“Happy birthday May!” April’s voice echoed through my room as she pulled the curtains open. 

I blinked a couple of times, squinting at the light. “What time is it?” I asked.

“Six,” she said nonchalantly, sitting down on my bed.

“In the morning?” I asked, yawning.

“Yes.”

I shifted to a seated position. “How are you even awake?” Normally I was dragging her out of bed at noon.

“Through the help of several alarms. Now get up, sleepy. We have a big day ahead celebrating your twelfth birthday!”

She got off my bed, opened my wardrobe and then threw some clothes at me.

“Meet me in the backyard,” she said, leaving my room right after.

Dressed in the clothes she picked out for me with an added jumper, I trudged down the stairs ten minutes later and walked out into the backyard where she was waiting for me. A large cardboard box sat in the middle of the garden with a big bow on it.

The morning light filtered over the fence and through the trees, casting a glow over the glistening blades of grass between my feet. There was something so peaceful about mornings this early as the neighbourhood still slept but the birds began to sing their morning calls in the warmth of the new day.

“Why did you even get up this early?” I yawned. 

“I had to beat your stupidly early starts. Couldn’t have you seeing your present before I was there.”

“Could this not wait until later hours?”

“No. It’s going to take… some time to use.”

“What does that mean?”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “Just open it, May Day.”

“Should I not wait for mum and dad?”

She shook her head. “I bought you this one. But they will help later with the other stuff.”

“What other stuff?”

“May. Open it.”

Reluctantly, I stepped forward, taking off the bow first and putting it in a safe spot so I could place it somewhere in my room later. I then began to pull at the tape on the cardboard. Whatever was underneath was evidently not a lawn mower or a tool box, as the cardboard wrapping suggested.

Finally I had loosened the tape enough that I could move the cardboard out of the way, revealing the true wrapping underneath. I began laughing. “Did you get me a cubby?”

April nodded, grinning. “Figured with your teenage years approaching, you might want your own little getaway outside of the house to retreat to. We can set up some blankets and lights. Maybe one day we can convince mum to let Evie come over and you can hang out watching movies in there.”

Tearing my eyes away from the wrapping I looked at April, tears swimming in my eyes. “Thank you. I love it.” Normally kids got cubbies when they were four or five, not twelve. But I didn’t care about the norm here.

She tried to suppress her smile, but it was to no avail. “Great to hear.”

“So will dad build it for me?”

“Of course. And we will supervise. Mum’s present is the decorative stuff we will put in there.”

“This seems like too much. You only got a giftcard for your birthday.”

She shook her head. “I bought this for you, not them. And besides, I got the best gift of all.” Tugging on the hem of her new denim jacket she got from Anna for her birthday, she beamed at me. 

Running up to her, I threw my arms around my sister, burying close into her chest. “Thanks for being such a great big sister, April.”

I felt her hand patting down on my hair as she wound her other arm around me, body shaking from laughter. “You know I’d do anything for you, May. You just have to ask.”

Our parents didn’t wake for another hour, but when they did, we all had to sit at the table to have breakfast together. I was glad my birthday fell on the weekend this year, but, at the same time, I wanted our morning family time to be over with so that dad would build my new cubby.

When breakfast finally finished, dad made himself another cup of coffee before sauntering out to the backyard to inspect the package. With one hand on his hip, the other bringing his cup to his mouth sporadically, he continued to squint at the directions. We had told dad many times that he should get his eyes checked—but he knew best.

“Dad! When are you going to build it?” I complained after what seemed like forever passed with him just looking at the directions.

“When I’m finished my coffee,” he grunted. “Go inside and play with your sister until then.”

Reluctantly, I turned on my heel and slumped back in, laying down on top of April who was watching something on the TV. 

“I’m not a seat,” she groaned.

“You can’t complain. It’s my birthday.”

“Is that how that works?”

“You bet.”

“We’ll see about that.” And before I could run away, her hands leapt out from under me, poking me in the ribs, tickling me under my arms, and jabbing me in the stomach until I was laughing so hard I almost peed my pants. 

“Girls! It’s ready,” dad called from outside.

After having spent the whole morning watching reruns of Phineas and Ferb, we sprung off the couch, suddenly feeling way more alive than our slumped postures before would have suggested.

I ran out in front of April, who wasn’t far behind me. Stopping, my jaw dropped as I took it in. Natural wood with a small red door, the cubby stood slightly elevated from the ground with its own porch in all its tiny glory. 

I squealed with delight and ran forward, giving my sweaty father a hug. “Thanks daddy!”

“Anything for my girls.”

Turning back to April, I asked, “What now?”

“Now,” mum said, emerging from inside with a plethora of pillows and sheets in her hands, “We decorate.”

We spent the better part of the afternoon arranging the blankets, hanging lights inside, and tagging the internal walls with our names. Mum interrupted us in the midst of it to deliver ham and cheese toasties before we plunged straight back in.

When done, April and I climbed inside, closing the door behind and turning on the twinkling lights before laying on the ground.

After staring up at the wooden ceiling in silence for a while, taking in the fresh pine scent, I turned to my sister and said, “April?”

“Yes?” she replied, throwing an arm around my shoulder, gaze still fixed to the roof.

“Let’s make this our spot. Whenever we must have a really serious heart-to-heart, let’s come out here, lay down just like we are, and talk.”

Corners of her lips turned upwards into a smirk, her head lolled over towards me. “Even if it’s night time?”

Eyebrows furrowed, I pondered her question for a moment before shaking my head. “That we can still do inside… I don’t want to risk any frogs or snakes.”

Laughing, she agreed. “Sure, May Day. This can always be our spot. May and April’s House of Mayhem.”

“The Month Sister’s Manor of Mayhem.”

“Ooo alliteration. I like it.”

“What’s alliteration?”

“Do they teach you nothing in school?”