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Polites woke up that day, headed out to meet Odysseus, and was greeted with an enthusiastically spoken "Happy Birthday!" from Odysseus. He was already content with just that, playing in the sand with his best friend.
He occasionally saw Ctimene running around with Eurylochus right behind her but didn't think much of it, especially because Odysseus would call his attention back to him because he found another cool shell and he was collecting, for some reason.
He blows at the hair obscuring his eyes, holding the shells in his chiton which he held with one hand to form a small pouch. He pushes up his glasses and tucks the end of his chiton around his waist. "You couldn't have let me get a bag first? Your house is close by." He signed, chuckling as he watches his friend dig around in the sand. "Sorry, I'm just so excited! You're 8 now! A whole 8 years old!" Odysseus signed back excitedly as he continued to dig around, his white chiton stained a bit with sand. Polites laughed as he watched his friend scuttle around in the sand.
Odysseus spots him laughing and he grins before splashing water at Polites.
Polites flinched before laughing. "HEY!" He signed with a grin before rushing over and splashing Odysseus as well, the two laughing cheerfully as they got soaked.
It was a simple day, Polites loved it as it was, as it is, and he would have traded anything in the world for it.
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He sat in the Palace, wearing some of Odysseus' spare clothes because Anticleia insisted that he stayed and because he was soaked and dirty from the beach thanks to Odysseus. He dries his hair and looks at the shells Odysseus decided to tell Polites to keep.
Anticleia's gentle voice called out to Polites and he looked up. "Polites, dear, come over here for a moment!" She called.
He got up from where he sat and went over to the kitchen, only to be met with a cheer from everyone there.
Odysseus, Ctimene, Eurylochus, Anticleia, and Laertes were there, Anticleia holding a cake with candles on it.
Anticleia holds up one hand to sign presenting the cake to Polites with a smile. "Happy birthday, Polites." She said gently, with a smile on her face.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POLITES!" Odysseus greeted with the volume control of a donkey's bray, but with full affection.
"Happy birthday, Poli!" Ctimene greeted with a smile while she signed and spoke.
"Happy birthday, Polites." Eurylochus greeted curtly, nodding his head.
"Happy birthday, Polites, dearest friend of my son." Laertes greeted, smiling down at him.
He stared at the cake, the birthday candle's flames reflecting on his glasses and soon it reflected in his tears.
He couldn't talk, he was so touched, he began whimpering before his small hands reached up to his face to wipe tears while he began to cry shamelessly, not catching Eurylochus signing to Odysseus.
"He could've just told us he didn't like the cake, eh, Ody?" Eurylochus signed while nudging Odysseus as the 8 year old bawled in front of the surprise party.
Odysseus drags Eurylochus away as Ctimene went over to comfort Polites while Anticleia set down the cake to join her.
"You're going to make him feel bad, stop it." Odysseus signed sternly to the 9 year old in front of him. "It's his birthday, you don't have to be so rude to him like that!" He signed, emphasizing the words "his birthday" to make a point.
"Oh, Polites, dear, what's wrong? You don't like it?" Anticleia asked, wiping away the 8 year old's tears. "No-no, I do, I-I really do, it's.. it's just that.. no one's done this for me before and.. and.. it's my first... Thank you.. I'm sorry.." he sobbed, hiccuping, and catching his breath, sniffling as Anticleia smiles gently at him and wipes his tears and nose. "There, there, honey.." she hummed softly, hugging the child and rocking him gently. Odysseus rushes back and hugs Polites tightly too. "Oh, wait! I almost forgot, dad and I bought you a gift from the market!" Odysseus signed excitedly before running off again while Polites wiped his tears. Odysseus runs back holding a bright red headband. "For you! Dad noticed your hair kept falling on your face, and asked me what I should do about it, and we found this in the market! Do you like it?" Odysseus signed excitedly, smiling from ear to ear.
Polites sniffled, unable to speak up so he just nodded and put the headband on. "I do, thank you, Ody." Polites signed, wiping his nose.
" Come and make a wish, dear." Anticleia said, smiling.
Polites stood there, surrounded by the people he's come to know as his family and smiled.
He looked at the flickering flame, closed his eyes, and blew it out.
"I wish I can spend more birthdays with everyone."