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CHAPTER 32
“Happy Birthday to you!” Everyone sang in unison as the girls entered the back door, visibly shocked and surprised. “Happy Birthday, to you! Happy Birthday to the twinnnns, Happy Birthday to yoouuuuu!” Then everyone began to cheer and laugh and clap as the twins stood grinning and clutching each other’s hand.
“Git over here an’ sit down, yall two. This yo birthday party.” Mary stood near the table where the girls’ cake was glowing from the still-lit candles. “An’ blow out yall's candles!”
The twins rushed toward the cake and leaned into the table. Then Bertha started counting, “One, two, three! Blow hard!” And they did. When they were done, only smoke was left and Mary quickly fanned it away.
“Mary Jane and Mary Jean, yall goin’ cut yo own cake. Here a knife is. Now be careful!
Take turns and cut yo own piece,” Mary said as she handed the knife to Mary Jean. “After you cut yo piece, give the knife to yo sister.”
“The ice cream look real good, Mama!” exclaimed Mary Jean as she looked around the table. “I didn’t know strawberries was in it. I like strawberries!”
“Me too,” said Mary Jane as she licked icing from her hand. “I like strawberries!” Bernice was cutting pieces of cake and placing them on the other children’s plates, then she cut a small piece for herself. The other adults took turns cutting their pieces of cake and getting ice cream before retreating to the living room. Bernice stayed in the kitchen with the children after convincing Mary that she had everything under control.
After eating ice cream and cake, the adults piled their dishes into the sink as Bernice had instructed them to do. The children did the same. Then, after washing their hands in the kitchen sink, they were told to go into the living room. Again, the twins were the last ones to enter the room, and again there was a loud “Happy Birthday!” from the adults and children that were standing around the beautifully-wrapped birthday gifts.
The twins squealed as they rushed toward the gifts piled into one corner of the couch.
“These ours!?” asked Mary Jane as she picked up one gift after the other, shaking them and holding them to her ear for any hint of familiarity.
“Yes they are, but you have to look at the name tags to see which ones are yours and which ones are your sister’s,” Bernice explained.
When the girls were done separating the gifts, each of them had five, more than they had ever received, even at Christmas time. They were so excited about their gifts that they didn’t want to go back outside, but after opening them, then hugging and thanking everyone, they did.
And as Bernice cleared the kitchen and washed the dishes, Mary walked back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, making sure everyone was okay. The men returned to the back yard, where they continued to talk among themselves and drink beer.