It is thirteen of December and winter holidays are coming. Today is her birthday and her few relatives are also there to celebrate with her. Guests have already arrived in her house but there were still a few missing and one that matters the most is her best friend Alicia. Casey has her grandparents with her , her aunt Catherine who came two hours early along with her entire weird family. There is one decent person in her family, her uncle David. He must have brought a decent gift for her and that is the thing that matters to her. “gift!” yes it is gifts that matters for her. She is selfish, a trait that she share with her mom and her best friend Alicia.
“Do it,” said her father while she was holding a knife, closing her eyes, ready to make a wish but before it happens an annoying child came right through the crowd and blown the candles away.
“Stop it Anna darling,” said her mother, Catherine, Casey’s aunt who she doesn’t like very much. Anna is small, two years of age, her brother John is four and her elder sister is of the same age as Casey. Father is David Cutler who is a manager in a software company Soft-tech Inc.
“Forget it,” said Edward while her mother tried desperately to lit the candles again. Casey cut the cake and make the damn wish. She giggled saying herself, “I will be damned with such a wish”.
She received a stuffed monkey from her dad who still feels for her as a kid. Mother gave her a “Prada handbag” must be expensive but she knew there is some dirty secret to it that her mom will never share with her. Her uncle gave her an iPod, Grandparents only gave her “their best wishes”.
“A creepy whistle!” she knows it is her doorbell that make creepy sound and she doesn't like that very much.
Finally, “Alicia is here, my best friend who always comes late on every important day in my life,” said Casey opening the door, welcoming her best friend at her birthday.
“Did it happen?” asked Alicia to her.
“What? ... Happened?” said she to her who was adjusting back of her jacket.
“Did you ask your parents for the tour,” said Alicia with a half exciting and half surprising expressions.
“Shut up, it is not the right time,” said Casey, “I will ask when the time is right.”
“It is the right time, tell them, I can ask them if you want?”
“No,” she said boldly.
“Where is my gift?” said she with a commanding voice.
“What gift!” she asked with a smirking face.
“Why you are such ...”
But before she make it to the end, Alicia gave her the book set of “His dark materials”. Casey’s favorite novel writer Philip Pullman.
They both went inside to the main room. Everyone welcome Alicia in the main room but her father was not there. He doesn’t like her much but still she is her best friend.
“Where is dad?” said she to her mom who was talking to her sister.
“There, in the kitchen preparing your favorite ‘Chinese recipe’ for the dinner,” said she to her daughter.
“Let’s go to my room,” said she to her friend and they both went upstairs with her birthday gifts. Anna followed them,
“No baby don’t do that,” David said while picking her up before she went upstairs with her cuisine.
“She is growing fast, isn’t she?” he questioned his wife.
“Really? So you finally have realized your daughter is growing fast under your nose!” Catherine replied.
David doesn’t like the answer but he can’t do anything about it. She is always like that and he also doesn’t care much about it. He loves Casey, it is her birthday, creating a scene here will not be a good idea. Finally, it is the time for dinner and everyone was excited for the “Chinese recipe” that Edward prepared for the dinner. The meal was good and everyone appreciated him for his efforts. Casey waited for a long time and now she can’t keep it to herself.
“Take deep breaths, I have to say it, I can’t keep it, no more, ahem,” she cleared her throat and then,
“I want to tell-- I want everyone to know that I am planning to tour South Africa, Alicia invited me to visit her hometown in South Africa.”
For some time nobody speak; everyone was sitting confused, waiting someone to explain the big news. Finally it was Elia who spoke it out,
“So that is the dinner. Thank you all for celebrating my daughter’s birthday.” but before she continued any further Edward left his seat and went inside to his room. Elia followed him and so do Casey.
“I know that girl is a trouble,” said Edward to her wife.
“She is a grownup child Edward,” said Elia knowing that arguing with Edward is useless, he will never allow anything going against his will.
“Stop it or I will not be very happy,” replied Edward.
Casey was listening to all of this and she sadly went back to the main room.
“I will go with her,” Elia said boldly to Edward.
“What!”
“I will go and it will be a matter of few days and we will return back home,” said Elia to her husband.
“I can’t discuss it anymore,” Edward replied and left the room.
It was a disappointing night in New Harlow, after saying goodbye, Casey went upstairs to dream again for her journey to the Wilds of Africa.
It is December 15, at the school everybody was busy planning their entertainment schedule for the coming holidays. Last day Alicia took the flight to her home in South Africa, planning to spend her time with her father.
Our poor Casey has nothing to do but to watch other people's faces that made her real mad; sadly speaking, she can’t do anything about it. But there is still one who shares her feeling, Ted who stays with her wherever she goes.
Ted, a friendly dog who likes to make friends with everyone he meets. He has two large ears hanging around his face, brown color and a long face, sleeps a lot and sometime she forgets about his presence. It is night and three of them were having their dinner. Dinner was nice, she got a strong appetite and she can eat even if she is mad at her dad. Edward was eating making no sound, Elia was quite watching faces of the other two as they eat. While eating Casey kept her head low, trying hard to hide her anger, she is quite skilled in it. But it is her mom who was hiding something, sometime words did come out of mouth but are not strong enough for anyone to grasp.
As soon as she finished her dinner, she went straight upstairs without saying good night.
“Happy dreams baby...” said Elia. But her voice faded as she went inside her room.
“My poor child,” saying this and Elia also went inside her room.
It is night in New Harlow, rain droplets on the window, steering down make it difficult for Casey to see her neighborhood. She went to her bed wondering,
“What I will be doing for next coming day...” these are words inside her mind but soon it went all dark. Next morning when she opened her eyes something was flying over her head.
“Mom, what is this..” said Casey but after a good grasp she know that it is tickets.
“What? How?” all these questions matters nothing to her.
“Hurry up and get ready for our trip,” said Elia and went downstairs.
She jumped from her bed, excited saying,
“Let’s go to Africa, my damn wish, I love you mom, finally you did something for me.” She started it, packing everything that she has planned for her tour. But then there is still something left and all the excitement went away. She realized that she only got her mother’s permission.
“Did dad signed the paper?”
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