A Surprise

The sun was dipping low, casting a warm glow over the quiet street as Emma trudged along the familiar route home. Her eleventh birthday, unfortunately, fell on a long and exhausting school day. Her school bag felt heavier with each step as she daydreamed about a quiet evening with her family, maybe a small cake, and the comfort of her cosy bedroom.

As Emma approached her front door, something felt amiss. There was an unusual silence, and the lights were off. “Are Mum, Dad, and Elsie not home yet?” Emma wondered as she reached for the cool metal doorknob and pushed the door open. Just as she was about to reach for the light switch, the room lit up and a chorus of “surprise!” erupted from the living room.

Emma was momentarily stunned. The living room was beautifully decorated with balloons, streamers, and a banner that read “Happy Birthday Emma!” In the middle of this festive chaos stood her family, flanked by her closest friends. Emma’s beloved pet, a brown Dachshund, ran towards her with an excited yelp. On its head was the cutest little party hat. Emma could not help but burst into laughter.

Emma’s parents stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug that felt like the softest blanket. Among the sea of smiling faces, Emma noticed her best friend, Lily, holding a cream-coloured envelope. “This is for you,” she said, presenting the gift with a flourish. Inside, Emma found a card. As she opened it, a cascade of well-wishes from her classmates and teachers tumbled out. Some messages brought a chuckle, while others warmed her heart.

As the evening wore on, laughter filled the rooms. Emma learnt that her family had enlisted the help of her friends to orchestrate a surprise for her. It started over a month ago, and Emma was completely in the dark! Looking around the room, she realised that the greatest gift was not the surprise or the card, but the presence of her loved ones, their effort to make her feel special, and the memories they had created together. It was, indeed, a birthday to remember.

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the quiet living room where Caleb and Nicole were sprawled, lost in their own worlds of cartoons and doodles. Their parents were busying themselves with breakfast in the kitchen as the aroma of pancakes filled the house.

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. “Ah, they’re here!” their father called from the kitchen before rushing to the door. Curious, Caleb and Nicole followed closely behind him. They watched, bewildered, as two delivery men wheeled in an assembly of boxes. There were boxes of varying shapes and sizes, adorned with cheerful images of teddy bears, cars, and rainbows.

As their mother signed off the delivery, the siblings peeked at the boxes. Caleb knelt beside the largest box, tracing the bold print with his finger. “Cribs and Cradles,” he read aloud. Meanwhile, Nicole tugged at a smaller parcel. “Look! This one has tiny shoes!” she observed.

Realisation dawned on the ever-perceptive Nicole. “Are we…” Nicole started, her voice trailing off as the possibility took root in her mind. Her parents exchanged a smile before revealing the surprise they had been nurturing for months. “We are expecting a baby!” they announced, their voices brimming with joy and excitement. “The two of you are going to have a little sister!”

Caleb’s eyes grew as wide as saucers and Nicole felt a sudden rush of emotions. They were going to be a big brother and sister! The day was spent preparing the house for the new arrival, with Caleb and Nicole taking the lead in assembling the crib and arranging the baby clothes that had come with the delivery. Their parents carefully cleared out a corner of the sibling’s playroom, where the crib now sat waiting for the little bundle of joy to arrive.

The family chatted about possible names, and Caleb announced that he would teach the baby how to cycle when she got older. Meanwhile, Nicole carefully picked out a stuffed bunny of hers that she knew her little sister would love. The anticipation and excitement lingered long after the surprise, and everyone could hardly wait to meet the newest member of their family!