Book One: Childling

  I LOVE Birthdays!!!
  Everything is so big and bright, like pink flowers on the side of a tree. Bucky showed me those flowers when we went to the park today, and he said they were just like me. He is silly, but maybe not so silly. Bucky is my big brother, and he knows things.
  Momma and Daddy had a big party for me. Jeff and Mary and Bucky and his friend Jasmine were all there, and they sang me "Happy Birthday." We played games until it was dark. Momma put me to bed, but I still felt all bouncy. I COULDN'T SLEEP!!!
  Bucky came in with Jasmine, and they were very quiet. They said it was time for a secret party. We drove out to the woods. Bucky's friends had made a big fire, and they were dancing and acting funny. Bucky made balls of light, like sparklers, and he drew pictures in the air. Jasmine grew wings, and Tom got horns, and when I looked at my feet, MY TOES WERE GONE and I had HOOFS like a HORSE!
  That made me scared and happy, like you feel when you're on a swing that's going too hight. I started crying, but Bucky hugged me and told me not to be afraid. "Remember the flowers," he said. "They're like you. Not dull like tree bark, but bright and special." I stopped crying, and they sang me a song and called me "Nimue." It's a silly name, but I like it. Before we went home, Bucky said to keep our party a secret. I will. I love birthdays. I love songs. And I LOVE secrets!!!