Maren’s Midnight Flavor Parade — Under the birthday hall’s paper stars, Maren tapped two wafer sticks on an empty cup: tik-tik, ta-DA! Read the full story →
Under the birthday hall’s paper stars, Maren tapped two wafer sticks on an empty cup: tik-tik, ta-DA! She wanted the midnight flavor parade to begin before the candles were lit in the morning. Around her, the long table smelled like sugar cones and cold strawberry syrup, and the balloons brushed the ceiling with squeaky little bumps. Cone cousins rolled in on saucers, sundaes balanced cherries, and spoons chimed like tiny cymbals.
The parade was just about to whirl past the big bowl when Maren heard a soft rustle beneath the tablecloth. Out marched six crumb-sized ants wearing confetti hats, carrying a banner made from a napkin corner. They had been decorating the hall all night, but their frosting dots were too small for anyone to notice. “Room for us?” squeaked the first ant.
Maren grinned and changed the beat to a careful tiptoe rumble. Without calling a single grown-up, she tucked mini scoops, broken waffle bits, and one cherry sliver beside the ants’ napkin banner. By sunrise, the guests would see only a perfect party table. But if you spot the confetti near the spoons, you might hear Maren’s tik-tik, ta-DA.
