Sarah was so annoyed when her alarm went off announcing the break of dawn, she got even more angry because she knew what was going to happen afterwards, the family would gather in the living room for prayers. She knew she shouldn't be angry but she went to bed very late and couldn't get enough sleep but she was also grateful for the gift of life. As Sarah reluctantly dragged herself downstairs to the living room, she was surprised that no one was there. Normally, they would all be there waiting for her because she's always the last to get there so she was surprised to not meet anyone there.
She decided to check everyone's room, her mom and dad weren't in their rooms as well as her elder brother; Jake. She didn't think much about it because it had happened before when they all had to rush out due to an emergency and left her at home because she wasn't awake yet. They came back later that day telling her aunt Maddie had been involved in an accident and they had to go see her. Also, they didn't bother to wake her up because it wasn't necessary and it would have slowed them down.
Sarah didn't know what happened this time, she called their phones but none seemed to be going through .
"Oh well, more sleep for me", she said and decided to go back to bed. It was the weekend after all. It was mid afternoon when she woke up, the sun was already out and smiling at everyone as it stood high in the clouds. She went into the bathroom to have her bath and began her very own music concert as she showered. It felt good to be clean.
After dressing up, Sarah went back downstairs expecting to meet her food on the dining table because her mom would have cooked by that time but she didn't find any traces that someone had been in the house not to talk of someone cooking. She was surprised, she decided to call them again but it still wasn't going through and at that point, she noticed something wasn't right.
She decided to contact her aunt Maddie. "Hi Aunty", she said in the usual baby-like manner in which she talks to her aunt. I just wanted to know if mom, dad and Jake are with you.
"Hello Sarah", her aunt replied. They are not with me, I haven't seen them for a while now. Have you tried calling them???
"Yes I have aunty but none of their phones seem to be going through", she answered back. I'll try from my end and see if I can get to them, don't worry too much, her aunt said and disconnected the call.
She went into the kitchen and made toast and avocado for herself. It was already late in the afternoon and her brother and parents weren't back yet. She concluded that something was really wrong somewhere, that was when she noticed a piece of paper that was folded into two on the floor in the living room. It looked like it had been properly placed there so it would be seen but she had somehow missed it. She opened it and read out the content... "We have taken your parents and brother, if you ever want to see them again come to the location stated in the note; wear a nice dress". Do not even think of telling anyone about this.
Sarah panicked because she feared that she saw the note late and something might have happened to Jake and her parents, she was also in shock because she realized the location in the note is a beach house they owned on the outskirts of the city, she was also confused on why the note would say she should put on a nice dress. She didn't think twice though because her brother and parents'lives might be on the line. She quickly rushed to her room to change her clothes but then she realized she had no means of getting there. She went outside and noticed her dad's car in the driveway, she quickly entered and drove off.
On the way there, Sarah couldn't help but wonder why they were taken and also why the beach house, all she could come up with was maybe it was because her parents were rich and they wanted the documents to the beach house or something. She couldn't think straight. As she got there, the place seemed to have been separated from the world. It was eerily quiet, she was frightened as she walked towards the house. As she approached, she noticed all the lights were off and she couldn't make out what was what.
As soon as she made her way into the house, she called out trying to figure out if anyone was really there. "Mom!!!, Dad!!!, Jake!!!... She shouted. At this point she was so scared, a deep voice answered her. "Did you come alone???", the voice asked. She answered, her voice shaking.... Yes, I did. Suddenly all the lights turned on and at first she couldn't see anything but gradually she made out the faces. Her mom, dad, brother, Aunt Maddie and most of her friends were there. She looked at them in awe as they all shouted "SURPRISE!!!....HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY".
Sarah couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing, it was at this point she realized that it was her birthday but she had been so worried about them that she forgot about her birthday, she was this close to shitting her pants and here they are pulling up a surprise birthday party for her. Tears rolled down her eyes as her parents came forward to hug her, they apologized and said that they didn't mean to pull that kind of prank on her but that was the only way she wouldn't suspect anything. She hugged them for a long time and refused to let go. Jake came forward to hug her also, she punched him before she allowed him. Sarah was mad at all of them especially Aunt Maddie but she also apologized and she couldn't stay mad at her anymore .
Finally, Sarah decided to join the party after a lot of crying, she was gifted the car of her dreams and everyone partied till midnight before they all went to bed. While she was in her bed, Sarah thought about how her day went and said to herself...." That was a crazy crazy surprise" before she finally went to sleep.
