Five candles. One decision.
Wishbone
He only gets serious when frosting is involved.
Before The Wish
The room follows the same order every year.
Parcel arrives
A red ribbon lands beside the cake. Nobody admits sending it.
Hat goes on
Wishbone accepts the cone, then audits every stripe.
Candles report
Five flames stand straight enough to earn his attention.
Coffee cools
The mug waits untouched while the frosting remains unsecured.
House name
$WISH is what the kitchen calls him after midnight.
Kitchen Rule
Wishbone does not rush a birthday. He checks the ribbon, counts the candles, and waits until the room has stopped pretending not to watch. The cake may be chocolate. The coffee may be cold. The hat may lean. None of that matters. A wish is only valid after five quiet seconds and one very suspicious stare.
Make it count before the coffee does.