Itwastheoldlady'sbirthday.
Shegotupearlytobereadyforthepost.
Todayshewassuretherewouldbesomething.Myrawouldn'tforgethermother'sbirthday,evenifsheseldomwroteatothertimes.OfcourseMyrawasbusy.HerhusbandhadbeenmadeMayor,andMyraherselfhadgotamedalforherworkfortheaged.
Theoldladywaseightytoday.Shehadputonherbestdress.Perhaps--perhapsMyramightcome.Afterall,eightywasaspecialbirthday……
EvenifMyradidnotcome,shewouldsendapresent.Theoldladywassureofthat.Twospotsofcolourbrightenedhercheeks.Shewasexcited--likeachild.Shewouldenjoyherday.
YesterdayMrs.Morrisonhadgiventheflatanextraclean,andtodayshehadbroughtacardandabunchofmarigoldswhenshecametodothebreakfast.Mrs.Grantdownstairshadmadeacake,andintheafternoonshewasgoingdowntheretotea.Thelittleboy,Johnnie,hadbeenupwithapacketofmints,andsaidhewouldn'tgoouttoplayuntiltheposthadcome.
"Iguessyou'llgetlotsandlotsofpresents,"hesaid,"IdidlastwerewhenIwassix."
Whatwouldshelike?Apairofslippersperhapsoranewcardigan.Acardiganwouldbelovely.Blue'ssuchaprettycolour.Jimhadalwayslikedherinblue.Oratablelamp.Orabook,atravelbook,withpictures,oralittleclock,withclearblacknumbers.Somanylovelythings.
Shestoodbythewindow,watching.Thepostmanturnedroundthecorneronhisbicycle.Herheartbeatfast.Johnnie（theboylivesdownstairs）hadseenhimtooandrantothegate.
Thenclatter,clatterupthestairs.Johnnieknockedatherdoor.
"Granny,granny,"heshouted,"I'vegotyourpost."
Hegaveherfourenvelopes.Threewereunsealedcardsfromoldfriends.Thefourthwassealed,inMyra'swriting.Theoldladyfeltapangofdisappointment.
"Noparcel,Johnnie?"
"No,granny."
Maybetheparcelwastoolargetocomebyletterpost.Thatwasit.Itwouldcomelaterbyparcelpost.Shemustbepatient.
Almostreluctantlyshetoretheenvelopeopen.Foldedinthecardwasapieceofpaper.WrittenonthecardwasamessageundertheprintedHappyBirthday--Buyyourselfsomethingnicewiththecheque,MyraandHarold.
Thechequeflutteredtothef