Chapter Ten: The Party

 

“That wrapping is spectacular!”

“The balloons are a bit flat on one side.”

“Oh, brother! I got these garlands tangled!”

“Where’s the frosting? I know I left it on the kitchen counter. . .”

It was Liloy’s birthday, and Cloudy and her family and friends were putting on the final touches for the party. Liloy was due to arrive any minute now, and they were barely halfway done with the little jobs.

“Whoa! What the? Help!” hollered Sniper, struggling and wriggling to free himself from a tangled mess of balloon strings. “Get me out!”

“Okay. Hold still, Wiggly the Worm,” teased Cloudy. She took hold of an intractable piece of string in her mouth and tugged at it, untying the knot which held her brother captive. He shook the strings off his body and smiled his thanks. She flashed a grin at him and walked back to her place beside her mother, who was squeezing swirls of white frosting from a toothpaste-shaped tube onto the three-layer chocolate cake.

For a minute or two, no noise was heard except the rustling of the bushes’ leaves and the tinkling of the colorful bronze tassels dangling from the unicorn piñata. Then Sniper, who was playing lookout at the corner of the house, waved his paw wildly and hissed out, “They’re coming! They’re coming! Hurry and hide!” They all scrambled to conceal themselves from view and succeeded just as Liloy and Meta Knight stepped under the ivy-covered overhead trellis and into the garden.

Liloy paused a moment to savor the scene. Ten pastel-hued balloons were tied to the sandalwood picnic table, on which sat several presents shrouded in flashy wrapping paper. On a separate table, a marvelous cake of beautiful craftsmanship sat proudly on a silver dish. Beside the cake was a stack of china dishes and silverware. The piñata, hoisted from a branch in an old oak tree, swayed in the frequent gusts of wind. Various chairs and logs were placed in a ring around a crackling bonfire. A guitar leaned against one of the chairs.

“Guys?” prompted Liloy a little nervously. “Where are you?”

Liloy nearly jumped out of her skin when Sniper swung down from a rope attached to the top of the drainpipe and shouted in her ear: “Happy Birthday!”

“Yike!” Liloy cried, whirling to face him as he stood there grinning at her. “S-Sniper!”

“Gotcha!” Sniper fell back on the ground, kicking his legs and laughing hysterically. Liloy glared down at him, trying to appear stern, but she couldn’t help herself. She began to laugh too.

“Happy Birthday!” Cloudy and Star hollered as they leaped out from behind a patch of tall sunflowers.

Sniper’s brothers appeared from beneath the swing set.

Springtime and Showerstorm popped out from underneath the picnic table.

Miriam and her friends jumped out from behind the oak tree.

Scazzarda, Meredith, and Leo stepped out of the garden shed.

Together they gathered around Liloy and began congratulating her and wishing her many years of life and happiness. Liloy’s lively eyes danced with rapture and enlightenment as she hugged each of her friends and thanked them.

“Wow,” Liloy said, gazing at the garden. “You all did a wonderful job fixing up this party for me!”

“It took quite a while,” said Cloudy mildly, “but we managed to finish it in time.”

“Barely,” Sniper whispered to Yodi.

“Well, it’s fantastic!” Liloy complimented them. She smiled a little sadly as she again took in the beautiful sight. “I just wish Tilry could be here.”

Cloudy wished the subject of Tilry wouldn’t be brought up. She had practically forgotten about him in anticipation of this glorious, long-awaited day. Now a feeling of shame and sorrow swept over her as she recalled yesterday. She didn’t want the fact of Tilry’s absence to ruin the day. So how else could she make Liloy feel better?

“Um, hey, everyone?” Cloudy said in a too-bright tone. “We should really get this party started, don’t you think?”

Liloy seemed relieved at the change in topic. “Yeah. We should.” She turned toward the others, pasting a happy smile on her face and attempting to appear joyful. “Well?”

Scazzarda and Leo glanced at each other and gave imperceptible nods.

“All right!” Sniper shouted.

They all tramped over to the table on which sat the cake. Seventeen candles were positioned atop the rich delicacy. Liloy laughed at how tall the cake was. “You must have used a huge oven for this!” she giggled.

“Only the best for our friend,” Cloudy replied, smiling brightly.

Liloy looked down at Cloudy and grinned. “And whose idea was it to put my face on the side of the cake?”

“Mine,” Cloudy answered, beaming with pride. “I figured it would be a nice touch. After all, it is your birthday. . .and your cake.”

“Maybe we should trying doing that for Father’s birthday,” Liloy joked, “which, by the way, Cloudy, is two days after yours.”

“Whoa! Really?” Sniper stared at Meta Knight in surprise. “So cool!”

“Yes, it is. But anyway,” Springtime broke in, “we should be singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Liloy right about now, should we not? Everyone ready? A one and a two and a three and a four. . .”

“Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear Liloy!
Happy Birthday to you!”

“Thank you all so much,” Liloy said when the song was finished. “You were all in perfect harmony.”

“Yeah?” Leo cleared his throat and pretended to look solemn. “Well, you’re fixing to hear our perfect voices again later today, because we’re going to be singing around the fire together.”

“Oh, how exciting!” Liloy said happily. “I love singing. In fact, when I was in fifth grade, I won fist place in a singing contest hosted by our school.”

“What song did you sing?” Cloudy questioned.

“Um, I don’t recall,” Liloy admitted, scratching her head. “But I do know I won. I still have the trophy somewhere in our attic.”

“Neat! Then how about you lead the singing tonight?” Cloudy asked.

Liloy was taken aback for a moment at such a suggestion. “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly!” she protested. “My-My voice isn’t that good anymore. Besides, I haven’t sung in at least two years or so.”

“Nonsense!” Star exclaimed. “I bet your voice is wonderful.” She gave Liloy a pleading look. “Oh, please lead the singing!”

Liloy seemed unconvinced. “I don’t know. . .”

“Please?” Star asked in a small voice.

Liloy sighed and swished her cape. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this without caterwauling or shattering your eardrums, but. . .okay. I’ll do it.”

Cloudy frowned. Why does Liloy think she’s a bad singer? she wondered, staring at her friend. That’s very odd. For a girl who won first place in a singing contest, she sure doesn’t act confident in her talent to sing. Perhaps it’s because of the recent events she’s gone through? Maybe she just needs a little encouragement, is all.

After the cake was devoured, Springtime declared it was time for presents.

“Wow!” Liloy gasped, seeing the tower of gifts. “How many trucks did it take to load all of these?!”

The children broke up at the witty question and the adults seemed faintly amused. Meta Knight, on the other hand, didn’t laugh or smile. He stood a little ways back from the group, silently observing the scene that was about to unfold before him.

Liloy took the first box handed her by Scazzarda and gingerly began tearing the hand-painted paper. Inside was a wooden carving of a prancing horse. Liloy knew who had created this masterpiece. No one else but Leo could have done such a thing. She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Leo.”

“You’re welcome,” Leo responded.

Liloy accepted the second package and carefully opened it. Inside was a handmade purse with fluffy purple tassels. She squinted at the gift, as if trying to place who had given it to her. Then her yellow eyes lit up. “Grandmother, you made this!” she exclaimed, looking up at Scazzarda.

“Who, me?” Scazzarda asked innocently. “Now, why on earth would you think it was me, of all people?”

Cloudy and her siblings erupted into laughter.

“Because you have a purse similar to this one,” Liloy pointed out, “and you designed that one yourself.”

Cloudy smothered a grin. “She’s got you there, Miss Scazzarda.”

Scazzarda chuckled and shook her head. “Of course she has.”

Liloy opened the next one, which was from Meredith. It was a beautiful charm bracelet with the verse John 3:16 painted on it. She slipped the bracelet onto her wrist and held it to the winter sunlight, admiring it. “Meredith, this is lovely,” she complimented her. “Did you make this?”

“Yes, I did,” Meredith answered. “I sometimes make handmade jewelry and sell it online. That’s my hobby.”

The rest of the gifts were exquisite—minus the dead cockroach Sniper gave her—and Liloy said so. She was pleased by the presents, but even more pleased by her friends’ generous hearts. “Even if the present is a roach,” she laughed.

Cloudy frowned slightly as she gazed at the pile of gifts lying at Liloy’s feet. “But wait,” she said. “We’re missing someone, aren’t we? Meta Knight didn’t give you a gift.”

“Did he forget?” Sniper asked sarcastically. “Or does he just not care?”

Cloudy gave her brother a withering look. “Meta Knight not caring about Liloy is about as likely as you ever growing up and acting your age,” she shot back.

Star giggled. Sniper looked insulted, but kept quiet.

“I did not forget you, Liloy,” Meta Knight spoke, walking to the front of the group and letting himself out of his cape. In his hand was clutched a few pieces of paper. Cloudy crinkled her brow in puzzlement. What kind of gift was paper? Still, she figured Meta Knight had his reasons.

Meta Knight extended the papers to his daughter and she hesitantly took them, unsure of what was written on the smooth sheets. She unfolded the papers, her eyes scanning the pages as she silently read through each one. Meta Knight lowered his head and released a low, shaky breath. Cloudy stood where she was, waiting, watching, feeling that something was going to happen. But she wasn’t sure what.

After a time, Liloy raised her head from the papers and glanced around at her silent friends. “What is it?” Cloudy asked quietly.

Liloy sighed and a sad smile formed on her lips. “This is a letter from Father to me. And. . .I would like to read it to you.”

Springtime and Showerstorm exchanged wondering looks. Cloudy curled up on the grass, prepared to listen.

Liloy smoothed out the sheets and cleared her throat, then began reading aloud the letter:

 

“My dearest Liloy,
I am writing this to you to express my feelings about you and your growth, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. My daughter, you are indeed different from most in the world today. You serve your God and submit to His will, and you love as you say He loves. You are kind, loving, beautiful, sweet, and empathetic.
When you became my daughter, I wanted you to have a life unlike and much better than mine. My life was filled with much trauma and horror, and I wanted you to feel loved and safe. But when your mother left, I felt like I was falling apart. I was left to raise you and your brother on my own, and I was determined to do so. But every night for the first year after your mother left, I couldn’t sleep and struggled with insomnia. I was afraid I was going to screw you up, and when your brother began to stray away and do questionable things, I was scared to death. I blamed myself for his wandering and drinking. But the only thing that gave me courage was your unshakable faith. You never once doubted. You never once asked why your brother strayed onto the wrong path. You remained faithful to your God. You possessed peace I did not.
After your marriage and Tilry’s diagnosis, the pangs of fear I felt from time to time occurred less and less, but became stronger and stronger. I  was worried something was going to go terribly wrong with you or Tilry like it had with Gregory, and I did not want a repeat of your brother’s straying. But your faithfulness to your God and everything you held dear assured me you were not going anywhere.
But as of recent events. . .
When you were abducted by Joseph, I was terrified for your safety. I didn’t know what was happening to me or why. I was breaking under the weight of the pressure I was under, and no one could truly see how much I was close to giving up—except for Cloudy. She is a priceless treasure of hope and love. Her faith beams bright in this dark, evil world, as does yours, my daughter.
No one could describe the relief I felt when you were found and rescued. But at the same time, no one could describe the stress and sadness I felt. Actually, stress and sadness doesn’t even begin to define how I felt. It was worse, far worse, but your faith and Cloudy’s love and kindness made me feel better and showed me I didn’t always have to suppress how I felt.
My daughter, there are no words to tell you how much I love you and appreciate you. But you mean the world to me. I could never stress or make you fully comprehend my undying love for you. You are one-of-a-kind and I would never trade you for any other daughter in the world.
I love you, Liloy.
Your father,
Magnus Stellarum.”

 

Cloudy felt as though she had been slapped across the head with a club; she was that stunned. Meredith was wiping tears from her eyes and Springtime was looking at Liloy with a smile. Leo was holding Miriam in his arms, tears streaming down his face. The children’s face showed solemnity and bewilderment.

Liloy raised her head and gazed at her father, who was looking away from her. He wrapped his cape around himself with shaking hands. Liloy continued to look at him, love in her eyes. Cloudy found the silence increasingly awkward and wished with all her heart that someone would say something—anything!

At length, the knight finally spoke. “Liloy, I didn’t. . .” he began, but Liloy put a finger to her lips, shushing him.

“Don’t say anything,” she told him in a gentle voice. “I know exactly what you’re going to say, and it’s not true. This means so much more to me than all of these other gifts combined, and I’m not going to pretend the letter means less. It’s a beautiful gift, Father, and you are a wonderful parent to me. I wish I could tell you how much I love you, but there are no words to tell you, Father.” She reached out and grasped his trembling hands, smiling at him, tears in her eyes. “You are indeed someone every special to me, Father.”

Meta Knight couldn’t say anything; he was too overwhelmed. Instead he embraced his daughter tightly, feeling happier than he had in days. The others began to applaud, their faces shining with pure joy. Cloudy barked, backflipped twice, and released a howl of excitement.

“Truly the Lord’s at work here!” Star murmured under her breath. “There’s a change in the air. . .I just know it.”

Liloy and her father separated from their embrace, still holding each other’s hands, smiling softly at one another. Cloudy grinned at the two and yipped, directing their attention toward her. “Cloudburst, what is it?” Meta Knight asked.

“Come on, you two!” cried Cloudy, doing a rough-and-tumble. “What are you waiting for? It’s party time!”

Liloy laughed. “You’re right, Cloudy! It is indeed party time!” She tugged at her father’s hand. “Let’s go see what’s next, Father.”

It turned out that next was games. First up was Charades. Cloudy was picked to act out the first charade. She smiled as she gazed at the oak tree, the piñata swinging from the lowermost branch. She knew exactly which charade to act.

Cloudy began by gesturing to the sky and pretending someone was speaking to her from above. Then she followed by pretending to swing an axe and chop wood, then building what appeared to be a boat. Then she made wave-like motions beating against the imaginary boat and rain coming down in great sheets.

“I know! I know!” Star cried, dancing about eagerly.

“Yes?” Cloudy prompted.

“Noah’s ark!” cried Star, letting out a howl of triumph.

“Yeah! Good job!” Cloudy high-pawed her older sister.

After a few more charades, Tag was next. Cloudy won hands down. No matter who was chasing her, she could always avoid being touched by him. No one could figure out how she managed to dodge being tapped, but she did nonetheless.

The next game was the Sack Race. The kids split into two teams and each stepped into a gunnysack and lined up at the marked starting line. When Liloy called out the signal to go, the teams hopped to get to the finish line first, most ending up sprawled out flat on the grass. The adults were laughing hysterically at the children’s comical accidents and spills. Zach crossed the finish line first. Eloise was a close second, and Miriam was third.

The third game was Hide and Seek. Cloudy was the only one out of all the children not to be found, and everyone was confused about where she was until she crawled from below the garden shed. Then embarrassment loomed.

Then came the time to whack open the piñata. Liloy was first to try. She blindfolded and handed the club, and wham! she smacked her target head-on. Candy spilled all over the ground and the children scrambled to collect as much as they could. Liloy giggled at their excited cries of delight and the argument that ensued between Sniper and Waffle over who had the most candy.

All this furor continued past late afternoon and until the sun began to set. Then Springtime called the others to the bonfire. A few drained children flopped into the chairs. Liloy and Meta Knight seated themselves together on a log while Leo took up his guitar and sat across from the birthday girl and her father. Cloudy sighed with delight as she curled up by Scazzarda, who was stoking the dying embers with a thin metal rod.

Leo tuned up his guitar and smiled at Liloy. “What song would you like to sing tonight?”

Liloy looked into the fire and grinned. “‘Who Else’, by Liliya Chekh. I love that song.”

Cloudy smiled as she realized she recognized the song, though she had never heard Chekh’s version of it. She was curious to know how it went.

“Sure. Whatever you desire.” Leo tried a few chords until he reached one that was satisfactory. “Okay, are you ready?”

Liloy took Meta Knight’s hand. “Yes.”

Leo began playing the soft but powerful tune and Liloy began to sing, her voice melding with the thrums of the guitar strings.

 

“I am an instrument of exaltation,
And I was born to lift
Your Name above all Names.
You hear the melody
Of all creation,
But I have songs of praise
Not even angels sing.

Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.
Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.”

 

Leo nodded toward the girls, motioning for them to join in the singing. They gladly obliged.

“You are the infinite God of the ages,
Yet You chose to make
My heart Your dwelling place.
You healed my brokenness,
Showed me Your glory;
So I have songs of thanks
Not even angels sing.

Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.
Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.
Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.
Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.”

 

As Cloudy sang, she felt a deep peace bubble up inside of her and spread throughout her body. She smiled, her fangs glowing orange in the flickering, dancing tongues of flame, her emerald eyes reflecting the heated glow of the embers. They were almost to the bridge, which was one of Cloudy’s favorite parts.

“Lamb of God, anointed One,
Who was and is and is to come,
Seated on the throne above;
Holy, holy!
Righteous One Who shed His blood;
You proved to us the Father’s love.
Jesus Christ, be lifted up!
Holy, holy!
Lamb of God, anointed One,
Who was and is and is to come!
Oh, ohhh!
You are and You are
Righteous one Who shed His blood
You proved to us the Father’s love.
Jesus Christ, be lifted up!”

 

“Take it away, children!” Liloy called.

 

“Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one;
Only You, Jesus.
Who else is worthy?
Who else is worthy?
There is no one,
It’s only You, Jesus.

There is no one;
It’s only You, Jesus.”

 

There was a slight pause and then everyone camped round the fire, including Meta Knight himself, completed the outro:

 

“There is no one;
It’s only You, Jesus.”

Cloudy felt a bittersweet crest of happiness sail over her, burying her in mixed feelings of bliss and sorrow. For she knew that this had been a completely wonderful day, and she would remember it for always and replay it over and over again in her mind. But tomorrow Miriam would be gone, off to live in Prism Plains, and she would never come back here to live. And that was by far the blackest part of the entire day.

_____________________

Note: “Who Else” in Liliya Chekh’s version was written and sung by Liliya Chekh. All credit for this song goes to her.