Life in the mirror

12

MARIA'S POV

I woke the next morning to my alam going off. I reached over to turn it off and was about to turn over and sleep when I remembered. It was my birthday! Instead of going back to sleep I smiled and pulled back the covers. This is it! This is it! I'm 12! I bubbled excitedly. I wandered into the living room and wondered what I would get for my birthday. I wanted to wake every one up but I should let them sleep, it is only 5:45 after all. I wonder if they left my presents hanging round....... No. I will find out soon enough. Although....... No! I should just wake them up now! They could sleep later. It was only my birthday once a year after all. I'll wake them up in 5 minutes, at 6:00am.

True to my word, as soon as the clock hit 6 o'clock I ran to my parents room. What should I say? Get up mum and dad, it's my birthday? No.

"Mum, dad?" I asked softly. The covers ruffled a little.

"Mum, dad?" I asked again, a little more confidently this time. "Can you get up now? I want to open my presents." Dad rolled over. "Good morning and happy birthday." He said, he still sounded tired though he was trying to be cheerful.

"Morning." I replied. "Can I open my presents?"

"Ok, we'll met you in the living room. Wake up Tom." It was mum who answered this time.

"Sure!" I walked to my brothers door, I knew he'd get annoyed at me for waking him up at 6 in the morning but I didn't care. I knocked on his door. "Time to get up, Tom." I heard a faint rumble. "Come on!" I urged, "I want to open my present!"

"Fine. I'm coming." He said and I heard him rolling out of bed. I could barley control my excitement now and I raced to the living room and sat on the couch next to my little puppy dog, wattle. I loved wattle, a lot. She was my dog, although she was really only my dog when it came to cleaning up after her. She was a miniature pincher and she was very, very cute.

When every one was ready, I looked at the pile of presents in front of me. There were about 12 or so. I didn't know which to open first so I picked the coldest one. Cheese. It had the be cheese. And it was most likely from Tom, I had asked for cheese, but I could tell it had been a very last minute present and he hadn't put in much thought. I picked another present. Cheese again. I love cheese! And now I had two whole blocks all my self! I turned and thanked Tom. After several CDs, a bucket of m&ms, a new watch (I had been waiting for ages for a new watch), quick pop equipment and some other cool stuff my pile of presents had gone. I had opened them all, I thanked mum and dad then got up to put the rubbish in the bin when Tom came through the door carrying something that looked heavy.

"What's this?" I asked.

"It's for you." Mum replied.

"Me!!" I asked, how could this whole big thing be for me!

"Yes you." Mum encouraged. I looked at it, what could it be? Maybe a large mirror? I started to take the wrapping of and it revealed a mirror, just as I had suspected. "Wow." I breathed. It was beautiful. It was full length, a little taller that me and it had silver decoration around the edges. "Thanks."I said. Wow, this mirror really was something esle. I looked at my reflection, my orangey brown hair was a bit of a mess and I was still in my pajamajs, but I could see my brown eyes were sparkling with happiness. I loved all the presents I received, and now I had a full length mirror, at last. I couldn't wait to show everyone! The party was at 11am so that gave me plenty of time to pack up every thing and sort all the food out. I just couldn't wait for my birthday party! I turned to the mirror and......... I though my reflection was smiling at me...... But....no. That wasn't possible. I was imaging things! It had to be, or I was going crazy. I took the mirror into my room and looked at it one last time, it was only my reflection this time.