Saoirse

She’s twelve this year — not just a kid anymore. She’s still small for her age, but she’s growing up, and she doesn’t need a big, loud party like she used to. Well, not that she never needed one, but it’d been something that Greta had indulged all the same.

This year, it’s much quieter, not least of all because most of her friends from outside of Darrow are gone. The only kids close to her age are now Darrow residents she’d met at school, and they’re still good friends, but they aren’t close friends. So when Saoirse sends out party invitations, it’s only to her closest friends. She makes sure to give invitations to Regan, Greta, or Anne, too, even though they’re already going to be there.

She helps with the simple decorations. This year, it isn’t PUMA Squad! or another kids’ show, just colored streamers and matching balloons, and a tablecloth that says ‘BIRTHDAY GIRL’ on it. The baffles are still in place in case she gets involved in any singing — those get checked weekly, anyway, because she sings all the time, and the soilse are nosy little things — and helps set up the area where the presents and cake are going to be.

The biggest decoration in front of the cottage is also the newest addition to the family, which is Milky White. They’ve found non-toxic temporary dye, and Saoirse’s finger-painted ‘PARTY IN THE BACK’ into her astonishingly white fur. She’s staked to the lawn so she doesn’t wander off — and Regan’s recently acquired cowbell will ensure that they would know if she did, all the same — and so she doesn’t get into the presents or refreshments.

In the backyard, Regan’s set up a speaker with lights set up to go in time with the music. It keeps things interesting and colorful, just like Saoirse likes, without being too over the top. Snacks and food go along with a bowl of punch near the cake, and although it’s meant to be small and easy, it’s also not too bland or boring.

[ Saoirse's birthday! If you know her, you're invited! This is a pre-play post set for Sunday, October 30th, which is her actual birthday and that never happens lmao This is a gathering so tag in, tag each other, have fun! ]

Greta leaves out offerings for Sweeney all the time, and Saoirse has never actually seen him accept them. She's started to wonder if maybe he takes them at all, or if perhaps any of the wild animals end up eating them overnight.

So she resolves to find out. She sets an alarm on her phone for well after Greta and Thomas are meant to be asleep. When it goes off beneath her pillow, she almost forgets why it's set, and fusses a little.

Then she gasps and rolls out of bed. She'd nearly forgotten about the offering!

She pads down to the kitchen and peeks at the window. It's still there, good.

Carefully, Saoirse drags a kitchen table chair to the counter closest to the window, and she climbs up onto it. She sits on the counter beside the window, sort of hiding from view. If Sweeney really is taking it, she wants to see it in action. She wants to know if he does it by magic, or if he just walks up and eats it. She wants to know how it works: does he leave magic behind that gives them luck, or does that come later?

She wants to know so much!

So she sits and waits.