Baby Book - Phase Three

Chapter Seven - A Cake with Candles

Mid August, 2273

On Monday he tugged on Nyota's shirt hem. "Can I have a cake, Mama? With Candles?"

She smiled down at him. "Yes, of course, Grayson. What color do you want?"

His face scrunched up as he thought. "Blue. With white candles."

"Sounds good to me." She ruffled his hair and he grinned before he ran off.

On Tuesday he climbed up on the couch beside his father and wiggled into his lap, reaching up to whisper in his ear. "A cake, Baba. With candles."

"Yes, Grayson, a cake with candles. I believe you specified blue frosting and white candles. Your mother has already ordered it." Spock's eyes twinkled.

Grayson practically bounced with joy. Spock gave him a quick hug, and he clambered down, running back into the playroom.

On Wednesday, when Nyota came to pick him up at the day care center, he came running. "Tell them, Mama, please."

"Tell them what, Grayson?"

"About the cake with candles."

She grinned at him. "A cake with blue frosting and white candles."

"See! I said so!" Grayson's face was split in a wide grin.

On Thursday, he pulled at Spock's sleeve as they stood in line in the mess hall. "Baba, Baba, will they know how many candles to put on the cake?"

Spock looked down at him. "There is a specific number?" He strongly suppressed the urge to smile at his son.

"Yes, Baba! There must be five!"

"And why is that, Grayson?"

"Because I will be five years old!"

"Yes, you will, and I am sure that your mother told them that."

Grayson was not so positive until he saw his mother's laughing face. Then he relaxed.

On Friday, Grayson was beside himself with anticipation. He hardly ate anything all day, he was so excited. His parents just shook their heads behind his back. He told Miss Betty fifteen times about his blue cake with the white candles, and he told Miss Lou twelve times. Miss Tina he only told five times. He did not know her very well yet. Shron and Grrel he told twenty-six times, until they yelled at him to stop.

On Saturday, he woke his parents up at 0500, asking if his cake was ready. His father just glared at him. He hurried out of their bedroom quickly.

He came back at 0700, ready for breakfast. Nyota rose with a groan, glad that each of her children only had one birthday a year.

At 1000, with the senior staff rec room full of children and their parents, he blew out the five white candles on his blue cake with a blissful smile on his face. And Spock was sure to get several holos, so that this moment would never be forgotten.