Birthdays and surprises go together like beans and tortillas. Angélio Moya's thirteenth birthday began in a very unsurprising way. But it didn't end like that--proving two things: it's not how you start but how you finish, and old trees keep the most magical secrets.

Angélio ran to the window as his father walked out of the house. As usual, Diego Moya had a briefcase in one hand, a travel mug in the other, and a cell phone pressed against his ear.

The boy waved to his papá before Mr. Moya got into his car, but Diego didn't wave back. He was too busy checking his watch to notice his son. Soon, the black Mazda disappeared down the street. Angélio sighed deeply and turned away from the window.

Something curious happened then. A Swallowtail Cattleheart butterfly appeared on his window. The beautiful insect flapped its black wings, and a thousand specks glowed all over it. Two seconds later, the creature had faded from sight. Angélio missed the whole thing.

It's pretty late, the newly-minted thirteen-year-old thought, walking towards his desk. Papi needs to get to work early. That makes his boss happy.

Angélio pulled out the squeaky rolling chair and sat down. He pushed the button on his lamp and remembered he'd forgotten to greet his mom. Reaching over, he picked up a picture of his late mother, Ángela, from his bedside table and kissed it.

"Buenos días, Mamá," he said, admiring her smiling face.

The beautiful Afro-Latina's candle had gone out far too soon. And although many years had passed since she'd left them, Angélio still wished he could hug her like he used to.

Especially today.

Angélio opened his blue notebook and flipped through pages that had notes about extra credit assignments, books he wanted to read, and sketches showing cool contraptions he hoped to build someday. Finally, he landed on the page called The Hanging out with Papá Plan. It listed the following things:

Get on the honour roll (done)

Get a piano solo for the recital (done)

Get on the school fútbol team (in progress)

Angélio sank back in his chair and sighed. None of those things have worked so far, he thought. Papá didn't come to the award ceremony last year because he had to work late. And his business trip made him miss my recital. I guess making the fútbol team is my best bet for spending time with him... if I can pull that off.

After jotting down a few notes about researching fútbol, Angélio had a shower, got dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. He was about to get cereal and a banana when Conchita, one of the ladies who helped with the housekeeping and cooking, walked into the kitchen.

"Buenos días, Angelito," Conchita beamed.

"Good morning, Conchita," Angélio smiled back.

"And feliz cumpleaños (happy birthday)," she whispered before looking around. "Your papi left us a big list of things to pick up from the supermercado (supermarket)," the kindly woman said with a knowing look on her face. "It's probably going to take us all afternoon to get everything prepared. So, if I were a certain hombrecito (little man), I would spend most of the day in my bedroom to avoid seeing something before it was ready," she winked.

"Okay." Angélio's smile went from ear to ear. ¡Genial! (Awesome!) I knew he'd remember, he thought, trying to contain the electric excitement making his body tingle.

"And don't worry, I'll bring your almuerzo (lunch) up, okay?" Conchita kissed his forehead.

"Muchas gracias," he replied and happily ate the rest of his breakfast.

Maybe my golden birthday will be lucky after all, he thought, remembering the dozens of articles he had read on the subject earlier in the week.

For the rest of the day, Angélio tried to take his mind off the downstairs commotion. But not even playing Mario Kart and Pokémon was distracting enough. He constantly kept checking his watch, only to find that time was crawling by. He stayed put, though--not wanting to ruin the surprise.

Just before 4:30 pm, Diego returned home. When Angélio heard the car, he ran to the window smiling the whole way. His dad came home early! That was a first. And better still, Mr. Moya was carrying something in a large black plastic bag. Angélio had seen bags like those a thousand times in the mercado (market); sellers liked to use them for piñatas.

Angélio waved at his dad again, but once more, Diego didn't see him. But that didn't matter because he'd bought a piñata for the surprise party! Angélio jumped up and down before running to his closet. The party was minutes away, and he needed to look his best. He got his favourite navy blue button-down shirt to wear over his solar system graphic tee with his blue cargo shorts.

Familiar footsteps sounded in the hallway. Angélio raced to his door, threw it open, and hugged his dad.

"¿Dónde está el fuego? (Where's the fire?)" Mr. Moya said in his deep voice.

"I'm just happy you're here," Angélio said.

His dad chuckled. "Where else would I be?"

"At work--can I see the piñata before the party starts?" he reached for the big black bag.

When he lifted it, Angélio's heart sank like a falling anchor. It wasn't a piñata. Not even close.

"It's just my new suit," his dad replied. "Some important guests are coming over tonight--but I wouldn't call it a party. It's more of a business meeting with lots of food. And the CEO from the company we're trying to merge with will be here." Mr. Moya crouched down and laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "It's really important that Papi makes a good impression on her, okay? If I do, I'll--"

"Get a promotion and that will help you make a better life for us," Angélio stared at the floor as he finished his dad's sentence.

Diego kissed his son on the forehead right where Angélio's tightly coiled black curls hung down. "I want to make sure I can afford to send you to the best college. You're too smart for anything less." He hugged his son and walked away.

"Aren't you forgetting something, Papi?" Angélio asked, hoping that would help his dad remember what day it was.

"Oh, you're right!" Diego whipped around. "I need to order something for you to eat--there's only boring 'business appropriate' food downstairs. Are you feeling like tamales today?"

Angélio shook his head.

"How about empanadas from Doña Maria? Those are your favourite, right?" his dad asked.

Not today, Angelio thought fighting back tears, but he nodded.

"Perfecto. I'll have Conchita put an order in; she'll bring it up for you when it gets here." Diego looked at his watch and his eyes went wide. "Sorry, mijo (my son) I have to run and get ready--they'll be here soon. I'll come up and tuck you in later, okay?"

Angélio nodded. Diego vanished down the hallway, leaving his son with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Angélio hurried into his room, closed the door, jumped on the bed, and buried his face in the blue quilt.

This shouldn't be happening today, he thought, sobbing. It's my birthday and Papi just forgot... today should have been lucky... or... or happy. I just wanted him to remember... just once... I wanted him to remember me.

After crying for a while, he sat up and wiped his tears away with the back of his hand. Angélio was about to lie down when he saw the black and white fútbol by his bookshelf.

I have to start practising. Now. Angélio grabbed the ball and made his way downstairs, quietly slipping out through the back door. Before walking towards the yard, he turned around to look through the living room window.

His dad's business meeting was in full swing. Different men and women stood in various parts of the room talking. Hardly anyone was eating the food on the coffee table or the island in the kitchen.

Angélio stood there watching for five whole minutes. No one saw him. Not even his dad. Tears stung his eyes as he turned away.

Holding back sobs, he set the ball down on the grass, backed up, charged it, and kicked. The spinning black and white sphere flew through the air, missing the goalposts by half a fútbol field before going over the wall, and into the forest.

That was one unfortunate event too many. The pipes in his eyes burst. He sat down and cried into his hands.

I'll never make the team now... And if I don't make the team, Papi will never hang out with me.

Something landed on Angélio's head. He tried to feel around to see what it was, and the thing tickled his finger. When he brought his hand in front of his face, Angélio couldn't help smiling. It was the most beautiful Swallowtail Cattleheart butterfly he'd ever seen. He carefully examined its black wings to figure out the insect's gender.

"A green spot--you're a male," he beamed.

The butterfly flew up to Angélio's nose and fluttered its wings, which tickled like a brushing feather. It was the most fun he'd had all day, so he let himself laugh. When he opened his eyes, Angélio found himself blinking in disbelief.

Is the butterfly glowing? He wondered, not sure if he was dreaming.

But he was wide awake. And it was glowing.

Angélio couldn't take his eyes off the creature. And without thinking, he stood up and started following it. A mist of glowing green grains of sand trailed behind the butterfly as it flew over the wall. Angélio opened the back gate, and the Swallowtail led him deep into the heart of the forest.

At long last, they came to a towering Guanacaste tree in a sprawling meadow. Its branches stretched out a great distance, creating a large shaded area beneath its leafy dome. From the lush mountains beyond the forest, the sinking sun shone the day's final ray upon the tree like a golden spotlight.

The butterfly landed on the trunk and flapped its wings three measured times. Suddenly, the rough brown bark melted away. Smooth, silvery glass appeared, replacing all the wood on the tree as the leaves rustled and glowed gold. The Swallowtail melted into the reflective surface.

Angélio stretched out his hand towards the mirror trunk. It rippled like water at his touch. A voice from somewhere unseen whispered, "Dive in." The words echoed in his ears. Chills ran across his arms. His unblinking reflection looked back at him. Angélio took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and dived in.

A gust of cold air hit his body, sending shivers down his spine. He was moving fast. Too fast. It was hard to breathe. Everything was spinning. Then it stopped. He hit the ground. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs.

Soft grass brushed against his face. The salty scent of the sea flowed into his nose as the sound of waves washing against the shore filled his ears.

Angélio opened his eyes to a forest that was as strange as it was beautiful. He didn't recognize any of the trees except the one behind him; a Guanacaste tree with a mirror trunk. Then his wonder faded. Where was his reflection? Terrified, Angélio frantically waved his hands in front of his face but couldn't see anything.

He was invisible.

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