Chapter 18 - THE FIRST BIRTHDAY AFTER
Emma turned five at home.
Eight children.
No rented venue.
No gallery.
No champagne.
A grocery-store cake with purple frosting.
She chose it because it had too many plastic butterflies.
When I lit the candles, she stared.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Grandma Charlotte had candles.”
“Yes.”
“Then I fell.”
“Yes.”
“Can I still have candles?”
“Yes.”
She thought.
“Okay.”
We sang.
Emma blew them out.
Nothing happened.
That sounds trivial.
It was not.
Charlotte sent no present.
Only a card through Maya.
I kept it unopened.
Later Emma asked:
“Did Aunt Charlotte forget?”
“No.”
“Why no gift?”
“She’s giving us space.”
“Space like outer space?”
“Something like that.”
May you like
Emma accepted the explanation and returned to balloons.
Children leave symbolism behind when adults let them.
