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"I'm too excited to eat Mommy"

"If you don't Mrs Geary will single-handedly rip every balloon off every tree and pack up the tables and chairs," she warned We laughed

I hugged her again

"Happy, happy birthday Summer All your birthdays have been special to me because it was truly a miracle for us to have you,' she said softly "but I kno special this one is for you"

"Thank you Mommy"

I kne true that was, how difficult my birth was for her and how they had decided not to try to have any more children and test their Good luck

"I'll see you downstairs," she said and continued to wheel herself out to the chair elevator that would take her down the stairs and to the wheelchair below

Never in my life had my mother ever stood on her own beside ether Never had we gone strolling through department stores or down streets to -shop

When I was old enough to push her I thought it was fun After all I was a little girlthe way I turned to watch other hand the sadness and no longer did I feel excited or amused by it

Was that what growing olderall your illusions?

If that was so, ere any of us so happy and so willing to blow out the candles?

Mrs Geary er than she had to, studying me eat as if my consumption of food was part of some important experiment

"It's a big day" she preached when I

coer fortification I knohat's going to happen out there after the festivities start You won't eat a thing and you'll be going, going, going-- draining and draining that wisp of aof a body of yours That's when sickness co fat welcome"