Free Strange Magic by Suzana Thompson

“Go ahead and make your wish.”
     
              At that moment, I was at a loss as to what to wish for.  I leaned over the cake to blow out the candle and decided to wish that things would stay as perfect as they were right now.  Duncan got the plates out while his mom began to cut each of us a piece of cake.  She also poured tea for all of us.  I complimented her on the cake, which made Duncan laugh.
     
              “It came from the store,” she said with a mock glare at her son.  “I’m afraid I’m not much of a baker.”
     
              “Thank you for doing this.  It was so thoughtful.  You’ve been so kind to me.”
     
              “You are a sweet girl, Susannah.  I’m glad that Duncan has made a good friend here.”
     
              After we were done with our cake and tea, Duncan excused himself.  He returned shortly with a present.  “This is from both of us.”  He tried to hand it to me.
     
              “Oh,” I protested.  “This is too much!  The cake was more than enough.”
     
              “Take it, Susannah,” Mrs. Mkkenna insisted.  “We want you to have it.”
     
              I took the little box from Duncan and opened it.  Inside was a gold necklace with a gold lightning bolt pendant.  I was so touched that I could barely speak.  How could they know?  At first I had thought about it as the day I was almost killed.  Now when I thought about that day, it was with a sense of wonder at my survival.  It was also a reminder of my special bond with Duncan.
     
              “Are you upset?”  His voice was filled with concern.  “If it upsets you, if you don’t like it—“
     
              “I love it!”  I had found my voice.  “But I can’t accept this.  It’s too much.”
     
              “Nonsense,” Mrs. Mkkenna cut in.  “It’s your birthday, and you should enjoy it.”
     
              “I don’t know what to say.  Again, thank you so much.”
     
              “I should get you home,” Duncan said.  “You don’t want to be late for your own birthday dinner.”
     
              “Duncan, come with us,” I said impulsively.  I turned to Mrs. Mkkenna.  “May Duncan go to dinner with us?”
     
              “Of course, Susannah.  It’s your day to celebrate.”
     
              Duncan looked unsure.  “Are you sure your parents won’t mind?”
              “They said that I could invite any friends that I wanted to.  I didn’t tell you, because I didn’t want you to make a big deal out of it.  Now it’s too late for that.  Besides, my parents would love to meet you.”
     
              “Susannah,” Duncan said.  “Don’t you get it?  Your birthday is a big deal, especially this one.  You’re alive to see it.  Yes, I’ll celebrate it with you!”
     
              “Remember,” I reminded him when he parked on the street in front of my house.  “My parents don’t know about the lightning strike, and I want to keep it that way.”
     
              “They won’t hear about it from me,” Duncan assured me.
     
              If only I had gotten the same promise from Caitlin.  Her eyes zeroed in on the necklace as soon as I came downstairs.  She had arrived sometime after I went upstairs to change after introducing Duncan to my parents.  Mom had smiled a knowing smile at me.  I had decided to wear the pink dress.  It wasn’t because of what Duncan had said, I told myself.
     
              “Oh my God!” Caitlin shrieked.  “Where did you get that necklace?  Was it a present from Duncan?”
     
              “From Mom and me,” Duncan explained.
     
              “That’s beauti—“
     
              Mom’s voice was drowned out by Caitlin.  “That’s kick-ass!  You’re like The Girl Who Lived.  Only