The 31st rolled around quickly.
Jude was still going to have a joint birthday party with Joey on her birthday, but he insisted that he celebrate on his own birthday too.
"Happy birthday to you," came three voices accompanied by grandad's guitar.
"Happy birthday to you," mum was walking in with a chocolate cake, the candles lit.
"Happy birthday dear Judeeee," nan had her camera up, ready to take a photo.
"Happy birthday toooooo youuuuuu." Jude laughed as grandad harmonised with mum and nan, then he finished the song with some violent ending strumming, slowing in speed, then one final strum. Jude blew out the candles as the picture was taken.
"Hip, hip!"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip?"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, Hip!"
"Hooray!"
Jude started pulling out the candles, he was ready for some cake. It looked amazing, mum had made it. Well... it had come from a box but it still counts! It had eleven multi-coloured candles in a circle, the outside was decorated with chocolate buttons. Jude was determined to have the biggest piece and get a massive sugar high.
"Move out the way, big knife coming through," said nan. She asked how big of a piece Jude wanted; he held his arms out as wide as they would go. She cut him about a quarter of the cake, Jude grinned.
"Mum what are you doing? He can't eat all that."
"It's his birthday and his cake, who cares?"
'Nan's great,' Jude thought as he took a massive bite.
Almost half an hour later, Jude's face was on the table, a very small fraction of the cake left next to him.
"You should stop now before you make yourself sick, matey," said grandad.
"I honestly can't believe you consumed that much, you've done well. Stop while you're ahead," said mum.
Jude mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an 'okay'.
"Come on kid," mum continued, "time for presents."
Judge's stomach ache was suddenly forgotten as he rushed into the living room. Nan was already sitting there with two large, rectangular packages and a gift bag.
"I hope you don't mind Jude; this year we decided to get you two big presents and then some small goodies," said nan.
"Of course I don't mind," replied Jude, "thank you for getting me presents."
"Of course, chick. It's what we do," she smiled, sitting down with her camera.
As Jude tore through the gift bag of small presents, Abby couldn't help but wonder once again what would have happened if Jude had stayed on the doorstep. Could his relatives have given him a better childhood? They knew his parent's after all. She shook her head, Jude probably would have had an equally great childhood with his relatives as he did here, that was in the past, it didn't matter now.
A small pile was being built beside Jude. It consisted of a new video game, some CD's, stationary for school, lots of sweets and some new cards for his top trumps collection. He then moved on to the two big presents.
"Which one should I open first?" He asked.
"Save the best for last. Open the smaller one," grandad said excitedly.
The smaller rectangle was rapped in blue wrapping paper with bubbles on it, you could probably fit about ten of them in the bigger package. Tearing the blue away, he gawked.
"A portable keyboard! Thank you so much!" They all grinned.
"Quick open the best one! You grandad thought of it," said Nan, fiddling with the camera.
Jude hurried over to the largest package, it was wrapped in orange paper with colourful balloons all over it. Ripping off a little bit of the wrapping paper at the bottom, he was met with a black material he was all too familiar with.
Jude gasped, "you didn't."
"We did," laughed grandad, "you're getting too big for your old one. Not to mention it's not in the best condition. You know it was your mum's when she was learning as a kid. It's time you had one your very own."
Jude's grin was bright enough to light up a room as he tore up the rest of the wrapping paper. He removed the packaging that made the case look square. He found the zipper and started to work his way around the case; it was a lot bigger than his one upstairs, they must have bought him th He average adult size. The lid flipped open with a push and he sat admiring it.
It was a basic acoustic guitar, the colour of birch wood. It had a black ring around the hole in the centre and was very polished. He carefully removed it from it's case and gave it a strum, it was perfectly in tune. He looked down, he saw carefully carved words, filled in with ink on the side. They read:
Be loud and proud – Nan
Sing to make yourself smile – grandad
Music is magic – mum
It was so cheesy...
Jude loved it. He got up and pulled them all into a hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Many kisses and hair ruffles later, nan got a photo of Jude with his new guitar.
Abby hugged her son goodnight and kissed him on the head.
"Get plenty of sleep. Diagon ally tomorrow."
Jude smiled, "goodnight, mum."
Today had been the best birthday, and celebrated on the real date.
Thanks for reading guys.
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