The Leap Year Birthday

Four year old Brandon had a very disturbing day at school.

While in class, his teacher mentioned February having only 28 days this year. This bothered Brandon immensely because Beatrice, his little sister now making 2 years, was born on February 29th, 2024.

Until that moment, he had been thrilled about the new month, already imagining how he would decorate the house for her birthday.

"Brandon, welcome home! How was your day?" his mother asked as he walked through the door.

"Thanks, Mum, but my day was not so good," he replied sadly. "The teacher said February only has 28 days this year. That means Beatrice won't have a birthday! I really don't understand it, Mama."

His mother, seeing his distress, understood his dilemma immediately. She sat him down, poured him a glass of watermelon juice, and took one for herself. Sitting together at the dining table, she began to explain.

"You see, son, Beatrice was born in a leap year. A leap year has 366 days instead of 365, with that extra day added to the end of February. A leap year only comes once every four years."

“So Beatrice will not have a birthday this year?” Brandon asked, clearly troubled.

His mother smiled gently as she responded to him. "No dear, your sister is definitely going to have a birthday. We agreed with Daddy that we will be celebrating her on February 28th. Then, when the leap year comes around again, we’ll have an even bigger celebration to remind her how special and unique her birthday really is to fall on February 29th. This is coming again in the year 2028."

Listening to his mother, Brandon realized that his sister's birthday wasn't missing; it was simply rare.

He decided that was even more reason to be happy and began planning exactly how he would celebrate his special sister, Beatrice.

The End.