The sound of the doorbell made Babidi jump. Today was his 1000th birthday,
and the loud DING-A-LING signalled the arrival of his party guests.
Babidi loved birthday parties... especially his own. Babidi always helped
to decorate the birthday cake, hang the streamers and balloons in the
dining room and create the games for the children to play.
But this year, something was a little bit different about Babidi's party.
Dad had to be away on business, and Mom said there just wouldn't be enough
adults around to supervise the kind of activities they had planned in years
past. No scavenger hunts, relay races or running around this year.
"With Dad away... I just want to keep it small and simple," Mom said.
Babidi tried to get used to the idea of a "small and simple" party. Mom
only allowed him to invite two neighbors... Majin Buu and Dabura. Babidi
couldn't help but be disappointed that he couldn't invite more children
from his school, or even his cousins from across town.
Babidi smoothed his new brown outfit, and dashed to the front door to greet his guests. Mom beckoned the children to the table, where long strands of red licorice were waiting to be transformed into colorful necklaces.
Babidi, Majin Buu, and Dabura had fun stringing the licorice with colorful cereal rings. Luckily, Mom had plenty of cereal available, because most of the pieces ended up in children's mouths, not on the necklaces! Next, Mom stuck labels with famous names on the children's backs. They had to guess the names on their own backs by asking questions of the other children. Babidi took awhile to figure out that he was Trunks, but Dabura guessed after only three questions that her label said Goku.
Each child had the chance to wear several different labels, and there were shouts of laughter when it was discovered that Majin Buu was Shin! Everyone eagerly grabbed a seat in the dining room when Mom announced it was time for cake. Babidi remembered that last year's cake was large enough to feed his whole class and the other friends and family who came to celebrate his birthday. Although there were plenty of decorations on the cake this year, its small size reminded Babidi that this year's party was just not the same.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Babidi, why don't you answer the door?" Mom said with a suspicious tone in her voice. The birthday boy looked at his friends, and the threesome rushed to the door. Babidi turned the knob, opened the door, and stared. He could hardly believe his eyes. Dad was not out of town at all! There he stood, carrying the sweetest, furriest, puppy Babidi had ever seen. "Happy Birthday, Babidi," Dad said, joyously, as he led a long line of friends and cousins through the door. One by one, each child handed Babidi all the things you need to take care of a new puppy. A book on grooming, a dog bowl, a leash, puppy toys, and more! Mom emerged from the kitchen with a second birthday cake -- enough to feed a room full of excited children. No other party activities were planned. The rest of the afternoon, Babidi and his party guests took turns playing with the frisky pet. "What will you name him?" Dad asked. "Surprise," Babidi said as he received a wet puppy kiss. "Surprise."
Babidi smoothed his new brown outfit, and dashed to the front door to greet his guests. Mom beckoned the children to the table, where long strands of red licorice were waiting to be transformed into colorful necklaces.
Babidi, Majin Buu, and Dabura had fun stringing the licorice with colorful cereal rings. Luckily, Mom had plenty of cereal available, because most of the pieces ended up in children's mouths, not on the necklaces! Next, Mom stuck labels with famous names on the children's backs. They had to guess the names on their own backs by asking questions of the other children. Babidi took awhile to figure out that he was Trunks, but Dabura guessed after only three questions that her label said Goku.
Each child had the chance to wear several different labels, and there were shouts of laughter when it was discovered that Majin Buu was Shin! Everyone eagerly grabbed a seat in the dining room when Mom announced it was time for cake. Babidi remembered that last year's cake was large enough to feed his whole class and the other friends and family who came to celebrate his birthday. Although there were plenty of decorations on the cake this year, its small size reminded Babidi that this year's party was just not the same.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Babidi, why don't you answer the door?" Mom said with a suspicious tone in her voice. The birthday boy looked at his friends, and the threesome rushed to the door. Babidi turned the knob, opened the door, and stared. He could hardly believe his eyes. Dad was not out of town at all! There he stood, carrying the sweetest, furriest, puppy Babidi had ever seen. "Happy Birthday, Babidi," Dad said, joyously, as he led a long line of friends and cousins through the door. One by one, each child handed Babidi all the things you need to take care of a new puppy. A book on grooming, a dog bowl, a leash, puppy toys, and more! Mom emerged from the kitchen with a second birthday cake -- enough to feed a room full of excited children. No other party activities were planned. The rest of the afternoon, Babidi and his party guests took turns playing with the frisky pet. "What will you name him?" Dad asked. "Surprise," Babidi said as he received a wet puppy kiss. "Surprise."