I've decided to split May's birthday into two chapters so that I can get a desired number of chapters.
May worked very hard for the rest of the day, doing all the household tasks, and continued to do so late that night, as she stood on the stairs, polishing the banister. She yawned as she sprayed with the can of polish onto the banister and then rubbed it with a rag as dirty as the clothes she was wearing.
Drew, who had been watching television, heaved himself out of his armchair and approached the stairs, clutching a bottle of whiskey.
"Drew, I'm tired," yawned May wearily. "I wanna go to bed."
Drew took a sip from his bottle of whiskey. "Well May, you should have thought of that before you just left your jobs, thinking they would do themselves! "That banister has gotta be clean, and I ain't gonna be the one to do it!"
As he began to walk up the stairs, May turned to him, making him stop in his tracks. "What?!"
"Are we, er..." said May shyly, "...doing anything tomorrow, Drew?"
"Well, I'm going out again with the lads-"
"WHAT?!" May cried, aghast. "Tomorrow?!"
"Yeah! Tomorrow!" growled Drew, taken aback at May's sudden outburst. "And why shouldn't I go out?"
"But Drew, tomorrow is..." May broke off.
"What?! Tomorrow is what?!"
"Well...you know..."
"I don't."
"Oh, stop it, Drew," May giggled. "You do know."
"I do not." Drew took another sip from his whiskey bottle, then proceeded to walk up the stairs. "But I'm too tired to ask. I'll see you in the morning." Drew reached the top of the staircase and disappeared into his room.
May looked down at the banister, puzzled and a little sad. Surely, Drew hasn't forgotten tomorrow's my birthday, has he? She thought to herself. Then she smiled and shook her head. Oh, that's ridiculous. Of course he hasn't. I bet he's just pretending he's forgotten right now, and when I get out of bed tomorrow, he's gonna give me a very happy birthday.
May finished polishing the banister, then went to bed. Before falling asleep, she thought happily to herself; Oh yes. I just know it. Tomorrow's going to be a very happy birthday.
When May awoke the next morning, she realized that she had slept in very late. At first, she began to panic, thinking Drew would be angry, but then remembered that she had turned sixteen today. Aww, I bet Drew decided to give me the day off, she thought, smiling to herself. He's so sweet.
May got out of bed and cheerfully walked out of her room and down the corridor, merrily humming 'Happy Birthday to You' under her breath.
As she walked down the stairs, to her surprise, there not a present in sight in the lounge. She reached the bottom of the staircase and looked around at the room, which looked no different to what it did any other day. May scratched her head and walked into the kitchen, to see if her presents were in there. But to her puzzlement and disappointment, no presents were to be found. She walked back to the lounge, and then spotted something lying on the footstool that was not there yesterday; a piece of paper. May ran over to it, snatched it up and excitedly read Drew's handwriting:
Noticed you were still asleep when I woke up. Did try to wake you, but to no avail. Gone out with the lads. You know what to do while I'm gone.
Drew.
May frowned, wondering why Drew had gone out with his friends (yet again) on her birthday. Maybe he's just saying that, and has gone to get me my presents, she thought. Perhaps we won't celebrate until this evening.
May dropped the note down onto the stool and looked around, seeing if there were any household jobs for her to do. But there were not, for she had done them all yesterday. So May walked upstairs to Drew's bedroom. As it was at the front of the upper floor of the building, it had a large window which overlooked the hill which led up to the house, the large front gates and the village. May rested her left elbow onto the window still and held her head with her hands looking out at the in a series of thoughts, her head lowered until she was looking at the gates - and that when she spotted someone standing on the other side of them, waving up at her. She stood up and surprised and looked down at the person. Then she smiled, as she quickly recognised the person, with his messy jet black hair, his bright red cap, his blue sweatshirt and a small yellow creature that sat on his shoulders which May also recognised almost instantly.
May raced downstairs, slipped on her dirty shoes, picked up her keys from under the doormat, unlocked the door and raced down the path until she arrived at the gates, where Ash was waiting on the other side with Pikachu on his shoulder. Nobody said anything while May unlocked the gates, but as soon as she did, she threw her arms around Ash, nearly knocking him over and nearly knocking Pikachu off his shoulders.
"Ash! Pikachu!" May cried happily. "What are you guys doing here?!"
Ash smiled and returned the hug. "It's your birthday, May! We wanted to bring you many happy returns!"
"Pika!" Pikachu brightly agreed.
"Aww, that's so sweet of you guys."
Ash broke the hug, then pulled a small box wrapped up in red wrapping paper out of his pocket. "Happy Birthday, May."
May's eyes went wide. "Aww, Ash! You didn't have to get me anything!"
"Of course I did," Ash smiled. "It's not very day you turn sweet sixteen."
"Aww, thank you, Ash." May took the box from Ash's hands, unwrapped the wrapped paper, took the lid off to box - and was shocked to find a shiny diamond necklace inside. "Ash...I..." she gasped in shock. "I dunno what to say."
"It's okay, May." replied Ash, smiling warmly.
"How much....did this cost?"
"Oh, not much. Just about three thousand dollars."
"THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS?!!!" May shrieked. She held out the box to Ash. "Ash, I...I can't accept this!"
"What?!" Ash replied, surprised. Pikachu also showed a look of puzzlement.
"Ash! You live all on your own! How can you possibly afford this?"
"Hey, working at the Pokémon Centre is a well paid job," chuckled Ash, rubbing the back of his head.
"But you can't spend what you earn on me!"May cried, tears running down her cheeks. "I'm not worth it."
"No, May, you are worth it!" argued Ash, frowning. He took the box out of May's hand and pulled out the necklace. He pocket the box, then placed the necklace over May's head and around her neck. "You are so sweet, kind and wonderful. You are the first person to get to know me and give me a chance, thus becoming my friend. You are worth very penny spent on you."
"Oh...Ash..." May threw her arms around the boy and hugged him tight, happy tears leaking out of her eyes.
"Which is why," continued Ash, returning the hug, "I plan to spent a lot more on you."
"Huh?" May broke the hug and looked curiously up at Ash.
"Is Drew in?"
"No, he's gone out-"
"Oh good!" Ash grabbed May's hand. "I'm taking you into town and going to let you have whatever you want."
"Aw, Ash, seriously, you really don't have to do that."
"But I want to," Ash smiled, looking back at her. "We wanna give you a happy birthday. Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika!"
"Aww, thanks guys," replied May, blushing. "That really means a lot. I really appreciate it."
"No worries." Ash gazed deep into May's amazing eyes, giving her a warm smile, then noticed his hand was still holding onto May's. He quickly took it away away and hid it behind his back. "Er...sorry," he apologized nervously.
"Aww, it's okay, Ash."
"Well, let's get on our way to town then." Ash walked away from the mansion and May followed.
They walked along the route leading around the hills and over the bridge across the valley. Only this time, they passed Ash's cottage instead of going inside, and continued to walk along the path which continued to wind along the hills, except it now led downhill.
Nobody said anything as they walked, but May looked at Ash as he led the way. I'm really grateful I met Ash. If not for him, I wouldn't be here. I can't understand why no one would want to be his friend. He is so kind, compassionate and friendly. Me meeting him is the first good thing that's happened to me in along time.
"Well, here we are," remarked Ash, stopping in his tracks. May looked around, finding themselves in a small town with two lines of shops, one on each side of them. In front of them was a tall fountain.
People were milling in and out of the shops, carrying shopping bags. A couple of them walked by Ash, May and Pikachu, stopping for a moment to observe May's dirty and ripped clothes and hurried on their way. May looked puzzled, but Ash smiled. "I know the very shop to take you to. Follow me."
He led May to a shop on the right-hand side. They walked through the door May found themselves in a clothes shop. The check-out was on the left-hand side and a lady with shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes was stood behind it, dressed in a black blouse and a green cardigan. She looked up to see the two teenagers and mouse Pokémon. For a moment, like the people in the town, she was shocked to see May in dirty old clothes. But she quickly put on a smile as they approached her. "Hi, can I help you?"
"Yes, please," replied Ash. "My friend here needs some new clothes."
The lady looked at May. "Well, this is a clothes shop. So just take a look around and see what you fancy."
"Thank you," said Ash, as he led May into the aisles of the shop.
"Ash, this is so kind of you," said May gratefully. "But are you sure you can afford this?"
"Like I said," chuckled Ash, "working in the Pokémon Centre is a well paid job. I earn plenty of money to pay the bills and feed me and Pikachu. But today, I wanna do something which I've never done before with my money." Ash placed a hand on May's shoulder. "I wanna spend it on a friend."
"Thank you, Ash. That means so much."
"No problem, May. So, do you see anything which you like?"
"Well...uh..." May looked among the clothes in the aisle and immediately spotted a bright red blouse with a navy circle around the collar hanging amongst the clothes hanging on the racks. "This looks nice. Could I have this please Ash?"
"Of course."
"Thanks." May picked up the blouse by the hanger that was holding it, then she and Ash walked to the next aisle. May looked among the clothes hanging on the racks, and soon spotted a white skirt and navy blue shorts. "Could I have these as well please, Ash?"
"Certainly."
"Thank you." May collected them, then they walked to the back of the shop, where shoes were on display.
"You really could do with some new shoes too," Ash told May. "So let's have a look."
They looked up and down and soon, May spotted a pair of trainers which had red, yellow, black and white stripes. "These look lovely." She put the clothes she was buying on a nearby chair, picked one of the new shoes up and looked inside to check the size. "Yep. Just my size." She slipped off one of her own shoes and put the new one on. "A perfect fit."
"Then we'll get them," smiled Ash.
"Thanks Ash." May slipped the new shoe off her foot, put her old one on and collected the other new shoe.
"You could do with some socks as well," said Ash grimly. "Let's leave the clothes on that chair, and we'll look for some over here.
They left the clothes they had collected so far on the chair and walked over to a nearby shelf, on which socks were sitting, wrapped in plastic wrappers. May found a pair of black ones. "These will do."
Ash then spotted on the next shelf some gloves for sale, and picked out a pair that were white with navy fingers and wrists. There was also some yellow waist pouches on the same shelf. Ash picked one up. "And I think these will look nice on you too, May."
"Thanks, Ash."
"You're welcome, May. Well, I think that's everything. So let's have you try them on."
Ash led May back to the chair where they had left the other clothes. A doorway was nearby with a red curtain drawn across it. May drew back the curtain and walked inside. Ash handed her the clothes they had collected, one by one. When May accepted them all, she drew the curtain across the doorway. "Don't look in on me while I'm changing!" she chuckled.
"Don't worry, I won't," laughed Ash. He sat down in the chair. Pikachu hopped off his shoulders and sat down at his feet. Ash smiled at his friend. "Wow, Pikachu," he whispered. "Isn't May amazing."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu replied happily.
About five minutes later, the curtain across the doorway was drawn back, and Ash and Pikachu gasped as a girl they didn't recognise stepped out, dressed in the red blouse, white skirt, navy shorts, yellow waist pouch white and navy gloves, black socks and striped trainers, while still wearing the diamond necklace Ash gave her.
"Well, Ash," she asked smiling. "What do you think?"
Ash stood up and beamed. "May! You look so amazing! It's a new you! You're fantastic!"
"Thanks, Ash." May replied, blushing.
"Although..." Ash put a finger to his lips. "I can't help thinking you might need something else."
"Oh, Ash, you don't have to don't have to do that," May beamed happily, putting her arms around him.
"Yeah, but if I find, what I'm looking for, I'll get it for you," replied Ash. "But right now, let's go and pay for your clothes. I'll see if they'll let you wear them as you leave. Leave your old clothes in the changing room. Someone will throw them away."
Pikachu hopped back onto Ash's shoulders and the two teenagers returned to the check-out. The lady standing there looked up to see them, and once again, was taken aback by what May was wearing, but was amazed by how she now looked and smiled. "Oh, you look amazing, dear."
"Just as I said," chuckled Ash. "Is it okay if she wears the clothes as we leave?"
"Of course it is," replied the lady kindly. "I don't for a minute think you'd want to go back to wearing those dirty ripped clothes you arrived in." The lady looked at each bit of clothing May was now wearing, saw the price tags hanging out of them and punched the numbers into the cash register. "Thirty-five dollars please."
"Sure." Ash pulled a wallet which had a picture of a Pikachu on it out of his trouser pocket, took out seven five-dollar bills and handed them to the lady. "Here you go."
"Thank you." The lady placed the money in the cash register. "Have a nice day."
"Thank you," Ash and May replied in unison. Then together with Pikachu, they walked out of the shop and down the street.
May looked down at her clothes, admiring them. "Thank you so much, Ash. These clothes are lovely."
"And they look lovely on you," added Ash. "But still, I can't help thinking you might need one more thing."
Before May could protest, Pikachu pointed and cried out. Surprised, Ash looked through the shop window they were next to, and grinned as he spotted what Pikachu was pointing at; a red square-shaped piece of cloth with a white circle in the middle with two white curved rectangles going around it, sitting on the window sill.
"That's it!" Ash cried excitedly. "That's what you need, May! Wait here!" And he disappeared inside with Pikachu still on his shoulder before May could answer.
The shop was fairly small, with several souvenirs on sale. The counter was at the back, where a tall woman with short blond hair and blue eyes was standing. Ash ran straight to her. "Excuse me. I would like one of those red bandannas like the one in your window sill - if you have any."
"Certainly," smiled the lady. She reached down behind the counter and pulled out a bandanna exactly like the one in the window sill. "Two dollars please."
Ash took out his wallet and took out and handed the lady a two-dollar bill. The lady placed it in the cash register and handed Ash the bandanna.
"Thank you," said Ash. He held it out and smiled at Pikachu. "Clever of you to spot this out buddy. I can't wait to see what it looks like on May."
Ash walked out of the door to the shop to find May waiting outside. He held out the bandanna. "Here, May, tie this around your head."
May took the bandanna from Ash and placed it over her brunette hair. She attempted to tie it around her head, and first, struggled to do so. But she managed to get a knot and pulled it tight. Ash stepped back to examine her, and both he and Pikachu were awestruck by how May looked.
"May! You look awesome!" exclaimed Ash pleased. "It's a complete new image for you."
"Al thanks to you, Ash," replied May. "Thank you for this lovely day."
"Oh, it's not over yet! I'm taking you for a pizza!"
"You are?!"
"Yeah. C'mon!" And Ash led May through the busy town.
Wow, Ash! thought May happily. You sure are amazing!
I was expecting this chapter to be shorter than the others, but surprisingly, it turned out to be longer. I should have put the first part with May and Drew in the last chapter, but I wasn't planning that. I was gonna start with when May woke up, but I felt I should have finished off the rest of the previous day.
So, May's finally gotten rid of those dirty ripped clothes and is in her normal clothing. So that's how to picture her in now, which beats dirty old clothes (and for that matter, her emerald clothes, which is why I chose her original clothing).
Well, that's the first part to May's birthday. The next part comes in the next chapter...