wildflower

[bulrushes]

On the doorstep of a little house in Forks, Washington, a basket is placed.

The doorbell rings.

There are footsteps, and then there are not.

Comments

[asmyown]

"I will get you something nice for your birthday. To match." Pause. "... Which reminds me. You need one of those."

[bulrushes]

"A birthday?"

[asmyown]

"A birthday is the day when you were born, and it's common to celebrate it and bestow presents as a way of saying 'I am happy you were born.' Christmas is similar, but it's for everyone rather than one specific person."

[bulrushes]

"But we don't even know if I was born."

[asmyown]

"Yes. But I don't want you to miss out on presents, I'm still happy you exist. I just don't know what day that happened to start or the method that it started."

[bulrushes]

"It could be the day I basketed."

[asmyown]

"It could!" agrees Lynn. "Or it could be whatever day you want it to be, if there is a time of year that you particularly like."

[bulrushes]

"I don't know," says Astrid. "If we wait for me to see all the parts of the year it will just be the day I basketed again."

[asmyown]

"Hmmm. Then, do you want me to explain all of the seasons to you and see if there is one you like, or just go with the day you basketed?"

[bulrushes]

"Is the day I basketed a nice day?"

[asmyown]

"I thought it was, but I think I'm biased because that was the day I first met you."

[bulrushes]

Astrid giggles.

[asmyown]

Lynn smiles, too.

"I'll leave it up to you to choose when you'd like me to celebrate your birthday."

[bulrushes]

"I think basketing day makes sense. It is when I started being Astrid anyway even if I was somebody else before that."

[asmyown]

"Basketing day it is, then. I don't think I can manage to make you cake, but I will try to find a vegan equivalent."

[bulrushes]

"Okay."

[asmyown]

"And if I don't manage it, I can always bury you under presents."

[bulrushes]

"But then I would be buried!"

[asmyown]

"Yes, but they'd be presents!"

[bulrushes]

"How will I open them if I am buried?"

[asmyown]

"You're a smart kid, I have no doubt that you'll find a way."

[bulrushes]

Hee hee hee hee.

[asmyown]

Lynn giggles, too.

"But I hope you can find a way fast enough, because if you're in there for a year you'll be buried under even more presents."

[bulrushes]

"Oh no!" laughs Astrid. "So many presents!"

[asmyown]

"You'll be known as the present girl. Because you'll be perpetually buried under them. Don't worry, I'll give you the bunny book right before your birthday so you won't be bored under there."