Clopin sat in his chair, brimming wiht childish excitment. It was the most wonderful day of the entire year. It was his birthday. The lights dimmed and Orca presented a small cake with a single candle on it. She smiled at him and began set the cake on the table. Clopin gasped with joy as Orca lit the candle. She stood beside her son and giggled as she began to sing him a very special birthday song.

"Happy birthday to you

You are 32

You look like an angel

And you sing like one too."

Clopin smiled and blew out his candle. In his heart his wish had been that he and Orca would be together forever. Orca, Clopin, and Florica, who had also been invited, ate their cake gleefully while giggling at one another. Before long it was time to unwrap gifts. Being that they were all gypsies, they could not afford much, but Clopin did not mind this. As long as the gifts came from within their hearts, he would love them. First he opened Orca's gift which was neatly wrapped in a large package.

"Oh, mother, a purple coat. Oh I love it. Now I will not be cold in the winter," Clopin exclaimed. He threw his arms around Orca who laughed. Then he tried the coat on. It was a deep shade of purple with big buttons, two pockets, and it reached all the way down to his thin ankles. He twirled around in it and smiled. Next, he opened Florica's gift.

"Florica, you did not have to buy me a gift. You are a friend," Clopin said. Florica smiled. "I know, but I wanted to," she replied. Clopin tore through the package and nearly fell out of his chair when he saw the gift. Inside was a beautifully decorated blue and purple mandolin. "Oh my goodness, Florica, this is beautiful. How ever did you get the money for this?" Clopin asked. Florica giggled. "I made it myself. It took months to perfect," she answered. Clopin's eyes grew wide and he strummed the chords. It sounded divine. Florica sat perfectly still and stared at Clopin in silent adoration. He looked up at her with half lidded eyes, and understanding what was happening, Orca hid behind a curtain.

Clopin stood up and gently set the guitar aside. He walked over to Florica and held her hands. SHe stood up and gazed into his dark eyes. Clopin smiled and walked Florica to the gate of the Court of Miracles. Orca silently followed them. The gypsy king sat down on one of the tombstones with Florica by his side. His heart beat so fast he could scarecly breathe. Florica stared up at the beautiful full moon and Clopin kindly took her chin in his hand.

"Florica, would it be alright if I gave you a kiss?" Clopin asked. Florica smiled and touched his hair. "Of course," she answered. Clopin bent down and sweetly kissed her cheeks. Florica looked away. Clopin looked at her in concern. "Is something wrong?" Clopin asked. Florica shook her head and smiled. "I just thought you meant another kind of kiss," she explained. Clopin smiled and sweetly kissed her soft, pink lips for only a moment. Then he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. Orca smiled brightly in the distance and felt she might exxplode with excitement. Her son had finally found the romance he had always sung about.