Chapter Seven: Chiro's First Birthday

Three months passed by and before we knew it May 17th. We had already planned his birthday party and invited his three new friends, Daniel, Soren, and Alina. He had meet them at the park only a month before.

Daniel was a tall, brown haired, brown eyed three-year-old. He was a excellent leader and Chiro often could be found with him. All the children followed him. He was quite courageous, which I believe was the reason Chiro choose him to befriend.

Soren was a short, reddish brown haired, hazel eyed one-year-old. He was only three weeks older then Chiro. He was quite shy and frightened when we first met him. He normally could be found reading or drawling, one of the many activities he and Chiro do together.

Alina was a black haired, green eyed, medium sized eleven-month-old. She is only two weeks younger then Chiro. She normally is alone reading or craving wood. She taught Chiro about the skateboard, something us monkeys are not familiar with.

I had my book out again. Today was special. Today the boy we had been raising was turning a year old. This is what I wrote:

Dear Book,

Today is Chiro's first birthday. He survived Mandarin, pneumonia, irresponsible monkeys, and the dangers of Shuggazoom. I couldn't be prouder than I am today. Chiro has once again proven to us his worth. But he still acts terrified of Sprx. I wonder why. Did something happen that fateful day in January? Or was it before that, when we left Sprx in charge while the rest of us went to explore? So many questions and so little time in which to answer them.

Sincerely,

Antauri.

I shut my book and went downstairs. Nova and Otto were baking a cake and Sprx and Gibson were arguing about where the banner should be. "It should be above the kid!" Sprx shouted.

"It should be above the table!" Gibson shouted. "At least there everyone could see it!"

"Enough." I said. "We'll put it above the table, like Gibson said." Gibson gave a triumphant smile. "But Sprx gets to choose where the balloons, streamers, and other hanging decorations go." Sprx stuck his tongue out at Gibson and they put the banner into place.

I went into the kitchen to see how Nova and Otto were doing. Otto was just throwing the cake into the oven and Nova was making some hot dogs and salad. "We're going to take Chiro to Gakslapper's." Otto said. "Everyone loves that place!"

"That's nice of you." I said.

"Thanks." Nova whispered in my ear. "For getting Gibson and Sprx to stop arguing. I couldn't concentrate."

"It was no problem." I said. I went out of the kitchen and went outside. Chiro and his friends were there, Daniel saying something that seemed to scare the little ones. I got closer and heard, "… he ran through the forest but the monster's footsteps only got louder and louder. Thomas kept on running till he reached a dead end. He was trapped. He waited and waited until he saw…"

"Until he saw what?" Chiro asked, being curious and frightened at the same time.

"Until he saw the Lake Monster!" Daniel shouted. "The Lake Monster scooped him up and swallowed him whole!" The kids let out a shriek of fear. "I've heard that if you go to Hermit Ledge you can hear Thomas scream and the Lake Monster lays in wait of his next victim. He prefers little one-year-old boys just like you!" Daniel pointed at Chiro and Chiro emitted a scream of terror.

"I don't want the Lake Monster to eat me!" Chiro shouted. He was quivering with fear.

"And it won't." I said, surprising every child, even though they couldn't understand me except Chiro. "Even if the Lake Monster was chasing you the Power Primate would let us know your in trouble. We would find you and kill the Lake Monster before he could lay a fin on you. Just like we do with Mandarin."

"Really?" Chiro asked.

"Really." I said. I wrapped him in a warm embrace and headed back to the Super Robot, four little humans following me. I could feel them following me and I sensed that Daniel was in awe.

Inside the robot was chaotic. Sprx and Gibson were rushing to get the final streamers up and Nova and Otto were just setting out food. "Yum!" Soren said. "Your monkeys have outdone themselves again!"

"They always do," Chiro said. "Even though I'm the only one who can speak to them, they always out do themselves whether it's a party or a fight for Shuggazoom,"

"How much longer till that machine is finished?" Daniel asked. Seeing the confusion on Chiro's face he added. "You know, the one that'll allow the monkeys to communicate with all humans? The one Otto started about a month and a half ago?"

"Oh!" Chiro exclaimed. "That should be finished in a week or two, depending on what happens."

"Sweet!" Soren said. "I've been dieing to know what they're saying to us!"

"I wonder what Nova sounds like." Alina said. "She probably has a voice of an angel." Chiro smiled and went over to Nova. He whispered something into her ear and Nova's smile widened.

Nova went over to Otto and whispered something in his ear. "Oh," Otto said. "I already finished that. I'm gonna start it up tonight,"

"Good," Nova said. "It's finally going to be a little normal for once." Daniel, Soren, and Alina didn't understand what they said but Chiro and me did. It sounded as if the machine was done.

"Let's get this party started!" Sprx shouted.

"What did Sprx say?" Daniel asked.

"He said," Chiro said. "let's get this party started!" The children whooped with joy and the party was on it's way. Otto was trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat and instead pulled out his tail.

Nova was sitting with Alina. Nova knew sign language and so did Alina. It looked like they were having an exciting conversation. Sprx, Gibson, Daniel, Chiro, Soren and me were playing hide and go seek.

"1,2," I said. "3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10! Ready or not here I come!" I searched the robot from top to bottom. I found Sprx first. He was hiding in the kitchen cupboards.

"Man!" Sprx shouted. "I'm it next!" I found Daniel in the shower. Then I found Soren under Chiro's bed. Next I found Gibson hiding in between the wall and the Main Computer.

"This those not shock me." He said. "Chiro is a very good hider." We searched everywhere but we could not find him.

"Maybe he's in the vents." Sprx said. "He always gets up there." We crawled into the vents and Soren and Daniel watched Otto try to pull a quarter out of Alina's ear.

"Sprx!" I shouted. "You go to the left! Gibson! You go to the right! I'll go up!"

"Okay!" Sprx and Gibson shouted in unison. We split up and began our search for Chiro.

I had officially declared this a search-and-rescue mission. We had shouted 'We give up!' multiple times and Chiro did not appear. I fretted that Mandarin had captured him or he had been chopped into little bits by the fans. "CHIRO!" I shouted, sounding desperate and angry at the same time.

"Anbauri!" I heard a voice shout. "Help me!" I crawled through the vents at full speed. The sound of Chiro's plea for help had been near the fans. All the possibilities of Chiro's fate ran through my head. I moved faster then I ever had before. Then I saw him.

Chiro was at the outdoor fan. It was on high gear and the only thing that was keeping Chiro from being killed was a little metal bar. Chiro happen to know this fact and was clinging onto it for dear life. "Chiro!" I shouted.

Chiro looked at me. "Anbauri!" he shouted. "I can't hold on much longer!" I looked at his little hands and saw that they were slipping.

"You don't have to!" I shouted and grabbed bar on my wall. I then shot my tail out and wrapped it around Chiro's waist. "Let go of the bar!" I shouted.

Chiro looked at me like I was crazy but he let go. He screamed and went closer to the decapitating fan. But my tail would not let him go any closer after that. I made my tail pull him towards me.

As Chiro came closer I could see a scratch stretch from his right eye to his lips. He's hurt. I thought. All because we played a game. This isn't a very good first birthday. He looked fazed but, other then that unsightly scar, we was uninjured.

The moment I had him in my arms I ran away from the fans. Chiro was definitely was getting to heavy to carry. He was whimpering and I saw that the scratch was worst then I had thought. It looked deep and it was bleeding heavily. I hurried back even faster. I activated my communicator. "Sprx!" I shouted. "Gibson! Do you read?"

"Reading you loud and clear," Sprx said.

"I hear you Antauri," Gibson said.

"I found him," I said. "Slightly injured."

"What he do now?" Sprx asked.

"Scratched his face on a unknown object," I said. "I found him near the outdoor fans."

"Ouch!" Gibson exclaimed. "Meet you at Med. Bay!"

"See you there," I grumbled and turned my communicator off. Chiro was looking at me and I offered a smile.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"It's not your fault," I said. "We should have turned off the fans before we started," Chiro was silent but looked unconvinced. When is he going to learn, I thought. that not everything is his fault.

I quickly got to Med. Bay, where I found Gibson waiting for me. He took one look at Chiro and said, "I thought the scratch wasn't that deep,"

"It is," I said. "Disinfect it and bandage it. Then bring him back out. I'm sure that he'll want to see what Otto has planned,"

"Will do Antauri," Gibson said. He led Chiro to the evaluation table and took down some bottles and bandages.

I went out of Med. Bay and saw Otto bringing out a machine. It must have been the translator. Sprx and Nova were helping him put it in the Command Center.

Chiro and Gibson came out momentarily. Chiro's face was now bandaged but he had a bright smile on his face. "Ouch!" Soren shouted. "How in the name of Shuggazoom did you do that?" Soren pointed at the scar.

"I…" Chiro began "I… I don't remember,"

"How is that possible?" Daniel asked.

"It happened so fast," Chiro whispered. "I didn't see what scratched me,"

"It's okay Chiro," I said. "None of us are judging you. We're just glad your safe,"

"Are you ready?" Otto asked. Chiro raised his eyebrow and nodded. Otto flipped the switch on the translator and said, "Walla!"

"Ah!" the kids screamed.

"We can understand them?" Soren asked.

"Creepiness!" Alina shouted.

"This is amazing!" Daniel shouted. Alina automatically started a conversation with Nova. Daniel started to question me non-stop and Soren started to exchange jokes with Otto. Sprx listened to the jokes and Gibson began to make sure that Chiro's bandage was still in place.

"How did you get Chiro to calm down?" Daniel asked.

"I told him that we would protect him." I said. Daniel nodded and he began to tell me about his life. When he was done I started to tell him about mine, keeping some parts of it secret. I could tell this was the start of a great friendship.

The hours past by quickly. Soon we sang happy birthday, causing Chiro to blush a little. Then we watched Chiro open his present. He got a skateboard from Alina, a book about monkeys and other jungle creatures from Soren, a nine piece puzzle from Daniel, a book about stars from Gibson, a toy hammer from Otto, a miniature plane from Sprx, and a teddy bear from Nova.

Then it was my turn to give him a present. I got out a little box covered in silver wrapping paper. I handed it to him and Chiro began to rip to the wrapping paper. When it was gone every one could see what I got him.

It was a paint set. It had a big pad of paper and ten different paint colors. There were three different sized paintbrushes and a little cup for water. Chiro put the paint set down and gave me a little hug.

"Thank you Antauri," Chiro said.

"Your welcome Chiro," I said. Soon the party was over and our little boy was asleep in his room, with his little monkey night light glowing away.