EXTRA – HAPPY BIRTHDAY
“What’s the plan for his birthday?” Merope asks the two men who were watching Harry playing with his toys not far away from them.
“What else? Throw him the best birthday party.” Thomas said, looking at his wife.
“Not a boring and ordinary one.” Tom looks at his parents, his lover must have the best birthday party he deserves.
“After his birthday party, we can go to Disney World,” Merope said excitedly.
“I heard it's ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.” He agrees with his mother.
“That’s brilliant! I’ll make a reservation.” Thomas flipped through his phone quickly.
“We should go to a beach. He once told me he loves going to the beach.” Tom continues to read his book but from time to time he would look at his beloved making sure he’s not in danger.
“We can go to Fiji or Maldives.” Merope is now excited to see his baby’s reaction.
“Let’s not tell him our plan, and we’ll surprise him.” The three of them agreed.
“But he doesn’t have a passport.” She forgot that her baby doesn’t have one because he used to live with those poor pigs.
“You can have it before his birthday, right?” Tom looked at his father.
Thomas scoffs, “who do you think I am?” he shrugs “Of course I can have it.” He grins at his son, “tomorrow he would have it!” and he laughs.
Merope and Tom only chuckled. Harry looked at his laughing Papa, and he quickly stood up and ran towards his new family. They seemed to have a lot of fun, and he at least wanted to be a part of it. He came directly to his Papa, smiled lovingly at him, picked him up, and put him on his lap.
“Sweetie, your birthday is near.” Merope coos at her baby, “Let’s have a big party!”
“It’s alright if we don’t have.” He wants to, but he shouldn’t ask for more.
During his stay with relatives, all he has to do is work just like every day. That night, when he was tired in the cupboard, he would draw a birthday cake for himself from the dirty dust and imagine that he had the best birthday party in the world. There were many presents than his cousin had and his parents were there, and he had many faceless friends singing him happy birthday. After imagining his birthday, he is likely to make a wish on the drawn cake, then ignore the angry roar in his stomach and continue the party in his sleep.
He will always be grateful to his new family because they take care of, love, and shelter him at home, and that was enough. “I’m just happy to be with you all.”
“What are you talking about?” Tom almost yelled, but he controlled it, “you will have it, my love. It’s your special day.”
“Now, dearest,” Harry looks at his Papa, “like Tom said, you will have a party. But not just a party, the best party in the world.” He tries to convince his sweet child. Harry looks down and nods while biting his lips to stop him from smiling,
“C-can I invite my friends?” he asked nervously. ‘He had FRIENDS? Since when? And why they didn’t know?’ It was a big shock to them, and all they knew is, he didn’t have one because his disgusting relatives forbid him to have one.
They stared at him for a moment before they answered him, “of course you can! It’s your party, after all, you can invite whoever you want!” Harry smiled at them.
“I should be going and tell them to come,” Thomas put him gently on the ground, and Harry starts to run off.
“Be careful and bring Barty with you if you’re going somewhere,” Tom shouts at him, and Harry stops to look at him and nods, then he runs again.
‘Did he have FRIENDS?’ This question keeps bothering them in their minds.
******************************************************************
Merope looks at the table filled with food making sure nothing is out of place. They were at their garden for the venue with the theme of different kinds of hues of green to match her baby’s eyes.
“Where are the servants that are supposed to help us on his special day?” Thomas arranged the tables and chairs for his son’s ‘FRIENDS.’
“I haven’t seen them after they arranged everything here, but this is not enough!” She’s frustrated now, she wants everything to be perfect so that his baby’s ‘FRIENDS’ won’t bad mouth him.
“Hush dear,” he moves behind him and rubs her arms to make her calm. “I know you’re frustrated now, but calm down or our son might hear you and will make him sad.” Merope took a deep breath. “Here he comes with Tom.”
“Mama! Papa!” Harry was about to run towards them But Tom held his hand tightly. “Don’t run you might get hurt.” Instead, they walked.
“Must you do that?” Thomas took his son into his arms.
“I just don’t want him to trip over and hurt himself,” Tom explains, but he's jealous.
“Don’t get jealous Tommy if Harry loves us more than you.” His mother had dared to mock him.
“Settle down now,” he looks at the two who were likely to start a fight, “any time now your ‘FRIENDS’ will be here.” He looked at the son in his arms, poked his nose, and made a giggle. They were interrupted at the sounds of footsteps, and some whispers talks.
“Where are the servants?” Tom whispered to his parents.
“They were gone suddenly.” His mother told him.
“I hate brats who always crying and shouting,” Thomas complains, it’s a blessing that he has two good children. “I might poison some of their food if they do that.”
“Don’t ever do that!” She slightly slapped his husband’s bicep and gave him a dead look.
“Oh! Oh, they’re here!” He squeaks while jumping up and down.
The moment the door was wide open, the three of them were shocked by what they have seen. All of their servants were dressed well as if they’re going to attend a ball as if they weren’t servants in the first place.
“You came!” Harry runs towards them. “Uncle Fenrir you’re here too!” Fenrir looks down at little Harry and picks him up with one arm.
“Well, I can’t say no to you, and besides I heard you’re going to have a big cake.” Harry felt as if he was about to explode from the happiness he felt, he never thought they would come to his birthday.
“So, this is your ‘FRIENDS’?” Tom can’t help but asked, it’s not likely he is against his little love’s decision on making friends.
“Uh uh,” Fenrir put him down, and he moves towards his family, “please don’t get mad, and I invited them because they’re my friends.”
“What? Who’s mad? I’m not mad.” Thomas shouted trying to prove something.
“That’s very unlikely to get mad at you. I’m rather happy for you!” Tom said with a determined voice.
“Oh darling, I will never get mad at you,” Merope said carefully.
“Well then, why don’t we sit down so we can start Harry’s Birthday Party!” Thomas declared.
Harry’s friend sat at their respective tables, but they are having a bit problem now. Merope stood tall beside his husband with Tom and Harry in front of them.
“First of all, thank you very much for coming to our precious son’s seventh birthday.” She smiles softly at Harry.
“Second, we apologize for these arrangements.” Thomas look at them, it was funny to look at them putting party cone hats on their heads.
“We didn’t expect that his ‘FRIENDS’ were you?” Tom continues.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” he looks at his family. “I thought it was okay as long as they’re a good friend of mine.”
“IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!” Everyone shouted in unison. Harry flinched a little and smiled.
“It’s alright little Harry I’ve never been to a kid's party,” Barty said while hugging a balloon.
“This is the best party, thank you for inviting us!” Fenrir shouted.
“Why don’t we start it already?” Thomas noticed that Fenrir was staring at the big cake and drooling at the same time. Everyone cheered as if their inner child was screaming in excitement.
Harry was glad that everyone had fun at his party, after they played some games, there were also clowns at his party, which was awkward because everyone gave them a death stare if they dare not to make the birthday boy happy.
“It’s time for the cake!” Merope shouted at them.
“YES! CAKE!” Fenrir yelled while he held Harry as if from the movie of The Lion King.
“Put him down, you beast!” Tom shouted at him.
“What? Can’t reach?” Fenrir was still holding Harry up in the air and stick his tongue out while Harry was laughing.
“Now, now put him down first, Fenrir,” the moment Fenrir carefully put Harry down, he was quickly grabbed by Tom and hug him while glaring at him, and Fenrir just grin.
“Come now, dear you sit here.” Thomas put him on his special chair while everyone watched him, besides him, there was a big cake like it was the biggest cake he had seen. Then his mama put a small cake in front of him with many candles on it.
“Since you can’t reach the big cake, this will do.” Everyone sings him a happy birthday.
He looks around and he saw something familiar. Every once on his birthday, it was the same dream he had during those nights as he falls asleep. He had a family and this time he was being loved like he always hopes for. He had friends and this time they’re not faceless. When his Mama told him to make a wish then blow the candle, he closed his eyes and held his hands together praying that this wasn’t a dream and praying this would last forever.
After making a wish, he blew out the candles, and everyone greeted him and told him how much they loved him. He can’t help but cry, he didn’t understand why he cried but this time, it wasn't pain he felt but the happiness he has never felt before.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Merope was shocked, his sweet child never cries even if he was hurt.
“Hush, my dear.” Thomas can’t help but held him, everyone seems panicked after seeing him crying so hard.
“Tell me what’s wrong, my love? I’ll make it right.” Tom rubs his back to make him calm down.
“Who makes him cry?” “Hey! Who dares to make him cry?” “I’ll kill you if you’re the one who did this.” Everyone started to point at each other.
“What’s wrong, darling? Are you hurt somewhere?” Merope was about to cry. Everyone was quiet now and listen to what little Harry had to say.
“Th-,” *hiccups* “thank-“ *hiccups* “thank you, everyone! Thank you so much!” He cried even harder while rubbing his eyes. His Papa hugs him tightly, and his mama and Tom also hugged him.
“GROUP HUG!” Someone yelled, and everyone formed a group. And Harry can’t help but just laugh while his tears keep falling.
Maybe the fairy godmother was real and she was secretly helping him as Tom once told him. Real or not, what was the most important right now is this moment, and he will always remember this.