“Ok, Mags. Now you have to smile this time.” Lily had dressed her little sisters as pretty as little flowers and had been given a list of two elderly people who had birthdays this week at the home where George had been. One was Millie and they all loved her. But the elderly gentleman was a stranger. What if he was grumpy? This made the girls nervous.
“I am smiling,” Mags said, showing her teeth.
“It's not woyking,” Molly shook her head. “Your eyes still look mean.”
Magdalene Gloria gave it her best effort but it still looked like a monster face. “What if I tickle you!” And Molly did. That made the 3-year-old laugh.
“Like that!” Lily said. “Now freeze.” And she knocked on the door.
“Whadoyouwant!” said a voice from within.
Lily looked at Molly and Molly looked at Lily, who knocked again.
This time the door flew open in their faces. The man who had opened it stared down at them from what seemed a great height. And he didn't look happy to see them.
“Happy birthday.” Mags said soberly and handed him the little decorated cake in its pretty little box and the card she had helped her sisters make. Her smile, unfortunately, had disappeared again. But she resolutely started the Happy birthday song, and midway through, her trembling sisters joined in. But not even Lily could manage a smile in the face of this ogre of a man, who just continued to stare at them.
“I spose you want money or something,” he said.
Maggie shook her head.
“We just wanted to brighten your day,” Lily said, looking at her feet. She was beginning to wonder if God had really wanted her to do this, or if she had somehow gotten it wrong.
“And you three are just a ray of sunshine, aren't you?” The man looked down at the little cake, seeming confused. “So you don't want anything from me?”
The girls just shook their heads.
“Who sent you?”
There was a pause before Lily answered and her voice held a question. “God?”
“Oh!” The man looked taken aback. He quickly wiped away a tear that had started to form.
“Happy birthday,” Lily repeated and they headed for the elevator. The man watched after their retreating figures.