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Grace opened the door to his classroom. He flipped on the lights and gasped. “Surprise!” Rocky and at least twenty of his students shouted.
“Rocky? What’s all this!” Grace exclaimed while he stepped into the decorated room. Grace noticed rough streamers made from rough braided fabric hanging on the walls, and large rocks carved into elaborate shapes on the tables.
“Birthday! You told me about it, remember question. You told me you sad you have no more birthday, so I made you birthday!” Rocky said practically bouncing with excitement.
“I don't know what to say! This is incredible, thank you Rocky” Grace said.
One of Grace's students, a eridian he had named Newton, walked up to the airlock and put a small lumpy package in it. “Grace open, question?” Newton asked, while he cycled the airlock.
“You told me presents were another part of the tradition, we made Grace presents” Rocky added.
“You made me presents?” Grace asked in disbelief.
“Yes, open!” Newton said.
“Okay, okay jeez impatient much?” Grace joked while he grabbed the package out of the airlock. He carefully pulled loose the knot and pulled out the item inside. It was a beautifully carved model of the Hail Mary, and it was crudely painted with color.
“How did you paint this—it's beautiful!” He said.
“You showed us different materials with different colors” Newton said.
“Thank you, I have a perfect spot for it right here on my desk” Grace said while he carefully put it on his desk.
Grace heard the airlock cycling and turned his head to see. Another one of Grace's students, Amanda, had put a large flat package in the airlock.
“Grace open, question?” Amanda asked.
“Yes! Yes I will open!” Grace said as he opened the airlock and grabbed the package out of it. “Woah, that's heavy” he said as he carried it to his desk.
Grace opened the package, and lifted out the object inside. It was a model of a eridian city, Grace could see a miniature model of his dome habitat.
“I made model of the city. Grace no can explore big city, so I made small city for Grace to explore instead!” Amanda said, her voice a full octave higher than normal.
“Thank you!” Grace's voice cracked.
“Is Grace okay, question? Grace's face is leaking.” Amanda asked.
“Grace is okay, face leaking means sad” Rocky said.
“Why Grace sad, question?” Another one of Grace's students, Curie, asked.
“I'm not sad, it's just…I haven't had a birthday in years and these are such thoughtful gifts.” Grace said, wiping his eyes.
Grace stood up and looked at his students “Thank you, this silly earth custom means a lot to me” he said.
“Grace give us birthday, question?” Curie asked.
Grace chuckled, “Sure, why not. Birthdays for everyone!”