Broken Birthday

by Courtney Sheinmel

  I smiled, feeling like I could almost remember that moment myself. “Remember when I changed my name this year, and then I changed it back?”

  “Of course I remember,” Mom said. “You’ve had a lot of adventures this year.”

  “I cut my hair really short,” I said. “Willa moved away, and I met Evie. I was in a wedding, and I got a new cousin. I got a pet fish. I was on TV.”

  Mom smoothed my hair back from my forehead. “Lots of good eight-year-old memories,” she said. “I know nine isn’t starting out the way you expected it to. But we’ll do our best to make it a special birthday anyway.”

  “I don’t want a cake,” I said.

  “You don’t have to have anything you don’t want,” Mom said. “But may I ask why?”

  I turned to look at the curtain, and then I looked back at Mom. In the softest whisper I’d ever whispered in my whole entire life, I said, “I don’t want to have cake in front of Camille.”

  “I see,” Mom said.

  “Plus, it’s her half birthday,” I added.

  “Okay, Stel,” Mom said. “Don’t worry.”

  “But really, Mom,” I said. “It wouldn’t be fair.”

  “Shhh,” she said. “It’s okay. I’ve got it. Go to sleep now. Have sweet dreams, little Stella.”

  “I’m not so little anymore,” I reminded her.

  “You’ll always be little to me,” Mom said. “My sweet birthday girl. Close your eyes now.”

  I had more to say, but my eyelids suddenly felt heavy. I closed my eyes, and fell asleep, and dreamed about birthday cakes all night long.

  CHAPTER 10

  Happy Birthday

  When I woke up the next day, it really was my birthday. Even though I was in a hospital room, it LOOKED like my birthday. There were signs up that said, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STELLA!” in all the colors of the rainbow. There were balloons, too. Some regular balloons in yellow and blue, which are my two favorite colors. And then there were other balloons that looked like doctors’ gloves, but all blown up.

  Mom was in her chair beside me, looking out the window. “Mom,” I whispered. “Mom!”

  “Good morning, birthday girl,” she said. She stood and came to the side of my bed. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I didn’t even hear anyone come in to decorate. Was it you?”

  She shook her head. “The hospital has little elves for that kind of thing,” she said. “Like Christmas elves, but for birthdays. Do you like it?”

  “I love it,” I said.

  “Is that Stella?” Camille called from the other side of the curtain. “Stella, you’re awake?”

  “I am!” I called back. “Come over!”

  Camille came over, tugging her IV pole. “Happy birthday!” she said.

  “Thanks,” I said. “Happy half birthday to you!”

  “Thanks,” she grinned. “Do you like the signs?”

  “I love them,” I said.

  “I made that one,” Camille told me, pointing to the rainbow-est one of all, above the TV. “I got up extra early so it’d be a surprise.”

  “That’s my favorite one!” I told her.

  Gina came into the room to say happy birthday, and also to do hospital things, like take vital signs. Mom brought a little tray over, so I could brush my teeth. I rinsed and spit into a little bowl because the sink was too far away. Then I had to go to the bathroom. Camille went back to her side of the room, and Gina pulled the curtain. It wasn’t as bad as the last time. But still, I told Gina I couldn’t wait until I was allowed out of my bed.

  Once I was all cleaned up, Gina pulled back the curtain between Camille’s and my bed, so it was like we were in one big room. Breakfast was delivered. There was a candle in my pancakes. I made a wish and blew it out.

  Camille had scrambled eggs to eat. I offered her a bite of my pancakes, but Gina said no because of the syrup. I felt bad eating them in front of her. It made me a little bit less hungry, and I pushed the pieces of pancake around on my plate.

  “Everything okay, Stella?” Mom asked.

  I nodded. “Yeah, I just hope my wish comes true,” I said.

  “What’d you wish for?” Camille asked.

  “I can’t tell you,” I said.

  “Well, I hope it comes true, too,” Mom said, bending down to kiss my forehead.

  I looked over at Camille. “Hey, Mom, do you know what the lunch choices are yet?”

  “I have the menu right here,” she said. She read from the list: “A burger, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken nuggets, pizza, or peanut butter and jelly.”

  “What are YOU getting?” I asked Camille.

  “I have a special menu,” she said. “I picked a turkey hot dog.”

  “Do you think I can have the same thing?” I asked Mom.

  “I’ll let Gina know,” Mom said.

  “Thanks,” I said. “And can you also ask if she can still bring me art supplies from the playroom?”

  “I’m sure she would,” Mom said. “You’re in the mood to draw something today?”

  “Yes!” I said. “I need to make half birthday signs to decorate Camille’s side of the room!”

  “Really?” Camille asked.

  “Of course,” I told her.

  “That’s an art project I’d like in on,” Mom said. She went to talk to Gina, and came back with supplies. The three of us got to work. Our room had to be the most festive room in the whole entire hospital. When we were done, we started a Spit tournament, which went on for a long time because we’re both really good players. We played all the way up until it was lunchtime.

  Camille went into the bathroom to wash her hands. Since I couldn’t leave my bed, Mom gave me a wet nap.

  “You remember what I said about the cake, right?” I asked.

  “I do,” Mom said.

  “Okay, good.” I paused. “You know what’s weird? No one has visited me yet today.”

  “You had a lot of visitors yesterday,” Mom reminded me.

  “I know,” I said. “But today’s my birthday.”

  “Are you having an okay day?”

  “Oh yes,” I said. “And you want to know something?”

  “What?”

  “I sort of want visitors, but I sort of don’t,” I said, lowering my voice to a whisper. “I don’t want Camille to feel bad.”

  “You’re a sweet girl, Stella,” Mom said.

  “Unless my wish comes true,” I said. “And then visitors would be okay.”

  Mom didn’t get a chance to ask me about my wish, because Camille came out of the bathroom. Besides I wouldn’t have told her, because when you tell wishes, there’s a better chance that they won’t come true.

  After lunch, my wish didn’t come true, but I did get a bunch of visitors. First Dad and Penny arrived. They didn’t have Marco with them—he’d stayed behind with Mrs. Miller. But they had MORE balloons. I told Dad to tie them up to the side of Camille’s bed, since I already had a bunch. Then Grandma and Grandpa stopped by. They sat in Camille’s guest chairs again. We didn’t have to pull them over because the curtain was still open like one big room with everyone together. With all the decorations, it felt like a party. Plus, there were presents. I got a big cozy stuffed animal from my grandparents. I thought I was a little bit too old for a stuffed animal. But this one was special because you could use it as a pillow, too. Penny gave me a notebook with a dolphin on it. Dolphins are my favorite animal in the whole entire world, and notebooks are my favorite present, because I can write more books in them. “Thanks,” I told her.

  “Mom and I have a present for you, too,” Dad said. “It just hasn’t arrived yet.”

  “Wow,” Camille said. “You’re getting so much stuff.”

  My eyes slid to Camille, and then back to Dad. “That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t need anything.”

  “I don’t know what’s in the hospital food,” Dad said. “That doesn’t sound like the Stella I know.”

  I felt my
cheeks getting pink like cotton candy. Actually, they were hot enough that they may have been red as Swedish Fish candy. I was a little bit relieved when Grandma and Grandpa said they had to leave, even though Penny wasn’t happy about it.

  “You just got here,” she said, pouting.

  “I know, sweets,” Grandma said. “But we have to go watch your brother. Mrs. Miller has plans this afternoon.”

  “You can come with us, if you want,” Grandpa offered.

  “But I don’t want to . . .” Penny lowered her voice. “I don’t want to miss the surprise,” she whispered.

  “It’s not a cake, is it?” I said.

  “Guess again!” Penny cried.

  “That’s enough out of you,” Dad told her.

  Then Grandma and Grandpa said they really had to go, so Penny ran over and gave them hugs good-bye. Of course I couldn’t get out of bed to do the same, but they both leaned over the bed to say good-bye to me. Then they said good-bye to Dad.

  “Where’s Mom?” I asked. “She was just here a minute ago.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be right back,” Dad said. “Good-bye, good-bye,” Grandma and Grandpa called. As they walked out, I heard someone in the hall say, “Pardon me.” I knew exactly who that was.

  “EVIE!” I practically shouted.

  Evie rushed into my room. Her dad was right behind her. “Happy birthday, Stella!” Evie said. “Oh my, you have quite a broken leg, don’t you?”

  “I do,” I said. “I needed way more than seven stitches. The doctor didn’t even count.”

  “Wow,” she said. I introduced Camille to Evie and her dad. They all said Nice to meet you to each other. “I don’t have a present for you yet, because Sara and Tesa are sending it from London,” Evie explained to me. “I didn’t think I’d see you until AFTER your birthday.”

  “That’s okay,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Really? I thought you wanted to be with Willa.”

  “Hold that thought,” Dad said.

  Mom was walking back in the room. And she wasn’t alone.

  CHAPTER 11

  My Birthday Wish

  WILLA WAS WITH HER!!!!

  Willa, plus her mom, whose name is Gayle. But I barely said hello to her. I just shouted: “WILLA!!!!!!!!”

  “Welcome back to Somers, Willa Go-Getter,” Dad said.

  Penny was hopping up and down. “Do you like your surprise?” she asked me. “Do you like it?”

  “I love it!” I said.

  I wished I could jump up and give Willa the biggest hug in the whole entire world, but of course that wasn’t possible. Instead, she leaned over my bed and we hugged with me propped against the pillows. Then she hugged my dad and Penny. (I bet she’d hugged my mom out in the hallway.)

  Gayle hugged me and the rest of my family, too, and all the people who didn’t know each other shook hands. I kept squeezing my eyes shut and opening them again to make sure the whole thing wasn’t a dream, like when Dr. Fuentes was dressed like a gorilla. But every time I opened my eyes, Willa was STILL there! This was REAL LIFE!

  “Stella, are your eyes okay?” Mom asked.

  “Oh, yes,” I told her. “They’re fine. They just don’t quite believe they’re seeing the best surprise in the whole entire world!”

  “I have more surprises for you,” Willa said. She grabbed a bag her mom was holding, and brought out a big box. I pulled off the wrapping paper. You probably won’t be able to guess what it was, so I’ll just tell you:

  A friendship bracelet–making kit!

  “Now we can make matching ones!” Willa said.

  “Thanks,” I told her. “I’m going to make a whole bunch—one for you, and one for Camille, and one for Evie.”

  “For me?” Evie asked.

  Right then I remembered what had happened in the car on the way to school on My Birthday Observed. When I started talking about Willa, Dad changed the subject and said we’d talk later. I’d been so busy thinking about Willa that I hadn’t realized what he wanted to talk about, but now I did. Dad was worried I’d been hurting Evie’s feelings.

  Willa and I had been friends for a long time, and I missed her. But Evie was one of my very best friends, too. I would never want to say anything to hurt her. “Yes, of course,” I told her. “I’m really glad you’re my friend.”

  “I’m glad you’re mine, too.”

  “Batts Confections delivery!” someone called from the doorway. I looked over, and there was Stuart. “Delivery! For the eldest young Ms. Batts!”

  “That’s me,” I said. “But I thought you didn’t work at the store anymore.”

  “This is my last day,” Stuart said. “I’d never move to New York before your birthday.”

  “Wow, thanks,” I said.

  He had a big Batts Confections bag with him—pink with silver writing that had BATTS CONFECTIONS written out in swirly letters. He reached in and pulled out—a cake! He placed it on the wheelie table right next to the bed, so I could look at it.

  It was definitely the most beautiful cake I’d ever seen in my whole entire life—even more beautiful than the one we’d brought to Aunt Laura’s wedding. That cake had five tiers, all decorated with different candy. This cake was only one tier, covered in yellow frosting. There were waves of blue frosting around the edges, and a frosting dolphin leaping across the top of the cake. It had a sign in its mouth that said: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STELLA THE BRAVE!

  “Stuart spent all night on it,” Dad said. “What do you think?”

  I thought it was greatest cake in the whole entire world.

  But I also thought it was sad, because Camille couldn’t eat it.

  “I love it,” I said. “Thanks, Stuart. Can we put it back in the bag? I’d like to save it for later.”

  “Do you mean we don’t get to eat cake right now?” Penny asked.

  I shook my head.

  “No fair!” she said.

  “Are you not feeling well, darling?” Dad asked.

  “No, I feel fine,” I said. “I just don’t feel hungry for cake.”

  That wasn’t true, of course. I am ALWAYS hungry for cake, and I was especially right then. My stomach even grumbled a little, because the smell of cake deliciousness was making me even hungrier!

  “If I’m hungry for cake, can I have a piece?” Penny asked.

  “We’re not cutting into your sister’s birthday cake until she’s ready,” Dad said.

  “Just a sliver?” Penny asked.

  But Dad told Penny no—the cake would not be cut into until the birthday girl was ready. It was the Birthday Rule.

  “Wah!” Penny fake cried.

  “I think I know why Stella isn’t hungry right now, and I may be able to fix that,” Mom said. She leaned in close to me. “Stel, I want to assure you that everyone in this room is allowed to eat that cake.”

  “But . . . ,” I started. I lowered my voice. “But the sugar,” I nearly whispered.

  “Your mom told me you wanted a sugar-free cake, and your birthday wish was my command,” Stuart said.

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really,” Mom said. “Plus, it’s nut-free, so Willa can eat it, too.”

  I’d nearly forgotten about all of Willa’s allergies. “Hooray!” I said. “Happy birthday to me!”

  “Goody!” Penny said. “Now we can eat!”

  But Stuart said there was one more thing to do. He stuck ten candles in the cake—nine for my birthday, and one to grow on. Then he started to light them with a match.

  “Wait!” Evie called out. She grabbed her dad’s cell phone and punched some numbers in.

  “Who are you calling?” I asked.

  “You’ll see,” she said. She had the phone pressed against her ear. Someone must’ve picked up because she said, “Hi, it’s Evie. Are you both there? Okay, good. I’m going to put you on speakerphone.” She pressed a button, and held the phone out. Then she nodded to Stuart. “We’re ready now.”

  He lit the candles,
and everyone in the room started to sing the happy birthday song, plus the people on the phone. I recognized Lucy’s, Talisa’s, and Arielle’s voices.

  “Happy birthday, dear Stella!” everyone sang. “Happy birthday to you!”

  “Thank you,” I said. I looked at Evie. “How did you know Lucy, Talisa, and Arielle would be all together?”

  “We planned it,” Evie said. “They wanted to be here too, but the hospital doesn’t allow that many visitors all at once.”

  “Knock knock,” Talisa said.

  “Who’s there?” I asked.

  “Cards,” she said.

  “Cards who?”

  “Cards we made you for your birthday because we couldn’t be there! Evie said she’d bring them to you.”

  Talisa is always telling knock-knock jokes. Sometimes she makes them up and they don’t make much sense. But this one made me smile.

  “Everyone made cards,” Arielle said softly. “Not just us. The whole class did after you left on Friday. We were all thinking about you and worrying about you. We couldn’t concentrate on any school stuff, so Mrs. Finkel let us make cards instead.”

  “Even Joshua made one,” Lucy said.

  “Even Mrs. Finkel!” Talisa told me.

  “I brought them all,” Evie said. “Do you want them?”

  “Oh yes,” I said.

  “Oh no!” Penny cried.

  “No?”

  “I mean not yet,” she said. “First you need to make a wish and blow out your candles. And you need to hurry up! The wax is dripping on the frosting!”

  “Oh, right,” I said. “But I made a wish this morning. And I’ve gotten so many presents, I don’t have any wishes left. But today is also Camille’s half birthday, so she can make a wish this time.”