The Adventure Of Orphans

Chapter 2: Alice's Birthday

[Ren]

I woke up having tidbits of what had happened yesterday. Alice hadn't woke me. I casually got up from the floor. Elli was asleep still on the chair. Jack and Alice were also asleep. Did I wake up early?

I opened the door ever so slightly and closed the door in that manner and remembered Alice and her eyes like the stars. The night stars, a fascination that none of the brightest minds could come up with an explanation. Well they don't really need an explanation. The night was still dark but midnight had passed.

When I think about how long I've spent with this family it's been 2 years. I realized then it was Alice's birthday. I didn't have a gift. What was I to give her? She's turning 9, a year older than me. She's the oldest one and the leader of us. I sighed and then went back into the room to sleep.

[Jack]

I had forgotten all about Alice's birthday! What did Ren and Elli get her? I'll probably just ask them if I could take partial credit. Geez!!

[Elli]

I really hadn't forgotten to buy her anything. I just didn't have the money to buy anything special. After all none of us have the money. We just give each other what we find in the forest. And what we found yesterday isn't really the best thing in the world.

[Ren]

I was the first to be awake so I chose to wake her up. I shook her dillegently. I whispered, "Wake up Alice."

She groaned, "Let me sleep a few more minutes!"

I chuckled, "But it's your birthday! You gotta be early and alive on your birthday."

Alice got up from the bed. She indicated arms, which meant to carry her. I was a slave, as Alice considered what relationship we had. I really didn't mind because she was a friend of mine. I turned around and she got on my back.

I smiled, "You've gotten lighter since last year."

She yawned, "I suppose I have."

I let her down near the table. No one was awake during this time. I started to walk to the kitchen to cook her food. I contemplated on what gift to give. I couldn't go to the forest alone to check out so I guess I'll have to use my coins.

As I cooked her eggs and sausage I pondered too often I had almost burnt the food. As I was getting ready to serve her food, Alice sat with a very saddening look.

"Alice are you alright? You seem a bit down." Serving her food with carefulness.

"Oh it's nothing." She said before gobbling her food.

I went hoping to buy something with 8 gold coins. As I went to the castles to shop I didn't find anything worth while. All their products were worth more than my 8 coins. Although there was something odd, a hat for 9 coins. I looked at the hat with a curious face. The man selling it looked at me.

"Are you going to buy that boy?" He grinned.

"I don't have enough money I only have 8 coins and that hat of yours is 9." My face saddened.

"Tell ya what boy I'll give you a kids discount of 1 coin." He laughed.

"Alright!" I gave my only 8 coins that I had saved up and gave it to him.

I rushed to the inn jumping over the trees in the pathways. I ran quickly as I could wanting Alice to see my present. I had hoped the others had gotten great presents.

Disappointment met my eye as I keened in seeing not much of a great atmosphere. The awkward sense of my hat achieving rather better success than the presents offered to Alice by the others.

A shredded to bits teddy bear were the stuffing was filled with poor quality cotton. The other gift, a mashed up assortments of food that looked awful. I could tell it was made by Elli, she was creative.

Whatever, if Alice is happy all of us will be happy. Although Alice didn't have the happiest face, rather a look of disappointment sent shivers to us. We all looked in each other knowing the only possible solution. We have to face the problem head on.

I went up to her, "Is there anything wrong?" Hoping I could address the problem with her.

Alice shook her head, "No not really why do you ask?"

Then I looked at the other two. We knew we wouldn't be able to solve the problem if Alice was just going to go around it. The whole day was just awkward with the face of Alice.