When Death Returns

Chapter 4

That night Merton, Tommy, and Lori went to The Factory to celebrate. Sang "Happy Birthday" and did a few bowling matches. In all was a good night, especially after Merton finally stood up for him self. It made him fell better about himself, made him feel like he wasn't worthless after all. That night Merton went back to the Lair and fell asleep right away. He was exhausted. Even though everyone forgot his Birthday in the beginning, his to best friends seemed to make it up to him. No matter how hard he tried he could never stay mad at Tommy and Lori, but still... that Turkey thing was going to cost him!

Merton was lying in his bed sleeping, all relaxed with a smile on his face. Sound asleep, not a care in the world… that is what he thought until….

A loud blasting noise rang in his ear. Merton jumped up, widening his eyes to see what the noise was.

"HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MERTON!" Tommy and Lori sang in harmony. They each had one of those party birthday whistles (you know the ones that roll out) and a funny little party hat on.

" Wh…what are you guys doing?" Merton asked sleepishly sitting up from his bed.

"Well we thought that since we missed out on giving you a real birthday bash and birthday presents that we'd make it up to you today!" Lori yelled happily, as Tommy pulled two chairs up beside Merton's bed.

"Surprise!" Tommy yelled after he pulled out another party hat form behind him and stuck it on Merton's head.

"Guys you really don't have to do this. Last night was enough." Merton said as he began to wake up, and a wide smile crossed his lips.

"Yes, yes we did. Oooh, oooh and here!" Tommy said excitedly.

"We come barring Presents." Lori said holding up a big rectangular box.

"Guys you didn't have to do this…" Merton said with disbelief. Lori lowered the present in her hands.

"Oh, ok then. We don't have to give you your presents." Lori said with a grin and a smirk.

"Yah, we can keep them for our selves if you want beacuse i have no problem with that…" Tommy finished with a smile.

"NO! … I mean, I'll accept." Merton said blushing as he took the present from Lori. He opened it quickly and excitedly.

"Aw cool! The premium spell book for wizards! How did you know?!" Merton said while looking amazed and skimming through the book.

"Well, I saw you gocking at in through the store window one day and I knew you wanted it…so I got it!" Lori said with a burst of inspiration as Merton leaned in and hugged her tightly.

"Thanks guys." Merton said as he pulled away from Lori.

"Your welcome but that's not all." Lori said and Tommy pulled out a huge box and flopped it on Merton lap.

"Wow! Why is it so heavy! What's in it rocks?!" Merton said surprised and happy that his gift was so big but still hoping that his guess was wrong.

"Open it up and find out!" Tommy said rubbing his hand together. Merton did a little squeal and started tarring away at the wrapping paper. As he opened the box he gasped and through himself at Tommy squeezing him as hard as he could.

"Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you! How did you know? How did you even know I knew how to play?" Merton asked as he lifted the shinny black and white electric guitar up out of the box.

"Well… I kinda saw you playing one in the music store… and I talked to your dad and we split it." Tommy said as Merton's parents came into the lair.

"Happy birthday son." Mr. Dingle said as he and Mrs. Dingle came in and shut the door behind them.

"Wow! I can't believe you got this for me!" Merton shrieked.

"Well, you deserve it and we both just want to say how truly sorry we are for missing yesterday. And we just hope that this will make up for some what of that." Mrs. Dingle said as she made her way over to Merton's bed and gave him a big hug.

"Thank-you! All of you! I love the guitar and I love this book! Hey put the too together and who knows what we'll get!" Merton said excitedly as Tommy and Lori looked together worriedly.

"Yep, well lets go upstairs and have some breakfast and then you can play us something on your new guitar!" Mr. Dingle said as he opened the door to the lair and started walking up. Eventually everyone followed but Merton was still sitting on his bed in aw.

"Merton, you coming buddy?" Tommy asked as he began to walk up the steps.

"Yah, I'll be right there! Go ahead I'll just be a second." Merton said as he set the guitar down.

"Ok." Tommy said as he skipped up the stairs. As Merton got up and through away the wrapping paper he heard footsteps behind him. Oh please don't let it be death coming back to get me again. Merton thought to himself. He spun around and made a sigh of relief. It was only Becky.

"Happy Birthday freaker… I mean Merton." Becky said with a smile.

"Aw thanks Becky…" Merton said but then realized that she just called him Merton. Becky leaned in, and gave him a big hug. Merton just stood there a little taken back but then smiled and hugged her back.

"Come on, I hear there's going to be a big breakfast!" Merton said as he released his sister and they both walked up the stairs to the kitchen.

Even though it might've not been on the exact date, his family and friends really did care for him. He finally stood up for himself, got a guitar and the premium spell book for wizards which he loved, and his sister finally called him Merton. Things were finally looking up, and well, he was going to enjoy it. Here comes the new Merton J. Dingle.

THE END

Ok, all finished… what did you think? Please review I would like to hear your feed back! Oh and on another note, if you like this story you might want to read my other one "Learning the Truth", you might like it! Well, that's all for me! Hope you liked it!

DannySmith