“You see, we didn’t forget,” laughed Veve. “We were only waiting for the party to start.”

45 The girls played games which Miss Gordon directed. Connie’s mother brought in a huge paper pie with strings attached. Each girl pulled out her fortune.

45

“Mine says I’m going on a long trip!” announced Eileen, reading her slip. “Oh, Miss Gordon, does that mean just me, or all the Brownies?”

“Tell us the surprise,” the other Brownies chorused.

But Miss Gordon only smiled and said not a word.

When the party was nearly over Mrs. Williams served sandwiches, ice cream and cake. Each little girl received a paper hat and a horn that made a loud toot.

Then it came time for Connie to open her presents. Jane had given her a nylon hairbrush. Belinda’s gift was a pair of Brownie woolen sox while both Sunny and Eileen gave handkerchiefs with the same Brownie design. Rosemary had shopped a long while to find a pretty mirror.

Veve’s present was a bright red hair ribbon. The other girls gave an assortment of books, pins and games.

“Such wonderful gifts,” declared Connie, opening them one at a time. She thanked everyone. “I’ve never had a nicer birthday!”

46 “Our Brownie troop soon will have a birthday,” Miss Gordon reminded the girls. “Then we must celebrate again.”

46

Connie liked best of all the gifts with Brownie emblems, but she was too polite to say so. She did not show that any present pleased her more than another.

At five o’clock the party was over. One by one the girls went home, until only Veve and the Brownies were left. They offered to help Miss Gordon and Mrs. Williams straighten up and carry the dirty plates to the kitchen.

“Did you have a nice time, Connie?” asked her mother.

“Oh, yes, Mother! This has been my very nicest party—only—”

Connie started to mention again that her Grandmother and Grandfather Williams had forgotten to send even a birthday card.

Before she could speak, her father’s car rolled onto 

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