“Beep! Beep! Beep!” Sheila’s alarm clock beeps. Sheila wakes up excitedly and rushes downstairs. She sees pancakes on the kitchen table. Today is Sheila’s birthday. She’s very excited because every year, on her birthday, she and her cousin, Nicki, go to a different cafe to celebrate her birthday. 

Sheila finishes her pancakes. Her family says, “Happy birthday!” She opens her presents, and soon, she’s on her way to a new cafe. She calls her cousin to meet her there. She gives Nicki the address as well. The cafe Sheila goes to is called “Sweets and Treats!” She can’t wait to celebrate her birthday with her cousin!

After one hour, Sheila waits for Nicki at the cafe. After two hours, she gets worried and calls Nicki. Nicki responds. “Nicki! Where are you? I have been waiting for you for two hours!” “Sheila, I’m sorry, I can’t make it,” Nicki replies. “Why?” Sheila demands. “I’m sick, and I can’t eat any sweets,” Nicki replies. 

“Oh.” Sheila’s heart sinks. Who would she share this special birthday with then? “Maybe you can call some of your friends to celebrate. Anyways, gotta go. Bye.” Nicki hangs up. “Such a prompt call,” Sheila says. “But she’s sick.” Sheila sighs. I guess I’ll buy a cake for my family and me, Sheila thinks. 

She gets up from the table and asks for a whole vanilla birthday cake. “Sure,” the person behind the counter says. She gets a vanilla birthday cake from a shelf and says, “Here you go.” “Thank you,” Sheila replies, handing the person $300. Sheila places the cake on her table. She cuts a piece of cake onto a plate, starting to eat. “Excuse me?” a voice asks.

Sheila looks up. A girl is there. She asks, “Can I have a seat?” “Help yourself,” Sheila says, munching on the cake. 

“I overheard your conversation with your friend or cousin. Maybe I can celebrate your birthday?” the girl says. “But we never met. You’re, like, a total stranger,” Sheila says. The girl giggles. “I know. But I think it would be nice to celebrate your birthday with you.” “That’s nice,” Sheila replies. “Thanks.”

“No problem!” the girl smiles. “Lemme sing happy birthday to you! It’ll be fun!” She sings happy birthday to Sheila, but not too loud that everyone would notice. Just a few bystanders are listening. Some pass by the table and say their happy birthday wishes. “I haven’t introduced myself. My name’s Carol,” the girl says. 

“Cool, my name’s Sheila.” Sheila smiles. “Thanks again for celebrating my birthday with me. Do you want some tea?” Carol says, “Yeah, but I’ll pay for it. Don’t worry.” Carol goes ahead and buys tea for the both of us in a jiffy. We both sip it. “It’s nice to meet you, Carol.” Sheila sips her drink. “Nice to meet you, too!” Carol replies.

“Do you want to become friends?” Carol asks. “Sure, I guess.” Sheila says. “I mean, you’re super nice and all.” “You too!” Carol answers. “Do you want me to tell you something?” “Yeah, okay,” Sheila says. Carol and Sheila finish the tea, and they carry the cake outside. “Did you know that one species of jellyfish is actually immortal?” Carol asks. “Really? That’s why we went outside?” Sheila asks.

“Nope. Do you see the clouds? They’re gray, which means there’s gonna be a storm.” Carol explains. “Oh yeah,” Sheila notices. “So we should go to my house.” Sheila and Carol go to Sheila’s house immediately. 

“Mom, I’m home,” Sheila says. “I have a new friend. Her name’s Carol. And I brought cake!” Sheila leads Carol into the kitchen. Sheila places the cake on the island. “Oh, nice to meet you,” Mom says to Carol. “Thanks for bringing cake!” Mom says to Sheila. “I’ll cut some slices.” 

“Come on, Carol, let’s go to my room and play with my dolls!” Sheila says. They go into Sheila’s room. It has drawings on the walls. “Wow, you’re a great artist!” Carol says, admiring the drawings. “Thanks!” Sheila says. “Here they are!” She holds up two dolls that both are wearing dresses. 

“So, how do you play with them?” Carol asks. “Oh, they can move by themselves when you pull this string.” Sheila pulls a string, and the dolls start walking on the floor. “Incredible!” Carol says. “Yeah, they were on sale. $500 for 2 dolls!” Sheila says excitedly. They continue playing with the dolls until Carol says, “I have to go home.” Carol exits the house, remembering the address. She walks home herself.

Sheila doesn’t say anything and then goes to dinner. She has vegetables and watermelon because she loves those. She gets ready for bed and sleeps. The next morning, a note is left at her bed. “Come to my house. Here’s my address: 555 Winfred Avenue, Danicksville.” 

Sheila goes downstairs, eats breakfast, gets ready, and goes to Carol’s house. “We just moved here. So I’m kind of friendless. Unless you count my cousin, though.” Sheila says. They continue talking. Little do they know that Sheila’s cousin, Nicki, is now watching through the window and listening to their conversation.

………..

“Bye, Carol!” Sheila exits the house and sees Nicki, who is better. “Nicki! You’re better!” Sheila exclaims. “Why are you hanging out with her?” Nicki asks. “She’s a mean girl.” “Who, Carol? Nah, she’s nice.” Sheila smiles. “That’s how she lures her victims,” Nicki says quietly. “Are you just jealous?” Sheila frowns. 

“Yes, okay?” Nicki says. “I just pulled a prank on you yesterday. I didn’t think you would take it so seriously.” “Oh, well, I thought you were sick,” Sheila says. “And it didn’t really benefit you anyway. You didn’t get cake, tea, or to spend time with me. Why would you prank me and just pretend you were sick?” 

“Because I wanted to go to my new friend’s birthday party!” Nicki says. “She came this year, and when she told me her birthday, I had to decide whether to go to the cafe with you or her birthday party with a DJ and a pool and an obstacle course! Which one would you pick?” Sheila pauses, then shouts, “I would pick going to the cafe rather than lying to my friend.” 

Sheila storms off to her house. Nicki calls after her, “It was just a prank and a lie.” As Sheila storms off, she thinks, It’s our special thing we do. I understand the birthday party, but she could’ve at least paid me a visit after the party. At home, Sheila gets a call from Nicki. She keeps declining Nicki’s calls. 

One day, Sheila answers Nicki’s call while at Carol’s house. “Look, I’m sorry about getting upset about the birthday thing. It’s fine, really! Can we just be friends again?” Sheila asks. “Sure, if you can do my chores for a week,” Nicki says, laughing. “Alright, so that is a yes?” Sheila asks. “Yep!” Nicki says. And so, they lived happily ever after!!!

Written by Kruti Patel