I even run out
in the dark
and tie some
to our mailbox.
Johnny is right.
Blowing up balloons
and hanging banners
is the perfect cure
for the fidgets.
Surprise
On the morning
of my birthday,
Mom says,
Liv, can you come with me
to the supermarket?
I need to pick up
some last-minute things
before the party.
What things?
I ask.
It looks like there’s two
of everything already here.
Uh, uh, ginger ale and
chips.
When I hear Mom’s “Uh, uh”
I know it’s an excuse
to get me out of the house.
Can we go to the other
Hannaford,
south of Maddigan?
Past Brann’s Dairy Farm?
I suppose so,
Mom says.
What’s this sudden interest
in dairy farming?
It’s hard work
and no benefits.
I’ve been thinking about
eating more organic food.
Then you might also think
about your education.
I’ll bet that judge
in the trial
can drink all the organic milk
she wants.
I pull my hair,
including my bangs,
to the top of my head,
and narrow my eyes
at Mom.
I’ll take that
under advisement,
I say.
Mom laughs
at my imitation
of the judge,
and sneaks a look
at the clock
on the kitchen wall.
The organic cows
are out in the green field
this morning.
Someone is on a tractor
putting round bales of hay
out for them.
I can’t tell if the person
on the tractor
is Clay
or not.
Can you pull over?
I ask Mom.
I might know that person
on the tractor.
Maybe because it’s my birthday
and she has the day off,
and she needs to keep me
out of the house,
Mom stops the car
on the side of the road,
next to the fence.
There used to be a set of steps
down to the river,
behind Bobby Brann’s house there.
Mom points to a spot
I can’t see.
Your father and I, and Elinor,
and lots of the old gang
swam off there.
I want to hear Mom
talk more about Dad,
but I’m in a hurry
to see who’s feeding
the cows.
I walk along the fence
until I’m close enough
to the tractor
that I can see
it’s not Clay.
The man on the tractor
is skinny and tall,
like Clay,
but he’s about
a hundred years old.
He drives the tractor
over to the fence.
Hi,
I call out to him,
I was wondering if Clay is here.
I heard he’s working for you.
The man
takes his hat off
and holds it in his hands
for a while
before he speaks,
He’s not working for me.
I’m retired now.
He’s working for my son Bobby.
It doesn’t look to me
like he’s retired,
driving the tractor
out there in the sun
in the big field.
Is Clay here?
Your young man
asked for the day off.
The old man’s mouth
makes a kind of sneer
when he says “day off.”
Thanks, but
he’s not my young man.
I like your cows.
How many do you have?
There’s thirty-two cows,
ten heifers,
plus the new calves
gonna be born anytime.
Wow!
I say.
I’ve never seen a
new calf.
I kind of hope he will invite me
to see the new calves
when they’re born, but
the old man doesn’t say anything.
It’s like he’s already used up
all his words
for the day.
When you see Clay,
can you let him know
Liv was here?
The man bows
his head,
puts his hat back on,
and starts up the tractor.
The whole time
we’ve been talking
the cows hardly move.
They have everything they need—
the hay, the grass,
and lots of other
black-and-white cows
for company.
I don’t remind Mom,
when she buys spaghetti
and tomato sauce,
that we are there for
ginger ale and chips.
Wish Time
When we get home,
Mom hangs back,
so I open the door
first.
Even though I’ve practiced
my surprised expression,
when everyone shouts
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIV!
my face freezes
like I’ve never been
surprised before,
and it doesn’t know
what to do.
Then they sing,
while Hunter
plays his fiddle.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Li-iv
Happy birthday to you.
It’s such a simple song,
but when I hear it,
it makes me really feel
like it’s my birthday.
Hunter’s sisters must have heard
“party”
and decided the theme was
garden princess or
fortune-teller ballerina.
Little Lima Bean and Pretty Parsley
are wearing long dresses
decorated with dried flowers,
Sweet Sunflower is wearing a sparkly tutu
and a bandanna on her head.
They are dancing around
with paper plates
full of food.
You’re the birthday girl.
Do you want food?
We can get you a plate.
Hunter said we had to be
helpful.
Sure, I say,
I’ll have a plate.
What’s your favorite?
What’s your favorite?
The girls all talk at once.
The kitchen table is covered
with dishes.
The cupcakes are chocolate
with chocolate frosting.
All the foods
are my favorites—
deviled eggs,
sliced salami,
guacamole and blue chips,
nacho chips and salsa.
I’ll have some of
everything,
I say.
Oooh.
Little Lima Bean
jumps up and down,
like that was the perfect answer.
I look around.
Justine is talking to Mom.
She is waving her arms
and Mom is shaking her head.
Phoebe and Sara
sit next to each other
on the couch
in the living room.
I hear Sara whisper to Phoebe,
Do you feel it?
The shift of energy in this house?
It’s very strong.
Hunter’s twin brothers
are helping Elinor
arrange a platter of
cheese and crackers.
Johnny clinks a glass
with a spoon
to get everyone’s attention.
WISH TIME, LIV,
he says
when the room is quiet.