Dottie’s Candle Surprise — Behind the round party table, Dottie tucked one last roasted hazelnut into the safest place she could find: the tiny paper flag on top of the candle. Read the full story →
Behind the round party table, Dottie tucked one last roasted hazelnut into the safest place she could find: the tiny paper flag on top of the candle. The burrow smelled like vanilla frosting and warm wood shavings. Balloons bobbed against the ceiling, strings tickling her ears as she practiced her clap-clap-clap for Baby Beetle’s first birthday.
Guests arrived in a rustle of paws and wings. They admired the swirly cupcake, the striped candle, and the banner with letters so big a mouse could nap inside the O. Dottie only grinned and clapped harder. “Wait for the wish,” she whispered, whiskers twitching with mischief.
When Baby Beetle blew, the flame bent like a little golden dancer, and the flag popped open. Out rolled one shiny hazelnut, then three sunflower seeds, then a folded note: FOR THE AFTER-PARTY SNACK BASKET. Nobody had seen Dottie hide it. Everybody shared it anyway, crunching and laughing under the bobbing balloons. If you peek at the candle flag, you might spot where Dottie tucked one last roasted hazelnut.
