Chapter Two: My Twin's Birthday

"What do you want for your birthday, Bart?" Flo asked.

"No offense, but I'd like a birthday I didn't have to share."

She smiled. "Me too! It's not fair! Our other sisters all have their own birthdays, but we have to share ours just because our parents bought us on the same day!"

"Bought us?"

"After two mice get married, they save up their money," explained Flo. "Then they go to the store and buy a baby. That's how mice become parents."

"How do the babies get to the store?"

"The factory assembles them and drops them off at the door!"

"How do you know all this?"

"I asked Mother last night. Anyway, when the store is having a special where you buy one baby and get a discount on another, the parents can afford to get more than one. When Mother and Father went to the store to buy me, they had enough money to buy you too. That's why we're twins."

I nodded. "I still think it would be nice if each of us could have our own birthday."

Beth seized me later and dragged me to Margie's room. Cora shut the door.

"You all know why we're here," Margie began. "Flo has a birthday coming up, and we're going to make it spectacular! We're going to make her a red velvet cake, and we'll need lots of decorations. I think some balloons and confetti would be nice."

"What presents should we get her?" Cora asked.

"How about some jewelry?" suggested Beth. "She doesn't dress up very often, but she might if she had pretty things to wear with her outfits!"

"You get to be the diversion," Cora informed me. "You keep Flo out of the house for the day."

"What about me?" I demanded. "It will be my birthday too!"

Margie clicked her tongue in disapproval. "I'm surprised at you, Bart! You're usually the most selfless one among us."

I can't tell which is worse, being the youngest child or being the only boy. It's certainly a bad combination. I end up having to do almost anything my sisters want.

Everything went according to plan. When her special day came, I kept Flo out of the house long enough for our other sisters to set up the party. When we returned, the table was set up with decorations, red velvet cake, and presents. None of the gifts had my name on them, and no one wished me a happy birthday.

"I won't ruin it for her," I told myself. "Florence deserves a good birthday, and she's going to have one. I won't say anything to spoil this. There will be plenty of time to ask about my half of the celebration tomorrow."

Flo was given one small piece of Gouda for each year of her life. She then ate her cake as everyone wished her well. Afterwards, she opened her presents, thanking each member of the family as she admired the gifts.

"Did you have a good birthday?" I asked my sister after her party.

"It was wonderful!" she replied.

As I went to bed that night, I tried to convince myself not to feel disappointed that no one had remembered it was also my birthday; however, I wondered how they could have forgotten. I supposed they'd just gotten carried away trying to make the day special for Flo.

When I woke up the next morning, I smelled my favorite breakfast cooking. Rushing to the table, I saw several boxes wrapped in colorful paper.

"Happy birthday, little brother!" Beth hugged me. "Flo told us how you wanted separate birthdays, so we asked Mother and Father, and they agreed! Yesterday was Flo's birthday, and today is yours!"

Margie passed me the Gouda. "Enjoy your tasty treat!"

"Look at him! He had no idea we would do this!" Cora laughed. "Many happy returns of this day to you, Bart!"

After eating a piece of chocolate cake with marzipan, I opened my gifts. My favorite was a note from my sisters, saying I didn't have to dress their hair for an entire week!