Chapter 39: The Birthday Party
As Ludo walked into his home after school, he was greeted by a loud chorus of “Surprise!” The living room was filled with classmates, neighborhood kids, and his master and mistresses. His Mom stood behind the crowd, smiling warmly. Ludo’s heart raced as he realized what was happening.
His Mom had been working closely with Don, Johanna, and Mauranne to decorated the house with balloons, streamers, and a large “Happy Birthday” banner. She had also prepared snacks, drinks, and a beautiful cake.
“Happy Birthday, Ludo!” she said, giving him a hug. Ludo felt a wave of relief mixed with anxiety as he sensed her acceptance of his situation.
However, that relief was short-lived as the games began.
The first game was a dress-up relay. Ludo was the star, and the children took turns dressing him in various silly, girly outfits from a huge pile of costumes. Each outfit was more ridiculous than the last: oversized bows, tutus, frilly dresses, and colorful wigs. The children laughed and clapped as Ludo obediently let them transform him. Comments like “Look at the pretty princess!” and “What a cute dolly!” rang out, adding to his embarrassment.
His Mom watched, occasionally whispering encouragement to him. “You’re doing great, sweetie,” she said, chuckling as he twirled in a sparkly tutu.
Next, Don and Johanna announced a dance-off. Ludo was made to perform silly, exaggerated dance moves while wearing a particularly embarrassing outfit chosen by Mauranne: a bright pink ballerina costume with matching slippers. The children howled with laughter as Ludo twirled and leaped awkwardly around the room.
“Isn’t he the most graceful ballerina?” one of the kids jeered, while another shouted, “Twirl faster!”
The final game was an obstacle course set up in the backyard. Ludo had to navigate through it while wearing a blindfold and following the shouted instructions of the other children. The obstacles were designed to be humiliating: crawling under low ropes that snagged on his tutu, balancing on wobbly platforms, and collecting “princess” accessories along the way. Each mistake he made was met with jeers and laughter.
“Come on, Ludo, you can do it!” his Mom called out, amused. “Don’t forget your tiara!”
Before the cake, Don announced that it was time for the traditional birthday spanking. Ludo’s eyes widened in horror, but he knew better than to resist. He was bent over Don’s knee as the children gathered around, chanting the number of spanks.
“One! Two! Three!” they counted, each spank delivered with a firm hand. By the time they reached his age, Ludo’s bottom was sore, and his face was flushed with embarrassment.
“Thank you, Mister Don,” Ludo said quietly, curtseying once he was let up. “I deserved that.”
Mauranne handed Ludo a microphone and a script. “Time for a speech, birthday boy!” she announced. The script was filled with childish, embarrassing statements Ludo had to read aloud. He hesitated, but a stern look from Don pushed him forward.
“I want to thank all my wonderful superiors for making my birthday so special,” Ludo read, his voice trembling. “I love being their pretty baby girl, especially when I get to wear such beautiful dresses!” The crowd erupted in laughter, and Ludo’s face turned beet red.
“Good job, Ludo!” his Mom said, barely holding back her laughter. “You’re such a brave boy.”
He was presented with gifts from everyone. Mauranne handed him a neatly wrapped box. As he opened it, he found a set of pink, frilly underwear. The crowd burst into laughter, and Ludo’s face turned red. “Wow, thank you, Miss Mauranne,” he said, curtseying. “These are so beautiful. I can't wait to wear them.”
Johanna’s gift was next—a glittery makeup kit. “Thank you, Miss Johanna,” Ludo said, curtseying again. “This will help me look even prettier.”
Don’s gift was a fluffy unicorn backpack. “Thank you, Mister Don,” Ludo said, smiling. “I love it. It’s perfect for me.”
Finally, his Mom handed him a gift. He opened it to find a delicate, lace-trimmed nightgown. “Mummy, thank you,” Ludo said, his voice choking up. “This means so much to me. Thank you for accepting me.”
His Mom hugged him tightly. “I love you, Ludo. I just want you to be happy.”
It was finally time for the cake. The main cake, which everyone else got to enjoy, was a beautiful, multi-tiered creation with elegant decorations. However, Ludo’s cake was different. It was a single cupcake, sloppily frosted with bright pink icing and a childish drawing of a princess on top.
As everyone sang “Happy Birthday,” Ludo was made to sit in a small chair at the front of the room. Mauranne handed him the cupcake with a smirk. “Here you go, princess. Eat up!” she said.
Ludo took a bite and found the cupcake was overly sweet and filled with an unpleasantly sour jam. He grimaced but forced himself to smile and thank her. “Thank you, Miss Mauranne.”
Eventually, Ludo went to each guest individually, bowing his head slightly in respect. “Thank you for coming to my party,” he said to each one, his voice sincere. “I hope you had a good time.” The children giggled and patted him on the back, some ruffling his hair.
When he reached Don, Johanna, and Mauranne, he curtseyed and said, “Thank you, Mister Don, Miss Johanna, and Miss Mauranne, for organizing this wonderful party for me. I look forward to spending many more years under your rule and guidance.”