Birthday Disaster by Indira Nankoosingh (book series for 12 year olds TXT) 📕

Crystal Silverstone was at home, baking a cake for her youngest daughter Rosetta, who was turning nine years old this very day. Her other two daughters, Trisha and Jessie were also home taking care of the cleaning and decorations for Rosetta birthday party. While they were busy with running their chores, around the house, Kyle was on his way to the zoo with Rosetta. His job was to keep Rosetta occupied until the evening. She had no idea that everyone was planning a birthday party, and he needed to keep it that way -- so he decided to take her to the zoo as part of her birthday present. She was so happy that day about going to the zoo. It was her favourite place to visit. Seeing all the wonderful animals in their exhibit. She had even mentioned to Kyle, that she wanted to be a veterinarian someday -- when she grew up, and take care of all the animals in the world. Kyle, smiled at this as he drove. Rosetta was always full of life and enthusiasm. He prayed that nothing would ever change that, and she will always
have a positive outlook on life.


Crystal had just received all the responses to the invitations that she sent a week ago, to all of Rosetta’s friends. She was glad to hear that all of Rosetta friends, were going to make it to her party. Crystal smiled to herself -- thinking how happy her daughter was going to be when she sees all her friends gathered at the house for her birthday. ‘She would definitely be surprised,’ thought Crystal, as she set the temperature to 350 to heat the oven. She had everything thing planned– from the magician, and karaoke up to the sleep-over tonight. She even had a trampoline waiting in the backyard -- which Kyle had to sneak in early that morning from the neighbors house, who so graciously, offered to hold on to it, until that morning. Crystal planned out the day in her mind, and hoped that everything goes as plan. All she needed to do now -- was decorate the cake once it was finished baking and cooling. She then slid the cake into the heated oven, set the timer and went to take a bath. By the time she was done, the cake should be too.

It was about an hour later that Crystal began decorating the cake -- while her other two daughters had finished setting up the last few balloons at the corner of the dining room. Ten minutes later they were upstairs washing up and dressing while Crystal finished the last little touches on the cake.


All the guests arrived just before 6:00 pm that evening, as they waited for the birthday girl to arrive. When they saw the headlights turn onto the driveway, Crystal turn down the lights to a dim setting after everyone-else, hid from sight. She then, went behind the couch to where her other two daughters were, to hide. Within moments, the door opened and Rosetta walked in first.

“Surprise,” yelled everyone.

Crystal saw the look on her daughter's face, when she saw all her friends gathered there, for her
birthday. Rosetta, was ecstatic and her face gleamed in excitement. At that moment Crystal knew that her daughter, was going to have a time of her life that night.

By 8:00 clock, everyone had eaten dinner and had cake. By that time, the whole cake was consumed, except for a few small crumbs. Crystal then gathered everyone to the living room where Rosetta would be opening her gifts. She saw how happy her daughter was that day and hoped nothing would ever take that away. Once Rosetta opened her gifts, she joined her friends with karaoke, jumped on the trampoline for awhile and by nine, they were sent upstairs, to change for the sleep-over.

While the children were getting ready, both Trisha and Jessie helped Crystal with most of the clean up, before they went to check on the children. Crystal entered the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, and quickly wiped down the counter as she listened to the news on the radio, that rested on the kitchen counter, beside the fridge. She heard the newsman saying something about a sudden storm, coming in by midnight. She ran to the family room and turned on the television and listened for more information about the storm, and to look for any change in the weather. She was shocked to see the clouds quickly rolling its darkness around the whole town of River-wood, and just behind the anchor-woman, who was speaking loud, into her microphone. Crystal, could now see the winds beginning to pick up. She could also see that the woman was trying to stand firm, trying to keep her balance from the high winds that had just rolled in.

'Oh no, River-wood is just twenty minutes away, there is not enough time to contact the childrens' parents -- to send them home, so they can be with their families,' thought Crystal, as a sense of horror rushed through her mind. Kyle had gone down to the basement after the party, to tidy up the tools he left on the workbench, the day before. Crystal heard him coming up the stairs, and quickly called him to the living room. They watched the news intently for a moment, before they heard a crash upstairs and the children screaming. They ran up the stairs so fast, that Crystal tripped on one of the steps, almost falling flat on her face. Panic grew deep in her gut, as she regained herself and continued up the stairs. By then, Kyle was leading the children downstairs to the basement. Where hopefully, they would all stay safe from the storm.

“Okay, try to keep calm everyone, and head down to the basement, quickly.” The children ran down,
trying to keep calm the best they can.

“What happened?” She asked Kyle as she ran after him to Rosetta’s room. She was horrified, when
she saw that the willow tree, beside the house, now caving the roof over Rosetta’s bed. Suddenly, she felt the tears welling up inside, when she realized that her daughter and her friends could have been killed that very night. The night of poor Rosetta birthday.

Kyle shut the doors to all the rooms that had windows and glanced over at Crystal who was now
standing near the top of the stairs, frozen with fear. Kyle then rushed to her side, and gently guided her down the stairs and toward the basement. When they reached the bottom steps, both parent, saw the children gathered in a corner, to one side of the basement, and their daughters, were crammed in another corner, with fear in their eyes. At that moment, Crystal regained herself, and ran over to her children to comfort them. While Kyle, gathered the other children and guided them to that same corner – as far away from the basement window, if possible. Where they all waited for the terrifying storm to pass.

In moments, they heard the furniture crashing against the walls, and windows being smashed in by the storm. Just then, the window to the basement smashed in shards of glass that went flying towards the the corner Rosetta friends were huddled in. The children screamed with tears rolling down their cheeks as both parent tried their best to keep their calm for the sake of the children.

Rosetta spoke after she dried the tears from her eyes, now trying to be brave, and whispered, “I wish this storm would go away, and soon."

"Don't worry sweetie, it will pass." Crystal then laid Rosetta head on her shoulders to comfort her daughter.

The storm seemed to have gone on for hours, before it died down and everything seemed calm again. Just then, Kyle went up the stairs and peered out from behind the basement door, and what he saw, was the destruction to his home he worked so hard for. He had put in almost all his life savings into this house, and now all that was gone. The whole half the house from the top floor was gone and the furniture was strewn about, as if, someone picked them up and threw them like pieces of objects. The ceiling of the hallway, just by the basement was partially hanging beside the basement door. The walls were damaged with gaping holes, so that you can see into the next rooms. The severe damages to the house were beyond repair. Kyle walked back down to the basement, with despair written all over his face, as he now guided everyone cautiously up the stairs and out through where the front door used to be. He then tried to contact the children’s parents, but did not get any response. Luckily, Crystal’s cell had a news app, so she turned it on to listen. Apparently, all survivors were to head over to Riverbed Town Hall, which was about a twenty minute walk. Both parent headed toward that direction instantly, as they guided the
children along.

When the reached the building and opened its door to walk in, many of the towns folk were already there. Many of the children were reunited with there families – all but one. It seemed the Marsha parents were killed and electrocuted by a telephone pole that crashed through the house and touched the water on the floor from a broken fish tank. Unfortunately, her parents did not have a basement to hide from the storm. Marsha began to sob uncontrollably, so Crystal rushed to her side to comfort her as she held the little girl in her arms. Now Marsha would have to stay with them for the time being, until they were able to contact her grandparents in Michigan.

Crystal sat with her husband and children, with Marsha at her side. All were saddened by their losses, and wondered if they would ever regain what they have lost in the horrible storm. At them moment, Crystal's last thoughts were, 'At least her family and friends were safe, and that's all that matters now.

Text: Indira Nankoosingh
Editing: Indira Nankoosingh
Publication Date: 11-08-2012

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