Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Forty-Five

"Kathryn," a voice calls, penetrating the fog of my sleep. I turn over, pulling the puffy blanket over myself even more. It's grown a little colder as August ends, and the air conditioner in my room has done nothing to help with that.

The blanket is ripped away from me, and I groan, curling up in a ball. Goosebumps rise on my skin, and I cover my head with my arms.

Someone leaps onto my bed, followed by someone else, and the mattress rocks back and forth as they jump up and down. I shriek and open my eyes to see John and Alex, both in pajamas and sock feet, bouncing around my bed and flinging pillows at each other. When they see that I'm actually awake, they both bend down over me.

"A very merry unbirthday!" Alex loses his balance and falls off the bed, landing on the floor on his butt. John snickers and throws a pillow at him.

I sit up eagerly. "It's my birthday!" My morning coldness has been forgotten, and I give John a hug. It's kind of hard to believe that I'm fourteen now. A year ago today, I found out that I was getting adopted. A year ago today, my life changed forever. I look over at the clock on my desk. "It's also four in the morning."

John hops off of the bed and pulls me with him. "We know, honey. Come on, get up and get dressed."

"Why do I have to?" I rub my eyes and stand up. The cuffs of my pajama pants, which I rolled up last night, are now drooping around my ankles.

Alex is grinning wickedly. "We have a flight to catch, mija, and we're late, we're late, we're late!" He stands up and puts my blanket back onto my bed.

I'm caught off-guard. "What flight? Did I zone out during another family meeting?" John is already pulling a large suitcase from my closet, one that I never even saw before.

He snickers and hands me the suitcase. "Nope. This is called a surprise birthday trip. Now we're going to go and get dressed- you need to, too. There are clothes in the dresser for you, so you can match us."

The two of them exit, leaving me mystified as to what we're doing. I pull open the bureau drawer and find a wrapped package that feels squishy and soft, like clothes. When I unwrap it, a bunch of neatly folded clothes fall out onto my feet. There's a soft teal sweater and a cheerful yellow skirt, teal knee socks and what looks like a fedora. I'm confused for only the briefest of moments before it dawns on me that my dads must want me to dress up as something.

Once I get downstairs, it becomes a little clearer. John is wearing a striped shirt, shorts, and an electric orange snapback hat. Alex has a white collared shirt, purple shorts, and a hat to match John's, only bright green.

"I'm a platypus." The words fall out of my mouth as part shock and part amusement. "You guys have me dressed as a secret agent platypus."

John nods. "And I am Phineas, and your father is Ferb. I find it funny, too- normally, he's the one who does all the talking." Alex elbows him in the ribs.

"Am I allowed to ask where we're going?" I have a general idea, but I want confirmation.

Alex spreads his hands. "I'll give you...how many should we give her, John? One guess?" John nods. "We'll give you one guess, based on everything we've said and done this morning."

I don't even need to think about it. I throw my arms around them, squealing and sending my fedora to the floor. "We're going to Disney?"

John ruffles my hair, then bends down, picks up my hat, and sets it back on my head. "There you go, my dear, working things out like the secret agent you're dressed as."

Alex grabs the handle of his suitcase. "Come on, or we're going to miss the flight. I wasn't joking when I said we were running late."

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