The children erupted.
"A party?"
"Really?"
"Can we perform?"
"Can we have games?"
"Can we—"
"YES." Zhǐ Ruò raised her hands. "Yes to all of it. You can perform. You can have games. You can do whatever you want."
Zhen's eyes were shining. "Even a play?"
"Even a play."
"A play about the stars?"
"Whatever you want."
"A play about the stars that Uncle Sparkles fell off a cliff chasing a butterfly?"
Zhǐ Ruò laughed. "A play about Uncle Sparkles falling off a cliff chasing a butterfly."
The children cheered loudly, sending a flock of birds scattering.
~
Preparations began the very next morning and did not stop for three full days.
