Birthday Bash

Dawson and Basil were silently sitting in chairs. Basil was reading British literature while Dr. Dawson was smiling gleefully. Basil looked up and noticed this grin.

"Tell me, Dawson, is that a smug on your face or are you just happy to see me?" he asked.

"My birthday…" replied Dawson.

"Your birthday! I haven't missed it, have I?" asked Basil surprised.

"No, no, chap, it's only in two days," replied Dawson.

"'Bout to say! I would've given you something special if I'd known!" cried Basil.

"Aw, don't worry, Basil. You don't have to get anything for me…well not much anyway…" he replied.

"Well, now I know what to do today! Excuse me, Dawson!" returned Basil. He hopped out of his chair, put on his coat, and jumped out the door.

"Was it something I said?" replied Dawson. That was all he could say.

Basil called Toby, and they sprinted all the way to the Flaversham house. Meanwhile inside, Arden and Olivia were having a staring contest, and Hunter was just watching. Olivia's eyes started to water. "You're going to blink soon enough, so don't even try, little sister!" cried Arden.

"No way!" cried Olivia. They looked at each other with a glare. Olivia's eyes slowly lowered.

"You blinked!" cried Arden.

"I did not, you liar!" replied Olivia. While they fought, Hunter, and Mr. Flaversham just stared at them.

"I hate it when they fight," hissed Hunter. Hiram walked up to Arden and Olivia.

"STOP FIGHTING! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! YOU FIGHT EVERYDAY! WHEN'LL IT STOP!" yelled Hiram. By this time, Arden and Olivia were just staring at him. Basil knocked on their door.

"Who is it?" asked Hiram.

"It's me, Basil!" cried Basil at the door. Hiram opened and there he was. Basil clapped his hands on Hiram's shoulders.

"Flaversham, you've got to help me! Dawson's birthday is in two days. I don't even know what to get him and what the letter 'Q' in his name means!" he cried.
"You don't have to shout," replied Hiram. When Hiram brought Basil inside, they both founded Arden and Olivia jumping up and down on the couch.

"And so I said to the man "what do you mean you don't have anymore platform boots?", and clerk was all 'sorry, miss, we don't 'ave anymore,' in his Cockney accent," explained Olivia.

"Did you ever get them?" asked Arden.

"No, but thanks for the compliment," replied Olivia smiling. Arden was confused a bit.

"Girls, stop jumping on the couch," he said. He grabbed their hands and pulled them down.

"Would it kill you to settle down for once?" asked Hiram Arden looked at Olivia and Olivia looked at her. They fell to ground and pretending that they were dying.

"Obviously not," replied Hiram.

"Everyone, in two days, it'll be Dawson's birthday!" explained Basil. Everyone ad-libbed in commotion.

"How old is he!" asked Olivia.

"That'll do, Olivia," replied Hiram.

"Well, what should we do?" asked Hunter.

"We could come together and sing "Happy Birthday to You" to him on the big day," replied Arden.

"Yes...well...I guess we could do that, but we'll need to come together later, and do a little practice..." replied Basil. Arden looked at him weirdly.

"...okay," replied Arden.

September 30th, 1898 6:30 P.M

Arden, Olivia, Hunter, Basil, and Hiram were all sitting in a circle waiting to do their rehearsal.

"Okay, first of all, what's his name?" asked Basil.

"Dr. Dawson," replied Olivia.

"Well, I'm sure he means his whole name, first, middle, and last," replied Hunter.

"Well, he calls me Basil, but I always calls him 'Dawson'. Even Flaversham over here always calls him 'Dawson'," explained Basil.

"You can say that again. I don't even what his middle name is!" replied Hiram.

"I do," said Arden.

"What makes you say that, Arden?" asked Olivia.

"One day, I looked into his coat and saw his full name, but I didn't tell anyone. I wanted to save it for an occasion like this one," replied Arden. Hunter rose from his chair.

"You've got a criminal mind, you have!" he stated.

"I haven't got a criminal mind! I guess you could say it was my dirty little secret," replied Arden.

"Will you tell us?" asked Hiram.

"Can I have five pounds?" replied Arden. Hiram quickly placed at 5 pound note in Arden's paw, and she quickly placed it in her pocket.

"Okay..." she said. Everyone leaned forward.

"His middle name is..."

October 1st, 1898

Dr. Dawson's birthday was here. Dr. Dawson was happy. Everyone else was getting ready. Mr. Judson was preparing the birthday cake, while Hunter helped Arden with the birthday present. Olivia and Basil were both trying to stall Dawson. Everyone suddenly came out with the present and cake.

"Oh. Thank you!" he said. Basil gave him the present, and he opened it.

"Oh, it's what I've always wanted!" cried Dawson. Everyone had a look at it.

"I haven't had one of these in years!" stated Basil.

"I used to walk around the stores and see these on display," replied Olivia.

"Me too," said Hunter.

"We're not going to tell what he got! It's a secret," replied Arden.

Everyone suddenly gathered and sang.

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear...DR. DAVID QUINCY DAWSON!...Happy Birthday to you!"

Dawson smiled, but said nothing. He was surrounded by friends. That was good enough for him.