Emily was leaving the dinner table when she thought she heard an odd noise coming from the kitchen. Kirsten had already left the room, so she decided to investigate on her own.
Emily saw her dad leaning over pieces of wood, up on the counter. She watched as he placed boxes and other large items around it. What could he be doing? She thought to herself as she watched. She decided the best way to find out would be to ask. "What are you doing sir?" Emily questioned.
Without glancing up (he was concentrating hard) Emilyís dad replied "I can't tell you right now." This peeked Emily's curiosity all the more. If there was anything she had learned from Kirsten since joining this family, it was to not give up. If he couldn't tell her, it must be something for her or Kirsten, She thought.
After the contraption was moved to the kitchen table, Emily climbed up to get a better look. "Are you making something for us?" She asked her dad. "I told you I can't tell you anything right now" he chuckled in response.
Emily was determined now. She would not give up. She continued to watch her dad work on the contraption. "Is it a closet for hanging more clothes?" Emily continued her questioning. "Run along and play now" Emily's dad encouraged her. "You'll find out at the proper time."
Kirsten was engrossed in preparing for her birthday. "Hey Kirsten!" Emily greeted her, "I think I've discovered a mystery!" "Huh? Oh Emily! My birthday is today! Did you know that? It is my birthday! I can't wait for dinner. Do you think adoptive mom and dad will remember my birthday?" Kirsten babbled. "Uh, yeah" Emily replied and then decided that since Kirsten was too preoccupied to help her, she would continue her investigation on her own. "I bet Molly would want to investigate with me" Emily sighed as she walked away.
As Emily wandered into her mom's sewing room she discovered something really interesting. "What is this?" Emily asked herself out loud. "Premium Polyester Fiberfill" Emily read on the front. "Hmmm..." she thought to herself. Then she looked up "What is that?!" She wondered.
Walking over to it Emily examined it closely. Emily pushed on it. "It feels like a cushion" Emily mused. "Where should I look next?" Emily asked herself.
Emily climbed up onto the sewing desk. "Two quadrilateral pieces of fabric?" Emily questioned. "What is going on here?"
Emily moved to get a closer look at one of the pieces of fabric. Suddenly she heard a noise and looked up. I was coming in the room! "Emily! What are you doing?" I questioned. "Uh... uh..." Emily stuttered.
"I am trying to figure out what is going on." Emily confessed. "I see" I replied. "Well, you are welcome to watch if you wish. But I can't yet tell you what this is about." "Does this have something to do with Kirsten's birthday today? Emily asked. I just smiled and Emily decided to go check on her dad.
"You are painting this thing blue?" Emily questioned. "It certainly appears so, doesn't it?" Emily's dad replied.
After her dad left to get something, Emily analyzed the item. "It still could be a storage unit of some sort" she muttered to herself "since Ma'am is always rearranging our things to try to make everything fit. Still, it appeared that whatever ma'am was making, is part of the mystery. Does it go with this?" An idea began forming in Emily's mind and she rushed off to the sewing room again.
Arriving in the sewing room, Emily was just in time to see me cutting a piece of foam. "And what is that for?" Emily asked suspiciously. I laughed and said "here, take a look at all the pieces and see if you've figured it out."
"Hmmm. Two cushions, one long and flat, one short and plump and two pieces of fabric in the shape of a quadrilateral," Emily thought aloud. "I think I know what it is!" Emily exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air. "How many of each of these did you make?" She questioned. "Come and see !" I laughed.
"I knew it!" Emily gleefully exclaimed. "You two made us bunk beds!" "Shhhhhhhhh" Emily's dad replied with a smile. "You are correct; however it is a birthday surprise for Kirsten." "Oh, sorry" Emily lowered her voice to a whisper. "Well, let's go outside. It is time for Kirsten's birthday dinner. I'm sure she's all ready and waiting." I said as I gestured toward the front door.
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Kirsten, Happy Birthday to you!" We all sang.
The mama cat and kitten we brought home from Chicago also enjoyed the birthday celebration. They even tried to sing with us. "Meow meow meeeeeow!" they mewed along with the tempo.
"Thanks!" Kirsten happily said around a mouthful of bread. Emily, being from England, was eating more daintily with a fork and smaller mouthfuls.
"So what did everyone get me for my birthday? When do I get to open my presents?" Kirsten excitedly asked. "Oh dear!" I exclaimed. "I knew I forgot something!" I feigned distress. "What? No gifts!?" Kirsten asked stunned. "How about from you Emily?" Kirsten pitifully pleaded.
"I suppose I have a little something I can give you." Emily tried hard to keep up the ruse. "but it is not very much as I did not know this was your birthday." At that we all had to try not to laugh since Kirsten had been reminding us for the last month.
Kirsten sat back speechless, her bread forgotten in her hand. This was getting to be too much for all of us and we burst out laughing. "Kirsten! We would never forget your birthday, nor to get a present for you!" I managed to say through my laughter.
"We have something very special for you, but first let's have some cake." The cake was the traditional cake that Kirsten has on her birthday. It is heart shaped with strawberries on it. Everyone enjoyed their cake, except Kirsten who wolfed it down so fast I wasn't sure she had any! She was sure anxious to receive her birthday presents!
After finishing her piece of cake, Kirsten pushed back her chair. "Can I have my presents now?" She eagerly asked. "Don't you think you should wait until everyone else has finished their food?" I gently reminded her.
"I am finished eating too" Emily politely said. "Okay, I guess you can open presents now." I conceded. "Yea!" Kirsten shouted as she ran from the table. "Kirsten!" I cautioned and she quickly slowed to a fast walk.
After we cleared away the table Emily presented Kirsten with her gift. "Happy Birthday Kirsten!" Emily announced. "Wow! Thanks Emily!" Kirsten gushed. "It's beautiful! Now we can have a real blanket when we sleep on the pillow instead of a giant one folded up for us!" Maybe it was because she knew something Kirsten didn't, or maybe it was because of Kirsten's enthusiasm but Emily giggled.
"Kirsten, why don't you follow me for a minute?" I asked her. I took Kirsten for a walk around the house while Emily and their dad gathered up the quilt and headed inside. "What is this about? Am I in trouble?" Kirsten worriedly asked. "No honey." I reassured her. "I just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. I'm so happy that you have come to live with us. I hope that you enjoy your birthday and the birthday gift we have for you." As I finished saying this, I led Kirsten into the house.
"A bed!" Kirsten screeched. "We finally have a REAL place to sleep! Oooo, and a doll! Sari! This is the best birthday ever!"
Emily ran to get her doll and the girls sat up most of the night talking and playing dolls.
Several hours later, I came to tell the girls it was time to go to bed. Missy the cat followed me into their room and ran up to investigate Sari. "Hello Missy" Kirsten made her doll, Sari, say. "Girls, it is time for bed" I told them. They obediently rose up and started getting ready for bed.
After the girls changed, we tucked them into bed. "Good-night, sleep tight" I called to them. "Good-night" the girls mumbled back. "I hope you are comfy I whispered as I closed the door." - The End
