On December 11, 2020, I was all alone in my unicorn and rainbow-themed bedroom, wondering what my parents would be doing for my special day in our pleasant living room. Will they be blowing neon balloons or decorating my treasured spot, the black wicker swing chair in the balcony? Or will my friends be there to stagger me while I enter into a fresh, new era of my life?

Gathering all my hopes, I got dressed in a pretty frock and with a beaming smile on my face, I excitedly went down the stairs of my house, as if going down the royal steps in Buckingham Palace.

As I entered the living room, all my hopes were shattered! No celebrations, no enthusiasm! My father had a newspaper tucked over his pointy nose, mother was sitting in a corner and looking into Reader’s Digest magazine and my brother trying to dial someone’s phone number and make a prank call.

“Ahhmmm!” All the eyes suddenly shifted on me as if I was a lead character from a serial.

“Happy Birthday!” my whole family said loud, all at once.

“Thanks,” I replied, trying to hide my disappointment and turned right back to return to my room.

Never in my wildest dream did I think that my 13th birthday would bring me such disappointment. Already this year was so depressing because of the Covid-19 pandemic and now this disappointment of not having any celebration!

I thought my existence was saddening for everyone. I wept and wept to the extent that my eyes became swollen.

I must have fallen asleep while crying because I woke up to find I was being gently shaken by my father from a deep sleep. I saw a mermaid-themed-coloured skirt and blouse hanging from the handle of my wardrobe. My father told me to wear it, dress up nicely and come down quickly!

I jumped up and couldn’t believe it! ‘Was it really happening,’ I wondered. Then I immediately dressed up in the dress, made a fishtail hairstyle and picked matching silver heels and wore matching colourful jewellery.

I made way to the living room. But this time, I went down the stairs normally, as I was still no not expecting something very special.

As I entered the living room, the lights went off and when they turned on again, there were splinters of the party poppers all around me. My brother was throwing artificial snow spray and my friends greeted me “Happy birthday, Fatima!”

Oh my God, I was stupefied! My family had been preparing a surprise for me. It was a mermaid-themed birthday party like the one I had wished for last year, with my friends and cousins. Tears of happiness ran down my cheek and I hugged my parents and cut the cake.

Wow! I can’t be more thankful for such loving parents and friends like family.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 4th, 2021