the surprise
in the fridge.

Albie, what’s this?” Mom asked when she opened up the fridge to start dinner after Calista had gone home.

“I don’t know,” I said, without even looking. Because how would I know what was in the fridge?

“It’s for you,” Mom told me. And that made me look up.

For me?

I rushed to the fridge, and sure enough, there was a big brown box on one of the shelves. All the lettuce and cheese had been pushed over to the side so it would fit. On the side in bubble letters it said, Happy Birthday, Albie!

Calista’s handwriting.

“My present!” I told Mom. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten. I’d never forgotten about a birthday present before in my whole life. “Calista said she brought me something.”

“Well, let’s see what it is.” And Mom pulled out the box and set it on the table. I helped her tug back the lid.

It was a giant cake, shaped like a huge, perfect donut. Vanilla, it looked like, rounded on the sides like a real giant donut with a hole in the middle and everything. There was thick chocolate glaze dripping down the sides and sprinkles all over the top.

“Cool!” I said.

“Now, isn’t that sweet?” Mom said. I laughed, and she looked at me. “What?”

“It’s a donut cake,” I told her. “So it has to be sweet!”

Mom laughed, too, and hip-bumped me. “Looks like the perfect after-birthday dessert,” she said.

• • •

The donut cake was so delicious that for a second I forgot it was still a sad day.