Anna All Year Round

by Mary Downing Hahn

  That night before she goes to bed, Anna writes a note to each child on her block. At school, she hands one to Charlie, Wally, Patrick, Beatrice, and Rosa.

  On the way home, Charlie reads his note out loud:

  Dear Charlie,

  You are invited to a birthday party at my home on January 20. Come after school. Do not dress up. We will play outside.

  Sincerely yours,

  Anna E. Sherwood

  "A birthday party," Charlie says. "Hurrah for you, Anna!"

  Anna smiles but her insides feel cold. Her birthday is only a few days away. She doesn't know what Mother will say when her friends arrive. What will she do about cake? How will she get ice cream?

  ***

  The afternoon before her birthday, Anna asks mother if she can help bake the cake. "I want a big cake this year," she says, "with lots and lots of thick, sweet icing. And gallons of strawberry ice cream."

  Mother shakes her head. "The cake is always a surprise, Anna. After dinner tomorrow night, you'll see what I've baked."

  "But, Mother—"

  Mother frowns. "When will you learn that no means no, Anna? Not yes, not maybe, but NO."

  "Will you make a big cake?" Anna persists. "And can we have strawberry ice cream with it?"

  "Don't worry," Mother says. "There will be plenty of cake for the three of us."

  "I'll pick up strawberry ice cream on my way home tomorrow," Father says. "A pint should do nicely."

  That night Anna has trouble sleeping. What if the cake is too small for six children? What if Father doesn't bring the ice cream home in time? What if a pint isn't enough?

  The party is beginning to remind Anna of one of Miss Levine's arithmetic problems. Perhaps she should tell her friends that the party has been canceled.

  But when Anna arrives at school, everyone is smiling secret smiles and whispering about the packages in their coat pockets. It's too late to cancel the party.

  After school, Anna runs home. Mother and Aunt May are at the kitchen table as usual. Anna hears Aunt May say, "Henry came home late again last night. We had a rip-snorting argument."

  Usually Anna would lurk in the hall and listen, but not today. She goes into the parlor and peeks out the window. Rosa and Beatrice are coming down the hill toward her house. Charlie is running across the street. Patrick and Wally are with him. They are all carrying presents.

  A moment later, the doorbell chimes. Anna hurries to open the door.

  "Happy birthday, Anna!" says Charlie.

  "Yes, happy birthday!" Rosa adds.

  Anna's friends spill through the front door and fill the hall. "Happy birthday," they shout. "Happy birthday!"

  Mother and Aunt May come to the kitchen door and gasp at the sight of the children.

  "Anna," Mother says. "Was ist das?"

  Mother is so startled that she has forgotten to speak English, but Anna knows what she means. "It's a surprise party," Anna says. "For me. For my birthday!"

  "Anna, Anna!" Aunt May begins to laugh. "Ach, mein kluges Liebling! A surprise party indeed!"

  Mother does not laugh. She stares at Anna. The children stare at Anna, too. No one speaks. The only sound is the hall clock ticking.

  Anna's eyes fill with tears. She has made a horrible mistake. Mother will never forgive her for this clever little surprise. Nobody will invite Anna to another birthday party as long as she lives. She is disgraced.

  Suddenly Aunt May steps forward. "Rosa," she says, "and Beatrice. How nice to see you." She turns to the boys. "Thank you for coming, Charlie, Wally, and Patrick."

  Suddenly everything is all right. Rosa smoothes her curls and smiles at Charlie. Beatrice giggles. Wally pokes Patrick. Patrick pokes Wally. Charlie shows everyone the tower he and Anna have almost finished building on the parlor floor.

  In the meantime, Aunt May pulls Mother into the kitchen. Anna hears them whispering in German. "Das Eis," Mother says. "Der Kuchen."

  Aunt May tells Mother not to worry. She comes back to the parlor and asks Anna, "Why don't you take your friends outside to play?"

  Wally scowls. "If we play spin-the-bottle, I'm going home!"

  "No spin-the-bottle," Anna promises, though secretly she'd love for Charlie to kiss her again. "Red-rover," she adds. "And Mother, May I. That's what we'll play.'"

  Anna leads the children outside. Rosa and Beatrice are wearing their best dresses even though Anna told them not to, but the boys are wearing their play clothes.

  "It's too cold to play outdoors," Rosa says, but she joins the others just the same. She doesn't want to be left out.

  While the children are playing, Anna sees Aunt May scoot down the hill toward the shops on North Avenue. When she comes back, she's carrying a quart of ice cream and a big white box from Leidig's Bakery.

  Anna begins to enjoy herself. It looks like she's going to have a real party after all, complete with presents, cake, and ice cream.

  Soon Mother calls the children inside. A white cake sits on the dining-room table. Nine candles are stuck in the thick, sugary icing. There is plenty of strawberry ice cream.

  "Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, Anna!" Aunt May says.

  "Yes," says Mother. "Happy birthday, Anna!"

  "Blow out the candles and make a wish, Liebling," says Aunt May.

  Anna leans across the table, takes a deep breath, and blows as hard as she can. The candles flicker and go out.

  As the children sing "Happy Birthday," Anna glances at Mother and smiles.

  Mother meets Anna's eyes and hesitates a moment. A frown lurks in the corners of her mouth. Aunt May pats Mother's hand and whispers in her ear. To Anna's relief, Mother gives her a small smile. Anna hopes this means her wish that Mother isn't cross with her has come true.

  After the children have eaten all the cake they want, they troop into the parlor to watch Anna open her presents. Rosa gives her a lacy handkerchief and Beatrice gives her a bar of scented soap. Wally gives her a drawing tablet, and Patrick gives her a bag of peppermint candy.

  Last of all, Anna opens Charlie's gift. It's a tiny china dog. "He's a watchdog," Charlie explains. "He can guard our tower."

  Anna smiles and puts the little dog in front of the tower. It's her favorite present, but Anna is too polite to say so. She thanks everyone, especially Charlie, and says good-bye to her guests.

  Now Anna must face Mother and Aunt May. She goes to the kitchen and puts her arms around Mother. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "Please don't be angry with me."

  "Anna, you embarrassed me today," Mother says. "You disobeyed me, too. I said you could not have a party and yet you went right ahead and invited those children without telling me. That was very wrong."

  "Now, now, Lizzie," Aunt May says. "I admit Anna was naughty, but no harm's done."

  Mother frowns at her sister. "Suppose you hadn't been here, May?" she asks. "How would I have gotten the cake and ice cream? I spent my grocery money yesterday."

  Aunt May hugs Mother. "That's what sisters are for, Lizzie. To help each other. Someday you'll do the same for me."

  Mother sighs and goes to the pantry. She comes back with a beautiful little cake, trimmed with pink and yellow flowers. On top Mother has written, "Happy Birthday, Anna." It's much prettier than the plain cake from the bakery but not nearly big enough for six children.

  "This was to be Anna's birthday cake," Mother says. "Take it home with you, May, and surprise Henry with it. Anna has had enough cake for one day. And enough surprises, too."

  Anna opens her mouth to protest but then shuts it. Now is not the time to complain.

  "But what about Ira?" Aunt May asks. "He must be expecting cake for dessert."

  "Ira will understand," Mother says.

  Now Anna feels even worse. Because of her, poor Father won't have cake tonight.

  After Aunt May leaves, Mother sends Anna to her room. Anna takes Charlie's little dog with her but she feels too bad to play with him. Instead she lies on her bed and waits for Father to come home.
When she hears him at the front door, calling hello, she begins to cry. If this is how nine is going to be, she wishes she were still eight.

  After a while Anna hears Father coming up the stairs. He taps on Anna's door, and she tells him to come in.

  "I hear you had a party today," Father says. "A surprise party."

  Anna walks the little china dog up and down her arm. She's too embarrassed to look at Father. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "Mother gave my cake to Aunt May. Uncle Henry will have it for his dessert. And you won't have any." A tear splashes down on Anna's dress.

  "Who needs cake?" Father asks. "I don't want to get fat, you know."

  Since Father is just as skinny as Anna, she knows he's joking to make her feel better. She puts her arms around his neck and hugs him. Because he's just come in from outside, he's still wearing the soft scarf Anna gave him for Christmas.

  "Happy ninth birthday, Anna," Father says. "And many, many more to come."

  Spring

  7. Stitches!

  IT IS MARCH. THE DAYS ARE LONGER NOW. AND warmer.

  Every day after school, Anna and Charlie put on their roller skates and head for the hill on Walbrook Avenue. Even though it's not very steep, Anna is the only girl who dares to skate all the way to the bottom. With Charlie beside her, Anna bumps over the paving stones, faster and faster. The wind blows in her face, and her skates go clickety-clack, clickety-clack like the wheels of a train.

  At the bottom, Anna and Charlie roll along, slowing, slowing, slowing, until they come to a stop in front of the candy store. Sometimes Anna treats Charlie to a string of licorice. Sometimes Charlie treats Anna to a jawbreaker. They eat their candy while they climb up the hill. At the top, they skate down again, their arms spread like wings.

  There is a much steeper hill a few blocks away on Bentalou Street. Sometimes Anna and Charlie sit on the curb and watch the older boys speed down the hill, but so far neither one has dared to try it.

  One afternoon, Charlie and Anna are standing at the top of Bentalou Street. It's like being on a mountain peak. The houses march down the hill, row after row, one set of marble steps after another, each smaller than the one before. Anna can see the roofs of the houses at the bottom.

  A big boy whizzes past, followed by two more. They shout as they go by. Soon they are at the bottom, no bigger now than the little china dolls in Anna's dollhouse.

  Charlie watches the boys climb back up the hill, laughing, ready to skate down again. He takes a deep breath and squares his shoulders. "I feel brave today," he says. "How about you, Anna?"

  Anna twirls the skate key she wears on a string around her neck. How can she tell Charlie she doesn't feel a bit brave? He might think she's a scaredy-cat like the other girls. He might skate away with the big boys and never play with her again. She swallows hard and says nothing—not yes, not no.

  "What's wrong?" Charlie asks. "Are you scared?"

  "Of course not." Anna bends down and pretends to tighten her skates. If Charlie sees her face, he'll know she's lying.

  Charlie rolls this way and that, circling Anna. His skates click and clack again on the paving stones. "I dare and double dare you," he says.

  Anna has never refused a dare. Slowly she straightens up and looks down the hill. While she watches, a toy-sized trolley sways past on North Avenue. Its bell chimes twice. From way up here, the sound is no louder than a bird's call.

  "Are you coming or not?" Charlie asks.

  Anna hears the scorn in his question, but she doesn't answer. She's so scared her mouth has dried up.

  The three big boys flash past Charlie. "Hey, twerp," one shouts. "Get out of the way!"

  Charlie and Anna watch them zoom down the hill again. This time, they vanish around a corner, still shouting.

  Charlie frowns. "Maybe you should go home and play dolls with Rosa and Beatrice," he says.

  That does it. Anna takes a deep breath and skates past Charlie. Her wheels begin to turn, slowly at first and then faster and faster. In a second, it's too late to change her mind. She's on her way down Bentalou Street with Charlie just behind her.

  As she rolls over the stones, Anna feels the jolts in every bone in her body. Bumpety-bumpety-bump. She has never gone so fast in her whole life. The street rushes past in a blur. She wants to stop but she can't.

  Somehow Anna keeps her balance for three long blocks.Then, right in front of Brewster's meat market, she falls flat on her face. For a moment she lies in the street, too stunned to move. Nothing hurts, everything hurts.

  Then Charlie is there, kneeling on the ground beside her. "Anna," he shouts, grabbing her shoulder. "Get up! Say something!"

  Now it's Charlie's turn to be scared. Anna can't think of anything to say that will make him feel better. If she opens her mouth, she'll cry. The last thing she wants to be is a crybaby.

  People gather around. Anna sees men's boots, ladies' long skirts, Charlie's skates. "Stand back," someone says. "Give the poor child air."

  Strong hands lift her to her feet. Anna tries to keep her skates under her but they roll this way and that. The butcher from Brewster's Market holds on to her to keep her from falling.

  "Oh, no," a lady says. "Look what she's done to herself."

  Anna feels something warm on her face. She touches it and sees blood. Lots of blood. She's covered with blood. The sight of it makes Anna cry in spite of herself.

  "You've split your chin wide open," the butcher says. "And skinned your hands and knees raw." He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and ties it around Anna's chin as if she has a toothache. "There, that will stop the worst of the bleeding," he says.

  Turning to Charlie, the butcher adds, "Take her skates off, my boy, and help me get her home."

  Charlie carries Anna's skates and the butcher carries Anna. It's a long uphill walk. People stop and stare. They ask what happened to Anna.

  Since Anna's jaw is tied shut with the butcher's handkerchief, Charlie answers for her. "We were skating down Bentalou Street," he says, "and Anna fell and split her chin wide open." Charlie speaks proudly, as if he wants everyone to know how brave Anna has been.

  Anna's mother is outside scrubbing the white marble steps. When the butcher comes around the corner carrying Anna, she takes one look at the blood and presses her hands to her mouth. Over goes the bucket. Soapy water sloshes across the sidewalk and into the gutter.

  "Anna!" Mother cries. "Anna!"

  "Don't you worry," the butcher calls. "Other than a split chin, your girl is fine. She's just had a slight mishap on her roller skates."

  Charlie holds up the skates but Mother pays no attention to him. It is Anna she cares about. Only Anna. Snatching her child from the butcher, she rushes inside to call the doctor.

  From over Mother's shoulder, Anna steals a peek at Charlie. He's still holding her skates. She hopes he can see she's stopped crying. If she could, she'd smile at him, but the handkerchief tied under her chin makes it impossible. She waves in what she hopes is a brave way and Charlie waves back. Anna is pleased to notice he looks worried.

  Dr. Thompson comes as quickly as his brand-new car can bring him. He unties the handkerchief. The cloth sticks to the blood and Anna winces. Dr. Thompson carefully washes the cut—which also hurts—and examines it.

  "Well, well," he says. "I guess I'll have to put you under the sewing machine."

  Anna begins to cry again. She thinks Dr. Thompson is going to use Mother's sewing machine to stitch her up. The needle is sharp and it goes very fast when Mother sews. She doesn't know how Dr. Thompson plans to get her chin under that needle, but she's sure it will hurt.

  "Oh, my heavens," Mother cries. She looks as if she's going to faint, so Dr. Thompson tells her to lie down. Then he goes to the door and tells Charlie to fetch Aunt May from next door.

  Luckily Aunt May isn't a bit squeamish. She holds Anna's head still while Dr. Thompson stitches her wound by hand. Each time the needle pricks her skin, Anna flinches but it doesn't hurt as much as she'd thought it wo
uld.

  When Dr. Thompson is finished, he steps back and smiles at Anna. "You're a brave girl," he says, then glances at Mother.

  Mother is still lying on the couch with her eyes closed. "I cannot bear the sight of blood," she says in a small voice.

  While he's bandaging the cut, Dr. Thompson says, "You didn't think I was actually going to put you under a sewing machine, did you?"

  Anna is afraid to open her mouth for fear the cut will begin to bleed, so she shakes her head. She hopes Dr. Thompson believes her.

  "Surely you didn't tell the poor child soch a terrible thing!" Aunt May says. "You really are a rascal, Dr. Thompson!"

  At that moment Charlie knocks on the door. He still has Anna's skates. Mother takes them and puts them in the closet. Anna hopes this is not the end of roller-skating.

  Charlie comes closer and stares at Anna. "How many stitches did you get?"

  Dr. Thompson answers for Anna who hadn't counted. "Nine," he says, "and she didn't cry once."

  Charlie whistles in admiration. "Anna's as tough as a boy," he says.

  That is the greatest compliment Charlie has ever given Anna, but he tops it by adding, "And she's a whole lot prettier."

  Anna decides every stitch was worth it.

  8. Fritzi and Duke

  AUNT MAY'S HUSBAND, UNCLE HENRY, IS A CHAUFFEUR. He drives a limousine for a rich man who lives in Federal Square. When Uncle Henry goes to work, he wears a dark-green uniform with gold-braid trim, tall polished boots, and a fancy cap with a shiny visor. He looks very handsome.

  Sometimes Uncle Henry takes Aunt May for a ride in the limousine. She sits in the back seat and pretends to be a great lady. Mother says Aunt May loves to put on airs, but Anna wishes she could ride in that big car, too. Like Aunt May, she'd wave to people. They'd wave back. Maybe they'd think Anna was rich. Maybe they'd think she lived in a mansion. They might even mistake her for a princess.