Ruby Redfort- Watch Where You Step

Count on it

Ruby rubbed her eyes and fumbled around for her glasses. She had been awake for a little while, but she'd had her eyes closed and the morning light came as a bit of a shock. Uncoordinated, she sort of half rolled, half fell out of bed and landed on Bug, causing the husky to yelp in surprise and leap up. After about five minutes of lying on the ground she struggled to her feet and pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt. Ruby yawned and trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen. As soon as she appeared her mother rushed towards her and enveloped her in a big hug.

    "Happy birthday Ruby! Oh, just to think my little girl is all grown up!"

Oh brother, Ruby thought. Here we go.

     "Mom, I'm literally a year older. There's no need to make such a fuss."

      "Don't give your mother such a hard time," Brant Redfort smiled, ruffling his daughters hair. "It's not everyday our daughter turns fourteen. You're getting up there!"

     "Gee, thanks for making me feel old dad."

Ruby eventually managed to break away from her parents and walk over to Mrs Digby and Hitch, who were standing by the counter. Mrs Digby tutted impatiently.

"I never understood the importance of birthdays. You're one year older, what a surprise! When you get to my age one year just blends into the next."

Ruby grinned up at her. That was Mrs Digby for you. "So I guess that means no cake?"

Mrs Digby smiled and pinched Ruby's cheek, a gesture Ruby didn't really appreciate. "Of course there's going to be cake child, just like there is every year!"

Ruby was bracing herself for a speech on just how much cake Mrs Digby had baked throughout her long and miserable life, but luckily they were interrupted by Sabina calling everyone over.

     "Brant! Ruby! Come on, come on, I've got the most darling day planned for us! First of all we're going for breakfast at Colazione- yes Ruby, you can get the French toast- and then we're going to visit the dry cleaners to pick up our clothes for tonight and then - yes sweetie, I promise not to complain about the mayple syrup- where was I?"

All this came from Sabina's mouth in the span of a few seconds. She was evidently very excited for Ruby's birthday, so excited she didn't notice her daughters current outfit, which included a shirt reading I really couldn't care less, nor her daughters expression when she mentioned the 'outfits for tonight.'

     "And I realise that it is your birthday honey, so I've left the afternoon free so you can meet up with all your friends! But then in the evening I've organised this stunning birthday party, everyone who's anyone is coming, and I've picked out this gorgeous number for you Ruby, you'll look stunning..."

She carried on like this for a little while before looking down at her watch and exclaiming. "Oh deary me! At this rate we're going to be late for our reservation! And it's so hard to get a spot at Colazione, they are so in demand right now!"

Brant hurried his wife out the door along with Ruby, and waved goodbye to the two left in the house. Hitch and Mrs Digby turned to each other and shared a look. It was a look that very clearly said, that poor kid, she's in for one heck of a birthday.

Ruby, to her own surprise, had actually quite enjoyed her breakfast. True to her word, her mother had not complained about the amount of mayple syrup Ruby drenched her French toast in. It was good French toast, too. But she did not in any way enjoy the dry cleaners. The aforementioned 'gorgeous number' her mother had picked out for her was bright red, flowy, and not something Ruby would be caught dead in.