Free Parties & Potions #4 by Sarah Mlynowski Page B

wrapped rectangular box. “My turn!”
    I tear the paper off in two seconds and uncover an adorable pink jeweled cell phone case. “Perfect! Thanks, Miri! Best presents ever!”
    “You can return it if you don’t like it,” Miri tells me. “They have other colors.”
    “Miri, I love it!”
    “It has extra padding for when you drop it,” she says.
    I slide the phone into the case right away. Gorgeous. I hug my new contraption to my chest. “I won’t drop it! It’s too precious!”
    “Just in case,” she says. “Get it? In case?”
    “Wakka, wakka.”
    She sits back and digs in to her pancakes. “So, who’s coming tonight?”
    My mom said I was allowed to invite a few people over for birthday cake even though it’s a school night. I could have invited more people over on Saturday night, but we have to go to my dad’s on Long Island this weekend. As we do every other weekend. Disadvantage number 107 of having divorced parents. I mean, I love my dad and all, but missing out on the social activities every other weekend sucks.
    Other disadvantages include your parents no longer being married to each other, your father no longer sharing your house, lifetime relationship issues, and being forced to wear a puffy pink bridesmaid dress at your parent’s second wedding, among other gems.
    The advantage? You get two parental birthday gifts. The second of which I’ll be getting on Saturday. Wahoo!
    “Hello?” Miri says. “Rachel? Still with me? Who’d you invite?”
    “Oh, sorry. Raf, Tammy, and Alison. And you, Lex, Mom. Obviously.” Of course it would be nice if I could in-vite Dad, Jennifer, and Prissy, but that would make everyone uncomfy, particularly me.
    She drags a piece of banana around her plate. “No Wendaline?”
    “I think I’d rather it be just close friends. I like Wendaline, but she does weird witch things in public.”
    “Give her a break, Rachel. She’s never been to a real school before.”
    “I know, I know, but I’d still rather keep some distance between her and my peeps.” I wink. “Just in case.”

     
    I have a superb day. How could I not? It’s my day!
    Random people wish me happy birthday Tammy brings me a cupcake during lunch. All my friends sing.
    I drop my cell phone only twice.
    “I didn’t know it was your birthday!” Wendaline says, approaching our table for a quick visit. Luckily, her new friends seem to have stuck. Luckily she hasn’t told them her witchy secret yet. “I would have sent you an e-broom!”
    Everyone stares. I give her a look. “Don’t you mean an e-card, Wendaline?”
    “Right! An e-card! ’Cause why would I send an e-broom? That would be weird!”
    And that’s exactly why she’s not invited over tonight. Hey, I’m not being mean. I’ve known her for only a week.
    Fine, I’m being a little mean, but tough. It’s my birthday and I can be mean if I want to.

     
    “Happy birthday, dear Rachel…. Happy birthday to you! And many more!”
    This song just never gets old, does it?
    “Skip around the room, skip around the room,” Alison sings.
    What is she talking about? I don’t skip.
    “We won’t shut up …,” Alison continues, “till you skip around the room! Come on, Rachel, it’s a song I learned at camp. ”
    “There’s nowhere to skip; it’s a New York kitchen!”
    “Skip around the room! We won’t shut up till you—”
    I push back my chair and attempt to skip around the table while avoiding stepping on Tigger’s tail.
    Hmmm. Didn’t Tigger used to be gray? When did he turn black? When did he gain twenty pounds? This cat needs some serious South Beaching. This cat looks like he swallowed Tigger.
    Wait. This isn’t my cat!
    “What is that?” I shriek, pointing.
    The fat black cat has big green eyes and velvety fur and is clutching something shiny between his teeth.
    “How did a stray cat get into the apartment?” Tammy asks.
    “It must belong to one of the neighbors,” Mom says. “Go back outside, kitty! Miri,