*Gladys' 5th Birthday Party*
August 5th arrived, and the Williams' household buzzed with excitement. Gladys, now 5 years old, woke up early, bouncing with anticipation.
"Mommy, Mommy! It's my birthday!" Gladys squealed, jumping onto Evelyn's bed.
Evelyn smiled, hugging her tight. "Happy birthday, sweetie! Let's get ready for your party."
Gladys' eyes sparkled as she put on her favorite yellow dress with white flowers. Her curly brown hair was tied up in a ponytail, adorned with a bright pink bow.
The party was held in their backyard, filled with balloons, streamers, and a big banner reading "Happy 5th Birthday, Gladys!"
Gladys' friends from school arrived, eager to join the celebration:
Emma Taylor, Sofia Rodriguez, Tyler Chen, and Philip, who brought a thoughtful gift.
*Party Fun*
The party kicked off with games:
Pin the Tail on the Donkey (Gladys won!)
Musical Chairs (Tyler took the prize)
Treasure Hunt (Sofia found the hidden treasure)
Afterward, they enjoyed:
Pizza, juice boxes, and cupcakes with colorful sprinkles
A bouncy castle, where Gladys and friends laughed and played
*Cake Time*
Evelyn brought out the magnificent birthday cake: a vanilla sponge cake with strawberry frosting and five candles.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Gladys, happy birthday to you," chorused everyone as they clapped their hands and Gladys smiled from ear to ear. After the birthday song, Gladys closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles.
"Happy birthday to me!" Gladys exclaimed, beaming.
*Gift Time*
Gladys unwrapped gifts from her friends:
A stuffed rabbit from Emma
A coloring book from Sofia
A puzzle from Tyler
A sparkly necklace from Philip
Gladys hugged each friend, thanking them for the thoughtful gifts.
*Special Moment*
As the party wound down, John, Gladys' father, appeared with a surprise gift: a shiny pink bicycle with training wheels.
Gladys' eyes widened. "Daddy, a bike! Thank you!"
John helped Gladys onto the bike, holding the back as she pedaled around the backyard.
Evelyn smiled, capturing the moment on camera. "This is the best birthday party ever!"
As the sun began to set, Gladys' friends said their goodbyes, and the Williams family shared a warm hug.
"Best birthday ever, Mommy," Gladys whispered, snuggled between her parents.
Evening time came and Gladys snuggled up beside her mother, Evelyn, on the couch, excited for their Friday night movie night. The TV screen flickered to life, displaying the eerie title: "Revenge of the Cursed."
The movie began with a eerie, foreboding music:
A group of people, wronged by society, gathered in an abandoned warehouse. Suddenly, they started nosebleeding, and eerie whispers filled their minds.
"Seek revenge... Punish those who hurt you..."
The characters' eyes turned cold, their faces twisted in anger.
"Yes... We will revenge," they whispered in unison.
A dark, shadowy figure emerged, its presence filling the room.
The characters' bodies began to contort, their human forms disintegrating.
Their eyes turned red, skin gray, and claws extended.
The once-wronged individuals transformed into monstrous creatures.
Gladys watched, entranced, as the creatures rampaged through the city.
Blood splattered, buildings crumbled, and screams echoed.
"Mommy..." Gladys whispered, her voice trembling.
Evelyn stroked her hair. "It's just a movie, sweetie."
But Gladys' eyes remained fixed on the screen.
A creature's face filled the screen, its eyes glowing red.
Gladys shrieked, hiding her face behind Evelyn's back.
"Too scary, Mommy!"
Evelyn chuckled, pausing the movie. "Okay, let's take a break."
Gladys peeked around Evelyn's shoulder. "What happens next?"
Evelyn smiled. "Do you want to finish watching it?"
Gladys hesitated before nodding.
As the movie continued, Gladys watched through her fingers.
The creatures' reign of terror ended with a cryptic message:
"The curse spreads... Revenge never ends."
The screen faded to black.
Gladys exhaled, relieved. "That was too scary."
Evelyn hugged her tight. "You're safe, sweetie. It's just fiction."
But Gladys couldn't shake off the haunting images of the monsters.
Gladys looked up at Evelyn with curious eyes. "Mommy, do monsters really exist?"
Evelyn nodded. "Yes, sweetie, but not like the ones in movies."
Gladys frowned. "But I haven't seen any. Why not?"
Evelyn smiled. "Well, monsters aren't always visible."
Gladys thought for a moment. "My friends get angry, but they don't turn into monsters. Why?"
John, Gladys' father, who joined when the movie was about to end, chimed in, "That's because monsters don't always show on the outside, kiddo. Sometimes, they're inside, controlling people's minds and actions."
Gladys' eyes widened. "What makes people have monsters inside?"
Evelyn hesitated before responding, "That's a complicated question, sweetie."
Gladys persisted, "But Pastor Brown said angels live in us!"
Evelyn smiled. "Actually, sweetie, Jesus lives in our hearts. Angels are always around us, watching over us."
Gladys closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and prayed aloud, "Dear Jesus, please don't let me, Mommy, or Daddy become those disgusting creatures. Be like Superman and keep those monsters away from us and my friends too!"
The room fell silent, then erupted into warm laughter.
Gladys opened her eyes, looking up at Evelyn. "Mommy, how do you kill the monsters?"
Evelyn's expression turned serious. "Forgiveness, sweetie. We kill the monsters with forgiveness."
Gladys closed her eyes again, her voice filled with conviction. "God, teach me to forgive those who offend me in class. Amen."
The room filled with chuckles and warm smiles.
John ruffled Gladys' hair. "You're learning, kiddo. Forgiveness is the greatest superpower."
Evelyn hugged Gladys tight. "We're proud of you, sweetie."
As they hugged, Gladys felt a sense of peace wash over her.