Happy Birthday!

When I woke up this morning in my mum’s arm, she said to me:

“Joyeux anniversaire, cher Pinot, happy birthday!”

“(puzzled) … ... ”

“Are you listening to me, le petit?”

As she said unexpectedly, I was absent-minded.

I jumped out of bed, went slowly downstairs, and said “Good morning!” to the Giraffe, my scratching post, as usual.

“It’s Pinot’s birthday today,” she said to my dad.

“Oh, yes. Er … 12 years old?”

“Absolutely!”

“Happy birthday to you, … 

(He started singing while giving me the usual horrible medicine.)

… Happy birthday to you.”

‘Nothing special! Nothing changed!’ I murmured.

–– In the afternoon, after the lesson.

I was still taking a nap, my mum said to her students:

“Ah, it’s Pinot’s birthday today.”

“Really!? Pinot, happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday, Pinot!”

“Mmm, er, thank you, Hiroko-san and Mari-san!”

I wondered if they enjoyed their lesson on my birthday, and I stretched myself.

“How old are you now?”

“I’m 12 years old – not very young anymore,” replied my mum.

I stretched myself again.

–– later.

Ah, what time is it? I’m getting hungry.

“Give me my birthday dinner, please, Mum!”

“A table! Voilà! There you are! Happy birthday, sweetie!”

“Thanks! I love you, Mum!” Yum-yum …

She was most pleased with my appetite.

“Ah, you’ve got a birthday message from Alfie’s papa and mama.”

“Wow! But just a moment, please!” Yum-yum …