“Happy birthday, dear Hailey…”

As her parents and cousin finished singing the song, Hailey stared hungrily at the breakfast her mother was setting down on the table in front of her. On the plate was a stack of pancakes, already drenched in syrup, with a dozen lit candles sticking out of it.

If there was a food better than pancakes, Hailey had no idea what it was. In particular, she found pancakes to be tastier than traditional birthday cakes, which was the origin of her family’s odd tradition of loading her birthday breakfast with candles. She briefly wondered if her mother made the pancakes larger every year so they would all fit.

“Blow out the candles and make a wish!” exclaimed Sue.

Hailey did just that, knowing full well that candles didn’t have the ability to grant her desires. All the same, she thought to herself, I wish Erin would be able to overcome her problem.

Sue passed out plates of pancakes to the other three positions at the table, and the family began to eat.