“Happy birthday”. "Happy birthday." Happy birthday." It seemed like every moment someone threw those two words at me without a care for what they were supposed to mean. The words bounced off me as I sat on the swing of my back patio My father passed away a few years earlier and since then I've been trying to be the man of the house I don't have any siblings so it was up to me to take care of my mother and. to be the best son I could be I was in my backyard and my younger cousins ​​were crawling and drooling and stuttering around me. I'm the oldest of all the cousins ​​and I had to set an example in terms of. Their constant crying and cries for my attention, mixed with my growing sense of aggravation in 90 degree weather, weren't helping me forget the situation as I felt ready to tell them all that the. Santa is just their mom and dad when they go to sleep, I thought about the arrival of my classmates and decided that my time would be better spent sitting next to my door 'entrance. They were the only ones who could save what was left of my 9th birthday. Everything was wrong with this party. It was my first time having a birthday party, but suddenly I realized why I had never had one before. The mismatched tablecloths and metal chairs clanging next to each other with the balloons stuck haphazardly on the garage and tables made my head hurt. I thought I couldn't be clearer when I told my mother that I don't like balloons. I wish I could say I would make sure it never happened again, but I didn't think there would be a next time. Every time they swayed in the wind or brushed against a passerby's pants, it created a lump in my throat and I prepared my ears for the inevitable... middle of paper......the new years that followed our great loss. I realized that my mother had given up a lot for me. She worked two jobs and cooked all the food herself because she wanted this day to be special for me. She spent a lot of time preparing everything for the party. I sat down and wiped the tears from my eyes. I hugged my mother and never wanted her to leave this world like my father did. I thanked her for her apology and told her I was sorry too. She and I came out of my room with my piece of cake in hand and I sat down with the rest of the family. In that moment, I realized that time spent with my family was something I should value. They came on a day off and decided to wish me happy birthday. Popping a forkful of chocolate cake, which is my favorite, into my mouth, I savored the taste of creamy chocolate frosting, moist cake and the moment.