Molly woke up on a very special day. It's her birthday! Waking up with a grin on her face! She jumped out of bed and ran to her sleeping cat. Who slowly opened her eyes.
"Mittens the 2nd! Sorry to wake you but, I'm happy to say that today is my birthday!" Molly lead out a cheer! Mittens two starred with half closed eyes and yawn.
"What, have you ever heard of birthdays before?" She yawn again.
"Anyway, it is March 7th, as you can see on my calendar on my wall" She pointed at the date. Mittens two stretched her legs and paced around, while Molly still starred at her calendar.
"Yep, today I'm officially eleven years old. And yet." Walking to her mirror, she feel a hint of disappointment. "Why do I still have my small ten years old body? No body change, just nothing." She frown, only to smile again. "Maybe it takes a while. Oh, well! At least I'm eleven!" Mittens the 2nd stroke her head on Molly's legs, as she petted her ears. "I told my friends just a day before. Spook says he'll have some surprise for me. Hopefully Mum will understand more what a birthday is, after a long pointless explanation." She laughed a little. "Come on, Mittens 2! Lets join them at the hangout!"
After getting ready, right before opening her doornob, A small shiver stroke through her spine.
"Oh wait! What about him?!" Her cat looked puzzled. "Although I never had told him, He does know my D.N.A informations. So, he may know about when I was born." She gulped "Gee, I haven't felt this way about him since our first night together. I wondered when I turn eighteen, will I find my own place? I'm thankful for what he does for me, but it'll be nice to look after myself and not like a child. Back to the point. He may be my guardian, but his surprises freak me out! Besides, I don't think birthdays matters to anyone in this town! Except for my friends. What is there to worry?"
He was nowhere in sight in the house, giving Molly a sense of relief. But when she opened the front door, she founded a big, black, old rusted box right below her feet. She looked confuse.
"Such a strange box? Maybe this is Spook's present? At least dress it up a little. Hmmm, there's a note attached to it. She unpin it and read it to herself.
To my dearest daughter of mine, a little girl who I bow to protect
FOREVERMORE!
She looked up, with sweats falling from her face. "Yep, he knows! Maybe I'll leave it here and open it with my friends. They'll help back me up!" But, she notice Mittens the 2nd scratching up the box with her cat claws. "Stop it, Mittens two! That's not a scratching post!" She move her cat's paws away, when the box began to shake for a second. "Did that box move?" The box suddenly moved up and down, as Molly screamed! "It's alive! Run!"
She grabbed her cat, and carried her back in the manor. The box follow her inside and corner her to a wall. Molly squeezed her cat, ready to deal with want going to pop out of the box. The box slowly opened itself, building up tensions but when the box opened, nothing happened. The box dropped dead, as girl and cat looked in confusion. They peeked inside, and founded nothing.
"Why, there's nothing in here!" She gazed at her cat. "This must be a trick, a lousy one as that! Why would somebody pretend to be sent from my guardian, frightened me for nothing! Lets just go the hangout.
Just taking a single step, Boom! A colony of bats flew out of the box! Molly and Mittens two scream and ran to take refuge behind a sleek black sofa! Taking a peek, they saw the bats exploded into mini fireworks and party streamers. "Wow, Mittens two, it's just like the day I got you, only a whole lot more!" She founded a little enjoyment to it. For the finale, the rest of the bats gather together like a hurricane, to form into that lovable ghostly skeleton, with a sleek top hat on his skull and black cane, with a pumpkin on top, in his right hand.
"Happy Birthday, Molly!" He took off his hat and cheered.
"That was certainly a surprise." She founded herself clapping a little. She and Mittens two come out of hiding, as Zero was the last to come out, wearing a Halloween color party hat and noise blower in his mouth.
"Enjoyed my little surprise?!"
"You sure got me, I figure you knew about my birthday.'
"Of course! How could I forget someone important day, for the one who I'm caring for!"
"I'm more surprise that you even care about a 'birthday'. I thought you people only care for a 'Deathday'."
"True, But I want to make this extra special for your first birthday in Halloween town! This is probably your only Halloween birthday, so take it while you can! After all, birthdays indeed never usually happened here."
"I guess I'll keep that in mind" But, what does he means by having only one birthday? I shouldn't think too much. At least it'll be less surprises from him.
"Now, to continue this special day, I have a nice cake for you to feast!" He went to the kitchen toe receive it, follow by a very happy Zero.
"Oh, that's okay! My friends already promise me that they'll make me their own cake."
"Well, you can't have too many cakes. You'll love what I have for you!" Hope his cake won't come to life and bite me! Molly and Mittens two gather at the dinning table, as Jack placed the cake on top. It was a triple layer cake, with black frosting. Decorated with eerie bats surrounding a spooky pumpkin in the middle.
Molly climbed on a chair, starring at her gothic cake.
"I had the town's bakers to prepare this for you, though I had to tell them it was for a deathday party!" She founded herself laughing a little. "Don't worry about what it's made of, It's be safe for your stomach reguardless."
"Well, it's certainly match the style of Halloween."
"I knew you'll love it!" I didn't say that. Mittens two jumped onto a chair next to Molly, as Zero brought her own set of a party hat and noise blower. They both smiled, making noises
"Come on, Molly! Lets have cake and enjoy this moment!" Jack replace her witch hat for a party one.
"Well, I guess we can. But first! I should have eleven candles to celebrate me turning eleven!"
Before even reaching for her wand, Jack chuckle a little.
"There's no need for that, my dear."
"I don't like that look! There's more to this, is there?!"
"Molly, Perhaps it's time to tell you." I know like where this is going! He sat down on a chair and placed her on his lap.
"On the night you you drank that potion. There's is one side affect I had yet to explain and I was hoping to tell you on your birthday."
"Am I dying?!" He chuckle once more.
"No. For you, it's better. Molly, that potion made you an immortal."
"Immortal? What does that means?"
"It's means you can't never die from national causes, unless other means."
"Oh, that's good, I guess."
"But, please don't be shock, it's also prevent your body from ever growing or to change shape." This, indeed, caused her heart to sink.
"What?!!!! You mean I'll have a body of a child forever?!"
"Calm down, my dear. Let me explain. You live in a town fill with the leaving dead and ghouls. If I let you grow naturally, you will eventually die and your powers will fade away. If you want to become a powerful witch, you must remain as youth as you can be! You can even be more powerful than the witches sisters! But since you drunk the potion at ten, you'll remain ten forevermore. But, don't worry! Your mind will continue to grow with great knowledges."
"Yeah, it'll be great to have a mind of a eighteen years old in a ten years old body."
"Don't be like, Molly. Don't let body side fool you. You can still do great things if you put your mind to it! Though, this affect only take place as long as you have your witch powers."
"So, can I remove my powers till I'm eighteen?!"
"No Molly, Once you remove it, you can't never gain it back. And if you remove it at over 100 years, well, lets not picture it."
Molly grew sad and sigh.
"Am I was looking forward for eleven. I guess that's why they call it the birthday blues." Jack stroke her hair and smiled.
"Like I said, I'll always protect you. One day, you'll understand." Molly sigh onces more. Jack took off his hat and use it to fish something out of his hat.
"Cheer up, don't be blue! I know how to turn that frown upside down." He handed her a dark brown shoulder strap pouch.
"Oh, a purse?"
"No, it's a magic bag! You can store many useful items in here, and to take things out by just thinking of that item in need. It'll make storing your wands and potions more easy!"
"It is such a useful bag, thank you." She tried to take her mind off of stress.
"It's a pressure, my dear. Now, the mayor wants me to work with him on something for the afternoon. So, lets enjoyed your cake together before you head off to your friends."
"Yeah, lets have cake!" She sounds a bit jiggery.
"I hope you'll be fine about the 'immortal' situation."
"I'm sure I'll be use to it." She went back to her chair, now wearing her new bag, and they all had cake in peace.
Later in the afternoon, Molly still felt a little down about the news. She didn't wantec to bring it up again to him. She didn't want anymore heartbreaks. She again promises to bring Zero with her to keep Mittens two company and to have a fun time. When she opened the door to the hangout, it was dark. Then, lights came on and Pumpkins party decorations fill up the place. Spook and Mum cheered 'surprise!' But, Molly was not really in the mood to emote. Though, the pets were happy.
"Spook, I thought you said humans loves surprise birthdays! Maybe she don't like surprises?"
"No, Mum! She doesn't like surprises from the King!"
"But, who doesn't like the King's surprises?!" Spook bop his head.
"Sorry, guys. I know you tried to surprise me but, I had my mind on something."
"Did the King's surprises got out of hand?"
"Not really, He was very passionate about my birthday. I rather not talk about it." She blush a little. Spook felt he needs to do something.
"Hey, Mum? Why don't you, Mittens the 2nd and Zero get our cake and presents from the back?"
"Sure thing! Come along, ghoulish pets!" Cat and Dog follow the mummy. Spook thought that it might be a good idea to talk to her alone.
Molly followed him to the couch, as they both sat down.
"Did the King say something to you?"
"Yeah, he told me I have become immortal."
"Molly, we're all immortals here. Do you really think drinking that potion had no catch to it?"
"I should of had known. To be forever youth, it's a dream the living wish to have!. But, not in a body of a little girl! I rather be a bit older."
"Just be lucky you have that ability! At least you get to be immortal and alive! In a town of the living dead! Look at me! I'm forever a boy too. But, I'm dead. But just because I'm a ghost boy, I don't let that affect me. Age doesn't matter as long I got a smart mind."
"Even if I have to forever live with a ghostly skeleton forever?"
"A least he's giving you a home and freedom. Many people grows up into homeless! Molly, appreciate what you have not what you could of had." She sigh.
"I guess you're right, Thanks." Perhaps I should get use to it. They smiled at each other.
Mum came out with the ghoulish pets, holding his own cake in hands.
"Hey guys! Did I miss anything?"
"Oh no! things are fine." Molly covered up, no need to explain to him.
"Great to see you better, Molly! Well, here's the cake." Mum placed down a green frosting cake, with eyeballs and worms all around. "Since you like my worms and eyeballs so much, I made worms and eyeballs cake for you, complete with slimy frosting!" Looking at it almost made her vomit.
"Actually, Mum. I already had the cake Jack made for me. Why don't you and the pets eat it instead"
"Well, suit yourself! More cake for us!" Mum, Mittens two and Zero pig out! "You know, having this great cake, we should have birthdays everyday!"
"Mum, that's not how birthdays work!" Spook pointed out.
"Then, can I have a birthday party?!"
"No Mum, you're dead!"
"Then, can we have a deathday party?!"
"Mum, stop eating and get the presents!"
"Gee, Spook! Don't be bossy!" This brought a little happiness to Molly.
Mum brought out the presents, while the pets finish off the cake.
"Opened mine first!" Mum gave her a brown box. She reach inside and quickly reacted.
"Eww! What's that icky feeling?!" She took it out and gasp. "Gross!"
"It's a slime ball! It's bounces and leave no mess!"
"Uh, thanks? I'll have the pets play with it!" She threw it at a wall, with brings Zero and Mittens the second to play with each other.
"Well, I guess I'm next. It's not in a box but, I hope you'll like it." He handed it over to her.
Why, it's a black cat patch! And it's look like Mittens the 2nd! Did you make this?"
"Yeah, It wasn't easy though. Keep going through me when I tried to sew it up once in a while."
"I say you did a fine job. I'll place it on my new bag." With a tap of her wand, she stick the patch onto the front of the bag.
"Is that the King's gift to you?
"Yep, he said I can hold many thing inside"
"That's gotta be useful."
"Can you stuff a mummy's hand in there?"
"Oh, Mum." Spook rolled his eyes. Molly laughed once more. At least her friends can cure a birthday blues.
When night has fallen, Molly was left alone with her cat. Zero had gone off to sleep in his grave dog house. She was in the town square heading home.
"Such a dizzy day! Eating cake, spending time with friends and I'll never forget that Mum trip over when he tried to pin the werewolf's tail on Spook's ghostly body!" She laughed a little, only to sigh.
"But, this birthday is also the first birthday without Matt. We spend every birthday together, exchanging gifts since we were four! I'm sure he's okay without me exchanging gifts with him. Maybe I give him something whenever I can see him again. But."
She sat down on the town's center fountain.
"When I do see him, We'll no longer be twins. He'll grow, I'll remain the same. Sigh, I should of had know before making my decision on stay here." She looked up in the sky. "To have Jack Skellington to be my guardian, forever. He is a strange one. The king of nightmare but, a gentle heart. If I have to live with him, forever, perhaps maybe it's not a bad thing. If my dream is to be a witch under the watchful eyes of a pumpkin king, so be it! I got to forcus on accepting what I got. I chose to stay here, I must keep my words! Maybe someday I'll fully understand him. Sigh. Come on, Mittens two. Lets go him."
But before she left, she look up in the sky once more.
"Happy Birthday, Matt."
