Solange Yewbeam brought the cake for her son Paton's birthday and placed it on the dining table.
Paton's eyes lit up when he saw it. It was his favourite colours, white and midnight blue with chocolate frost on the bottom. The rest was white with blue icing.
'Thank you, mum!' he said happily, gazing at the cake while his mother set seven flaming white candles on the cake.
Paton had turned seven that day. He was having a birthday party for the occasion.
The doorbell rang and Paton jumped in surprise.
'Oh dear, I suppose one of your friends are here already,' Solange said and squeezed Paton's hand briefly before opening the door. Paton didn't look at the door or the visitor. He began to mount the steps to go upstairs. He turned to his bedroom and slowly opened the door. When he turned on the light, he found that his bed had been covered with new satin sheets. He came inside and fell, exhausted onto his bed. He was so excited for his party, so ready to taste the cake or the ice-cream, all of which were delicious-looking. Paton's mouth watered and he got up and turned off the light, closing the door behind him.
When he came downstairs, he saw the living room decorated. All the lights were turned on in fancy glass and the cake was placed on the table. The ice-cream, however, was put in the freezer to cool. Paton ducked into the kitchen and bumped into his mother.
'Do you like the decorations?' she asked. 'They were bought specially for your party colours.'
Paton looked at the white table and the maroon carpeting on the floor in the living room. The cake colours didn't clash too well with the carpet, but other than that, all was well.
'It's nice,' he said finally. He couldn't help feeling like he would burst out saying it was the best party he'd ever had and would probably have. Paton glanced at the clock ticking away at the wall. It was only seven o'clock, but he felt like it was late. Time went very slow when you were waiting.
Paton folded his arms and stepped out of the kitchen where all his guests were waiting in the living room. Solange was behind him, and she turned out the lights. Everyone sang happy birthday in the light of the candles, and then Paton closed his eyes and blew out the seven candles. The light came back on.
Everyone received a slice of the cake, which when Paton bit into, tasted as good as it looked. He couldn't wait to open up the presents. He felt like cheering, but restrained himself. Then he looked up at the fancy lights and he imagined them as stars.
One second the lights were dim, and then they began to glow like they were on fire. It was a strange feeling; the lights suddenly were humming with a toneless intensity.
And before Paton knew what had happened, the light exploded and most of the children at the table howled and covered their faces, running away from the lights. Paton jumped back too, surprised and confused. The night light shattered and this time everyone was screaming. Paton caught sight of his sister Lucretia giving him an interested look. Then the third light shattered, continuing to the fourth where most children ran for shelter in the kitchen. There was chaos in the living room- cake of the children who had run on the floor, glass everywhere, and Paton stood in the middle, covered in icing and pieces of broken glass. He was very confused. It had gone dark in the living room now and the only light came from the kitchen. He hurried to the kitchen to find out what was going on and then the same thing happened. The light in the centre of the ceiling exploded and there was glass flying in all directions. All the children screamed again and dove for cover. Paton ran away from them and hurried upstairs, scared. He switched on his bedroom light and looked at the light bulb encased in a cream coloured vase. He quickly looked away, realising his mistake; because of his bad luck with electric lights today, but it was too late. The light burst and Paton ducked just in time. Now his bedroom light was ruined. Paton didn't know what to do. He was upset, confused and scared all at the same time. What did all this breaking glass mean? It certainly wasn't his fault.
When he went downstairs, everyone had gone. It was only his parents and his sisters, and of course, Grizelda's son, Lyell.
'Congratulations, Paton,' Lucretia finally said. Paton was even more confused.
'Lucretia told us what happened,' James, Paton's father said. 'We're so proud of you.'
'I- I don't understand.' Paton said shakily. He picked a splinter of glass from his shirt. 'What happened?'
'Paton,' said Venetia with a deep breath. 'You are endowed.'
A/N: I hope that was good for the first chapter!