One day after school, as Shark and Seahorse headed home together, Shark gave Seahorse an invitation to his birthday party next Saturday.

"I'd love to come," she said. "I'll see you there!"

That night when Seahorse got home, she read the invitation.

shark's Birthday party

from 2 pm to 4:30 pm

shark's house

call ######

there will be lots of 

cake and treats 

games like ice-cream in the face and bobbing

for candy and more involving sugary treats!

There was only one problem....

Seahorse couldn't eat very much sugar or she would get sick! Most stuff she ate at school was homemade by her mom and didn't have any sugar. She was allowed to eat some sugar, but too much wasn't okay. How would she make Shark happy if she couldn't eat the treats or play any games?

When Saturday came, Shark looked and looked for Seahorse, but she wasn't anywhere!

He checked under rocks....

?

He looked behind plants....

He even asked Mr. Musicpuff if she had stayed late practicing!

"Here you go, Shark!" said Mrs. Shark as she handed him a small blue  present.

"Here you go, Shark," said Mr. Shark as he handed him a taller, purple gift.

"Happy birthday!" Shark's parents told him as they arrived home from work.

He was interrupted by his parents.

"I need to find Seahorse before I open them," he apologized, swimming away. Seahorse was floating outside her home.

"Why weren't you at my party?" Shark asked her. Seahorse turned around, surprised.

"Oh... I can't eat too much sugar or I get sick and I didn't think you would like it if I was there but didn't participate in the games," Seahorse blurted.

Shark was surprised. Seahorse had it all wrong. But how would he tell her that?

"You should have come to my party anyway!" he protested. "I wouldn't have cared at all!" Seahorse looked sad. "Come on, we can go back and I'll get out a plate of fruit and I'll open presents."

Seahorse handed Shark three presents. "These are from me!" she said. Shark carried them on his nose and swam back to his party- this time with his best friend.