scattered about the room, and streamers decorated the embroidered tablecloth; a three-layer chocolate cake sat in the center, eight slim candles aglow. As they entered the room loud voices sang: “Happy, happy birthday. Happy, happy birthday.” Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom hugged and kissed and laughed, and Leini thought it all seemed like a movie she’d seen starring Elizabeth Taylor. Mrs. Bergstrom gave Leini a peck on the cheek.
“Happy birthday, Leini. Many happy returns.”
Leini gazed at Mrs. Bergstrom, breathing in the fragrance of roses, her kind eyes as blue as Paula’s. “Thank you, Mrs. Bergstrom. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Paula and you are almost sisters, which makes you an almost-daughter, so please call me Berit.”
Leini curtsied. “Yes. Thank you…Berit.” A faint whisper, the name awkward on her tongue.
When they were seated around the coffee table and tea had been poured, Paula opened her presents. Shy and insecure, Leini handed her the flat package in baby blue paper with a darker blue ribbon that Mira had given her. It turned out to contain half a dozen handkerchiefs with the letter “P” embroidered in a corner between two pink rosebuds.
“How neat,” Paula said, unfolding one of the hankies. She gave Leini’s hand a little squeeze as she offered her a square red carton. “This is for you. Happy birthday, twin sister.”
With hesitation, Leini took the packet to place it on her knees. Glancing at Paula and Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom, a wave of warm well-being with a dash of shyness washed over her. “Thank you very much.”
“Hey, open it. See if you like it.”
Nodding, Leini removed the top. Under a layer of pink silk paper lay a wooden box with asymmetric carvings. Holding it with one hand, she lifted the lid. The interior was lined in sea-green satin with grooves and pockets at the bottom, meant to hold things, Leini thought. Again she glanced from one to the other.
“See, I got the same.” Paula held an identical box, the wood lighter, the interior dressed in blue. “They’re jewelry boxes, you know, to keep your rings and stuff.”
“It’s very pretty. I’ll save it for when I have something to put in it. I love it.” Hoping nobody heard the catch in her voice, she cleared her throat.
“Enjoy,” Mrs. Bergstrom said. “We thought it was fun to get you both the same thing.” She leaned toward Leini and gave her cheek a gentle touch. Draping an arm around Paula’s shoulders, she pulled her close. “I’m happy you two are friends.”
Forgetting Mamma’s admonition, Leini had a second slice of cake and a gingerbread cookie. As she was getting ready to leave, she cast about in her mind for ways to express her joy and gratitude to Paula and her parents. She curtsied and shook hands, first with Mrs. Bergstrom—Berit—then with Mr. Bergstrom.
“Thank you. I had a very good time.” That should be all right because Mamma sometimes says it, although afterwards she tells Papi what a boring time she’d had.
On her way home her feet hardly touched the ground. This is the best time I’ve ever had. Paula’s mother is so kind, not at all severe and…not at all like Mamma. I wish— Not really knowing what she wished, loving the way Paula was with her mother, knowing it was different in her own home.
“Did you have a good time at the birthday party today?” Papi asked as they were seated around the dinner table.
“Oh, Papi, it was so swell. There were streamers and lots of candles. Paula gave me this great jewelry box, and I had a piece of chocolate cake. Paula was so pleased with the hankies and….” Breathless, she stopped.
Papi smiled at her. “I’m happy for you. From the way you talk about her, Paula’s a nice girl. Why don’t you invite her home sometime? You’re often in her home. The polite thing is to reciprocate, you know, invite her back.” Nodding at Mamma, he added, “We’d like to meet her.”
Leini glanced at Mamma. Busy mashing a
“Happy birthday, Leini. Many happy returns.”
Leini gazed at Mrs. Bergstrom, breathing in the fragrance of roses, her kind eyes as blue as Paula’s. “Thank you, Mrs. Bergstrom. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Paula and you are almost sisters, which makes you an almost-daughter, so please call me Berit.”
Leini curtsied. “Yes. Thank you…Berit.” A faint whisper, the name awkward on her tongue.
When they were seated around the coffee table and tea had been poured, Paula opened her presents. Shy and insecure, Leini handed her the flat package in baby blue paper with a darker blue ribbon that Mira had given her. It turned out to contain half a dozen handkerchiefs with the letter “P” embroidered in a corner between two pink rosebuds.
“How neat,” Paula said, unfolding one of the hankies. She gave Leini’s hand a little squeeze as she offered her a square red carton. “This is for you. Happy birthday, twin sister.”
With hesitation, Leini took the packet to place it on her knees. Glancing at Paula and Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom, a wave of warm well-being with a dash of shyness washed over her. “Thank you very much.”
“Hey, open it. See if you like it.”
Nodding, Leini removed the top. Under a layer of pink silk paper lay a wooden box with asymmetric carvings. Holding it with one hand, she lifted the lid. The interior was lined in sea-green satin with grooves and pockets at the bottom, meant to hold things, Leini thought. Again she glanced from one to the other.
“See, I got the same.” Paula held an identical box, the wood lighter, the interior dressed in blue. “They’re jewelry boxes, you know, to keep your rings and stuff.”
“It’s very pretty. I’ll save it for when I have something to put in it. I love it.” Hoping nobody heard the catch in her voice, she cleared her throat.
“Enjoy,” Mrs. Bergstrom said. “We thought it was fun to get you both the same thing.” She leaned toward Leini and gave her cheek a gentle touch. Draping an arm around Paula’s shoulders, she pulled her close. “I’m happy you two are friends.”
Forgetting Mamma’s admonition, Leini had a second slice of cake and a gingerbread cookie. As she was getting ready to leave, she cast about in her mind for ways to express her joy and gratitude to Paula and her parents. She curtsied and shook hands, first with Mrs. Bergstrom—Berit—then with Mr. Bergstrom.
“Thank you. I had a very good time.” That should be all right because Mamma sometimes says it, although afterwards she tells Papi what a boring time she’d had.
On her way home her feet hardly touched the ground. This is the best time I’ve ever had. Paula’s mother is so kind, not at all severe and…not at all like Mamma. I wish— Not really knowing what she wished, loving the way Paula was with her mother, knowing it was different in her own home.
“Did you have a good time at the birthday party today?” Papi asked as they were seated around the dinner table.
“Oh, Papi, it was so swell. There were streamers and lots of candles. Paula gave me this great jewelry box, and I had a piece of chocolate cake. Paula was so pleased with the hankies and….” Breathless, she stopped.
Papi smiled at her. “I’m happy for you. From the way you talk about her, Paula’s a nice girl. Why don’t you invite her home sometime? You’re often in her home. The polite thing is to reciprocate, you know, invite her back.” Nodding at Mamma, he added, “We’d like to meet her.”
Leini glanced at Mamma. Busy mashing a
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