A couple of weeks have passed, and they were finally at the end of July, and for the first time in like ever, her mum have agreed to a birthday party. Cassie couldn't stop smiling. The whole flat smelled sweet, like cupcakes and warm vanilla, and every inch of it felt alive with excitement. It wasn't even her birthday yet, but she already knew it was going to be the best one ever. She hummed a little tune to herself as she sat cross-legged on the living room floor, carefully arranging her markers into a rainbow. Her "Happy Birthday, Cassie!" banner was almost done, and she couldn't wait to see it hanging on the wall.
"Mum!" she called, craning her neck toward the kitchen. "Can I hang the banners now?"
"Not yet," came her mum's voice, muffled by the sound of clinking dishes. "We'll hang them tomorrow morning."
Cassie frowned, chewing on the end of a red marker. "But what if we don't have the time?" she said, hopping up and running to the kitchen doorway. She held up her sign proudly, even though the edges were a bit smudged. "I could just do it now—"
"And then they'd be crooked by tomorrow," her mum said, raising an eyebrow as she spread frosting across a cupcake. "Why don't you go check on the balloons instead?"
Cassie let out a dramatic groan, but her grin returned almost immediately as she spun back toward the living room. The balloons! She'd blown up so many that they were bouncing all over the place, bright pops of color against the plain furniture. She crouched down, scooping up a purple one that had gotten stuck under the couch. It was a little deflated, so she gave it a few quick puffs of air and tied the knot with her teeth. There, perfect.
The truth was, Cassie couldn't remember ever being this excited for a birthday. Other years had been fine—just her and Mum, a small cake, maybe a trip to the park. But this year was different. This year, it would be a real party, with decorations and snacks and everything.
Cassie was still a little shocked that her mum had agreed to let her invite friends over—friends!
Cassie had practically screamed with excitement, wrapping her arms around her mum and promising to behave and clean her room forever (though she hadn't actually done it yet). Now, with everything almost ready, she couldn't stop thinking about how amazing tomorrow was going to be. There'd be games, cupcakes, and maybe even charades—her favorite.
"Mum, do you think Kate likes chocolate or vanilla?" Cassie asked, climbing onto the stool by the counter. Her legs swung back and forth as she watched her mum sprinkle bright colors onto the frosted cupcakes.
"Both," her mum said without hesitation, glancing over her shoulder. "Everyone likes both."
"What if she doesn't?" Cassie pressed, tilting her head. "What if she only likes strawberry?"
Mum smirked, flicking a stray sprinkle onto the counter. "Then she can eat the strawberries on top of the cake."
Cassie let out a sigh and rested her chin in her hands. "You're not taking this very seriously, Mum."
"Oh, I'm taking it very seriously," her mum said with a mock-offended tone, waving the wooden spoon in her hand. "I've got balloons to blow up, biscuits to bake, and streamers to hang. I'd say I'm running the busiest bakery in Little Whinging right now."
Cassie giggled, her earlier worries forgotten. "Do you think we'll have enough balloons?"
"If we blow up any more, the neighbours will think we're starting a hot air balloon business," her mum teased.
Cassie laughed so hard she almost fell off the stool. Her mum always knew how to make her laugh, even when she wasn't trying. For a moment, everything felt perfect, like nothing could ruin tomorrow.
"Do you think they'll all come?" Cassie asked after a while, her voice quieter. She stared at the sprinkles on the counter, twirling one of her curls between her fingers.
Her mum turned around, setting down the spoon. "Of course they'll come. Who could resist a Cassie Turner party?"
Cassie smiled, but there was a tiny knot in her stomach. What if no one came? What if they didn't have fun? She didn't want to say it out loud, but her mum must have noticed because she stepped closer and brushed a strand of hair out of Cassie's face.
"They'll come," Mum said again, her voice so sure that Cassie couldn't help but believe her. "And even if they didn't, do you know what?"
Cassie tilted her head. "What?"
"We'd still have the best party in the world," Mum said, kissing her on the forehead. "Because it's your party. And you, my love, are worth celebrating."
The knot in Cassie's stomach loosened, and she couldn't help but grin. "Thanks, Mum."
"Now," Mum said, turning back to the counter. "Are we making the biscuits next?"
"Yes!" Cassie exclaimed, bouncing in her seat. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she added, "But I'm definitely eating some of the dough."
"Cassie Turner," Mum said, pointing the wooden spoon at her like a wand. "No eating the dough!"
Cassie burst out laughing, hopping off the stool to throw her arms around her mum in a spontaneous hug. She squeezed tightly, burying her face against her mum's side. "I love you, Mum."
Her mum froze for a second, like she always did when Cassie hugged her so suddenly. But then her arms wrapped around Cassie, warm and safe, and she whispered, "I love you too, sweetheart. More than anything."
Cassie felt warm all over, like she was glowing. She wasn't just excited about her party anymore—she was excited for everything. For the games, the cupcakes, the presents, even just spending the day with her friends. Tomorrow was going to be perfect, she was sure of it.
For now, though, she was happy to stay here, in their little kitchen, baking biscuits and blowing up balloons with her mum. It was moments like this that made Cassie feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
At night, Cassie could barely sleep. She had stayed up in bed, staring at the ceiling and imagining how everything would look—her banner hanging across the living room, balloons in every colour, and the cake she'd helped bake sitting proudly in the middle of the table. When the first sliver of sunlight of the 23rd of July peeked through her curtains, she threw off her blanket and bolted out of bed, her excitement too much to hold in.
The flat felt different that morning, brighter somehow. Cassie's bare feet padded across the floor as she ran into the living room, and her breath caught when she saw what her mum had done. The banner stretched across the wall just like she'd pictured, its big glittery letters spelling "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CASSIE!" The balloons she'd insisted on blowing up herself were taped everywhere—yellow, blue, red, purple. They bobbed gently in the warm breeze from the open windows, and the whole room seemed to sparkle in the morning light. How her mum manage to pull that herself, Cassie could not know.
"It's so… so… amazing!" Cassie spun in the middle of the room, her arms stretched out like she was twirling in a fairytale ballroom. She could hardly believe this was her flat. It looked completely transformed—like something out of one of the storybooks she loved to read.
Behind her, her mum stood in the doorway, a mug of tea in her hands and a small, proud smile on her face. "Amazing, isn't it? Not bad for your old mother, huh?"
Cassie laughed and ran straight to her mum, throwing her arms around her waist. "Thank you, Mum! It's perfect!" She buried her face in her mum's jumper, squeezing her tightly.
Her mum hugged her back, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You're welcome, love. Now, go get dressed before your friends arrive. You can't greet them in your pajamas."
Cassie gasped, pulling back and looking down at her polka-dotted pajama set like it had suddenly betrayed her. "Right! I need to look birthday-ish!" She spun on her heel and darted toward her room, her hair flying behind her like a dark ribbon.
As she dug through her wardrobe for the perfect outfit, Cassie's heart felt like it might burst with happiness. Everything was just as she had dreamed. There was nothing better than birthdays, especially a birthday like this one—a proper party with decorations, presents, and her friends all coming over. It was going to be the best day ever.
By the time the party started, the flat was buzzing with laughter and energy. Cassie couldn't stop grinning as her friends crowded into the living room. Emily, her best friend, was there, clutching a homemade card she'd drawn with rainbow-coloured pencils, and Kate—the girl who'd teased her weeks ago about floating crayons—was already at the table, elbow-deep in cupcake decorations. Sprinkles were everywhere, and Cassie thought it was hilarious.
"Mum!" Cassie called as she balanced on the arm of the couch, organizing a round of charades. "Can we open presents after this round?"
Her mum appeared in the doorway, raising one eyebrow. "We can open presents when you finish eating something other than frosting," she said, her tone just stern enough to make Cassie giggle.
Cassie wiped a smudge of pink icing off her nose with her sleeve and stuck out her tongue. "Okay, fine. But it's my birthday, so I get to go first!"
"Of course," her mum said, her voice warm. Cassie caught her smiling at Emily from across the room, and it made her feel a little giddy to know her mum was happy too.
The flat was filled with noise—laughter, shouts, and the sound of balloons squeaking as someone tried to sit on one. Cassie was at the centre of it all, bouncing on her toes and trying to explain the rules of the game of charades. She felt like she was glowing. This was what she'd wanted more than anything—to be surrounded by her friends, to be laughing so hard her sides hurt, to have a day that felt entirely hers.
When it was her turn, she stood tall and threw her arms into the air, pretending to be a dragon breathing fire. "RAAAWR!" she bellowed, stomping her feet dramatically.
And then it happened.
The stack of paper plates on the table flipped into the air like they'd been caught in a sudden, invisible whirlwind, the air around them humming faintly as they spun. They kept wobbling in circles like tiny flying saucers, before landing neatly back in place. Not a single one was out of order.
The room went silent.
Cassie froze, her arms still outstretched, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at the plates, her face burning with embarrassment. She knew what had happened—of course she knew. Magic.
The room felt too quiet, like all the air had been sucked out of it. They were staring at her. What if they didn't want to be her friends anymore? What if they thought she was… weird?
She glanced at her mum, her eyes wide and apologetic. She could feel the words bubbling up in her throat, but she didn't know how to say them. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. Please don't be mad.
For a moment, no one said anything. Emily stared at the plates with her mouth open, while Kate glanced between Cassie and the table, her eyes wide. The silence pressed down on Cassie, thick and heavy, until Kate finally broke it.
"Whoa!" she said, her eyes huge with amazement. "How did you do that, Cassie?"
Cassie blinked, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. "I—uh—" She looked at her mum, silently begging her to step in.
Her mum was already moving, her voice calm and light. "It's just an illusion, Kate," she said, walking over to the table. "I'm pretty good at those."
Kate's face lit up. "That's why Cassie's so good at magic! You're a magician too, Miss Turner!"
The other kids gasped, looking at her mum like she'd just pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Cassie's cheeks burned even hotter. She wanted to sink into the floor.
"Am I?" her mum said, forcing a laugh. "Well, I do know a few tricks. But let's not get carried away, all right?"
"Can you show us a trick?" Kate asked, bouncing on her toes. "Can you take a bunny out of a hat?"
"Maybe later," her mum said smoothly. "For now, let's focus on the birthday girl, shall we? Who's ready for presents?"
The distraction worked, and the kids quickly forgot about the plates, turning their attention to the stack of brightly wrapped gifts in the corner. Cassie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and shot her mum a grateful look. Her mum gave her a small nod, and for a moment, Cassie felt like everything might be okay.
The party went on without any more incident, and the flat was quiet now, the kind of quiet that felt strange after a day filled with so much noise and laughter. The torn wrapping paper that had been joyfully ripped apart earlier still lay scattered across the floor, along with crumbs from the cake and a half-empty plate of biscuits. The balloons Cassie had so carefully blown up floated lazily in the corners of the room, and the banner—her banner—still hung proudly across the wall.
Cassie sat cross-legged in the middle of the mess, surrounded by her new toys and birthday cards. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully lined up the gifts into neat rows, her fingers smoothing out the ribbon on one of the packages. She liked looking at them all at once—it made her birthday feel even more real, like she could stretch the magic of it out just a little bit longer.
She glanced over her shoulder when she heard her mum's voice. "Did you have a good day, love?" Marlene asked, leaning against the doorway. Her smile was soft and tired, and Cassie noticed the mug of tea she always seemed to be holding in the evenings.
Cassie beamed up at her. "The best day ever," she said, meaning it. It had been the best—better than she'd imagined when she'd begged for a proper birthday party. Better even than her wildest, most hopeful ideas. "Thank you, Mum."
Marlene walked over and sat beside her on the floor, brushing a stray piece of Cassie's hair out of her face. Her mum's touch was always gentle, like she was afraid Cassie might break. "You're welcome, love," Marlene said. "You deserve it."
Cassie hesitated, the smile fading just slightly as her fingers twisted the ribbon in her hands. There was something she needed to say, but it felt awkward, like it might ruin the perfect moment if she brought it up. She stared down at her gifts, trying to find the words.
"Mum…" Cassie's voice was small when she finally spoke. She didn't look up, her fingers fiddling with the ribbon. "I'm sorry about the plates. I didn't mean to… you know." Her face grew hot, and she bit her lip. The plates spinning in the air had been so stupid. She didn't even know why it had happened—it just did.
Her mum didn't answer right away, and Cassie dared a glance up. Marlene's face was hard to read, her lips pressed tightly together like she was trying to figure out what to say. That made Cassie's stomach twist even more. What if she was upset? What if Cassie had ruined everything?
But then Marlene knelt down next to her, her hand brushing lightly over Cassie's hair. "I know you didn't mean to," she said softly. "Magic can be tricky sometimes, especially when we're feeling excited."
Cassie nodded, but the guilt inside her didn't go away. "I'll try harder to keep it inside," she said quietly, lowering her head. Her voice wavered as she added, "I don't want to mess things up."
Her mum's hand stilled in her hair, and then Marlene tilted Cassie's face upward, gently cupping her cheek. "Cassie, listen to me," her mum said, her voice steady and firm in a way that made Cassie stop twisting the ribbon. "You don't have to apologize for being who you are," she said, her grip warm and steady." Your magic—it's a part of you. It's not something to keep it in, and it's definitely not something to be ashamed of."
Cassie blinked, staring into her mum's blue eyes. "But you said… and everyone got so quiet," she whispered. "I didn't mean to make them stop having fun…"
"You didn't," Marlene interrupted quickly. Her voice softened, and she pulled Cassie into a tight hug. "You made today better just by being you. Do you understand? You are amazing, Cassie. Never apologize for that."
Cassie squeezed her eyes shut against her mum's shoulder, clinging to her warmth. Her mum's words swirled in her head—you don't have to apologize for being who you are. She wanted to believe them. She really did. But she couldn't forget how everyone had stared at her when the plates flew into the air.
Still, her mum's arms made her feel safer, like maybe it wasn't so bad after all. "I'll try," she murmured softly, her voice muffled against Marlene's jumper.
Her mum held her for a long moment, resting her chin lightly on top of Cassie's head. Cassie felt like they were both holding onto something important—like her mum needed this hug just as much as she did.
When her mum finally pulled back, there was a softness in her expression that made Cassie feel brave enough to ask something she'd been thinking about all day. "Mum," Cassie started tentatively, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her jumper now. "Do you think… maybe… I should go to that school you said you met Dad at? Would it help me learn it?" She glanced up, her voice trembling just slightly. "The magic, I mean."
Her mum's face flickered with something Cassie didn't quite understand—something deep and complicated, like she was holding onto a secret. For a moment, Cassie thought she wasn't going to answer, that she'd say no or tell her not to ask again. But then her mum closed her eyes, like she was making a hard decision, and when she opened them, there was something lighter in her expression.
"Yes, love," Marlene said finally, her voice steady and sure. "I think that maybe that is a great idea."
Cassie's breath caught, her heart flipping inside her chest. "Really?" she asked, her eyes widening with hope.
"Really," her mum said with a small smile. She reached out to tuck a loose strand of Cassie's hair behind her ear. "Your magic isn't something to hide—it's something to understand. And I promise we'll figure it out together." her mum sight "I think maybe I've being going all wrong about this" she muttered more to herself, but Cassie heard it anyway.
Marlene crouched, being eye level with Cassie, her smile was sad, but Cassie saw other thing there. She had never seen her mum look like this before—like she was holding her breath, waiting for something to fall into place. It made Cassie's heart race, even though she didn't know why.
"We will sit down and talk about it properly. We'll go through all the options, together. You and me."
Cassie nodded eagerly, her grin returning in full force. "Okay. Together."
Her mum's shoulders seemed to relax as she leaned in to kiss Cassie's forehead. "I'm proud of you, you know that?"
Cassie didn't know what to say to that, so she just smiled as brightly as she could, hoping it was enough to show her mum how happy she felt.