A Tale of Two

Chapter 5

Month-January- 7 months of Hadley being with Eric and Sarah.

Hadley woke up with a flutter of excitement in her stomach. Today was her ninth birthday, and she could hardly contain her joy. The sun streamed through her bedroom window, casting a warm glow over her collection of stuffed animals and books. She leaped out of bed and ran downstairs, her bare feet tapping softly on the wooden steps.

In the kitchen, Sarah, was already busy preparing breakfast. The smell of pancakes filled the air, and Hadley could see a stack of them on the counter, topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Hearing her daughter walking into the kitchen Sarah turned towards her daughter. "Happy Birthday, sweetie!" Sarah said, turning around with a big smile.

"Thanks, Sarah!" Hadley beamed, hugging her tightly. "Where's Eric?"

"He's in the living room, setting up the decorations," Sarah replied. "Why don't you go see him while I finish up here?"

Hadley nodded and dashed into the living room. Her dad, Eric, was standing on a ladder, hanging colorful streamers from the ceiling. Balloons in every shade of the rainbow were scattered around the room, and a large banner that read "Happy 9th Birthday, Hadley!" hung above the fireplace.

"Hey, birthday girl!" Eric called out, climbing down the ladder to give her a hug. "How does it look?"

"It's perfect!" Hadley exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight. "I can't wait for Lily to see it."

Lily was Hadley's best and only friend. Though Hadley didn't have many friends, she cherished her bond with Lily deeply. The rest of the guests at her party would be her family, and she knew it would be a day filled with love and laughter.

After breakfast, Hadley helped her parents set up the rest of the party. They arranged a table with snacks and drinks, and Sarah brought out a beautiful cake she had baked the night before. It was a chocolate cake with pink frosting and decorated with little sugar flowers.

As the morning turned into afternoon, the doorbell rang. Hadley rushed to open it, her heart pounding with excitement. There stood Lily, holding a brightly wrapped gift and grinning from ear to ear.

"Happy Birthday, Hadley!" Lily shouted, throwing her arms around her friend.

"Thanks, Lily! I'm so glad you're here," Hadley said, leading her inside. "Come on, I want to show you everything!"

The two girls spent the next hour playing games and giggling as they explored the decorated living room. They played pin the tail on the donkey, had a balloon-popping contest, and even tried their hand at a homemade piñata that Eric had crafted.

Soon, the rest of Hadley's family began to arrive. Her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins filled the house with cheerful chatter and warm hugs. The living room buzzed with excitement as everyone gathered around to celebrate Hadley's special day.

Sarah called everyone to the dining table, where the cake was waiting with nine candles ready to be lit. Hadley took her place at the head of the table, with Lily by her side. Eric lit the candles, and the room fell silent as they all began to sing "Happy Birthday."

Hadley closed her eyes and made a wish. She wished for more days like this, filled with love, laughter, and the company of those she cared about most. She blew out the candles, and the room erupted in applause.

"Time for cake!" Sarah announced, cutting generous slices for everyone. The cake was delicious, and Hadley savored every bite, grateful for her mom's baking skills.

After cake, it was time to open presents. Hadley's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she unwrapped each gift. She received books, toys, and clothes from her family, each one accompanied by heartfelt birthday wishes.

Finally, it was Lily's turn to give her gift. Hadley carefully unwrapped the colorful paper to reveal a beautifully crafted friendship bracelet.

"I made it myself," Lily said, blushing slightly. "I hope you like it."

"It's perfect, Lily. Thank you so much," Hadley said, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. "I'll wear it every day."

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing with Hadley's new toys and enjoying the company of her family. As the sun began to set, the guests started to leave, each one giving Hadley a warm hug and wishing her a happy birthday once more.

When the last guest had gone, Hadley sat on the couch with her parents and Lily, feeling content and happy. Sarah and Eric looked at their daughter with pride and love, grateful for the joy she brought into their lives.

"Did you have a good birthday, Hadley?" Sarah asked, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face.

"It was the best birthday ever," Hadley replied, snuggling closer to her mom. "Thank you for everything."

"We're glad you had a great time." Sarah replied. For the rest of the night they watched movies and ate popcorn. Everything was perfect for everyone. 

Heyyy guys I hope you enjoy. I'm not really sure if there is anything to say right now but again I hope you are enjoying the book. 

Also remember I am not the best person to write, yes I may be in college but I was never the best to write essays or anything like that.