Pain... blood... blood everywhere, there was nothing but red. The dead faces of my loved ones— all of them, gone forever; killed by some horrible beast. It was over, what did I have to live for now?!

My eyes suddenly flew open and I sat up straight in bed, I blinked a few times and breathed a sigh of relief. It had only been a horrible dream, a horrible dream that my family—mother, my father, my little baby brother, and my cousin Kiki—had been eaten by a pack of wild beasts. Although, something different, and somehow special, had happened to Kiki, but for some reason I couldn't recall what it was.

I shook my head and got out of bed cheerfully, I wasn't really one to be effected by a bad dream.

I ran up the stairs, two at a time so that I would be on time for breakfast. I didn't want Dad to eat all of the pancakes again.

I knew what he would say, "Well little Shin, It's your own fault for sleeping in so late. Try and wake up a bit earlier alright?"

And then he'd wink and pull out some hidden pancakes; the best of the whole batch—light and fluffy and covered with syrup and all sorts of berries, just the way I liked it. He would always save me the best ones, but they would be cold if I slept in too late. He might be "forced" to eat them before I got there. I sure didn't want that!

I spun around on the end of our railing, once again pulling off the little ball that sat on top. I bit my lip and hurriedly put it back on; if Mom found out that it was still broken from me swinging on it all the time I would be in trouble.

I ran into the kitchen, kissing my little brother on the head as I passes him in his car seat, "Hey Bradley! How you doing today?!"

I made faces at him and he laughed as always, smashing his spoon on the tray in front of him.

"Oh Shino I wish you wouldn't do that right in the morning." My mother sighed, walking over and cleaning up the mess he had made.

I smiled meekly and slipped past her, looking for my father and the delicious pancakes that I could smell, but not see. After turning around a few times I frowned. He was hiding. He was hiding with my pancakes, but he wouldn't get away this time! I knew just where his best hiding spot was.

I ran over to the living room and looked behind the piano, and surprise, surprise! There they were! I reached out to grab them then stopped, blinking a few times in surprise. Today was different. For some reason they were stacked high, with everything anyone ever dreamed of putting on pancakes, and on the very top, were ten little canals. My mouth fell open as I remembered what day it was.
My father jumped out from behind the couch. "Happy Birthday Shino!" He shouted loudly, then started singing loudly and horribly, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YYYOOOOUUUUU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YYYOOOOUUUUU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SSSHHHIIIIINNNOOOOOOO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! And many more... on channel four!"

I laughed and ran to him, jumping into his arms, "Daddy! I totally forgot!" I hugged him tightly and he tossed me into the air.

"Whew, you sure are getting heavy, Shino. I should probably eat those pancakes myself, hmm?" I laughed together with him as he walked over and picked up the plate with me hanging onto his back.

We walked into the kitchen and mother smiled, "Happy Birthday Shino." I grinned in return and slid off father's back, into my chair.

Father put the plate in front of me, with a fork and knife, then got me a glass of OJ. I hurriedly stuffed a huge bite into my mouth and just about swallowed it whole.

"Whoa there, ever heard of chewing?" My father teased.

I laughed and continued to eat, taking small bites. This was the best, I hoped life could go on like this forever.... Could it ever get any better? Probably not…but then it did.

My mother turned to me and said, "Shino, later today we are going over to Aunt Cecelia's house to celebrate, everyone is going to come over and we are going to have a big party. Would you like that?"

I nodded eagerly and choked out, "T-thank you!" This was going to be the best Birthday ever... or so I thought.