It was finally Friday and Farah's birthday. The girl had been counting down the days for the last week or so now. She hadn't celebrated her birthday since her mother died. She was nervous as she didn't know what to expect. As usual, she was one of the first children up and went down the stairs.
"Happy Birthday" May-Li said and Farah smiled. May-Li gave the girl a hug and Farah smiled. She was really happy today and nothing would change that.
"Thank you" She said before pulling away gently and making herself breakfast.
"So we are going to the cinema at 2 o'clock. Did you ask Carmen, Tee and Jody?" May-Li asked and Farah nodded. All three of the girls had said that they would love to come. They were going to see a 12A which Farah was really excited about. It made her feel very grown up. May-Li didn't have the heart to tell the girl that she would have been able to see a 12a with an adult without being 12.
The morning seemed to drag for Farah, after the children gathered in the living room and gave Farah a small present each, Farah had nothing to do. She was happy but just wanted to go to the cinema now. It was taking a long time to reach 2 o'clock.
May-Li and Mike pulled Farah aside just before lunch and gave her a lovely necklace they had put their money together and hoped the girl would like it. Farah loved the idea of being so grown up. It meant a lot to her.
Farah was still dancing around May-Li and the woman had nearly tripped over the girl a number of times. It was just after 1:30 and they didn't need to leave until 2 but she was nearly at the end of her tether.
"Go and check that the other girls are ready" May-Li said. Farah nodded before running up the stairs, two at a time.
"Are you nearly ready?" She asked Jody as she walked into their bedroom.
"Oh I thought it was tomorrow. I'm away to the park with Tyler. I promised him I would go with him" Jody said as she put her shoes on. Farah couldn't believe that Jody would pick going to the park with a boy, over going to the cinema with her. She was a bit annoyed but just let it go. Nothing was going to ruin this birthday for her. She went off to find Tee and Carmen instead.
"Where is Tee?" Farah asked as she walked into Sasha and Tee's room.
"She's not here, she just left to go to the hairdressers" Sasha said before putting her headphones back in. Farah's face fell. She left the room without saying another word and went to find Carmen. She entered Carmen's room to see Carmen with her dressing gown on and her hair twisted into a towel. She also had a mask on her face.
"Are you still coming to the cinema?" She asked almost begging.
"The last weekday before we return to school, I always have a relaxing bath and relax before returning to school" Carmen said before putting the cucumber back on her eyes and leaning back.
Farah stormed to her bedroom and slammed the door. During her time, looking for Tee and speaking to Carmen. Jody had left with Tyler so no one was in her bedroom.
Meanwhile, May-Li noticed that Farah hadn't come down the stairs. She walked up the stairs to see what was going on. She noticed Farah and Jody's door closed and knocked on the door. She didn't get a reply so slowly opened the door. She noticed Farah lay on the bed curled up in a ball.
"Hey, what's wrong? We can't have the birthday girl upset" May-Li said gently as she put her hand on the girl's leg. Farah didn't respond.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked and Farah shook her head. She then tried to hide herself away from May-Li.
"You were so excited earlier" May-Li said as she worked at encouraging Farah to get ready but it didn't work.
"Well, I'll have to go and speak to the other girls" May-Li said noticing that Farah wasn't going to budge. She wouldn't even speak to her about what was going on.
May-Li went to find Jody and noticed that her and Tyler were away. Next, she went looking for Tee, Sasha explained the girl was out. Finally, she went into Carmen's room.
"Why aren't you ready to go to the cinema?" May-Li asked.
"I already told Farah that I spend the last weekday of any holiday relaxing and getting ready to return to school" Carmen huffed and May-Li worked out exactly what was wrong with Farah. She shook her head and walked back to the girl's bedroom. She was upset with the other girls for not thinking about Farah and being selfish. It was a shame on the poor girl.
"I've spoken to Carmen and I'm not happy with the others, I will be speaking to them" May-Li said and Farah just shrugged and down away.
"Do you want to come down the stairs with me? We can get Floss and the twins, we can play some fun games" May-Li suggested but Farah just glared at her and turned away. May-Li hated the fact that when Farah was hurt or upset, she didn't speak. Instead she went mute again and May-Li just couldn't get her out of it.
May-Li walked down the stairs, she knew to leave the girl for a while to allow her to calm down. The rest of the day went relatively quickly and when Jody and Tee returned. May-Li called them both as well as Carmen to the living room.
"Why do you plan other things today when you had told Farah that you would go to the cinema with her?" May-Li asked.
"Oh I forgot" Tee said instantly feeling bad.
"I didn't think she'd mind" Jody said.
"I always do this before going back to school" Carmen said.
"This is Farah's first birthday that she had celebrated in years and now she is upset in her room" May-Li said. The girls all felt bad.
"We'll make it up to her" Tee said and May-Li shook her head.
"I really hope you do" May-Li said and she left the girls to it.
After an hour, Tee went up the stairs. She knocked on Farah's door before walking in.
"Will you come down the stairs please?" Tee asked and Farah just glared at her.
"Please Farah, we are sorry about today" Tee said. After more persuasion, Farah eventually walked down the stairs. The girls had set up the living room with blankets and duvets. Carmen was also going to Farah's nails. Farah sat down and let the girls put the film on but she didn't smile. She was angry and upset.
May-Li watched and saw how hard the girls were trying. She waited an hour but when Farah was still acting the same, she pulled the girl away.
"I know you are mad, but the girls are trying. Maybe just give them a chance" May-Li said. She understood where Farah was coming from but still it's important that she didn't hold it against them the whole time.
Farah nodded and returned. She took on what May-Li had told her and slowly started to relax and laugh with the other girls. She even allowed Carmen to do her nails for her. Something she previously wouldn't have allowed.
After the film, it was dinner time. They ate before heading up to Jody and Farah's room to hang out for a bit. Farah enjoyed this, she felt so grown up and really enjoyed it.
They hung out until Mike came up and told them to get ready for bed. The girls huffed a bit as they were having such a good time but they didn't cause a fuss.
Farah returned to her room and got ready for bed. Although the day hadn't gone as planned she did still end up having a really good time and it was still the best birthday she could remember.
Hope this is okay :) Please review and let me know what you think. Sorry it's been so long.