All the Brownies were there, Jane, Rosemary, Eileen, Belinda and Sunny, whose smile stretched from ear to ear. Several other classmates also had been invited to the party. Miss Gordon was in the kitchen, helping Mrs. Williams make fancy sandwiches.
“Happy birthday, Connie!” everyone shouted. “Surprise! Surprise!”
Connie really was surprised. For a moment she couldn’t say a word.
“I knew about it all the time,” declared Veve, “but I didn’t dare tell. And here’s something for you.”
Although it wasn’t time to offer gifts or unwrap packages, she thrust a tissue-wrapped box into Connie’s hand. All the other girls had presents for her too.
“You see, we didn’t forget,” laughed Veve. “We were only waiting for the party to start.”
The girls played games which Miss Gordon directed. Connie’s mother brought in a huge paper pie with strings attached. Each girl pulled out her fortune.
“Mine says I’m going on a long trip!” announced Eileen, reading her slip. “Oh, Miss Gordon, does that mean just me, or all the Brownies?”
“Tell us the surprise,” the other Brownies chorused.
But Miss Gordon only smiled and said not a word.