[CHERUBS AUDIO THEME MUSIC]
This summer, seven cherubs celebrated birthdays during their time in Evanston.
[CHERUBS SINGING “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”]
The thought of spending a birthday away from home left some cherubs feeling uncertain, but everyone stepped up to make sure that the celebrants felt special on their big days.
SCARLETT ASHFORD: My friends threw me a surprise party. They went to Whole Foods and they got me a cake, and they even had my name on it which was really cool. I was so shocked.
That’s Scarlett Ashford. Scarlett said she was glad to spend her birthday at cherubs, because it meant she got to be with her friends, something she wasn’t used to having grown up with a summer birthday.
Carter Heit, on the other hand, usually spends his birthday with friends at sleepaway camp. Because Carter’s birthday was on the fifth day of the program, he wasn’t really sure of how it was going to go, given that he’d only just met his friends. But, he was pleasantly surprised.
CARTER HEIT: We all had a Domino’s pizza party on my birthday, which was really fun. A few of them also signed a card for me, totally randomly, and slipped it under my door, which was super nice and super unexpected. That really made me happy. I mean it almost brought me to tears. I’ve literally only known these people for, I think at that point it was like five days, so it was super meaningful and super nice.
Becca Dodek also got surprised by her friends.
BECCA DODEK: I have to say, my favorite part of the day was probably when I opened my door and I saw, on the ground in front of my door, it was flooded with balloons, and then a basket. I thought it was so sweet, and it was very nice to wake up to.
After days full of festivities and fun with friends, the CAAs had one more surprise in store for birthday cherubs: homemade cake and singing in the Great Room.
CARTER HEIT: They called everyone into the Great Room. No one really knew what it was for. And then they called me and one other up to the stage. And then they were like “Oh, it’s your birthday,” and then we all started celebrating. Everyone started singing.
[CHERUBS SINGING “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”]
SCARLETT ASHFORD: I was a little overwhelmed, I have to admit. I’m such an introvert, and I’m really shy, so I was like “Oh my god!” But it was kind of cool. I’ve never really gotten that much attention for my birthday before.
BECCA DODEK: It was a really fun day, it was really special. I got to spend time with the people that, even though I only just met them a few weeks ago, I feel like we’re so close, and have created such a special bond, and I feel like that really strengthened on my birthday, and it was really special getting to celebrate with them.
[CHERUBS AUDIO THEME MUSIC]
Reporting for Cherubs Audio, I’m Ellie Adams.
Music provided by @prettyjohn1 on Pixabay
