Birthday Surprise                by: Julie

 

Out my bedroom window I looked across the fresh green lawn, the hewn, wooden fence, and over the blue-green pasture. Stormy, the chestnut stallion was kicking up his heels while Lady, the pretty palomino with the light mane and the gorgeous plumy tail watched with Thud, her cute month old colt, by her side. Such a name for a darling little horse. Nancy, the owner’s daughter had given it to him right after he was born. He had such a difficult time standing on those thin, spindly legs. Thud, he would hit the floor of the stall, …. and thud against the walls, again and again, and nudged upright again by Lady.

This wasn’t such a bad place we had moved, my mother and little brother and me. No, it was pleasant enough, I thought gazing out the window. But I was sad.

I looked about my new bedroom. It was quite pretty. There were pink flower print wallpaper, pretty, lacy curtains, and a nice bed with pink bedspread, lacy pillow shams and dust ruffle, with my dolls lined up against the pillows. It was very pleasant, I sighed.

"Emily !" I heard my mother call.

I went down for lunch. The curved stairway yielded at the bottom to attractive hardwood floors with a large round pretty throw rug in the middle. The maple table was set with a bouquet of flowers in the middle. This was a pleasant enough place, I thought again.

I ate, and looked out past the wide front porch at the large maple tree, and landscaped lawn. Yes, this was a very pleasant place; but then I had left all my girlfriends behind.

We were over two miles from the small town, and there were only a few neighbors. My little brother could play with two boys that lived two houses away, but there were no girls my age. The neighbor girl, Nancy, was 16; and I was going to turn 10 in a couple of days. I was going to have a miserable birthday; and this was going to be a long, lonely summer.

I watched, as Andy, my 8 year old brother left the table to head over to play with his new friends. I helped mom clear the table; and then I wandered up to my room to sit with my dolls, ….. my only playmates.

Mom came in. She took one look at me and hugged me.

"It will be ok." She said. "Once school starts, you will find lots of friends again."

Once school starts……. This was June ! I looked up at her with a long face.

"I’m going to have a miserable birthday, ….. and a miserable summer." I complained.

Mom looked sad for me. She hugged me close.

"If only I had just one girl friend." I muttered.

I moped around the next day too. What a terrible birthday tomorrow was going to be.

That evening , as I slid into bed, mom smoothed my pink nightie before she tucked me in, … smiling the whole time.

"Goodnight honey. Sleep tight, … tomorrow there will be a nice surprise for you for your birthday."

I managed to smile back, but pretty presents weren’t going to make me feel much better.

* * * *

Mom came in the next morning to wake me.

"Happy Birthday Emily. We have a surprise for you."

I sat up in bed, …. and couldn’t believe my eyes. There, coming into my room was a pretty little girl in a darling, pink party dress ! Her hair was all curls with two pink ribbon bows ! Where did she come from ? Who was she ?

She held a large present, wrapped in the prettiest pink paper with dolls and little girls in pretty dresses on it, much like she was wearing. It had a very large pink ribbon bow; and she blushed so girlishly as she held it out.

I stared, incredulously.

"Happy Birthday", my mother said again.

"Yes, Happy Birthday, sis." The pretty girl in pink added.

Oh my God ! …. My jaw dropped. It was Andy, …. my brother ! He looked so PRETTY !

"This is Sandi, your new sister for today." Mom smiled, as she fussed over her dress and petticoat.

I jumped from the bed, and squealed with girlish delight as I hugged her tight. I still couldn’t believe it, as I pulled back for another look.

I opened the present. It was a beautiful ivory party dress with pink rosebuds and ruffles and lace. It had a wide pink satin sash that tied in a big bow in back, much like ……….,giggle, … my sister’s. Mom and Sandi fussed over me as I was dressed. My hair was brushed and combed, and ribbons tied in my curls, …. like my sister’s. <giggle> Sandi giggled and laughed with me as we compared our dresses and petticoats, and hugged.

We each held a doll as we walked arm and arm down to breakfast, our dresses rustling against each other. Sandi held Kissy. I named her that because she had the cutest cupid bow lips pursed for a kiss. I carried Alexandra. She had beautiful long blonde curls nearly to the hem of her pretty pinafore dress.

Mom had to instruct "Sandi" how to sit, and helped her with her dress. We both wore towels around our necks to protect our dresses.

I came around the table to sit next to my new pretty sister. I hugged her, … and "she" hugged me back; and we giggled.

After breakfast it was my sisterly duty to show Sandi how to straighten and fluff her dress, and we helped each other to straighten our bows in back. We giggled; …. and then we ran upstairs with our dolls to play !

I looked Sandi up and down. We both giggled as we pulled up our dresses to compare our pretty bouffant slips with the lacy ruffles and satin bow. I peeked at her pink lace and ribbon trimmed panties, …. just like mine !

We played mommy with our dolls, and giggled and laughed all morning. Mom looked in on us, and smiled. I hugged Sandi a lot ! It was just so nice of my little brother to do this !

After lunch we played dress up, …. and played with some of mom’s clothes, make up and jewelry.

Mom called us down in the middle of the afternoon for cake and ice cream. I blew out the candles … and made a wish. I looked over at Sandi, … my new sister, and smiled. We giggled as mom helped us freshen both our lips with her pink lipstick.

We played all sorts of girl’s games all day long; … and Sandi seemed to enjoy it almost as much as I did.

At bedtime we were again dressed so much alike. We both wore knee length nylon nighties with ruffles and a satin ribbon bow at the bust. We both wore pink flower print robes with pink ribbon ties, and pink fuzzy slippers. We BOTH had our hair up in curlers ! We had more cake and ice cream for a snack, and giggled and laughed.

I sighed as mom took us up to bed. I hugged her tight.

"Oh thank you Mommy ! This was the best birthday I EVER had !"

The next morning I was a little disappointed to see the return of my little brother Andy; but we both smiled and giggled at each other.

A few days later, Andy came into my room, …. And after a little pleading, Sandi came out to play again….. And so it went ….. from time to time that summer, I had a "sister", and a girlfriend to play with, …. a pretty little girl named Sandi. It was the best birthday and the best summer vacation I EVER had ! <giggle>

 

 

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