My Birthday Story

The sky was always blue holding sunshine rays in her world. Her name was Rosaline Deponte, my great-grandma. The continuous smile that she showed on her face reminded us how precious life is and to not take things for granted. Cold wood floors that could easily freeze toes, single-walled construction, shut rows of jalousie windows, and the smell of warm sweet bread on the counter 24/7, that was Rosaline’s house.

I would like to talk about celebration of my 36th birthday. October 20th was a regular Friday mooring for me. I was a bit nervous because I had the final exam of my Psychology class, I felt ready and prepared but tense at the same time plus the morning traffic was not helping at all, on my mind the only thoughts were “I don’t want to be late, I don’t want to be late”. After my exam I felt so happy, all my worries flew away, I knew I had done a good job, I felt it in my guts. My professor said good bye and that was it, no more stress for the weekend, I was ready to start the celebration of my birthday.

With narrowed eyes, my dad gave me a hard stare. “No grandchildren until you finish college. I don't care if you find your mate tomorrow. I want you to graduate college and be able to make something of yourself."

Throughout the short story, The Birthday, the writer, Samantha Ashenhurst uses the writing tool: Get the name of the dog. To begin with, Samantha begins the story with a descriptive introduction, which gives the reader the ability to visualize the current circumstance’s atmosphere. For instance, the author mentions the specific kind of drink and pizza, the color of the blinds, the exact number of times she pukes, and takes medicine, etc. She describes the background’s setting in details as well. In my opinion, Samantha’s very specific, which portrays how honest she is. This also leads to building the writer’s own distinct voice. Thus, this effectively initiates a connection with the reader psychologically.

Lights then blinded my eyes as Cole switched on the lights. I sat up in my bed, I see my family gathered around it! I glance at the calendar hanging on the wall which read Friday May 24th my birthday! My mom was holding a beautiful displayed breakfast tray with colorful flowers and my favorite, a cupcake with scrambled eggs!

“Everyone ready? Get in the car.” My mom said, on Christmas eve near 1:00 pm. My sister and I gallop into the car with our Christmas dresses and furry boots. We all get into the old gray Toyota, turn on the heaters, and all click our seatbelts. “Everyone exited” my dad say’s bubbly said to us. “Of course we are!” my sister and I giggled. We drive through the the snowy flurries of December, to get to my yayas house for a Christmas and birthday celebration. My sister and I have always called our grandma Yaya since we were born. We pulled into the driveway of her teal house with a delicate layer of snow on the roof. There were already four other cars there, my cousins(Mitch, Zach, and Tassia), my aunt Coco and John's car, and my Yayas boyfriend Bob. We all opened our doors, and grabbed the gifts, food, and coats. We all stroll up the sidewalk and ring the doorbell. The bell chimed and my Yaya came ad unlocked the door. With her thick German accent she said, “Meine Schnuckelchen!, Mitch, Zach, you cousins are here!” Soon enough my cousins come down stairs, “ Hey Grace, and Sarah how are you?” they ask us with their adult voices. We exchange hugs and kisses, and finally make it past the front door to get to the kitchen. “ Hi Coco!” I chirped to her. “ Hi sweety, how are you doing?”. I always respond with great, i mean who's not great on Christmas eve! After we say our hellos to everyone, my sister and I get our special glasses and pour our sparkling cider into them listening

A birthday is a special occasion you celebrate and you make it fun and exciting with all your family and friends but my birthday was quite bizarre. It was memorial day my 16th birthday was supposed to be special and memorable, but that morning I wasn't feeling it I felt like it was just another normal day. That same morning my parents woke me up by singing me the birthday song with my siblings. After they congratulate they told me to get ready because we were going to go to Galveston and celebrate my birthday we began to get everything ready the grill, fajitas, salsa, tortillas, etc. it was a sunny morning the weather wasn't too bad and it felt great to be out in the ocean.

All I can remember is my piercing red blood dripping on the bone-chilling surface of the ice skating rink. I restrained myself from looking down at my hand, knowing I wasn’t going to be pleased with the results. The thought of being fingerless traumatized me. I laid my hand on the cold surface where I had fallen, hoping that it would numb the pain. I said to myself, “It shouldn’t be that bad, just take a look.” I began to slowly move my head downward, thinking about the worst possibilities. Once I set my watery blue eyes on my finger I let out a roaring scream.

“Mother, do you think father will ever find work?” I quietly mumbled. Mother looks at me with slight sorrow in her brown chocolate eyes.

It is April 4th. It is my 21 birthday.21 years ago I was born and got named Thea. My mom Emily, dad James, sister Maddison, and brother Liam are coming over to celebrate my birthday. There are a few things I must do before they come.

I open the door to my room, and the first thing I see is my dresser with a dress piled on top to the far right. A bird house that was given to me for my tenth birthday sits behind the dress. An oil painting I made when I was about 6 years old rests against the wall on the dresser. Next to it on the right is a fluffy, brown stuffed bunny a friend gave to me for my eleventh birthday. On the left side of the painting is another stuffed bunny with black piercing eyes with a polka dotted scarf I made only recently. Next to that bunny is another gift that was given to me for my birthday, two stuffed tigers nuzzling each other, the orange one smaller than the other which was white. On the far left side of the dresser in a jar, purposely spilling out are some piano “awards”. Next to that was a chess “trophy” I received from a chess club at school last year. (Although, everyone got one) Below those were a soccer ribbon I got from the summer of last year and a blue piano award with the word “Achievement” on it. There was also an actual red white and blue medal with a piano on it.

3,2, 1, The days passed, and it was getting more closer to my birthday, Dad and Mom were acting so suspicious, they were talking as soon as they saw me they would stay quiet it seemed they had an elaborate a plan, they were so coordinated.I was down in the dumps thinking I wasn't having a 14th birthday party “Ehh it was not a big deal’’. Since in the past years, I would always have big and pretty funny parties, and I also thought my XV is coming they are probably saving money. One day I heard my uncle Victor saying “Are you guys making a party for Naylin?’’, Mom answer ‘’no probably just a carne asada and a cake’’, It was one day before my birthday, and my mom stated to ‘’my brother Armando let's go to H-E-B. I asked ‘’ can I go’’ and she responded ‘’no you stay with your dad’’ so I had to stay.

I walk along the streets with Hunter and Anthony. Both of them are coming to celebrate my 13th birthday, while both of them are already 13.

“I 'll be there in just a second,dude,” I replied to my best friend Felix. “Follow me.”I whispered to the blond kids. As we walked up the steps to my bedroom, I here kids yelling happily, they must 've killed the piñata. I opened the door to my bedroom. It was super messy, my bed wasn 't made, it had stains and crumpled up paper all over it. My books looked as if they were running away from my bookshelf, the shade of my lamp was crooked, clothes poured out of my dresser like a waterfall, and my desks covered in papers and a few of last month 's dinners. For some strange reason I kinda felt a bit embarrassed, and I don 't even know them. I walked over to my desk and picked up the can and handed it to them. The girl stared at the can and it looked like she was talking to the can itself, but that 's just crazy, right? She nodded and they left. Wait it is weird that she was talking to a can, right? Right?

Seven hours in the car was definitely the birthday present I wanted. Having to wait four extra days to take my permit test made it even better! It was literally down to the last inning, if he had swung a split second later I would get to spend my birthday doing whatever I wanted with my friends. But of course not with my luck. They had to win and drag me out to Omaha for a regional tournament I had no interest in watching. A weekend with my 11 year old brother and 15 of his crazy friends ahead of me made me want to jump out of the car and just get a taxi back home. But since they made it to regionals, I guess I’d prefer they do well and make it even farther.