"Who wants cupcakes?" the teacher said. Us kids quickly cheered, running over and surrounding her like we are crazy. Some of us decided to fly instead. I don't need to push or fly to get a cupcake. I'm the birthday girl. I always get the first one. The teacher told us to sit in our chairs first, but no one listened. I'm not worried. I walk over, trying to get the cupcake. Just when I almost got to the grown up, Lapis got in the way. She just showed up. Like all the other kids, my little sister was jumping up and down and asking for a cupcake. I don't like her very much.

"Hey, um.." I try to get past her for the cupcake, but she won't move. I tried over and over again, but she won't move. "Get out of the way Lapis!" I yelled, pushing her away. My sister landed on her butt, and started crying. Everyone stopped trying to get cupcakes and looked at us. The teacher crouched down and asked her if she was alright. Then the teacher got mad at me.

"Merli, you are in big trouble right now" the teacher told me. "What made you think you can push your sister like that!?"

"It's my birthday. I always get the first cupcake on my birthday" I told the teacher

"You already got plenty of cupcakes today"

"Lapis did too" I pointed at her. She was still crying like the total baby she is.

"Merli, if you don't say sorry to your sister right now, you won't be getting any more cupcakes today" the teacher then told me. No fair!

"But it's my birthday!" I whine

"Merli"

"No!" I yelled. The teacher went quiet, and the kids went "oooooohhhhhh". No one ever says no to the teacher.

"Fine. If your not going to behave, then go take a time out"

"But-"

"Time out. Now" the teacher interrupted. That's mean. I am mad. With a huff, I marched over to the time out corner and stood there.

While I stood, I can hear everyone paying attention to Lapis and not me. Everyone said that they felt sorry for her, and that I was being a big meanie. Everyone likes her and not me. No one ever likes me. Even Mommy and Daddy like Lapis more than me. She's their favorite. While everyone else took their seat and cupcakes, I stared at the clock.

It was the longest seven minutes ever. But when they were up, the teacher called me over. At every birthday we always sing the birthday song, and then the birthday boy or girl takes the first bite before everyone else starts eating. I love to sing, and I'm really good at it. But no one ever lets me. Maybe because it's my birthday, I'll be allowed to sing this time. That will make me very happy.

"Ok everyone, it's time to sing Merli happy birthday" the teacher announced. I raised my hand.

"Um, can I sing the song this time?" I asked once the teacher called me.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" All the kids yelled.

"I'm sorry Merli, but you cannot sing your own birthday song" the teacher said. Now I'm sad.

"Teacher, can I sing the birthday song for Merli?" Lapis raised her hand. The teacher smiled at her, and said yes. My little sister stood up on her chair and took a deep breath.

I sat in my chair while Lapis sings the birthday song. Her voice is very pretty. It gave energy to everyone. It made everyone stop talking, just to listen. When she stopped, all the kids and the teacher started clapping and cheering. They told Lapis that they loved her and her voice. That she was amazing. I sat in my chair alone. No one talked to me. Everyone was too busy loving Lapis to talk to me. They think I'm a big meanie.

I started thinking. And then, I got an idea. I stood on the chair and started to sing the birthday song. It took awhile until anyone heard me. When they did, all the kids just yelled "No" again. I went quiet. Yawning, the teacher started talking to me, but I didn't listen. I just want to sing.

After everyone was finished eating cupcakes, they all started to play with each other. The classroom got very noisy very quickly. I sat in my chair staring out the window. I'm not happy at all. "Merli?" some said. "hm?" I turn around. It's my sister. Lapis.

"I saved this for you. Happy Birthday" she held out the extra cupcake the teacher gave her. I looked at the cupcake before taking it. It was a vanilla cupcake with purple frosting and a blue candle.

"But I pushed you" I said to her

"It's okay Merli. It's your birthday party. You should get a cupcake" she told me. I was quiet. "Well, make a wish Merli! I'm not allowed to use a lighter, so there isn't any fire. But you can pretend!" she said.

"Hmmph! I don't want to make a wish. And I don't want your stupid cupcake" I said, crossing my arms and looking away. Before Lapis can say anything or start crying again, one of her friends called her over.

"Coming!" she said, running over.

Looking at the cupcake, I huffed. I imagined a small fire on the top of the candle. I wish I can sing without anyone getting mad at me I thought. I blew out the fire and ate the cupcake.