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then Mommy put on music they both liked. She and

Mr. Kotes sat and watched the two of us working the

train set.

"I think this is the best birthday we ever had,"

Noble whispered, which surprised me.

Even with a clown, decorations, and all these

presents, how could it be the best birthday without

Daddy?

I wasn't sure if Mommy had heard him or not,

but she looked as if she had. and I thought she had

turned sad.

Eventually I grew bared with the trains and

started to read one of my new books. Noble was upset

that I wasn't paying attention to his train, and then Mommy decided it was time we went to bed. He whined and groaned and begged to stay up later, but she was firm about it, so we straightened up the living

room and then went upstairs.

"I don't know why we have to sleep so much,"

Noble complained. "Why can't we just take naps once

in a while?"

It wouldn't be enough. We'd be too tired all the

time." I said.

As if he thought he could rush the night into

m

orning, he hurriedly brushed his teeth and changed

into his pajamas in the bathroom. Then I did. By the

time I came out. Noble looked asleep. I guessed he

hadn't realized how tired he actually was. Happy

times make you tired too, I thought.

I crawled into bed and pulled the covers up to

my chin.

That was it like to have a birthday that was only