“There,” Mimi said depositing the last load on the cedar chest under the double front window. “Can it be possible I smell food?”
“Quite,” answered Daddy catching her mood. “It could even be probable, honey, that the nose tickling, delectable odor assailing your nostrils is fried chicken!”
Mimi ran for the stairs. Before Daddy caught up with her and took her arm, Mother’s voice halted her rush for the kitchen.
“Mimi, wash that train dirt off. You and Daddy both freshen up, for dinner is ready.”
There was an excited undertone in Mother’s voice that should have told her something special was afoot but she didn’t suspect a thing until she and Daddy went downstairs together and walked right into the blue velvet portieres! The dining room was shut off! Before Mimi could solve the puzzle Daddy pulled back the curtain and bowed very low. This was the cue for the music to begin. Mother, Junior and Cissy in three entirely different keys were grouped at the foot of the table facing her singing, “Happy Birthday to you!”
Mimi was speechless——
There was a white cloth on the table. She was somehow aware of Mother’s good plates stacked at Daddy’s place, of the good silver which caught the candle light, and most of all of the big white cake in the middle of the table with fourteen yellow candles. Mimi knew without counting how many there were. It was her birthday. She was fourteen! How could she have forgotten?
“I believe she really is surprised!” beamed Mother very pleased with it all. “We put something over on her once.”
“Sho she is,” exclaimed Cissy ducking to the kitchen as soon as the song ended.
“I nearly told,” commented Junior slipping into his place and adding in the same breath—“Give me the drumstick, Daddy.”