Happy New Year

Flash Fiction

Happy New Year

“Happy New Year Kenny!” Gramma said, walking into the house, with a cake for dessert. Her daughter was in the kitchen. Kenny watching cartoons on the TV in the living room.

“Really? Today?” Kenny said, jumping up from the TV.

“Yes. Today!”

“I thought my birthday was in June… is it June?”

No, it’s December. And it isn’t your birthday.”

“It isn’t my new year?”

“Yes, it is your new year, it’s everybody’s new year!”

“But I don’t get to be older?” Kenny asked.

“No. You are getting older every day, you’ll get your birthday in the summer a year after you’re last birthday. Today is everybody’s New Year.”

“But you don’t get a new year on new-year’s day?”

“Everybody gets the new year today.”

“But we don’t get to be older?” Kenny said, confused.

“Well…” Gramma was now getting nervous, “you do get older, but only a day older. We all get to change the year from 2025 to 2026…”

“So, it’s the year’s birthday?”

“Kind of…”

“And how old is the year now?”

“Well, that’s a good question but I don’t think I know… It’s certainly not two thousand and twenty-six… I think it’s much older than that…”

“That sounds pretty old…” Kenny said.

“It does.”

“Will we get to two thousand something too someday?”

“I don’t really know, Honey, why don’t you go ask your father…”

“OK!” off he went.

Gram walked into the kitchen. “Hello, here’s the cake!” she said.

“Oh, thank you! Did you see Kenny when you came in?”

“Yes, he just went to ask his father something.”

“Oh good, that will keep them busy till dinner’s ready!

“If he asks the same question that he asked me… it may take years…” Gram laughed.