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It was the evening of November fifteenth. The Belcher family had just finished their dinner and were now sat in the living room watching some TV to pass the time. However the youngest of the Belcher’s, Louise, was desperate to go to bed.
You see a lot of the kids in Louise’s grade hated November, they thought of it as a boring slog that was just a filler month between Halloween and Christmas, the month only making the long wait for Christmas feel even longer than it already was. However Louise was not like the other kids, as she knew that the sixteenth of November marked the day she came into this world, and Birthdays were always one of Louise’s favourite things. A day that’s all about you where people give you money and presents? What’s not to love? And this birthday was extra special as it would mark the day Louise finally left behind single digits and ascended to the hallowed halls of double digits. Louise’s friend, Rudy, had insisted to her that turning ten didn’t actually make that much of a difference but Louise had elected to ignore him, she was sure that being ten would make people finally see her as something other than a little kid.
Louise impatiently looked at the clock, it read quarter to eight. Louise decided that she couldn’t wait any longer and got up off the couch and stretched.
“Man I’m pooped,” She said whilst pretending to yawn, “I don’t know about you guys but I’m gonna go hit the hay, it’s getting real late.”
The rest of the Belcher family looked at Louise as if she had three heads. Louise was usually the one protesting how “early” she was made to go to bed.
“You sure Louise?” Linda asked “It’s not even eight o’clock, and you sure don’t look tired.”
Louise rolled her eyes, “Oh well, there’s nothing to do today. The quicker I get to bed the quicker I wake up and the quicker it’ll be my birthday!” Louise said determined, “Come on, I’ve been waiting ages for this, it feels like I’ve been nine years old for eleven years!”
Bob chuckled at his daughter’s stubbornness. He could remember a time he used to get excited for his birthday, these days it just served as a reminder of how quickly everyone and everything around him was growing older. He could remember Louise’s birth like it was yesterday and yet somehow she was already turning ten? Time really did fly by way faster than anyone could begin to grasp.
“Alright Louise, if you really want to go to bed then go ahead.” Bob said cheerfully, “Although a fair warning. You may not think so now, but being young is a much more enjoyable experience, one day you’ll probably end up hating your birthday just like I do, so just make sure you don’t rush through your youth.”
Louise grinned, “Jeez, if growing old means that I’ll end up becoming randomly philosophical like you do then your right, I sure as hell don’t want to waste my youth.” She said, “Although I don’t think you realise how much being nine sucks, everyone just treats you like you’re a baby, although for you that would have been like seventy years ago so I guess I shouldn’t expect you to remember what it’s like. Anyway, goodnight Dad!”
Bob once again chuckled at Louise’s antics, “Goodnight Louise.” He said.
Once Louise had reached her room she immediately climbed into her loft bed. She was so excited for tomorrow that she had been sat around in her pyjamas pretty much since the moment she got home from school, she could still remember her Dad explaining to her that she apparently couldn’t walk around the restaurant in her PJs.
Turning on her side she looked over on her shelf at Kuchi Kopi, her nightlight.
“Well this is it Kuchi, tomorrow I’ll finally be ten, people will stop treating me like a little kid.” She muttered quietly. Once she had finished her sentence she closed her eyes and focused on sleeping. Before she knew it, she was completely out.
The next day arrived and Louise slowly opened her eyes, groggily looking around her room. Suddenly, her eyes shot open as she remembered what day it was, she practically leaped out of her bed and ran out of her room as quickly as possible. She quickly ran into the kitchen where she saw her Mom eating her breakfast as usual.
“Morning Mom.” Louise said hyperactively, “Where’s Dad and the others?”
Linda looked up at from her breakfast, “Oh, mornin’ Louise.” She said, “Your father took the other two out to do something, I’m not sure when they’ll be back.”
Louise was confused at this, as forgetful as her Dad was he never forgot his kid’s birthdays. Louise eventually figured that it was his loss and ran off into the living room where the birthday presents were usually kept, but to Louise’s surprise there was nothing there, not even a balloon or a decoration. Louise figured that maybe she had just got up too early and her family hadn’t had time to set up anything yet. She sat down on the couch and decided to wait, she figured that had to be the reason.
Almost thirty minutes passed and still nothing, no happy birthday’s, no presents, no cake, heck her Dad and her siblings hadn’t even came back from whatever they were doing yet. Louise felt downcast, was this the price of growing older? Did nobody care about her Birthday anymore? She was knocked out or her thoughts by the ringing of the doorbell, her hope reignited for a moment thinking that maybe it was her Dad, Tina and Gene back to celebrate her birthday, her hopes were soon stomped out again when she opened the door and it was just Rudy.
“Hey Louise.” Rudy said.
“Oh, Hey Rudes.” Louise said dimly “What do you need?”
“I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out. I found this super cool place in the woods and I’ve been meaning to show you for ages.” Rudy explained.
Louise perked up slightly at this, but still felt disappointed, “I don’t know Rudy, I’m kinda busy today…” she lied. Just then, Linda showed up behind Louise.
“Oh hey Rudy! Wondered who was at the door.” Linda said cheerfully, “Actually this is perfect timing! I gotta go out and do something but I didn’t really wanna leave Louise home alone. You two always hang out together so it should be fine.”
Louise looked up at her Mom, “I dunno Mom, I don’t really feel up to it today.” She said.
“Oh come on Louise, it will be fun!” Rudy said, trying to encourage his friend, “Trust me, this spot is amazing!”
Eventually Louise conceded and joined Rudy.
Louise and Rudy had been walking through the woods for awhile, Louise had thought she knew this forest like the back of her hand but this trail was taking them to places she had never seen in her life. Louise had tried to act enthusiastic but was still sad about her own family ignoring her Birthday.
Rudy noticed Louise’s dejected demeanour and turned around to talk to her.
“Louise are you alright?” Rudy said with concern “You’ve been kinda moping around all day.”
Louise sighed and sat down on a fallen tree, “Hey Rudes, do you ever feel like getting older isn’t as good you thought it would be?”
Rudy quirked an eyebrow, “What do you mean Louise?” He asked, sitting next to Louise on tree.
“I mean, I’ve been excited to reach ten years old for ages, and yet now it’s here I’ve been feeling second thoughts.” Louise explained “I mean, nobody seemed to celebrate my birthday today, and my Dad did tell me last night that growing old would just end up with me all grumpy and hating my birthday. I was so wrapped up in wanting to be seen as older that I never really thought about wether or not it would actually be better.”
Rudy gave Louise and kind smile and stood up, “Not everyone forgot your birthday Louise, in fact I waited until today to show you this spot as a sort of gift.” He explained. He extended his hand to Louise, “In fact, the super secret spot is just up ahead, wanna check it out with me?”
Louise smiled, Rudy never seemed to fail at making her feel better whenever she was down. “Alright Rudes,” she said whilst taking Rudy’s hand to help her up, “We came all this way, might as well see the journey through.”
The pair walked through the woods for a little but longer before they found themselves at a clearing near a lake. Louise was taken back, she was never really one to gawk over nature but she couldn’t deny that this little spot in the middle of the woods was beautiful. But once Louise had stopped taking in the scenery she finally noticed something, A bunch of benches placed in the clearing with cake and presents on top. Louise was confused why all this stuff was here, but before she could think about what she was seeing…
“SURPRISE!” A bunch of voices suddenly jumped out. Louise looked around her to see her Mom, Dad, Gene and Tina along with some of her friends like Jessica and the Pesto twins.
“Wha?” Louise was confused, they had set up a surprise party for her? But how did Rudy know to take her here? “I thought you guys all forgot my birthday, I was started to feel all existential damn it!” Louise said, her joy of the surprise party muting her irritation.
“We would never forget your birthday Louise!” Bob chuckled, “Especially not one this important!”
“He’s right you know!” Linda said cheerfully, “My little girl is already ten years old! Although I gotta say, I thought the plan was about to fall through when you didn’t wanna hang out with Rudy.”
Louise’s eyes widened with realisation as she turned around to face Rudy, “YOU were in on this too Rudy?”
Rudy laughed nervously, “Haha, yep. Me, Gene and Tina planned this all out awhile ago.” He explained, “I figured you deserved a cool birthday surprise, I’m sorry if it worried you though.”
Louise looked around the clearing, her face slowly turning into a grin of pure joy. “Wow, you guys really had me going for a minute, thank you so much, this surprise is awesome!” Louise exclaimed, “I’m especially impressed with you Rudy. No offence but you didn’t seem like the kind of guy who could plan something this secretive.”
Everyone at the party laughed. The rest of the day went great with Louise having more fun at this party then any other she had ever had, she opened her presents which she loved and the whole group sat down and ate cake, afterwards spending the day relaxing and playing around the little clearing area Rudy had found.
Once the hours had ticked by it was almost time to leave, less they want the evening paired with the mid November weather to freeze them all to death. Rudy and Louise were both sat by the lake.
“Man, this place really is cool. Did you seriously find this or was that just part of the plan?” Louise asked.
Rudy chuckled, “Yeah, I genuinely did find this place a while back after I got lost whilst in the woods with my Dad. I thought it would make a cool place for a party so I figured why not set one up for you.” He explained.
“Well, it was a great decision, showing me this place was a great gift.” Louise replied.
Suddenly, Rudy’s eyes widened, “Wait! That reminds me! I almost forgot something!” He said before taking his backpack off and beginning to rummage through it. After a few seconds he produced a present wrapped in green wrapping paper which he quickly gave to Louise, “I also got you a real present.”
Louise was shocked at the present, not expecting Rudy of all people to buy her one. She carefully tore open the wrapping paper and was greeted by its contents, a plush flounder that looked a lot like Rudy’s favourite plushie which he called Pancake.
“I know it’s probably not really your thing, but I figured because we’re best friends it would be cool to match!” Rudy said enthusiastically, “Now I have pancake and you have… whatever you decide to name yours.”
Louise began to shed tears of happiness, “Rudy, I love it! It’s the greatest present ever!” She said, not even realising that she had rushed forward and engulfed Rudy in a tight hug. Once Louise realised what she was doing she quickly let go, her face glowing with embarrassment, she quickly looked around, “Crap, everyone saw that didn’t they? You better not tell anyone outside of this party what just happened, ok?”
Rudy Laughed, “Don’t worry Louise, I won’t.” He said. “So. What are you going to name your plushie?”
Louise looked down at the plush flounder in her hands, “Hmm, if yours is called pancake, I think I’ll go with Flapjack.” She said confidently.
Rudy nodded, “It’s a great name.”
A few minutes after Rudy had given Louise her new plushie, Flapjack, It was time for everyone to go home. Louise said goodbye to Jessica and the pesto twins and gave another huge thank you to her best friend Rudy.
A few feet away, Linda was stood with Bob. Linda chuckled to herself.
“Those two are so adorable together!” She said quietly to make sure Louise didn’t hear.
“Yeah, they are.” Bob agreed.
Linda chuckled and looked down at her camera which she had brought with her to take photos for her memory box. The image currently displayed on the camera was one she took in secret, showing Louise hugging Rudy after receiving Flapjack.
“I think I’ll keep this one hidden from Louise, for now at least.” She thought to herself.