Forever Five?

Using a little imagination to save one young girl’s special day

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Susie who was going to be celebrating her sixth birthday in two weeks.

“Honey, because of the pandemic and social distancing, you won’t be able to have your birthday party until, maybe, later in the summer,” Susie’s mother explained.

“I hate that old pandemic!’’ declared Susie as she stomped her right foot with the dangling purple shoelace, as hard as she could. “I wish I could chase him to the garbage dump and bury him there!”

“I wish we could too, honey, but I think he is here to stay for a little while longer, as nasty as he is,” agreed Mom. “But we can still have a little party for your birthday with me and Daddy and your kitten Ebony.”

“But it’s not a party without my friends. I have to have a party with my friends to turn six!” Susie began to cry. “I’ll just be five forever.” There was nothing her mom could say, so she just gathered Susie in her arms and rocked her until there were just a few hiccups left.

On the day before Susie’s birthday, her mom had an idea. “Susie,” she said over breakfast, “you have some friends right here to come to your party.” Susie dropped her spoonful of Cornflakes and milk back into her bowl and looked around the kitchen. “Where?” she asked, puzzled.

“Well not in this room, but in your very own bedroom—your stuffies! We can make some invitations,” her mom said.

Susie thought about that. She had been longing to turn six for many months. “Okay,” she replied. So, they had fun making the invitation cards with craft supplies, markers and lots of stickers. They were addressed to six “friends:” Teddy, Puppy, Raggedy Ann, Kitty·cat, Floppy and Marigold.

Her mom wrote, “Please come to my party,” on each card and Susie helped to print the names. She was almost six after all. When they were all finished, Susie placed them carefully in front of each of her friends.

Six fat pink candles glowed on the beautiful birthday cake her mom had made and put in the middle of the dining room table. After Susie blew out the flames with tremendous energy, she nodded with satisfaction around at the stuffies propped up on books on chairs. “Now I am six!” Picking up her kitten, Ebony, Susie danced around the room chanting, “And no nasty pandemic can stop me!”