by Cyn Bagley

Created on: July 11, 2007   Last Updated: July 08, 2010

David was a nine year old eager kid that could make you laugh with a quip or a joke. His smile was bigger than his face, which covered up his freckles. This was a good day. It was special because it was his birthday.

"David," yelled his mother. "Get in here."

David smiled. Well, it was his birthday. He could smell the German chocolate cake that he liked. And there would be vanilla ice cream. And, of course, the presents. He was hoping for the knife that Dad promised for his ninth birthday. And maybe his favorite toy car in red. He hoped for more, but they didn't have much money. At least that's what dad said. There would be no bicycle for this birthday.

"David," she yelled again.

He ran inside. She grabbed him by his upper arm. "Get inside and clean your bedroom," she said. "You know your cousins are coming today."

Okay. His cousin's were coming for his birthday. For him. He ran to his bedroom. He threw some of the toys belonging to his younger brother into the toy box. He threw the clothes that cluttered the floor into the clothes basket. He made his bed and for good measure he made his brother's bed.

For the first time in weeks, you could see the floor boards and the rugs with huge wholes in them. His mother walked into the room.

"You don't have time to dust," she said, "but you can at least vacuum." She handed him the vacuum. "Oh and by the way, vacuum the living room."

He whistled and sang as he worked. He was looking forward to his company.

Soon it was finished. He watched Mother make the German chocolate cake. Yum. And there was a stack of presents on the table. He tried not to notice them. But, it was hard. It would be a good birthday this year.

Then the cousins came. They played tag and ran around the house. He showed the cousins his favorite places like the haystack. He was bursting with happiness.

Soon he heard his mother yell to the children to come into the house. "And now for the birthday girl." Birthday girl? He was the birthday boy.

Diane walked up to the table. He forgot that it was her birthday, too.

He watched. His stomach started churning as Diane blew out the candles and Diane tore into the presents.

His mother chucked him under the chin. "No one likes a glum glum," she said.

It was too much. David ran to his bedroom. He put his head under his pillow.

A few hours later, mother came to his bedroom. "You didn't say goodbye to your cousins," she said.

He grunted. He could feel the sticky dried tears on his face. "Did you remember my birthday?" His voice sounded like hiccups.

"Here's your present," she said. She handed him an unwrapped pair of socks.

# # # # #

"That's when I knew how little I meant to her" David said as an adult. "I promised myself that I would never do that to my kids."

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