There was another awkward silence as we ate; it seemed like everyone was mad at someone for some reason. Fortunately, once everyone had food in their bellies they took on a happier air; anger seemed to have been cast far away. (Well, except for Raymond and Horace, who were still glaring daggers at each other silently.)

Once the plates were all empty, Miss Cardinal and her peculiars put the dishes in the kitchen and brought out the cake once more.

"Happy eighty-eighth twelfth birthday, Sebasten!" Janie squeaked.

"That's better." Sebasten laughed.

"Yay!" The little blonde girl jumped up and down excitedly.

When the cake was placed on the table, Miss Cardinal, carefully and with surgical precision, cut the cake into small but even peices. The cake appeared light brown.

"Is it chocolate?" I asked.

"No." Janie giggled. "Spice cake!"

"Can't say I've ever had that."

"Well you're in for a treat!" Millard patted me on the back.

Miss Cardinal slid the pieces onto small China plates and gave one to each child, then one to herself; after that there was no cake left.

I looked at the cake in front of me. Charlie had already taken a bite. "Mm! This is good!" She said.

"Well go ahead, what are you waiting for?" Riley asked me before taking another bite.

I picked up my fork and planted a piece of cake on my tongue. I shrugged at the taste. "It's alright."

Charlie swallowed and took a long hard look at the boy with the bees. "You look familiar."

"Do you watch YouTube?" He replied.

"What's a YouTube?" Janie asked, but in the end she was ignored.

"Yeah, it's my life." Charlie replied.

"I sing; originals, covers, parodies, you name it. Got almost 30,000 subscribers."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So your videos aren't done by special effects?"

"Some of it." Hugh finished off his cake.

Charlie blushed and looked down at her empty plate.

I smirked. "You like him, don't you?"

"What? No!" Charlie looked up and tried to cover up the fact that she was redder than a baboon butt.

"It's alright." Hugh grinned. "You'd be surprised how often I get that."

"What are you people even talking about?" Sebasten interjected.

"Oh..." Hugh blushed.

"Don't worry about it, dear." Miss Cardinal said.

"Are they talking future talk?" Janie asked.

The ymbryne gritted her teeth and I realized how dumb and cruel it was to talk about the future in front of children who weren't able to experience it.

"Would anyone like to go perform at the New Years Eve talent show in town?" Riley asked.

Immediately, the children started buzzing excitedly; it was evident they wanted do do whatever Riley had just suggested. Charlie and I exchanged looks; we thought we knew what had been suggested, but given the events that had taken place since we arrived in Cunningham Valley, we couldn't be sure.

"It starts at noon; be ready then." Riley continued. She turned to Miss Hummingbird. "I'm assuming you'll allow us this afternoon of from lessons?"

"Of course!" Miss Cardinal responded with enthusiasm.

"Should we do our music routine?" Sebasten asked. "Or our 'side-show' acts?"

"I wanna do the side-show acts!" Janie exclaimed.

"I'd prefer the music routine." Raymond countered.

"What are you talking about?" Charlie asked.

Raymond answered her, "you know how it's New Years Eve, don't you?"

Charlie and I nodded.

"Well," Raymond continued, "a tradition in this town- still going in the present, I believe- is to have a talent show; whoever wants to be in it can do whatever they'd like as long as they sign up before all one-hundred-thirty slots are full."

"Can't y'all just do one act today and then the other tomorrow?" I ask.

"Oh that's what we usually do." Riley answers. "We're just trying to decide which one we do first."

"Sebasten's the birthday boy," Olive said. "So I think he should decide."

Sebasten chewed his lip, deep in thought. "Side show."

"Yay!" Janie jumped and stood on her chair.

George made a face like he hated what the others were suggesting. But he didn't object in any way.

Raymond sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"I'm assuming the rest of you would like to participate as well?" Miss Cardinal raised an eyebrow at the rest of us.

Most of Miss Peregrine's peculiars wanted to participate, as did Charlie. But I wasn't really sure; I'm not exactly talented, unless you count brawling or chainsmoking a talent.

Miss Cardinal stood up. "Excellent! I will go sign you all up." And then she left.

____________________________

Hope y'all are enjoying!

Love ya!

CC