STORIES
368 - It’s My Birthday
2025
Mez Grace Daprima
Saturday in the living room …
MEZ:
What are you doing Grace?
GRACE:
I’m waiting for Io. He’s coming today, yes he is. We’re going to
have a tea party. Do you know why? Because it’s my birthday!
MEZ:
I know, and we’re having a party with pink decorations and a pink cake
because pink is your favorite color. You’ve told me four times already.
GRACE:
Did you get me a present?
MEZ:
What kind of a birthday would it be without presents?
GRACE:
That was a yes or no question. Did you get me one or not?
You can give it to me now. I won’t mind. I won’t mind at all.
MEZ:
You’ll have to wait for the party.
GRACE:
But it’s my birthday and you’re suppose to do everything
the birthday girl says, yes you are.
MEZ:
Who told you that?
GRACE:
Everyone knows that, yes they do.
DAPRIMA:
What’s going on?
GRACE:
I’m waiting for Io. He’s coming today for my birthday,
yes he is. He wrote and told me so.
DAPRIMA:
I know.
GRACE:
You know what else he said. He remembers what he did
before he became a genie. Want to know what it was?
MEZ:
Yeah - tell us.
GRACE:
He said he was a dancer, just like me. Isn’t that nice?
think it is. He said he travelled all over, dancing. No
wonder he liked coming to my dance classes so much.
DAPRIMA:
I’m so glad he remembered.
GRACE:
He’s really coming today isn’t he? He really is?
DAPRIMA:
He wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world, Grace.
GRACE:
Oh goody. I just want to be sure because no
one’s ever come back before.
DAPRIMA:
What do you mean by that?
GRACE:
Well, do you remember Noli?
GRACE:
… Noli lived with us, yes she did …
GRACE:
… and she left, and she never came back.
DAPRIMA:
That’s true, but she’s with her family now. You’ve
visited her and spoken with her on the phone.
GRACE:
I know that, but she never came back.
GRACE:
… Then there was Racolo and Aless’ sister, Tia.
She left and never came back.
MEZ:
That’s a good thing. Remember that time she hit
Aless in the eye with the tennis ball?
GRACE:
I don’t remember that.
MEZ:
She said it was an accident but I never believed her.
GRACE:
You didn’t like her, did you?
MEZ:
Let’s just say I don’t miss her.
GRACE:
OK. There are more, yes there are. We’ve had lots of
interesting house mates. Like that giant lady, remember
her? I don’t even know why she was here …
DAPRIMA:
You’re referring to Thyssa.
DAPRIMA:
… She came to check on Shichi, who she hired to be Phae’s
advisor. Thyssa is Phae’s honorary Aunt.
GRACE:
Oh yes! Now I remember - Auntie Thyssa.
MEZ:
I liked Shichi. He was OK.
DAPRIMA:
He’s getting married to Chinatsu in the fall.
GRACE:
Shichi and Chinatsu … that’s so neat.
GRACE:
… Will we be invited to the wedding? I love weddings, yes I do.
DAPRIMA:
I’m sure we will be. It’ll be in the Elvin realm.
GRACE:
I hope I get to see little Meg when we’re there.
MEZ:
Who’s Meg?
GRACE:
Chinatsu’s little girl. Don’t you remember? I wished her
here, yes I did, with Io’s help - when he was still my genie.
I wished her forward in time to be with her mommy.
DAPRIMA:
That’s right. Chinatsu is Vanni’s sister, and like him, she travelled
to us through time but couldn’t bring Meg with her.
GRACE:
So I did it for her. That was a good wish, yes it was. I think it was my best
wish ever. And now they’ll be a family. I love happy endings, yes I do.
MEZ:
I wonder if Shichi still has the little dude following him around.
GRACE:
You mean Zam?
MEZ:
Yeah that’s his name.
GRACE:
He’s Wysh’s daddy.
MEZ:
Who told you that?
GRACE:
Wysh! Who else? I’ll bet he’ll be at the wedding too, won’t he?
DAPRIMA:
Of course. You know who else will be there?
I’m telling you so you can prepare yourself.
DAPRIMA:
… Washi and Usagi.
GRACE:
Oh no. I don’t want to see Washi. He’s mean.
he was mean to Io, yes he was. I saw it.
MEZ:
And Usagi put Es under that sleep spell …
GRACE:
That’s right. I don’t like her either - no, not even a little bit.
DAPRIMA:
I’m with you. We’ll just stay clear of them.
Grace look - I think someone’s coming. Is that Io?
GRACE:
Let me see. Let me see …
GRACE:
It’s him! It’s him! My very favorite ex-genie is here.
Oh now my birthday will be perfect because we’re
all together again. Yes we are! Yes we are!
