The Birthday Present

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Abstract

ob that allowed the family to worry less about their finances, and Amanda was happier and more confident, at school and at home. Even baby Andy was finally starting to sleep through the night.</p><p id="9745">“Happy birthday, Mommy!” Amanda burst through the bedroom door, wearing a broad grin and dragging the Amazon box in which the new comforter had been delivered a few days before. “I got you a special present. Something you really wanted!”</p><p id="ed17">Marjorie leaned over and reached for the box, which was heavier than she expected, and oddly damp on the bottom. She wondered what toy or doll Amanda had repurposed for her gift. She hoped it wasn’t food.</p><p id="caab">“That’s lovely, sweetheart,” she said. “I’m so excited! Shall I open it now, or should we wait for daddy?”</p><p id="e013">“No, I can’t wait! Look inside.”</p><p id="38c8">Marjorie smiled and lifted the flap.</p><p id="b042">Amanda was shaking with excitement now.</p><p id="2ada">“Remember how you wished Andy would stop crying?”</p><p id="625c"><i>If you liked that, you might like this:</i></p><div id="ee1f" class="link-bl

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ock"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-lifeguard-89a9449818b3"> <div> <div> <h2>The Lifeguard</h2> <div><h3>A short trip to the beach goes very wrong</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*BevyBluy1a4h_zip)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="2ae1" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/write-for-the-lark-525aba334680"> <div> <div> <h2>Write for The Lark</h2> <div><h3>Submission guidelines for a short story and poetry publication</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*ozt7BP__wDxNylJnDZLoDg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Be careful what you ask for

Lying in bed, Marjorie could hear Nick bustling in the kitchen downstairs, cooking a birthday omelet that would be a triumph of enthusiasm over expertise, but nevertheless delicious in intent. A warm spring breeze blew the scent of honeysuckle through the open window, accompanied by a spray of sunlight and a cheery chorus of birdsong.

She recalled her last birthday — pregnant, sick, and miserable, fighting with Nick over money they didn’t have, worrying that Amanda wasn’t getting along with the other kids at kindergarten.

This year, she thought, they’d turned the corner. Nick had a new job that allowed the family to worry less about their finances, and Amanda was happier and more confident, at school and at home. Even baby Andy was finally starting to sleep through the night.

“Happy birthday, Mommy!” Amanda burst through the bedroom door, wearing a broad grin and dragging the Amazon box in which the new comforter had been delivered a few days before. “I got you a special present. Something you really wanted!”

Marjorie leaned over and reached for the box, which was heavier than she expected, and oddly damp on the bottom. She wondered what toy or doll Amanda had repurposed for her gift. She hoped it wasn’t food.

“That’s lovely, sweetheart,” she said. “I’m so excited! Shall I open it now, or should we wait for daddy?”

“No, I can’t wait! Look inside.”

Marjorie smiled and lifted the flap.

Amanda was shaking with excitement now.

“Remember how you wished Andy would stop crying?”

If you liked that, you might like this:

FLASH FICTION

The Birthday Present

Be careful what you ask for

The Lifeguard

A short trip to the beach goes very wrong

Write for The Lark

Submission guidelines for a short story and poetry publication