HI Phil fans. This one is short. But, I think the next chapter will wrap it up. I needed some kind of transition. This is it for today, however. I have a lot of school work to get to. Sort of been slacking off. Look for the resolution to Happy NIrday Phil in the next couple days. Thanks for reading! And thanks for all of the really nice comments. I wish I had you guys in my creative writing class.

Chapter 6

At 6:15, Keely grabbed her jacket, said goodbye to her mom, and stepped out into the twilight. H.G. Wells was only a couple of blocks, and even though it was chilly, she wanted to walk. She couldn't suppress the flutter in her heart. Is this what it feels like? Love? She wondered. All the songs I've heard about love and all the girls I've seen who fall in love in movies---none of that could have prepared me for this feeling. As good as love felt, Keely also thought she might be sick at any moment. There was something about putting her heart out there for the taking that still scared her. But she had to take the plunge. And it had to be with Phil---there could never be anyone else. When she looked into Phil's eyes she saw herself in him. He was her soulmate.

However, Keely was still worried. She had made up her mind, but what if Phil was mad at her? He had avoided her all afternoon since they talked at lunch. He hadn't waited to walk her home from school. In fact, Keely couldn't remember a single time when they hadn't walked home together. She always went to Phil's after school. This afternoon, though, when she passed his house, she didn't stop. She knew she had hurt his feelings, and shehadn't known how to fix that. Until now.

At the Diffys' house Phil was helping his mom in the kitchen. He stood at the window watching Pim light what seemed like at least ten thousand matches with her Wizard. As soon as she lit one, she let it burn until it almost touched her fingers, then she blew it out and tossed it to Curtis, who caught it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed it. Lloyd was reading the directions on a bag of charcoal. The barbecue grill had been used, until today, as a magazine rack, and was now piled high with the charcoal. Phil couldn't believe---with the exception Curtis eating matchsticks---how ordinary the whole scene appeared.

All the food had been prepared the old-fashioned way, but since it was Phil's Nirday, Barb had Wizarded him a cake. She didn't want to risk ruining any more aspects of his not-so-perfect Nirday.

"Phil, what time is it?" Barb asked.

Phil looked at his watch. "Six fifteen," he said and sighed. Keely was probably on her way to H.G. Wells for her Reporterama meeting. But Phil wasn't angry anymore. He was sad. He missed her. His birthday didn't feel right without her there to celebrate. Best friend or girlfriend, it didn't matter. He just wanted Keely right there. By his side. "Why?"

"Well, you were born at exactly 6:40 on this day 2105. Or, I guess I should say you will be born on this day in 2105. So we must be celebrating your Nearly Nirday, then. I don't know. . . ." she trailed off.

"Yeah, I don't know what you'd call it, either," Phil said, rolling his eyes and turning from the window to face Barb. "Maybe the right word is disaster."

"Oh, Phil. I wish there was something I could do. Is there? What could I do to make you feel better?" Barb asked, taking the cake from it's box. A Laser Squash ball made out of red frosting levitated over the cake. It was from 2121, after all.

"I don't know, Mom," Phil said. Go to the school and convince Keely to drop out of Reporterama?

"Well, honey if there's anything at all, all you have to do is ask," Barb said.

Suddenly Phil had an idea. His whole face lit up at the thought of it. Exactly! Go to the school! If Keely couldn't come over for his birthday party, then he would have to bring his birthday to her.

"Mom? Mind if I borrow a couple of things? The Skyak and that Nirday cake?" Phil asked, grinning.

"Anything for my Nirday boy," Bard said.

Phil put the cake back into its box, grabbed the Skyak ball from the shelf, and ran out the back door.

"Dad, I'm taking the Skyak, okay?" Phil yelled to his dad, who was pouring more charcoal into the grill.

"Sure, son. When will you be back, though? I might need more lighter fluid," Lloyd called.

"Well, Dad, hopefully not for a while," Phil said. He couldn't stop smiling. Then he threw out the Skyak ball, placed the cake underneath the seat, climbed on, and zoomed away toward H.G. Wells. Even Pim, who watched him go, hoped her brother would finally get the girl.