Secrets of the Island (Sequel to Mysteries of Mako)

Chapter 6: Surprise!

It was Evie's birthday today. After Sirena told Mimmi and I how birthdays worked on land, and about the surprise party Zac was planning for Evie, the two of us started working on something to give as gifts for her. Mimmi was working on something by her potion table while I was by the center table, working on a hair piece with shells in it. Sometime later, there was a floral smell coming from Mimmi's table, so we decided to go look at what she was working on.

"That smells nice." Ondina comments.

"It's water lily perfume." Mimmi says, "I'm giving it to Evie for her birthday."

"Giving?" Ondina asks.

"Yeah, I'm giving her a shell bracelet." Sirena says.

"And I'm working on a hair piece. What about you?" I add.

"Why are you giving Evie presents?" Ondina asks again.

"Land people do the opposite of what we do." Sirena explains. "Instead of giving presents on their birthday, they get them."

"That's strange."

"That's not all." I add, "Sometimes, land people have parties where you can dress up as anything, even an animal."

"I am not doing that!" Ondina exclaims.

"Don't worry," Sirena says, "it's not that kind of party."

"But you still have to give her a present." Mimmi adds, putting the lid on the perfume bottle.

"We can all give her the perfume." Ondina says, taking the bottle from her.

"I mean, a present each." Mimmi adds, taking the bottle back.

After that, Ondina and Sirena went to look at something else while I went to finish adding the last few shells on my headpiece.

"Hey Manoa, want to come with me to the Cafe?" Mimmi asks sometime later.

"Sure, I just finished up here." I respond, and we head out to the Cafe. When we got there, we saw Evie at her shop. "Hey, Evie." I say, getting her attention.

"It's your special day." Mimmi adds.

"You wouldn't know it." Evie says, putting some stuff in her bag.

"You're packing up already?" Carly asks, coming over to us.

"I'm gonna do something for my birthday, even if I have to do it by myself." Evie says.

"Like what sort of things?" Carly asks.

"Might go out. Might go home. The world is my oyster." Evie says, going back to packing her bag as Carly leads Mimmi and I away.

"Evie is talking about going home." She says quietly, "It'll ruin the surprise, you two have to do something."

"Us?" I ask.

"I can't." Carly says, "I'm working."

"What do we do?" Mimmi asks.

"It doesn't matter. Just keep her busy for three hours until the party starts."

"How will we know when three hours is up?" I ask.

"Look at a watch." Carly says before returning to work.

"So, do you want to do something?" Mimmi asks as we go back to Evie.

"Like what?" She asks.

"Your presents." I say, "We could give you your presents. It's at Rita's. We think you'll really like them."

"Yeah. Okay. Sounds nice." Evie says before we leave the cafe and head back to the Grotto.

"Hey guys." Mimmi says as we enter, "Evie's here."