This was followed by cries of "I'll trade you," and oohs and aahs over who had chosen 'the best ones.' Members of the red team received a consolation choice of prizes. Then it was time to eat. Everyone was so hot and tired from running around, yet everyone was hungry. Great steaming vats of ground beef and spiced chicken emerged from the kitchen, along with crackly yellow tacos and papery pale quesadillas. The girls squealed as they shoveled the spitting hot meat onto the flat savory disks, heaped with cooling avocado, tomato, lettuce and cheese to calm down the rush of spices. "Don't eat too fast or you'll get sick." There was much talking, giggling, and speculation about what teachers would be mean and what teachers would be nice next year as everyone ate from the Garfield-themed plates, and there was a basket of favors of little blow toys that whistled as you tooted the horn, as well as small paper party hats that some of the girls put on. The birthday...

Accessories for dolls, like a fuzzy dog just right for the lap of an American Girl, a new outfit for Barbie, a new purse from the Limited Two. Stuffed animals in the birthday girl's favorite color, a My Little Pony set. She was sure that she would love and treasure these objects forever, that the boxes were magical and held, not just toys but whole worlds within them.
Then the cake. Carefully ordered by the girl's mother. Chocolate cake, white frosting, pink icing. Just the right number of candles. No self-consciousness in the girl's eyes about being sung "Happy Birthday." She knew exactly what to wish for -- a new puppy next year. It was easy to wish for things when everything felt so warm and safe and secure. It never occurred to her to wish that this sense of simplicity and happiness would last forever. She knew it would.