The room was dark when Emma was awoken from her sleep. She didn't sleep much the night before she was so excited about today she couldn't sleep. It wasn't till around three in the morning that she finally fell asleep. It was her fourth birthday today and she spent all of last night thinking about what she would get from her friends, what gifts, toys, what kind of food and snacks, what flavor of cake she would get. She wanted a chocolate cake that was for sure. Uncle Mitch assured her that her cake would be personally baked by himself and J.D. Her mouth watered just from the idea. She thought about all the toys, Nerf guns, and Lego builds she would get. And hopefully a puppy too. She always wanted a puppy and every year (more like every month) she would ask to have a puppy. Her parents used to say she was too young to get a puppy, but now she was a big girl. She could take care of a puppy. She hopped she didn't get any clothes. Clothes were boring gifts.

"Come on baby." She heard her mother whisper in her ear. She groaned wanting to get more sleep. Her mother however didn't get the memo that birthday girls got to sleep in late. She pulled back her covers and picked her up carrying her in her arms. "Wakey wakey, eggsy and bacy." She said as she walked out of her room.

Finally realizing that she wouldn't get any more sleep she rubbed her eyes trying to rub away the sleep that was calling her. Once her grogginess cleared she looked around seeing a lot of light coming in through the windows. There was a lot more light here then there was in her room. Her room was dark. Suspicious. It probably wasn't morning anymore she assumed. Her thoughts cleared when she smelled the smell of pancakes. Breakfast.

They finally made it downstairs where her dad was waiting there. "Morning sweetness." He said. "Well more like afternoon." He corrected himself as her mom put her down in the chair in front of her breakfast. She eyeballed the tasty looking meal before her and ready to devour.

"Yummy." She said and started eating. Carolina stayed by and then gave her a kiss on the head.

"Happy birthday baby." She said.

"Thank you mommy." She said with her mouth full of pancakes and continued eating. As she finished her first pancake she looked over at the clock that hung over the stove. She couldn't read analog so she turned to the digital clock that was on the stove which read 2:45. She was surprised by how late it was and how long she slept. But then again she was the birthday girl so she did get to sleep in. She started on the second pancake when her dad walked over and kissed her on the head too. "Daddy, can we go to Chuck-e-Cheese for my birthday?" She asked so sweetly. Washington sort of grimaced from the question, looking over to Carolina.

"Sorry baby. Not this year." She said. Emma looked sad but didn't let the news ruin her birthday. She was now four years old, she was a big girl now and was too old to go to Chuck-e-Cheese. Maybe now she was old enough to go to big kid places like Amazing Jakes. Or a Pub, with her dad and her uncle.

After Emma finished her pancakes and put the plate in the sink to be cleaned because she was a good girl. Thats when Carolina pulled her away to take her back upstairs. "Come on baby, lets get you changed." She quickly said. Emma followed her without question.

Up in Emma's room Carolina had been helping her pick out her clothes for the past fifteen minutes trying to stall her. She was set on wearing her Batman shirt and some cargo shorts but Carolina insisted on trying something else. She really liked her Batman shirt, but whatever made her mom happy. As long as it wasn't dresses. She didn't like dresses.

After Emma tried on her seventh pair of pants, Carolina received a text from Washington telling her that it was go time. Carolina gave Emma a little hug and kiss on the head before heading back downstairs. Emma then went back to putting on her Batman shirt and her shorts. After making sure she was ready she made her way downstairs to her mom and dad. She realized how quiet the house had gone. She made her way to the kitchen but they were no where to be found. "Mommy? Daddy?" She called, but there was no response. She walked over to the living room, only this time there was something.

She stepped into the living room and a whole crowd popped out from hiding with ballons and cried out. "SURPRISE!"

Emma screamed and ran back upstairs. "I think we over did it." Sarge said. They heard her running back downstairs and ran straight into a wall. Being blinded by the helmet she was wearing backwards. She went back into the living room raising a nerf gun ready to fight off the intruders.

"Everybody get down!" Michigan shouted and everyone proceeded to take cover.

"Baby its okay! Its just us." Carolina said, trying to calm down her frantic daughter.

She turned her helmet to it was corrected and saw her parents along with her uncles, aunts and all her friends. And beside her Uncle Michigan, was her best friend in the whole world. "J.D.!" She shouted and ran over to hug her. She hugged her back. "Are you here for my birthday?" She asked and J.D. nodded. "Yeah!"

After saying hi to everyone they all made there way to the backyard which was where the real party was. Outside was a large table with which was stacked with presents and on another table was juice, soda, snacks, pizza and her big chocolate birthday cake. But the biggest attraction was the massive inflatable bouncy castle. Emma cheered as did the other kids and Emma ran to her parents for such a great surprise. She hugged and said thank you several times. But that wasn't the extent. After the surprise of the castle had subsided Carolina and Washington had one more surprise. They pulled one special present from the stash and handed it to Emma.

"Oooh, what is it?" She asked excitedly, shaking the box to guess the surprise.

"Well, you know how you said you wanted a puppy." Carolina said making Emma beam in excitement. She dropped the box and started tearing it apart the box. "Wait, baby..." She was too late to stop her. Emma had torn the wrapping and opened the box to reveal the stuffed dog sitting in the box. It wasn't a puppy, just a toy. She picked up the stuffed dog starring at it with a deadpan expression. For a second they felt as though they had mad some mistake.

After a second Emma's face changed and she began to scream, squeezing the toy in her arms in a hug. "PUPPER!" She cried out and then lifted it above her head. "PUPPEEERRRRR!" She bellowed out and started dancing around. "He's perfect!" She cried out And hugged her parents again. "Thank you thank you thank you!"

"We're glad you love it. What are you gonna name him?" Washington asked.

After thinking about it over for a second, Emma's face brightened as she thought of the perfect name for the perfect puppy. "Baxter! Baxter Fluffykins!" She declared.

For the next hour everyone celebrated the party eating and drinking. The children spent most of their time in the bouncy castle with Emma still clutching Baxter in her arms. Washington and Carolina were glad she loved the toy so much. Soon they called out the children so that Emma could blow the candles of her birthday cake that her Uncle Mitch and J.D. made themselves. Everyone gathered around ready for the ceremony. "Alright baby, blow out the candles and make a wish." Carolina said.

Emma smiled. "I don't need to wish. I have the bestest best best mommy and daddy and the bestest best best best friend ever." She said and then blew out the candles. Just as she did so however J.D. grabbed the back of her head and pushed it into the cake. As was tradition as Michigan put it. After the initial shock had passed, Emma lifted her head and licked the chocolate frosting. "Yummy." And then turned her sights to the perpetrator. "J.D.'s my best friend." She said and squeezed her into a hug smearing the frosting on her friend as revenge.

Yesterday was my Birthday. Jan. 25. I am now 21 years old.

Happy birthday to me.

How sad.