We’re celebrating my niece’s birthday today, but I’m sick and have to miss out on it. So, I guess I’ll live vicariously through my characters.
Copyright J.B. Norman
“Happy birthday, Katherine!” Amara say, happily wrapping her arms around Kat’s.
“It’s my birthday,” Kat groans. “Shouldn’t you be letting me sleep in!”
“Oh, hush, Katherine,” Amara insists. “I’ve planned out a full day of celebrations for you.”
“But it’s my birthday!” Kat protests.
“And you’d squander it by just sleeping all day.”
“Because it’s my birthday!”
“Oh, hush, Katherine.”
“I swear to Pherais’ sanctified sweatsocks,” Kat mutters. “If we’re going to the Opera…”
Amara rolls her eyes. “You do need more regular doses of art and culture,” she admits. “But as it is your birthday, Katherine, I did at least try to plan out things you’d actually enjoy.”
“Thank you,” Kat mutters.
“Well, yes, what are best friends for, Katherine?”
“Okay,” Kat concedes. “Since I’m not going to be getting back to bed, what’s on the agenda?”
“We’ll need to keep you away from Darkstone Manor and distracted while everyone gets the house set for the festivities,” Amara explains.
Kat blinks at Amara. “Isn’t it supposed to be a surprise?”
“Yes, but you hate fun, so we decided it was better in the long run just to let you know right away,” Amara says.
“I do not hate fun!” Kat protests.
“Anyway,” Amara continues, “we’ll start with a nice five-course meal.”
Kat perks up at the prospect of five courses of food. “Now, when you say nice, do you mean some kind of hoity-toity rich-people thing? Or the sort of thing a normal person would actually eat?”
“All five courses are steak,” Amara declares.
“ThanksAmaraILoveYouSeeYouSoonBye,” Kat blurts out, dashing away down the street.
“Katherine!” Amara calls after here. “Not that way! Go left!”
Five courses of steak has left Kat feeling marginally better about being so rudely dragged out of bed on her own birthday — and left Amara feeling just a little nauseous.
“Okay, so what next?” Kat asks as they once again start walking the streets of Porthaven.
“You’re not still hungry, are you?” Amara asks cautiously.
Kat shrugs. “Maybe a little.”
“Powers,” Amara mutters, covering her face with her hand.
“But we’re going to the wrestling show, right?” Kat asks hopefully. “I mean, hey, you’ll enjoy that, too. You’re coming around on wrestling.”
She grins at Amara.
“I think your boyfriend Altruistic Arundel Appleby is going to be fighting today.”
Her grin broadens.
“Of course, we probably shouldn’t say that too loudly, or Nolan’s going to be—”
“Katherine,” Amara growls. “It may be your birthday, but I’m not above smacking some manners into you with my parasol.”
She brandishes the lacy pink thing in her hands.
“I’m not afraid to use this, Katherine.”
Kat throws back her head and laughs.
“Oh, thank you, Amara!” she says. “That was the best birthday present you could have given me. Your face right now! It’s just — ow!”
Amara begins thwacking Kat’s arm with her parasol.
“It’s my birthday!” Kat protests.
“And you have no-one to blame for this but yourself, Katherine,” Amara notes, still swinging her parasol. “I did warn you!”
That’s around week down. I’ll be posting my weekly recap a little later today.
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