Big Meg

"Time to wake up, Emma," Mom called from the kitchen. I was already awake. Today was my birthday. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.

As I turned the corner of the kitchen, my family sang "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Emma. Happy birthday to you."

I scanned the room. My birthday present was nowhere in sight. Where could it be hiding?

"Emma, you will get your present tonight," Dad said. He must have known what I was thinking.

"When are we eating cake?" asked my younger sister, Meg.

"After dinner," Mom assured her. "I made Emma's favorite."

I quickly ate my blueberry pancakes. Tonight could not come quick enough. "Hurry up, Meg," I said. I had to wait for her because we walked to school together.

"I'm eating as fast as I can," Meg mumbled while bits of pancake fell out of her mouth.

"Eat faster," I begged. A little sister can really slow you down I thought. As Meg chewed her last bite, I ran toward the front door.

Mom and Dad yelled, "Wait! Here is something to hold you over until tonight's surprise."

Inside the bag was a stuffed Giant Panda. This was a big hint. I thanked them and continued out the door scanning the front yard as I ran. My birthday present was nowhere in sight. Where could it be hiding?

"Wait up!" yelled Meg as I sprinted across the front lawn.

When we got to school, I dropped Meg off at her class. I was the first to arrive in my class. The day was moving slowly. Finally, all the other students arrived.

"Emma, can you help us answer the question?" asked my teacher. I did not know what the question was because I was thinking about Giant Pandas.

"Yes," I said anyway. Then, I waited hoping she would repeat the question.

"Good. Please come up and do the math problem on the board," she said.

5+4= _

I filled in 9 and returned to my seat to think more about Giant Pandas. Using my Giant Panda pencil, I made a list in my Giant Panda notebook.

Things a Giant Panda pet needs

Mushrooms
Carrots
Yams
Fish
Bamboo

Ring. Ring. The school day was finally over.

"Emma, wait!" yelled Meg as she scurried after me.

Excited to get home, I almost forgot my little sister at school. "Hurry up!" I yelled back continuing down the sidewalk.

"Do you think Mom and Dad really got you a Giant Panda?" Meg panted as she caught up with me in our backyard.

"Yes. Why else would they have given me a stuffed Giant Panda?" I exasperatedly responded. Before entering the house, I scanned the backyard. My birthday present was nowhere in sight. Where could it be hiding?

"When is dinner?" I asked as I ran through the rest of the house hoping to spy my present.

"Now," Mom and Dad called from the kitchen. "We have to eat early tonight."

On the table was my favorite meal, cheese pizza. For dessert, we ate my favorite chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. The cake was shaped like a Giant Panda. The body was black and white. It looked like it was wearing a mask.

"The cake is not as large as a real Giant Panda," I told Meg. "Real Giant Pandas grow to 5 feet tall and can weigh up to 300 pounds."

"How will it fit in our home?" Meg asked.

"It will live outside," I said. Little sisters need a lot explained to them I thought.

"Oh dear," said Mom. Dad looked worried too. "Emma, we told you Giant Pandas are too big to keep as pets."

"Why did you give me the stuffed Giant Panda? Why did you shape my cake like a Giant Panda?" I was almost in tears.

"We have another surprise for you," Mom cheerfully announced.

"We adopted you a Giant Panda at the zoo!" Dad exclaimed.

I sat silently in the kitchen. I sat silently in the car on the way to the zoo. When we got to the zoo, the zookeeper said, "Congratulations, Emma!"

I looked at my Giant Panda. It was much larger than I remembered. The zookeeper handed me an envelope. Inside was a picture of my Giant Panda and an information sheet containing her birth date.

"You can visit anytime," the zookeeper said.

I sulked all the way home until my parents reminded me that I get to name the Giant Panda. "I will call her Big Meg," I laughed.

"Hey!" Meg frowned. "That is not funny." I smiled. I thought it was hilarious.

When we got home, Mom and Dad tucked me into bed. Before closing my eyes, I wrote down my birthday wish for next year with my Giant Panda pencil in my Giant Panda notebook.

Trip to China