Anna All Year Round Read Online Free PDF Page B

together!"
    "Charlie and I," says Aunt Grace. "Charlie and I will do it together."
    For a moment, Anna thinks Aunt Grace wants to help her and Charlie build the ferris wheel. She's too surprised to say anything—which is lucky, because she quickly realizes that Aunt Grace is correcting her grammar, not offering to help build the ferris wheel.
    "Charlie and I," Anna says with a smile. "Charlie and I will build the biggest and best ferris wheel in the world!"
    As the day ends, the relatives gradually leave. Snow falls softly, whitening the city streets and sidewalks. Father lights the candles on the tree. He turns out the gas lights. He winds up the new Victrola and plays "
Stille Nacht
" for Mother. It's his last Christmas surprise, "Silent Night," sung in German.
    Anna sits on the sofa between Mother and Father. Father sips a glass of dandelion wine. Mother eats a piece of chocolate from her favorite shop, Page & Shaw's.
    Anna hugs her doll. "This is the best Christmas ever," she says.
    "You say that every year," Mother says.
    "And every year it's true," says Anna.

6. Anna's Birthday Surprise
    IT'S THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. ANNA AND CHARLIE are sitting on the parlor floor, building a tower with Anna's Erector set. They cannot make a ferris wheel because they do not have enough pieces. Santa didn't bring Charlie an Erector set. He brought him mittens, socks, a scarf, and a warm hat instead. Charlie's mother says Santa knows what's best for Charlie but Charlie isn't so sure of that.
    "Santa didn't bring me an Erector set, either," Anna reminds Charlie. "My uncles and aunts gave it to me."
    "Maybe Santa ran out of Erector sets," Charlie says glumly.
    "That must be it," Anna agrees. "Santa's elves couldn't make enough for everyone this year. You'll get your set next Christmas."
    Anna and Charlie work quietly for a while. Then Charlie says, "Your birthday is next week. Are you having a party?"
    Anna shakes her head. She has pestered Mother for days but it has done no good. Mother will not say yes to a party.
    Charlie looks as disappointed as Anna feels. "That's too bad," he says. "I heard Rosa tell Beatrice it's your turn to have a party. She says she won't invite you to her party next year if you don't invite her to a party at your house this year."
    Anna frowns at Charlie. "That's not fair," she says. "It's not my fault Mother won't let me have a party."
    "Don't get cross with me," Charlie says. "I'm just telling you what Rosa says."
    "Rosa is a boring, stuck-up snob," Anna says. "I don't care if she never invites me to another party. In fact, I won't go, not even if she gets down on her knees and begs me."
    Charlie agrees. "I won't go either. Rosa might kiss me again." He makes a face.
    Anna giggles, but she hopes Charlie doesn't feel the same way about kissing her.
    After Charlie leaves, Anna puts away her Erector set and goes to the kitchen to find Mother. "Rosa won't invite me to her birthday party if I don't invite her to my birthday party," she tells Mother.
    "That's just as well," Mother says. "We won't have to buy her any more presents."
    "But, Mother—"
    "Anna, I've told you over and over again that you cannot have a party. If you ask once more, Father and I won't celebrate your birthday at all. There will be no gifts for you. No cake. No ice cream."
    Anna knows Mother means every word. Feeling sad, she goes to the parlor and sits in Father's chair, her favorite thinking place. While Mother moves around the kitchen preparing supper, Anna stares out the window. The winter day is ending. Across the street, the housetops and chimneys are black against the sunset. They look as if they've been cut from paper and pasted onto the sky.
    Slowly an idea forms in Anna's head. Mother will be very cross, but Anna doesn't care. She must have a birthday party. She absolutely must.
    The next day Anna has a piano lesson at Madame Wehman's house. When it's over, she walks down North Avenue to the five-and-dime and buys a small box of