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Hibiscus opened her mouth to say something, and promptly snapped it shut again.  Something wondrous was happening.

In the center of every table, a piggie bank suddenly emerged, blooming like a porcelain flower between tea cups and plates.  Carolina leaped off the fountain and eagerly reached for the one on her table.  Holding it to her ear, she shook it and heard clanging coins.

“We don’t have to smash it, do we?” she asked, looking forlornly at the adorable pink porcelain pig.  Its painted black eyes beseeched her.

“No, look!”  Hibiscus Honeycutt pulled at the pig’s mouth.  At her touch, a pink tongue popped out with a penny on the end.  She handed it to Carolina, then touched the pig again.  A second penny popped out.

“Let me try!” Josh reached for the pig, grabbing it’s snout with his greedy fingers.  The pig’s jaws clamped shut with a squeal.

“Oh, you hurt it!” Carolina scooped it up from both of them, patting the piggie bank.  Suddenly, she frowned.  Holding it to her ear, she shook the pig as it squealed.  “That’s interesting!  There were only two pennies in there.  One for me and one for you.”

Josh’s lower lip protruded, his brow furrowing.  “That’s not fair.”

“Of course it is,” Hibiscus said.  “You work here.”

Tucking the piggie bank under her arm, Carolina fingered her penny.  “What are you going to wish for?” she asked Hibiscus.

“I don’t know.” Hibiscus frowned, then beamed.  “I know!  I should see what my menu surprise is first!”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”  Josh asked.  “It could be…anything.”

“And it’s probably cold by now,” Carolina said, wrinkling her nose at her own lukewarm tuna salad and apple.  She wondered if it was too late to order chicken fingers.

“All the more reason to see!”  Tucking her penny behind her ear, Hibiscus pulled the silver cover off her plate with a flourish.  Bursting into giggles, she clapped her hands.  “How perfect!”

On her plate was a enormous chocolate cake, with multiple layers iced in bright pink and white, with Carolina’s name swirled on top.

“I’m so sorry!” Carolina cried, her cheeks flushing.  “That’s terrible your meal should be a cake for me!”

“Why?”  Hibiscus cocked her head.  “It’s not like I’m not going to have a piece too.  Or several.”

Carolina bit her lip and looked at the cake.  “I insist you take my penny for my birthday wish.  It’s only fair.”

“I’m not going to do that.”  Hibiscus’ enormous hat swung wildly as she shook her head, the bird perched on the left corner dangling precariously.  “That’s ridiculous.  It’s your birthday.  You need a wish.  Every birthday needs a wish.”

“And it’s your menu surprise,” Carolina pointed out.  “And you got a cake for me.”  She held out the penny between her two pale fingers.  “Please, take it.”

Hibiscus shook her head, then saw Carolina’s face and frowned.  “Oh, all right.  Only because it’s your birthday and people can do what they want on their birthday.”  Taking the penny, she tucked it behind her other ear.

With the piggie bank tucked under her arm, Carolina leaped back onto the fountain.  To her surprise, the bank jangled.  Wrinkling her nose, she carefully placed a finger on the pig’s lips.  A shiny silver quarter rolled into her hand before the pig’s mouth snapped shut again.

She might have been imagining things, but she thought she saw the pig smile.

“A quarter?” Josh whined.  “How come she gets a quarter?  I didn’t even get a penny!”

“That’s because you’re greedy,” Hibiscus said calmly.  Picking up her knife, she eyed her cake.  “Shall we have a slice of cake and make our wishes?”

Carolina looked at the fountain, then back at Hibiscus and grinned.  “Let’s wish first.”  She wasn’t sure how much longer her nerves would last.

Twirling the knife in her hand, Hibiscus ran her other finger along the edge of the cake and licked off the icing.  With buttercream smeared around her lips, she smiled.  “Your wish is my command.”

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a week of fun coming up!

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