Foxy's First Mate

Happy Birthday, lad!

The kids scrabbled into the room as one of the workers carried in a birthday cake. The adults were helping the kids get seated so they could each get a slice of cake before the show started.

An adult female, who was the mom to the birthday child, clapped her hands to get the children's attention. "Alright everyone, time to sing!" Another adult flipped off the main light as the candles on the cake were lit and the children started singing.

"Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear Joseph.
Happy Birthday to you!"

The adults and children cheered for him as Joseph blew out his candles in a single breath. All that was left was the smoking candles and the boy's smile on his face. The worker flipped on the main light again as they left the room, leaving the children to their cake.

After about 10 minutes, the children were done with their cake and were all seated on mats in front of a stage with purple curtains adorn with silver stars, eagerly awaiting the duo they came to see.

The worker who had brought in the cake walked back into the room and stood front of the curtain and the kids with a smile. "Alright kids, who's ready to met yer favorite pair of pirate pals?" he said with a fake pirate accent, though the kids didn't mind. The kids cheered in excitement. "Alrighty then! I'll go tell first mate Kitten y'all are ready to set sail." the worker told the kids before disappearing behind the curtain.

After a minute, the curtains opened and there stood two tall red-furred animatronics, one a fox and the other a cat. Both had on pirate's clothes and stood side by side. The fox had a hook for a hand and some gold teeth in his smile as well as an eyepatch over his right eye. The cat had on a pirate's hat and vest with a red sash tied around her waist. She was also holding a smaller pirate's hat in her hands.

The fox was the first to speak. "Ahoy maties!" he greeted the kids with his pirate accent. "Captain Foxy here with me first mate, Kitten!"

"Ahoy." Kitten greeted with a smile. Her accent wasn't as strong as Foxy's was.

"So, I've heard rumors that we be celebrating a birthday today. Is it true?" he asks the kids with a smile. The children cheered in response with tons of excitement. "And who be the lucky lad or lass we celebrating?" Joseph, who was sitting up front shot his hand into the air with a huge smile. Foxy's eyes made contact with his as he pointed at him. "There he be! Come on over to yer cap'ian so he and his first mate may give ye a gift." he instructed and Joseph swiftly complied.

Once he was standing in front of the stage, Kitten kneeled down and helped him up onto the platform. "And what be your name?" she asked him sweetly.

"Joseph," he told her with a huge smile.

"Well Joseph, today be your birthday. So we give you the gift of becoming a member of our crew." Kitten told him as she placed the hat on his head.

Joseph was giddy with excitement and hugged the cat. "Thank you!"

She gave him a hug in return. "Of course, lad. Don't forget to thank the captain," she said before letting go.

Joseph parted from Kitten and hugged Foxy. "Thank you, captain Foxy."

Foxy side hugged him with a pat on the back. "It be nothing, laddie. Happy Birthday." he smiled before letting him go.

Once Joseph was back in his seat, Foxy took a step forward. "Alrighty, ye children! Who's ready to hear one of yer captain's great adventures on the seven seas?" The kids cheered with excitement and Foxy laughed a bit. "Alright then!" he started as he returned next to his first mate. "This be the story of how Kitten became me first mate and helped me take down the evil ghost pirate, Captain Bowheart." The children listened closely as Kitten began their story.

"It all started on a loading dock."