On that Monday morning, as it was with every school morning, Annie was up early to claim the shower. After she was done and had dressed herself in the outfit she had selected the night before, she went down for breakfast.
Second Sis was already seated at the dinner table eating her breakfast. She stopped as soon as she saw her younger sister. "Annie, it's my birthday!" she announced, "Presents please!"
Annie stopped at edge of the table. "Wasn't a day out with you your birthday gift?"
"Yeah, but you left early," Second Sis reminded her.
"Fine." Annie grumbled as she went back up to her room. When she returned, she placed a plain brand-new eraser in front of Second Sis. "Happy birthday," she intoned.
"This?" Second Sis picked the eraser up and stared at it.
"Yes, that. You've already gotten part of your present last Saturday. That's the rest of it." Annie sat calmly at her seat despite the fact that her neck was well within Second Sis' reach. She was just too annoyed to care.
Big Sis then entered the room with two lunch boxes. Certainly Second Sis would not commit murder with a witness in the room.
"Marie," Carrie called, "Look at what Annie gave me for my birthday." She held the eraser up. "Surely you've got something better for me."
Big Sis gazed at the eraser for several seconds. "One moment," she said to Carrie. She deposited the lunch boxes at the table and returned to the kitchen.
When Big Sis came back, she placed in front of Carrie a plate with a chocolate cupcake, which was covered with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. The single candle struck into it was not even lit. "Happy birthday," Marie wished merrily.
It certainly was a better gift.
"Did you bake this?" Carrie asked with disbelieving blue eyes fixed on the cupcake.
Marie sat down at her place. "No. It's the last of the batch I bought yesterday."
"Is this all I'm getting for my birthday!?" Carrie asked incredulously.
"Better eat that before Mum finds it," advised Marie as she flipped a magazine open with one hand.
Second Sis rather sullenly pulled out the candle and bit into the cupcake.
"Carrie, do you have any plans for dinner tonight?" Marie asked without taking her eyes off her magazine.
"What if I do?"
"Mum wants to take us somewhere special to celebrate your birthday," Marie explained.
"Really?" Carrie suddenly cheered up. "Okay, I'm free!"
***
No comments:
Post a Comment