'It was my birthday.I was walking in a maze full of vampires when a soft,hissing voice disturbed my vision bringing me back to the world of conscience.The tightly held eyelids protested before they were parted apart.I woke up to the most penetrating eyes that beamed back at mine.The scene of blur cleared up so swiftly at the humming voice that sung,"Happy birthday to my little Cwittle".
I smiled at her.She kissed me on my forehead and shook me awake.She smiled back tenderly.
"Wake up,kiddo.Its time for the little prince to get ready"she said.
"Can't he sleep a few more minutes?",i asked appealing.
"No,he can't miss those minutes of fun on his birthday"she smiled back.
And then i didn't know how she did it,but she had got me ready in a spur.Later,I was waiting at the breakfast table neatly dressed in my birthday dress.I was sitting there pondering over how the day is going to be.'I will go to school,oh that's not fun anyways,it will still be long and boring even on birthdays.Or may be you can skip punishments on your birthdays,but still those would be saved for later.Actually,the fun part comes after school,the party!.Yes,that would be great,friends coming over,the birthday cake,the games and the presents'.I then recalled the events of my previous birthday,the party part was great then too but then he was there!.
Considering that i could steal a moment,i rushed to my room.The package lay there on a corner.I propped it up and rummaged its contents,they were the photographs with my dad on the top layer,and the presents he had gifted me beneath.The kitten house,the fisherman's basket,mechanix monster,the lolloping hare,the metro train and so many tiny little things.I loved dad,just his presence would make me cheerful.But he seemed to care less,he visited home infrequently but whenever he arrives he gets me a present and his stay would be more special.And evertyime,he leaves he wouldn't declare his departure leaving me to find him gone when i wake up the next morning.
But this time,he said he would be there for my birthday and i had been waiting for him.'All i want to do is,hand him the package and say,"I don't want these,i want you to be here with me."' I pondered.
I then felt a pressure on my shoulder.I turned back to see my mother stooping over me.
"What are you doing,Kevin?"she sounded stern.
"Just checking if the things are right"i answered.
"I told you he won't come,now come and have your breakfast".
I was disgruntled at this.I couldn't approve those words.
"He promised me he would come and he will come" i yelled and my voice broke.
Tears started rolling down my cheeks.She was barely visible through my moist eyes but i could say she was baffled.
"I..um..ok.."she was searching for words but could find none.
She bent down on her knees and pulled me into a hug.
"It's ok,cwittle"she spoke airily,"mom is here,my prince shouldn't weep"
"Prince wa...wants his d-dad too"i whimpered.
Then after so much drama,i was walking to school carrying my enormous bag.School was three blocks away and mom walks me there usually.But that day,i preferred to go by myself.My head was heavy,i wondered if wanting my father closer was greed or something.But then the other children have theirs,all the tales that they recite of their fathers,i could only envy them.Although,I'd been used to it,it was from the last time he visited,i missed him so much.I was sauntering all the way,not realising how far i had walked.Looking up,i realised i was standing at the entrance of my class.
A gust of wind blew on my face clearing away the burden on my mind.My friends came to me promptly,wishing me and singing in chorus,the happy birthday song.I just stood there blushing.That really helped me with my spirits and my mood sprung over to a healthy disposition.But then the classes started and with them came boredom.The idleness and with it the temptation to sleep came over.Finally the bell sounded freedom and instilled energy within.
It was break.One could tell by the tumultuous noise in the corridors.We were running around and playing along the corridors.I had to be the catcher since it was my birthday.That was really fun as we played around laughing and giggling.
And I was chasing my friend Pranav.I was determined to win over him,he had managed to elude every single time before,but not on my birthday.He ran down the steps and i pursued after him.We were moving so swiftly that i couldn't manage to brake when he skidded off the floor and hit the door on the side and it opened,I dodged him by leaping over him but was tripped by the threshold,hit a chair in the room and pushed it to regain balance.I fell to a shattering noise.My friend lay beside crumpled to a heap.I steadied myself,glancing in the direction of the noise.There lay shattered pieces of glass,over which stood a gigantic embodiment of a figure.It took some time for me to realise that the broken glass was from the principal's cabin and the silhouette i just saw over me was the principal himself.
