When I wake up, Mummy and Daddy have somehow managed to snuggle up around me. Mummy's eyes are open and she's smiling at me.
"Happy Birthday Cat."
"Morning Mummy. Is it time to open presents yet?"
"Yes. Rec room."
I leap out of bed and run down the corridor shouting happily. When I leap into the room I want to laugh because Mummy's clever and got Daddy to teleport her into the rec room so they'd all be there when I got in.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAT!"
Uncle James, who's my only real uncle picks me up by the ankles and grins.
"How's my favourite niece today?"
"Old Uncle James. I'm five."
"Are you?"
I giggle because Uncle James is so funny. Auntie Ellie rolls her eyes.
"Let her down James. It'll mess her brain up to have blood in her head all the time."
"So that's why my dear sister is so crazy. She used to love being upside-down."
"JAMES!"
Uncle Logan grins and Aunty 'Ro hugs him. Mike, their son who's old because he's fifteen grabs me off Uncle James and starts running around the room with me on his shoulders.
"Want the horse to jump the presents Cat?"
"JUMP!"
He leaps and hovers over the big pile of presents. Aunty Kitty laughs and steps in front of Mike, letting him pass through her but catching me around the waist and tickling me.
"Happy Birthday Catherine Eloise Wagner!"
"Can I open my presents now?"
Daddy laughs.
"Of course Kätzchen. It's your birthday."
Kätzchen is his nickname for me. It means Kitten in German. I know lots of German. Daddy's German. Mummy's Scottish. Scottish, not English. She told me that when I was very young. And Jubilee, who should be Auntie Jubilee but says that makes her feel old, showed me a video of Mummy getting very angry when Jubilee called her English. Aunty Betsy is English and she's going to marry Uncle Warren. Mummy said something rather quietly under her breath when Aunty Betsy told everyone. Mummy and Uncle Warren aren't best friends. Mummy won't talk about it but according to Aunty Rogue, Uncle Warren really liked Mummy and everyone but Mummy and Daddy knew that Daddy really, really liked Mummy and Mummy really, really, reallyliked Daddy back. So Uncle Warren is angry that Mummy married Daddy and became Mummy. Or something like that… It's silly. All adults are silly.
The first present is from Mummy and is a little red and white version of Daddy's X-Man costume that's just the same as the ones you can buy in shops, only made with unstable moles. Or something. I don't see how a mole can be unstable. Daddy goes purple and everyone bursts out laughing.
"Got the Elf's costume just right Aca!"
Uncle Logan seems to think it's really funny. Uncle Scott rolls his eyes and Auntie Jean insists on taking me out to put it on. Rachel helps me. Rachel's fourteen and she's Auntie Jean's and Uncle Scott's daughter. And I really think Mike likes her. Like likes likes. When I go back in, Daddy gives me a big fancy hairband covered in flowers and Mummy and Daddy give me my big present which is to go to see Granny and Granddad Oakly in Scotland. YAY! Uncle James and Auntie Ellie bought me a load of big colouring books and pens. Uncle Johnny and Jubilee got me a fairy dress in blue because it goes with my fur. At least that's what they said but I think I heard Jubilee say something about Scotland.
