Astronomically Imposterble

Purple

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Cordelia. Happy birthday to you," a small group of kids and family sing as they surround seven year old Cordelia Bryant.

She sits in front of a chocolate frosted cake, her gaze fixated on the small flame coming from the candle. She glances up at everyone as the song comes to an end before she closes her eyes and blows out the candle, mentally saying her wish. The room erupts in cheers and applause as Franny, Cordelia's paternal aunt, plucks the candle out of the cake once most of the smoke has disappeared. Lewis, Cordelia's uncle, comes up behind her and starts slicing the cake. She smiles up at everyone before scrunching her nose at her cousin who's now making faces at her. She sticks her tongue out. He shrugs. Lewis hands her a plate of cake, shooting his son Wilbur a small glare. She smirks, victorious, as she accepts the plate before heading off.

Cordelia finds one of her close friends, Jackie, sitting alone at the coffee table. She's picking at her plate of cake but smiles when she notices Cordelia walk up to her. Cordelia barely manages to sit down before Jackie's shoving something in her face. She raises an eyebrow as she sets her plate down and gingerly accepts the present. Jackie smiles softly.

"Mom said we're gonna head out soon," she informs. Cordelia glances around the room before finding Jackie's mom who's talking with Franny while they eat their dessert. "So I wanted you to open my present first." Cordelia snorts. "I know it'll be your favorite." Jackie shrugs. "So, yeah, I wanna see you open it." The girls share a smile. Jackie gestures for her to start unwrapping the present. "Go! No one's paying attention."

Cordelia laughs softly under her breath as she digs into the wrapping paper. It's an oddly shaped present with even weirder wrapping paper. She glances up at Jackie and raises an eyebrow as she attempts to get past the barricade of tape. Jackie shrugs, her smile growing. Cordelia shakes her head as she finally manages to unwrap the present. Her eyes widen and a small gasp escapes her lips as she figures out what it is.

"You got me a telescope?" she whispers. Jackie nods. Cordelia fiddles around with the handheld telescope, her fingers brushing across all the ridging. "That's so cool."

"I know it isn't the telescope you wanted but I couldn't find one that wasn't a gazillion dollars," Jackie apologizes. Cordelia looks up and shakes her head. She sets the telescope beside her on the table as she reaches across and grabs Jackie's hand, a warm smile on her face.

"I love it." Jackie's expression lightens. Cordelia's smile brightens for a moment before she goes back to inspecting the telescope. "Seriously, Jackie, I love it." She holds it up to her eyes and points it at Jackie. The girls start laughing. "Yep, works perfectly fine," she deduces before closing it. Jackie shakes her head lightly.

"You look more like a pirate than an astronomer." Cordelia shrugs. "Does this mean you're switching careers? Should I buy you an eyepatch for Christmas?" Cordelia laughs but reaches across the table and lightly shoves Jackie back. Jackie joins in on the laughter. "Okay, that's a no to the eyepatch." She looks over at her mother and Franny. "Do you think your aunt will let me buy you a parrot then?" Cordelia snorts.

"Good luck with that. The only pet we've been able to talk her into getting is a frog." Jackie glances back at Cordelia and sticks her tongue out. Cordelia nods. "She said something about wanting to teach them to sing." Jackie raises an eyebrow and tilts her head. Cordelia continues to nod. "Yeah, I know. Sounds bizarre." They glance over at Franny only for their view to get blocked by Lewis coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her. They look back to each other before laughing. "She's weird," Cordelia offers with a small shrug. Jackie giggles.

"You can say that again." They share a smile before digging into their slices of cake. "What if I got Lewis to agree to a parrot?" Cordelia gasps softly before smirking. Jackie giggles. Lewis would do. Franny can't say no to Lewis.