned and leaned her head on Dad. They both closed their eyes.
“We’re glad you like it,” they murmured sleepily.
Pink Rabbit and I took another slice of cake and wandered back into the great hall on our own. I waved my new wand around, practicing on small things. I changed the colors of the balloons and made one of them do a somersault in the air. Then I sat down next to the pile of presents from my friends.
“It was a fun party overall, wasn’t it?” I said, licking the last of the icing off my fingers.
Pink Rabbit nodded.
“I mean, it wasn’t perfect,” I said. “But I think everything turned out okay in the end. I think my friends enjoyed it. Don’t you?”
Pink Rabbit nodded again and snuggled into me.
“It was very kind of Mom and Dad to organize such a nice party for me,” I said. “I am glad they are the way they are. If they were any different, then I wouldn’t be me! And I really love being a vampire-fairy.”
I pulled the next present onto my lap and started to unwrap it.
“I’m also glad my friends are the way they are,” I continued. “They are all very special too.”
Pink Rabbit smiled sleepily and yawned.
“I’ve had a great birthday,” I said. “But even so…I think I will plan my own party next year!”
What’s your favorite color?
A. pink
B. black
C. I love them both!
Would you rather go to:
A. a glittery school that teaches magic, ballet, and making flowery crowns?
B. a spooky school that teaches gliding, bat training, and how to have the fanciest hair possible?
C. a school where everyone gets to be totally different and interesting?
On your camping trip, do you:
A. put up your tent with a wave of your magic wand and go exploring?
B. pop up your fold-out four-poster bed and avoid the sun?
C. splash around in the sea and have a great time?
Mostly As
You are a glittery, dancing fairy and you love nature!
Mostly Bs
You are a fancy, caped vampire and you love the night!
Mostly Cs
You are half-fairy, half-vampire and totally unique—just like Isadora Moon!
“Even fairies have to go to school,” said Mom.
&
nbsp; “Vampires too!” added Dad.
“But I don’t want to go to school,” I said. “I have a perfectly busy and fun life at home with Pink Rabbit.”
“But you might enjoy it,” insisted Dad. “I used to love my vampire school as a young boy.”
“And I adored my fairy school!” said Mom, spooning some flower-nectar yogurt into her bowl.
“You’ll have a wonderful time!” They both smiled.
I wasn’t so sure.
“But I’m not a full fairy,” I said. “And I’m not a full vampire. So which school would I go to? Is there one especially for vampire-fairies? Is there a school for me?”
“Well…no,” said Mom. “Not exactly.”
“You are very rare,” said Dad.
“But very special!” added Mom quickly. “And I think fairy school would suit you perfectly.”
“But of course you may prefer vampire school,” said Dad. “It’s a lot more exciting.”
Harriet Muncaster, that’s me! I’m the author and illustrator of Isadora Moon.
Yes, really! I love anything teeny-tiny, anything starry, and everything glittery.
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