Sneakaroo

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Clenching her teeth, she dragged the oak dining chair across the kitchen inch by inch, sweat trickling down her temples, her frock clinging to her sweat-soaked body. With all the strength she has, she made sure the chair made no noise, slided the legs barely above the floor. With each heavy step, Alice's arms ached. The dining chair was too heavy for her to bear, but her wrought eyebrows fueled her own, their determination exuding across her knitted forehead. As her muscle ached and pain seared into her tired back, she continued the journey and finally reached the cupboards on the other side.

She slumped on the chair, catching her breathe for the longest time. The humid afternoon air filled her lungs and gave her life, the humid afternoon air also made her eyelids heavy, made her drowsy, her determination and goodwill forgotten for the moment. She sat very still, merging with the quiet surroundings, moving as one as the silence ecked on. As each breathe filled her lungs, energy surged through every vein until she regains her libido.

She opens her eyes and started climbing that chair, reaching out to the cupboard door and swung it open it one swift moment. Mama always told her that it makes less noise. She reached for that candle box and hugged it tight against her chest with one hand. That swerve almost knocked her off her leverage. Her palm was clenched tight on the cupboard door, her heart pumping after that misadventure.

Her eyebrows unfurled and her eyes glistened, half the job is done now. She scrambled down the chair, leaving it standing by the cabinet. She scuttled to the dining table and stared at the cupcake in it's glory. It was Marie's favourtie, raspberry walnut, with nice white icing and her name written over it in nice big letters with red polka dots dancing around it. She put down the candle box and took out a waxy sticky from it. Pink she chose. She stuck it nicely in the middle of the front, her trembling fingers taking great care not to smudge the icing. Mama put it on this morning.

She lit it with the child-proof lighter Papa gave.

A grin spread on her lips as she gets excited about the surprise for Marie. Any six year old girl would feel really proud of themselves if they managed to fool their older sister and surprise her with a birthday cake.

She cupped the cupcake like it was her favourite doll, and walked out with cautious steps towards the hall. Marie was reading a book, comfortably cross-legged on her favourite couch, where she would always be on Sunday afternoons. Alice walked towards the couch, staring at the flame and wishing it would not go out. She looked left and right, and anxiously glancing at the couch. As she neared Marie, she held her breathe. Marie might hear.

Marie heard the padded footsteps, heard the little muffled giggles ALice was trying to hide, she pretended to read her book and gauged where Alice was. As Alice padded towards her with great care, Marice posied herself against the couch.

Alice's prescence got nearer, and Marie got more tensed. Alice was almost there...almost there. Her lips parted and a breathe drew in, as she got ready to shout surprise.

Then, a head popped out by the side of the couch and two bright voices rang into the air.

"Surprise!"
"Gotcha!"

Laughter bursed out of the sisters and they hugged amidst the giggles. It wasn't a successful surprise party, but it was a pleasant surprise.

It was the year when Marie blew the candle with all the happiness in her heart and ate her favourite cupcake with all the content she can have, with little Alice on her lap hugging her.