Liliana and Her Holiday Adventures - Liliana’s Birthday Surprise
By: Lisa Fallon
Morning sunlight spilled through the window. Liliana stretched beneath her quilt and smiled. “Today feels special,” she said softly. Zeus blinked his golden eyes. Leia purred from her spot. Bonnie was laying on top of her pillow. And Piper rolled onto her back with a happy mrrrp! Liliana laughed.“Good morning, my loves.”
Downstairs, the kitchen smelled of cinnamon toast. Liliana poured cocoa into her favorite mug. The cats followed, tails high. Today was a special day! It was Liliana's birthday. She wondered what surprises the cats had for her. Before she could ask them, they all ran out of the kitchen to the back door with a whoosh!
Before she could even finish her cup of cocoa, Piper darted toward the door. She meowed, then looked back as if to say, come see! Liliana followed her out the door laughing. The other cats trotted behind, whiskers twitching.
Outside, the morning was bright and clear. The grass glittered with dew, and the breeze carried the scent of lilacs. At the end of the path came a small white shape—fluffy, round, and wagging its tail. Liliana gasped. “Snowflake!”
Snowflake barked happily and bounded toward her, her fur shining like sunlight on snow. “You remember me!” Liliana laughed, kneeling down. She licked her cheeks while the others gathered around, sniffing and purring in recognition. "What a nice surprise!" Liliana said to them all.
Attached to Snowflake’s collar was a little card that fell off to the ground. It read -“For Liliana—thank you for rescuing me. I wanted to come visit on your special day.” Liliana smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. “Oh, Snowflake, this is the best birthday surprise ever.”
The cats and Snowflake played in the garden. Snowflake batted a ribbon through the air. Leia chased Snowflake in silly circles. Piper jumped through the flowers. Bonnie leapt into the air chasing a butterfly, and Zeus sat beneath the apple tree, purring as he watched over them all. They played all afternoon.
They were all tired and decided to walk back home. Liliana brought out her birthday cupcake, topped with a single candle. She made a wish, eyes closed. Snowflake barked once—and the candle flickered out in a puff of laughter.
After she ate her cupcake and they all had their own treats, they went out to the back yard and sat together under the shade of the large pine tree. Liliana told them that she hoped her wish would come true and read them all stories, as the afternoon drifted by. Liliana brushed Snowflake’s soft fur and whispered, “I’ll never forget the winter day we met.” Snowflake wagged her tail as if she remembered too.
As the sun dipped low and fireflies began to glow, Liliana hugged her four cats close. Snowflake curled beside them, tail wagging gently. “Four cats and one brave puppy,” she whispered. “My team. My family. My everything.”
About the Author: Lisa Fallon is a grandmother to her first grandchild Liliana. Liliana and her four cats are her inspiration for writing these great cat adventure storybooks. She wants her granddaughter to read and enjoy these stories as she grows up and has cat adventures of her own! Lisa has written several other short stories, and this is her first series of children’s books. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and son, while Liliana and her parents live in North Carolina. Liliana's Mom is a graphic designer and collaborated on Liliana's original characters for the illustrations in the story. Look for the next book in this Holiday Adventure series - "The New Year’s Wish”
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