On a warm summer morning inside one of the many identical houses on Penders Drive, Silver the Hedgehog was in his room looking through his photo album. His aunt and uncle would make him keep most of his stuff locked away in the cupboard but he wasn't going to let them take this. He turned a page and was now looking at a picture of himself as a baby being held by his parents. The next page had a picture only taken a few months ago. It was of him, Razor the Shark and Coral the Betta. This picture however didn't fill Silver with as much joy as it did when he first started the summer. Suddenly an annoyed hooting could be heard and Silver saw his pet bird, Lily trying to escape her cage. Silver felt guilty but there was nothing he could do "I can't let you out, Lily. I'm not allowed to use magic outside of school. Besides, if Uncle Menthor-" "SILVER THE HEDGEHOG!" came a voice from outside. Silver sighed, this was exactly what he didn't want "Now you've done it". Silver went down and joined his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for breakfast. Normaly breakfast a silent event as none of them wanted to talk to him but thanks to Lily this was different "Third time this week. If you can't control that bloody bird it will have to go". Silver for the third time this week tried to explain "She's bored. She's used to flying outside. If I could just let her out for an hour or two" "Do I look stupid? I know what'll happen if you let that bird out". Before Silver could argue further Menniker was upset by something which got all the attention "I want more bacon" "There's more on the frying pan, Sweetums. You need to eat a lot. I don't like the sound of that school food".
Menthor shook his head and swallowed the food in his mouth "Nonsense, Cynthia, I never went hungry when I was at Techno Tower" "Pass the frying pan" Menniker told Silver. Silver waited which annoyed Menniker "Pass the frying pan!" "You forgot the magic word". The affect of this one sentence was astonishing, Menniker gasped and fell off his chair with a crash that shook the whole kitchen; Cynthia gave a small scream and clapped her hands to her mouth; Menthor jumped to his feet, veins throbbing in his temples. Silver tried to explain "I meant please. I didn't mean-" "WHAT HAVE WE TOLD YOU! HOW DARE YOU THREATEN MENNIKER". Silver was less scared and more just irritated "I just-" "I WARNED YOU! I WILL NOT TOLERATE MENTION OF YOUR ABNORMALITY UNDER THIS ROOF!" "Okay. Okay" Silver told him. Menthor sat back down. This had been normal ever since Silver returned over the Summer. He was treated like a bomb that could go off any moment. Most people would consider it strange for a boy his age but Silver hated the Summer holidays. It was the only two months of the year where he wasn't at Soleanna. He missed it so much, he missed the castle, the halls, the secret passages, the ghosts and his classes (Maybe not Infinite's). His Aunt and Uncle fed him a decent amount but it was nothing compared to the banquets, he missed meeting Big down at his cabin and he missed his dormitory with his comfy bed.
But the thing he missed most was Sky Chase, flying across the pitch was one of the best feelings he ever had. The tiniest reminder that his Blue Star was gathering dust in the cupboard horrified Silver to no end. He couldn't even distract himself by reading his books because they were all locked up to. What did Menthor and Cynthia care if he fell behind on his studies or none of his homework done. None of them have even realised that today was Silver's twelfth birthday, they never really gave him a present or a cake but to ignore it completely. After some time for the tension to die down Menthor cleared his throat ""Now, as we all know, today is a very important day". Silver raised his head, he couldn't believe it "This could well be the day I make the biggest deal of my career". Silver went back to his toast, he can't believe he forgot about Menthor's stupid dinner party. Some rich human and his wife were coming over for dinner and Menthor was hoping to get a big deal from them. Menthor spoke to all of them "I think we should run through the schedule one more time. Cynthia, you will be…" "In the lounge ready to welcome them graciously into our home" "Good, and Menniker?". Menniker put on an oily pompous voice "I'll be waiting to open the door. May I take your coats Mr and Mrs Thorndyke?" "They'll love him" said the proud Cynthia. Menthor rounded on Silver "And you?" "I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there" "Exactly". Menthor returned to an excited tone "I will lead them into the lounge, introduce you, Cynthia, and pour them drinks. At eight fifteen-" "I'll announced dinner" "Right, and Menniker, you'll say…". Menniker raised his arm to an invisible person "May I take you through to the dining room, Mrs Thorndyke?" "My little gentlemen" Cynthia sniffed.
Menthor again glared at Silver "And you?" "I'll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I'm not there" "Precisely. Now, we should aim to get in a few good compliments at dinner. Cynthia, any ideas?". Cynthia tried to think "Menthor tells me you're a wonderful golfer, Mr Thorndyke. Do tell me where you bought your dress, Mrs Thorndyke" "Perfect. Now, Menniker?" "How about… We had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr Thorndyke, and I wrote about you". This was too much for Cynthia who burst into tears and hugged her son. Silver meanwhile was desperately trying not to laugh. Menthor didn't notice "And you boy?" "I'll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I'm not there" "Too right, you will. The Thorndykes don't know anything about you and it's going to stay that way. When dinner's over, you take Mrs Thorndyke back to the lounge for coffee, Cynthia, and I'll bring the subject around to drills. With any luck, I'll have the deal signed and sealed before the news at ten. We'll be shopping for a vacation home in Seaside Hill this time tomorrow". Silver didn't really care about this, he doubted they would like him in Seaside Hill anymore than here. Menthor clapped his hands together "Right, I'm off into town to pick up the dinner jackets for Menniker and me. And you". He pointed at Silver "You stay out of your Aunt's way" all too happy to obey, Silver went out into the garden and sat on the bench. It wasn't long before he realised coming out here was a mistake. No books to distract him, no Lily to talk to, no Aunt and Uncle to annoy him.
Without these distractions a bad reminder had returned. He had no presents, no letters, nothing. He missed his two friends, Razor and Coral, deeply but they apparently didn't miss him. They hadn't sent him a letter all summer even though Razor promised that'd he'd invite him to stay at his house. His first few weeks into the Summer could distract him enough. He would keep muttering things under his breath which made Menniker run out of the room in paranoia. This eventually lost its appeal and he started to feel lonely. It was bad enough any other day but for them both to forget his birthday. He would take a letter from Rutan at this point. It didn't help either that the only reminder of the wizarding world was his nightmares about Finitevus. Ever since seeing him at Soleanna, Silver has found himself occasionally waking up in a cold sweat wondering where Finitevus was now. Silver, thinking all this, was slowly registering the fact that there were two pairs of eyes staring at him from one of the bushes. Silver was finally broken out of his self pity and stood up to get closer when "I know what day it is". Silver turned around and saw Menniker standing at the door. Silver looked back at the bushes but the eyes were gone. Menniker grinned and got closer "I know what day it is" "Well done. You've finally learned all the days" "It's your birthday. Why haven't you got any letters. Don't you have any friends at that freak school".
A year ago Silver might have ignored this insult or might have run away but now he was standing his ground "Better not let your Mum hear you talk about my school". Menniker noticed Silver was still staring "Why are you looking at the bush?" "I'm deciding the best spell to put it on fire". Menniker's grin disappeared and he stumbled back "You c-can't- Dad told you you're not to do m-magic- he said he'll chuck you out of the house- and you haven't got anywhere else to go- you haven't got any friends to take you-" "Jiggery Pokery!" "MUM! MUM, HE'S DOING YOU KNOW WHAT!" Menniker ran back inside. Silver paid for this little joke, Cynthia made him work the rest of the day with the promise that he wouldn't get any food until he finished. He cleaned the windows, washed the car, mowed the lawn, trimmed the flower beds, pruned and watered the roses, and repainted the garden bench. The sun blazed overhead, burning the back of his neck. Silver knew he shouldn't have risen to Menniker's bait, but Menniker had said the very thing Silver had been thinking himself. Maybe he didn't have any friends at Soleanna. Wish they could see famous Silver the Hedgehog now, he thought savagely as he spread manure on the flower beds, his back aching, sweat running down his face. By the time he finished he only had 15 minutes to cool of in the shade and eat his dinner before Cynthia forced him to go upstairs. He caught sight of Menniker and Menthor in bow ties. Once he reached the final step he heard the doorbell. Silver tiptoed across the hall to his bedroom door. He closed the door behind him and was ready to collapse on his bed but to his horror there was already someone sitting on it.