beatrix bobbit and the surprise birthday

Beatrix Bobbit was shivering, despite the scattering of fires blazing across the former pumpkin patch. The flames leapt across the field in a controlled dance while Beatrix directed them in a neat fashion. When she at last relinquished the flames, Beatrix darted to the top of the hill still shivering.

"YES!" She jumped up and down after seeing that the scorched grass now spelled out distinctive letters, as intended.

Satisfied with this small success, Beatrix skipped back towards the house.

"Beatrix, good! You're here. I've been working on a new trick with Penny for tomorrow," Mr. Bobbit's mustache twitched happily.

Warmth evaded her for now, it seemed, so she took a seat in the cold metal chair and waited with what she hoped was an excited look on her blue-tinged face.

Suddenly, Mr. Bobbit pulled a harmonica from the pocket of his rumpled blazer.

Oh no, where did he get a harmonica from? Beatrix thought in alarm.

Then, Mr. Bobbit began to play whilst tapping his foot on the ground. At first, nothing happened but a few nose twitches from Penny. Beatrix almost panic clapped in case this was the trick when Mr. Bobbit pulled a blue top hat from his blazer and placed it over Penny.

In a whoosh, Penny disappeared, and Mr. Bobbit put the blue top hat on his head.

Two taps of his foot.

Beatrix held back a laugh, imagining Penny perched on Mr. Bobbit's head, until Mr. Bobbit tossed the top hat into the air.

"Dad, no!"

But the top hat didn't fall. Instead, it floated gracefully, tracing the string lights in the garden before eventually landing back on Mr. Bobbit's head.

Two more taps.

Mr. Bobbit removed the top hat and golden balloons drifted out. Beatrix gasped, and heard a squeaking behind her. Where Penny was wearing a miniature top hat and hopping into the garden on a balloon. Mr. Bobbit ran to her with glistening eyes and squatted down low enough for Penny to hop onto his shoulder.

"Ta da," Mr. Bobbit grunted and Beatrix didn't have to pretend to cheer this time.

"How did you...oh no you're not supposed to do any spells right now. Not after the pumpkins and carrots."

"Now, Beatrix. That was not my fault. This is perfectly harmless."

"Okayyyy, if you say so. I'm gonna go warm up. It's freezing out."

"OH MY, YOU'RE RIGHT. DO YOU THINK PENNY IS COLD?" With that, Mr. Bobbit enveloped Penny in his blazer, and transported her inside by the fire where Mrs. Bobbit was lesson planning and Sybil was stretching.

"Bea, where've you been? I wanna show you this new balance on one toe trick!" Sybil leapt up, ponytail bouncing, and proceeded to balance on one single toe as promised with a toothy grin.

"Ouch," Beatrix said, then, "I told you, it's a surprise."

"That reminds me, Sybil, dear. Do you have any strong preferences between apples or pears?" Mrs. Bobbit lifted her eyebrows, as if the admission of such a preference was scandalous.

"Pears, I guess," Sybil shrugged. "You coming to bed, Bea?"

"In a bit, I've got a few things to finish up. You go on ahead."

"Fine," Sybil bit her bottom lip. "Can I take Penny? Pretty please, Dad? With poached pears on top."

Mr. Bobbit was still warming Penny by the fire. He held in a gasp, but his eyes darted from side to side before he grunted, and relinquished the toasted bunny to Sybil's eager hands.

"Yay! Good night everyone!" Sybil bounded up the stairs while nuzzling Penny.

"Maybe I can sneak her out after she falls asleep," Mr. Bobbit mused. Mrs. Bobbit shook her head, and swatted him playfully with a crinkled piece of paper filled with nearly illegible scribble.

"I've never known Sybil to prefer pears to apples..." Mrs. Bobbit sighed, using a magnifying glass to decipher the recipe for Prickly Pear Cake.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom above the stairs. Sybil was rubbing her sore feet through Penny's fur. Her family was acting oddly (more so than usual), and she couldn't imagine what they were up to. "Penny, do you know why everyone's being weird?"

Penny perked up, and took several hops towards Sybil, who lifted her onto the bed at once. Sybil slid a salty, golden envelope from beneath her pillow and read the words for the fiftieth time. She did not get the solo in the upcoming Dance Recital. Tears sprang to her eyes, until she screamed, "What's wrong with me?"

Penny was not well equipped at dealing with almost eleven-year-olds, but thought laying across her chest might help. It did, Sybil managed a giggle when the black fur tickled her nose. "Thanks for keeping my secret, Penny. I don't want everyone knowing yet. Though, they seem to have forgotten my birthday, so maybe they wouldn't care."

Downstairs, Mrs. Bobbit was looking for new places to hide all of the baked goods for Sybil's Surprise Birthday. The piano bench, cupboard, faulty floorboard and bookshelves were all full.

"Beatrix, dear, can you get the largest pots and pans out? I'll simply store these inside until tomorrow," Mrs. Bobbit was holding a tray of ballet shoe cookies, freshly frosted with strawberry icing. She didn't bother counting the cookies, knowing a few had been lost to her very scientific method of Taste Testing.

"Here you go!" In a blink, Beatrix had every pot and pan spread out on the cluttered counters awaiting their fillings. "You've got a little pink frosting on your nose."

Mrs. Bobbit almost dropped the tray of cookies, before thinking better. Once her hands were empty and the pots full of baked goods, she discreetly wiped the tip of her nose.

"Jack, dear! Where do you think you're going?"

Mr. Bobbit was attempting to sneak up the stairs, but due to his size and the squeakiness of said stairs, the Penny Retrieval Mission was doomed from the start.

"Penny likes a pre-bed snack, I was just bringing it up to her."

Beatrix snatched the warm honeyed carrot from Mr. Bobbit's hand, said, "I'll take it. Good night!"

In a cloud of smoke, Beatrix appeared in their shared bedroom. Penny's ears twitched at the sight of the carrot, and Beatrix handed it over with a few pats on the head. Though Sybil was no longer crying, her bright eyes were a bit duller than usual.

"What's wrong Sybie?" Beatrix climbed into bed with her little sister.

"Nothing, good night, Bea!"

Somehow, Beatrix, Sybil and Penny managed to share the small twin bed by the window. As Beatrix was drifting off, her hand brushed against a bit of paper under Sybil's pillow. She pulled the crumpled letter out, and read the words by moonlight that had caused Sybil such distress.

Beatrix racked her brain for a solution to Sybil's problem. A spell or enchantment. Some kind of magical fix. When sleep at last found her, she hoped the answer would come in a dream.

Sybil awoke alone in bed to the sound of muffled voices and magnified footsteps. She reached for a leotard, but changed her mind at the last second and opted for overalls. Her long pale hair was braided back before she emerged.

"SHE'S COMING!" Mr. Bobbit whisper shouted.

On the landing, Sybil saw nothing unusual downstairs. Halfway to the bottom, a chorus of voices shouted, "SURPRISE!" startling her so that she nearly slipped.

When she turned, she saw the living room was full of familiar faces. Mr. Bobbit and Penny. Mrs. Bobbit on the piano. Beatrix standing with Aunt Pan and Broomstick Betsy. Ada her best dance friend and their entire dance class.

The whole room was decorated in ballet pink ribbons and pink and white balloons with a large gold 11 behind the piano. Muffins and cupcakes and cookies were frosted and set out on floral serving plates on every available surface.

It was so overwhelming and wonderful that Sybil immediately burst into tears.

"Oh Sybil, dear, what's wrong? We have more planned than this, don't worry!" Mrs. Bobbit had rushed to her youngest daughter to pat her back encouragingly.

"It's not that," Sybil sniffed. "I didn't tell you that I didn't get the solo in the Dance Recital. And I felt bad for not telling you and thinking you forgot about my birthday."

"Why, you're the best dancer they've--" Mr. Bobbit began before sheepishly cutting his eyes to the group of dancers behind him. "Er, sorry."

"Thank you for telling us, Sybil, dear. We're so very sorry. Perhaps the party is just what you needed."

"I think it is," Sybil pulled her shoulders back, plucked a cupcake off the piano and began greeting her guests.

The party moved outside for Mr. Bobbit's Penny Surprise Magic Show. The onlookers were captivated, even when he pulled out the harmonica. Then, they had a cartwheel race, a pirouette-off and a broomstick riding lesson that led them to the top of the hill overlooking the field where the former pumpkin patch had been.

Happy Birthday to Sybil

The Best Dancer in the Whole Universe

We Love You!

The words were carved perfectly into the grass, and the pleasant smell of fire lingered, curling off the field in the wind. "Did you do this, Bea?" Sybil threw her arms around her sister.

"There's more," Beatrix smiled and ran towards the field. Sybil followed to find her dance class all setup to perform.

Ada, who had gotten the solo over Sybil, made to step back from her front position, but Sybil hugged her. "No, it's yours."

The music started, and Sybil stopped thinking and begun dancing. She twirled and leapt joyously to the sound of the music and a much louder sound.

Beatrix and Mrs. Bobbit and Mr. Bobbit and Broomstick Betsy and Aunt Pan were cheering quite enthusiastically for Sybil all the while. When she curtsied, they rushed the field to lift her on their shoulders and carry her back to the garden for Prickly Pear Cake.

Once the candles were lit, Beatrix whispered, "Are you gonna wish for the solo? I think I can help," Beatrix slid her twig wand from her sleeve.

Sybil shook her head, "Thanks, Bea. I know just what to wish for."

Beatrix cocked her head, but backed away as Sybil closed her eyes and blew out the candles. The wish never left her lips but Sybil smiled brightly.

"What'd you wish for?" Beatrix asked.

"You'll see!"

Just then Mr. Bobbit exclaimed in semi-loud voice, "JUDY! Come look at this."

Mrs. Bobbit dropped her second piece of Prickly Pear Cake to the ground and ran to Mr. Bobbit.

Tears streamed down his face. "It's so beautiful," he blubbered.

There, with all four paws wrapped in pink ballet slippers, was Penny, performing the Dance Solo Sybil didn't get.

"Beatrix?" Mrs. Bobbit wiggled her finger.

"Don't look at me," Beatrix smirked, pointing at Sybil.

"But, Sybil, dear. How?"

"It felt so good when you cheered for me even though I didn't get the solo. And then this surprise party. I just wished for something that would make you all smile."

"Your wish came true?" Ada was staring open-mouthed at Sybil now, flanked by the rest of the Dance Class.

"I guess so," Sybil shrugged. She held in her elation till all the cake was gone and her friends had departed. Only then, did she look for the real wish.

If Beatrix had taught her anything, it was don't let them see the real trick until you're ready

Upstairs, her dance shoes glimmered and moved of their own accord. Waiting to perform.