Chitra wakes me up.

Good morning good morning it's a very very good morning!

I yawn and rub my eyes. "G'mornin'."

My robin friend bounces on the windowsill. Silly nestling, no passion! Good morning! Very very very good morning!

I giggle. "Okay. Good morning. How are your babies?"

Good very good! Fly soon, fly! Come see?

"I'd like that, but I can't today. Mum and Dad are taking me to Professor's!" I hop out of bed and get my big jar of sunflower seeds. "Chitra, do birds have birthdays?"

Birth-day? She cocks her head. Is that when nestlings hatch?

"Hehe, sort of." I spread out some seeds on the windowsill for her. "Humans like to remember what day we were born on and have a party every year to celebrate. Today's my birthday. I'm ten!"

Chitra gulps down a couple of seeds. Ten YEARS?!

"Mmm-hmm!"

Human nestlings grow slow. She ruffles her feathers. You fly soon?

"Um, humans don't really have wings…"

Someone knocks on my door. "Rory," Dad calls, "wake up, birthday girl! I'm home!"

I bid Chitra a quick goodbye and dart over to open the door. Dad lifts me up and twirls me about. I giggle in spite of myself. "Daaaaad, I'm big now!"

"You sure are, but that doesn't mean I can't do this!" He tickles me till I shriek.

"Did you solve it, Dad? Did you solve the mystery?"

"We sure did. We'll tell you all about it at the party, okay?" He kisses me on the forehead. "I've missed you, my girl."

"Missed you too," I say. "Dad? I smell bacon."

Dad laughs his booming laugh and plops me down on my bed. "Your mum," he says, "is cooking up breakfast. Get dressed quick and maybe we'll save you some!"

Nestlings eat FIRST! Chitra protests from the windowsill.

I giggle. Dad reaches into his pocket and gives her some more seeds. "Don't worry, Miss Chitra. This is the Triton house. We never skimp on food!"