Rachael was so excited.  It was her birthday tomorrow, and not just any birthday, but the big one-oh.  She was turning ten and having a party and getting lots of presents and cake and...  These thoughts kept racing through her mind as she lay in her bed, trying to sleep.  If only she could fall asleep, tomorrow would be here already.  She grew impatient and rolled over, trying to get comfortable.  In the process she managed to pull out her sheets and make a complete mess of things.  Frustrated by the tangled mess and January heat she completely kicked off her top sheet and rolled over again.  This was the worst thing.  How come she couldn't fall asleep?  Tomorrow seemed like it would never come.

 

After a couple of very long hours Rachael finally dozed off into her blissful childish slumber.  The hours ticked by unnoticed until the first crack of light peered through the window in Rachael's bedroom.  Awaken by the divine alarm clock, Rachael sprang to her feet.  Today was the day!  She was finally ten.  The birthday feeling was all over her.  A euphoria so intense it only happens twice a year - at Christmas and on your birthday.  And today's birthday feeling was extra specially special.  Rachael felt so big now.  She raced into her parents bedroom and jumped on their bed.

 

"Wake up mum! Wake up dad!" her shrieks of ecstasy exploding into the room.  Dad groaned and mum sat up against the bedhead. 

 

"Happy birthday dear," said mum.  After composing himself a little better dad said echoed mums words.  At that Rachael ran out of mum and dads room, down the hall and straight into Jessica's room.

 

"Jess, Jess, it's my birthday!" Rachael screamed at her younger sister.  "It's my birthday and I'm ten years old," she continued.

 

"Happy birthday!  Open your presents!" Jessica replied, almost as excited as Rachael.  By this stage mum was dressed and halfway down to hall.

 

"Rachael honey, no presents until you've had your special birthday breakfast," mum said in her sweet, gentle voice.

 

"Oh, but mu'um," Rachael whined.

 

"No buts, you know the rules," mum replied.  And with that Rachael went in and sat down at the kitchen table, Jessica following her all the way.  Mum took the packet of choc bubbles out of the pantry and poured some into a bowl along with some milk.  She gave the bowl to Rachael and then did one for Jessica.  Rachael knew that they only got to open a new pack of choc bubbles for breakfast on birthdays, and even though she loved the taste she was so excited about her presents that she ate the bowlful in record time.  Jessica took a bit more time eating hers, but was finished soon enough.

 

Then mum brought out the presents.  It was so exciting!  All Rachael wanted was that special makeup set that she'd seen advertised on TV and a pink bike and that karaoke game and... (the list went on and on, like all children's birthday wish lists go).  Mum handed Rachael the first present, which was wrapped in pretty patterned pink paper, and had a bow tied around it.  Rachael, like all children her age didn't care about the wrapping, and tore the paper off as fast as her little hands could tear.  Her face lit up with excitement.

 

To be continued...