As promised, part two of the Wards' Family Night.
Everyone has finished their cake. Mary has to wait while her mother and grandmother clean up in the kitchen before she can open her birthday present…

The dark swirling clouds covered the moon now, blocking the beams of light and casting a long shadow across the landscape. The dark daunting sky cried as raindrops thrashed down on the windows, spatting out droplets in the process. These small, defenceless droplets cascaded down the glass, only to be gobbled up by the greedy, and bigger, raindrops. The raindrops, after having their fill of the droplets, then skittered from one corner of the glass to the other, then they splashed into shapeless, plain water.
Inversely, inside the warm, cheery, welcoming farmhouse, the fire was ablaze. It warned away any dark entity that might otherwise intrude and disrupt this family gathering, ruining Mary's birthday evening.
Mary was kneeling down in front of the fire, opposite her present with her hands on her thighs. The other children were sitting next to her, eyes with eagerness equal to her own, all children's minds wondering what the present could be. It wasn't tall, but it was long and rectangular. The width wasn't great either which baffled the children's heads.
Mary's auntie Alice smiled to herself. She knew all too well what this present was. It was something that was often commonly taken for granted by girls from rich families because they had so many. A present that girls from less fortunate families would conjure all different kinds of appearances in their mind's eye. It was one present most boys and men would roll their eyes at when the girl squealed with delight at the sight. Auntie Alice hadn't been in on Mary's birthday secret, she just knew from the shape. This present was something auntie Alice never saw in wrapping paper or a box. It was never presented to her because she'd only ever got a few in her lifetime. Now she was married, maybe she wouldn't have to worry so much.

The adults were either standing, sitting in the settees and chairs or sitting beside these pieces of furniture on the floor. Auntie Alice was one of them sitting on the floor, her forearm on her husband's thigh. Little Lizzie would occasionally look back at her parents with a childish smile of excitement while her cousin's arm was around her.
Uncle Tom didn't like his wife sitting on the floor but she wouldn't ask anyone to give up their seat. Besides, it was still early days in the pregnancy.
But, even Mary when everyone had first entered the living room hadn't liked her auntie sitting on the floor in her condition. Auntie Alice didn't like the fuss but bit back her annoyance, reminding herself it was the girl's birthday.

Finally, Mary's mother and grandmother came into the room, standing next to their husbands. Mary's mother kneeled down and kissed daughter's cheek on the way. Now everyone was present, Mary looked back at her parents who nodded, telling her it was time to open her present. Mary first shook it but it made no sound, so she shrugged and set it down, asking her cousin, Little Lizzie to help her. They both quickly unwrapped it to find a material folded up inside. Mary unfolded it and stood up, holding it up in front of her. It suited her well: it was a pretty white dress with frills on the skirt and sleeves and on the neckline. Mary was delighted and squealed with joy.
The whole family thought it suited her.
This was truly the best birthday Mary ever had as the room came alive with chatter and laughter. She received so many compliments, Mary lost count. Little Lizzie went bounding back over to her parents as Mary's father announced that he, his wife and parents had put together a party down in the village. It was to be Little Lizzie's first ever party and so she got most of Mary's attention.

Mary, her cousins, her aunties, her uncles, her parents and her grandparents put on their cloaks and filed out of the farmhouse one by one. As they all strode towards the village, Uncle Tom watched with his arm around his wife with a smile as his little girl walked with Mary and her parents.

The two girls walked holding hands beside Mary's parents who were linking arms.
Mary looked down at her cousin and promised her, "You will love this party, Lizzie. Parties are always fun."
Little Lizzie nodded and said as she smiled up at her big cousin, "Happy birthday, Mary!"
Mary smiled and leaned down to hug her.
"Thank you, Lizzie," she whispered in her ear.

When the Wards reached their destination, the village square, the band was already playing and all of Mary's friends and her friends' parents were there too. Streamers strung from the trees, lanterns hanging on the branches. Balloons floated above the white garden tables like chandeliers and candles were set out in the middle of the tables. A buffet stood by the running fountain, the table dressed in a pink blanket, and plates were set in front of the white garden chairs.
"SURPRISE!"
Mary was literally jumping with joy and immediately joined her friends dancing, gently pulling Little Lizzie with her. Her cousins joined them as well and the parents all watched as they sat at the tables with the other parents.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Jack asked, catching his dad rub his brow.
"Nothing, son, it's just…wow! Don't children grow up quick?"
Everyone had to agree.
Then, a slow song played. The couples got up and began to dance as the children made their way over to their parents' tables. May and her cousins all sat there giggling, not knowing a thing about grown-up love – neither did they want to know.

Looking around at their sons with their wives dancing, Mary's grandparents stuck with what was said earlier. The couples dancing now, they could just see them as children dancing together.