First Year

Shrieks from youthful children echoed through the hall as their mothers conversed nearby, music blared as they continued to devour cake with squeals of delight. A first birthday: a memorable experience, especially for a mother who has just completed the first year of raising up her child. 

Vast piles of presents engulfed a corner of the room, their glint receiving an intrigued Jack's undivided attention. His eyes seemed to glow as he continued to adore his soon-to-be playthings. Crumbs smothered the high chairs which prevented the squealing children, who too were lathered in a layer of cake, from creating a stampede as the jovial mothers howled with laughter. The sector allocated for the reposed fathers murmured as they conversed about the topics which fascinated them.

However, just like any other day, Jack was unable to keep his dainty eyes open and repress his fatigue. A huge yawn resonated across the hall; signalling to the mothers that the celebration was to come to an end.

The second commemoration of another year of his life was no different. However, the foundations of the building trembling from the unbearable racket the toddlers made as their communication skills developed was a noticeable difference. The mountain of shiny boxes which lurked with their pleasant surprises  were less of a feat to peak this year; still they forged a grin on the face of the innocent Jack. The bustling bunch of guests crawled and waddled around with glee: pinning the tail on the assortment of equestrians; producing vibrant masterpieces for their mothers to behold, raising up their creations with pride and only gloating to their peers once the authentication from parents had been given; racing round in circles in valiant attempts to capture the lucky individual that had been awarded the coveted title 'Goose'. The common burst of a balloon momentarily startled the children but they carried on, seemingly not phased by the event.

There was no party for Jack's third birthday. Despite that, he received a present which would exceed any gift that he could have received.

A bone-rattling thud shook Jack out of the utopia he was currently settled in, shortly after acknowledging that he was in fact in the box which honked ( but other honkers made Mommy angry). His father contently followed the machine which instructed his route, hands tightly wrapped around the steering wheel. 

"We've got a new place to live in, sweetie", his mother whispered with a grin from ear to ear as her auburn eyes shone in the afternoon sunlight. Unsure what the situation was, Jack proceeded to take an easier option than find out; he slowly closed his eyes and returned back to the universe which thrived in his mind.