Birthday Games

38. Once Upon a Monster Hunt

"Well if a lot of Princesses make the wrong wish because they weren't sure what they wanted yet, wouldn't it be better to give me the wish when I was a bit older?"

"Umm..." Birthday hesitated. Of course it would be better, but she didn't want to go into all the details of that now. Some princesses got their wishes at different ages, it was true, but she couldn't say that now. "Well, maybe it would. But it's your coming-of-age today, so it has to be today. Maybe a little after midnight might be okay, but not after dawn."

"Well then, could you just make me older, so I know all the things that might make me change my mind. You said there's things in the next few years, things I'd learn that might make me wish I'd picked something else. So why don't you give me a little magic to know those things? I mean I know it's a lot to ask for, but you could do that, couldn't you? And then you'd know you helped me to not waste a wish!"

"If anyone else asked, I'd do my best to help," Birthday answered. "There's a problem today, though."

"A problem with me? Or with your magic?"

Birthday almost said a naughty word under her breath, but stopped herself just in time. Karin found herself trying to guess what that word might have been, but she really had no ideas. So she broke out into a fit of giggles instead, stopping only when Birthday decided she would have to explain her mistake.

"Different people get the coming of age at different times," the fairy started by letting Karin in on one of the biggest secrets kept from children across the world. "But you were supposed to get it when you were thirteen. I was on the way here, and I realised I was already late, by more than a year. I was going to get in so much trouble if I didn't give you a wish when you were thirteen. So I cast a spell and made it your thirteenth summer again, just like it was last year and the year before. See, you've already been a big girl, but I had to make you littler again because that's how old you're supposed to be when you wish."

"Right, so you can't undo that?"

"No. Every spell I do, and every little wish you make before the big one, is inviolable. That means that now I've made you younger, any spell that tries to change your age, or what you've learned, or your size, will just make you younger again. It's one way, you can't take a step back."

"That's not fair!" Karin pouted, but she couldn't blame the fairy. She could easily imagine how Birthday must feel, and how she would have done exactly the same thing when she was worried she might get in trouble. She'd always thought of fairies as these magical creatures that had the power to do anything, but now she met one she found a friend just like her, who could make all the same kind of mistakes.

When she looked again, she saw that Birthday was reacting exactly like Karin would, if she'd been told off for doing something naughty. She was trying to put on a brave face, but her lips and eyes were all scrunched up as she struggled not to start crying.

"It's okay!" Karin changed her mind, "I mean, it's fun being thirteen. I can't think of any bad bits about it, so it's not a problem. Don't worry, I won't tell anybody you made a mistake."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Of course," Karin grinned broadly and picked up the fairy in both hands. She had to be gentle because Birthday was so small, but she could give her a hug to help her feel better. Just like Daddy always gave her when she wasn't too happy. "We're both good girls, right, and nobody should be spanked for a silly mistake. So, I just got to not wish for anything that I'd need to be older for, and I'll be fine. Right?"

"Yes. It's hard, though. You don't know how easy it can be to make a mistake with your wishes."

"Oh, I know! I've seen it on telly, and in story books, they always do something silly like saying 'I wish' when they didn't really want to use a wish, or not thinking about how it will work. But I've read lots and lots of stories, and I'm not going to be that dumb."

"It might be harder than you think. I'll try to help you, though. And if you end up turning into a toddler or a baby, then don't worry, because it will probably only last until tomorrow."

"No, I think I'm smart enough not to make a mistake," Karin said, trying to seem more sure than she really was. "And just in case, I'm going to do something really awesome as soon as I can. So even if I get really little after that, everybody has already seen that I'm a big girl really, so I don't need to be embarrassed."

"You're a clever girl," Birthday flew around Karin's head in circles so fast that she started getting dizzy trying to watch the zooming fairy. She'd already guessed that was how the fairy showed she was excited, like bouncing up and down for someone with wings. "I wouldn't be surprised if you really can prove what a big girl you are. But what would you do, that people will still remember even if you get littler later?"

"Mmmm..." Karin mumbled. She had a few ideas in her mind, and she shuffled the cartoony pictures in her head as she thought about it. In one she was wrapping up a present for Daddy, to say thankyou for making her such a wonderful party. If she didn't just think about herself, and got him something too, then that would surely be a sign of how mature she was. But then right next to that mental image was a picture of her chasing down a monster with a sword, and saving the day. If she was a hero, that was more important than how old she was. And her third idea had her standing on a stool, whisking cake batter to turn it into a lovely, sweet confection. She could help with the party, and make sure there were number thirteens everywhere, to remind her friends how old she was. On the banners, and the napkins, and even the number of candles on the cake. They'd remember then that she was a big girl, wouldn't they?

But with three ideas, it was sometimes hard to choose. Karin just 'hmmm'ed under her breath, and stared at the three different images in her mind until one seemed to jump out at her even more than the others.

To help set things up for her birthday party, go to chapter 54

To get a present for Daddy, turn to chapter 107

To try hunting a monster in the woods and show how brave she is, turn to chapter 39

If the chapter you want isn't available yet, go to the first chapter ("Interactive story / Vote here for next chapter") and leave a comment saying which chapter you want to see; or put a ♥ on the comment if someone already requested it.