Cantrell Chronicles RESET, Part One

Birthday Wishes, a Cantrell Chronicles Reset update- Chapter Twenty-Six

King Joseph Alistair Cantrell, the Second was having a birthday. All of Ondarion was celebrating in one fashion or another.  The day before was Love Day, and so the king threw a Grand Ball as part of the celebration.  Saturday was his actual day of birth, the sixth day of Spring. He was aware despite all of his own tasks to attend, that his children were setting things up in the Grand Hall. He hoped they didn’t go overboard. At his age balloons would just be silly.

Finally, the hour came.  All changed into their party frocks, and slowly the guests trickled in.  Erik expressed some disappointment, that less than half of those invited had bothered to show up. None had called to decline. Rude, just rude, he thought to himself. Not allowing that to get him down, he called for his father to blow out the candles on his cake. The king came toward the table but then hesitated. Now I know where Aaron gets it. His presentation board still needs more information.

“Your Majesty, if you will allow me. The whole point of the candles is for you to blow them out while making a silent wish. Before they melt all over the frosting.  Then you twirl and presto! You’ll be older.”
“Hm, my own words thrown back at me. I guess I deserve it.”
“Well, you’ll be older whether or not you blow out the candles, that is to say.”

“Be sure to make a wish,” Erik said, as the monarch leaned toward the cake.

After two tries, King Joseph was successful at extinguishing the flames.

“Oh, my back, be sure to remind me to never lean over like that again.”

A round of applause rang out. Suddenly, the Margrave Ermelinda stood up, placing herself in front of the table with the fizzy juice for toasting.  She quickly poured a glass and then turned slightly to the guests behind her.
“To our Pious, beloved Sovereign, we wish you many happy returns, sire!”

Queen Louise followed the first toast up with one of her own, raising her glass high, “Long Live the King!”

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

After church, Erik and Kayleigh got themselves ready for the First Sunday of Summer.  “I’m finding it hard to realize it’s the SemiQuaver again,” she said, as she slipped into the corner bathroom to take a quick shower. 
Erik slid the Hovercraft expertly into the underground parking facility and the two took the turbo-lift up to the front of the PBP Studios Lounge.

The two held hands and Erik beamed them up to the top floor. Standing there, he gazed at the set backdrop. “Something is wrong.”
“Wrong? What’s wrong?” she asked.
“This is the set for the SemiQuaver.”
“Oh, well, does it matter?”
“Only if I managed to miss the Quaver. This is the first day of Spring, right?”

“No, it’s Summer, dear.”
“Is it? How did we get here so fast?”
“Studying, schooling and your constant concerts and photoshoots.”
“Wow, just wow.”

In the next moment, the two found their seats and just in time, too.  The host took the stage and the microphone. “What a night this is. Am I right? Seems as if we just were celebrating the Quaver and here the SemiQuaver is upon us. Where does the time go? At any rate, my name is Aziz Nadir, and I am your Host for this evening.”

“Artist of the Year is the second of the Big Four of the year. To determine who is nominated, the following criteria is examined; how successful on radio the music is, sales, success of music videos; vocal performances and along those lines, live concert ticket sales and the artist’s overall contribution to the music industry.  What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on that wall, am I right?”

Erik leaned over into Kayleigh whispering, “That’s all very well and good, but flies have no ears.” She reacted by placing a hand over her mouth.

“The five-finalist nominated are: Jeremy Haddock; Lucy Arnott; Gretchen Gingernut; Felix Unger; and last but not least Erik Cantrell.  And the winner is , . .” here Aziz picked up the thick cardstock envelop and with a little finagling, he managed to pull the card out.  He gazed at it, smiled and said. “Erik Cantrell 2277's Artist of the Year! Congratulations, Erik.”

“Does anybody else have a vague sense of Deja Vu? I mean, it feels as if I’ve been here before.”

“Actually, it’s all good. I’m a bit calmer this time around. I want to thank all who voted for me. This is a huge honor."

“I would like to thank my fans who are relentless in purchasing my music and who fill the concert halls wherever I perform.”

“And if I a may, I’d like to take this moment to say to my older brother, who told me I could never make a living off of writing songs. Really? I mean, really? Ah, I didn’t think I was going to do this. . .”

"Goodnight, everybody and thank you!”

All for now, thanks for reading!