Dixie and the Littlest Birthday

“You’re just going to have to get used to birthdays now,” Dixie explained. “And cake and presents and Mexican food sometimes in the middle of the week.”

     Since she knew all about meteors and why girl elephants can sometimes be bigger, the boy didn’t argue. He made a boy’s simple wish, blew out his candle, and found wrapped in brown paper the reason for the flutterings he often felt in his stomach, when she looked at him that one way in particular.

     You know that way.