The clock struck two as Lena creaked the door of her apartment open. She was just returning from her ten hour shift at the hospital. It had not been a long shift; in fact, the time seemed to go by rather quick. The streets had been remarkably empty in the early morning hours, and she saw no one in the parking lot. Or the lobby. Or the elevator. Or the hallway. And now, as she flipped on the light switch, there was no sign of people in her apartment.

Not that she was expecting anyone or anything. She guessed that only a handful of people knew that it was her birthday. And of that handful, maybe half actually cared. She had gotten a quick “Happy Birthday” from the hospital floor manager as she was walking out. As well as a call from her mother on her break. But that had basically been it. She stood with the hallway door ajar, contemplating how old she truly was. Eventually, the number thirty-three struck her, and it sounded about right. She took a sigh, closed the door, and walked into the apartment.

She looked at the TV, and was slightly surprised to see it was off. Normally, Jeffery would leave the TV on all night, but he had somehow decided tonight would be a good night to turn it off. She smiled a little at that, and walked across the room. She wondered where little Jeffery was, because half the time, he would be curled up on the couch. Jeffery was her only child, while Lena was his only parent. It had almost always been this way, but Jeffery did not seem to mind, for he was a strong and independent six year old.
She walked into the kitchen, and flipped on the light switch. She looked at the tiled floor in complete shock.
“What in the heck happened?” Lena said out loud to herself. For her once near spotless kitchen was now littered with things that had not been there just ten hours before. There were pots, pans, knives, forks, and Lena saw what looked like a moldy piece of cheese. But, in between all the misplaced kitchen appliances and the tile floor, lay a thin layer of white stuff. She kicked the moldy cheese to the side as she kneeled down. She picked up some of the powder with her fingers and brought it near her mouth. Slowly taking a sniff, then a taste, and Lena realized it to be flour.
She stood up and breathed a sigh of relief. She went immediately into Jeffery’s room, to see what could have caused her son to behave so recklessly. She looked to the bed, and her heart skipped a beat. It was empty, and the sheets were still made. She checked under his bed, and in the closet, but there was no sign of Jeffery. She began to get worried and peeped her head into her bedroom. If before her heart had skipped a beat, this time her heart froze.
Laid out on her bed was Jeffery, all curled up right in the middle of it. He lay there peacefully, deep in sleep. Next to Jeffery was a small plate. And on this plate was what appeared to be some sort of homemade birthday cake. And right in the middle of the cake rested an unlit candle, placed with the utmost care. Lena gasped out loud as she flipped on the light, causing Jeffery to stir. He slowly opened one eye, and then sat up, almost knocking over the cake.
“Mommy! Mommy!” he cried, sitting up and sliding off the bed. “I made a surprise for your birthday!” He ran straight into her arms, for she had gotten done on one knee. They grasped each other tightly in the morning hours as they hugged. Lena began to feel tears of happiness as she clutched her son close. “It’s a birthday cake,” he whispered in her ear.

“I know baby, and it’s beautiful,” she said, still holding back a full string of tears.

“I kinda made a mess in the kitchen though,” Jeffery said as he pulled away to look at her face.

“I know Jeffery, and it’s beautiful too.” Lena said as she once again embraced him, letting her tears go free.