“Problem solved,” Elvis declared. “Come on, B-Buds! It’s time to saddle up!”
Once the friends had climbed aboard, the magical creatures stood up and began to gallop through the forest, cleverly dodging trees and leaping over stones. Riding a unicorn—a real unicorn—was an honor Amirah had never expected, and an experience she’d never forget. She wrapped her arms around Cara’s neck as Cara galloped out of the clearing, with the carousel horses following her. Her silky mane smelled like birthday cake.
Amirah didn’t know how long they rode. Soon the forest gave way to fields, fields turned into meadows, and eventually the landscape changed again. The grass lengthened, transforming into tall stalks of sea grass that swayed back and forth in the brisk ocean breeze. Despite the thundering hooves, she could hear another sound—the ocean waves crashing on the shore. She breathed in deeply, expecting to smell the crisp, salty smell of the beach.
But nothing in the Magical Land of Birthdays was exactly as it seemed. Here, the beach smelled like butter and brown sugar!
Cara and the carousel horses climbed the crest of the dunes, and at last, the B-Buds could see the beach. They had arrived at Celebration Shore. It was the most beautiful coast Amirah had ever seen. The ocean sparkled in the golden sunshine as waves crashed on the shore in a creamy froth. The sand looked so soft and inviting that Amirah couldn’t wait to kick off her shoes and dance on the beach.
The B-Buds jumped down from their carousel horses and raced toward the ocean. Amirah paused to stroke Cara’s forehead after dismounting. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Cara nuzzled Amirah’s neck. Amirah knew in that moment that Cara was saying goodbye. She threw her arms around Cara’s neck, breathing in the sweet smell of her mane one last time when it hit her . . . This was just goodbye for now. As she inhaled Cara’s sweet birthday cake smell, Amirah’s head filled with a vision of herself riding Cara again, this time through an unfamiliar landscape that Amirah knew was a part of the Magical Land of Birthdays she had not seen yet. But she would see it someday. She would be back. She was sure of it.
Amirah released Cara, who gave her one last nuzzle. Then the unicorn galloped toward the ocean, with the carousel horses following behind her. The B-Buds watched as Cara and her friends galloped through the surf, sending sparkling drops of water into the air, until they disappeared into the distance.
“Come on, B-Buds!” Elvis hollered. “Let’s go!”
Laughing and shrieking with glee, the B-Buds ran around the beach—all except for Olivia. When Amirah realized that Olivia wasn’t with them, she doubled back to her newest friend.
“You okay?” Amirah called, worried that perhaps their trip to the beach hadn’t helped Olivia feel better about her special day.
But when Olivia looked over at her, Amirah noticed a look of wonder on her face. She also noticed that the colors around Olivia were now as vibrant as they were in the rest of the land. Amirah smiled, knowing this meant her B-Bud was no longer feeling sad.
“Amirah,” Olivia whispered. “That treasure chest . . . It looks just like the one I made for my beach birthday party back home . . .”
Amirah turned around to see a turquoise treasure chest nestled in the sand. It had gleaming brass hinges and a curved lid. A shiver of anticipation tingled down Amirah’s spine as she wondered what might be inside.
“Come on,” she told Olivia. “Let’s open it!”
The two B-Buds knelt beside the chest and flipped up the latch. Then, together, they eased open the lid.
Amirah and Olivia both gasped. Somehow, the treasure chest was enormous on the inside, and jam-packed with everything Olivia would need for an indoor mermaid birthday party! There were shimmery drapes for the walls that would make her living room look like it was underwater, streamers that looked like seaweed, a pin-the-tail-on-the-mermaid game. There was even a bubble machine that would send tiny bubbles floating through the air! Best of all, there was a shell-pink party dress made of shimmery fabric that was just Olivia’s size. Amirah knew that her B-Bud would look gorgeous wearing it.
“This is incredible!” Olivia gasped. “But how will I get all this home for my party?”
Amirah thought about that for a moment. “I don’t think you’re supposed to bring it home,” she said slowly. “I think you use what’s in the trunk for your party here, and then as inspiration to make your own party at home!”
“Inspiration?” Olivia repeated. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“It’s just like decorating a cake,” Amirah said. “You have to use your imagination!”
Olivia still looked a little confused, so Amirah continued. “You have bubbles at home, right?” Olivia nodded. “Well, put them out at your party. Everyone can blow bubbles to make your living room look like an underwater kingdom!” Amirah took another look in the trunk. “You can hang green streamers to look like seaweed . . . and use glitter markers to decorate a dress to make it shimmery.”
Amirah paused. “Hmm, what could you make the dress out of though?”
“I’m actually pretty good at sewing,” Olivia said shyly. “Maybe I can use the material from a sheet to make a dress and then decorate it to look shimmery! Oh, and maybe we can still make sandcastles, but out of graham cracker crumbs, like the sand here!”
“That’s perfect!” Amirah cheered. “If you just use your imagination, I bet your mermaid birthday party will be the best mermaid party ever!”
Olivia’s face lit up with a huge smile. “I think you’re right! And you know what? With the rain streaming down the windows, it will really feel like we’re underwater!”
Amirah giggled. “I love it when everything works out!” she replied.
“Amirah! Olivia!”
Elvis’s voice carried faintly across the sand. Despite the sound of the wind and the waves, the excitement in it was unmistakable.
“Do you think everything is okay?” Olivia asked as she and Amirah stood up.
“I think it’s better than okay,” Amirah said.
