By Jim Hill
Artwork by Alfred Negrete
“Only five more days!” Cari thought out loud. “Only five more days till my birthday!” My how fast she was growing. This would be her ninth birthday, and she was becoming more excited with each passing day. If only she could have something new instead of all the used toys that her mama bought for her at the second-hand store. “Maybe this year will be different,” she thought once again. Jim trudged home after a long day of looking for work. Jobs were hard to find in the town the Hills called home, and many families had already moved on searching for greener pastures. He entered through the back door and hung his wool coat on the wooden peg to dry. “If I don’t work soon, we might have to sell the house,” he whispered to Brenda. “You will,” she said, as she reached up to kiss him hello. That evening Jim, Brenda, Cari, and Eric sat down at the table to eat dinner. There wasn’t much food that night, but God was providing each day. During dinner, Jim asked Cari, “Have you thought about what you would like for your birthday?” “Oh, not really,” she answered. Cari knew that her daddy was out of a job, and she didn’t want to sound too excited. However, in the middle of the night, she would lay awake dreaming about her birthday present.
Jim sent Cari and Eric off to bed with a big hug. Later, while Brenda was putting away the dishes, Jim was staring into the fireplace. As the sparks Rew upward, the thought came to him. “I’ve got it!” “What, what?” asked Brenda. “What’s going on?” Jim continued, “Just make sure that you have that cake ready, and have Eric meet me in the barn tomorrow when he gets home from school. Cari is going to have all the presents that she ever dreamed of!”
The next day saws, chisels, and sandpaper were soon put to work. “Throw another log on the fire, Eric,” instructed Jim. “We want the wax good and hot when we pour it into the mold.” Everything was set, and the two of them gently poured the fiery liquid into the wooden mold. “That does it,” said Jim. “Let’s call it a day and get back at it tomorrow.”
The next afternoon Eric hurried home from school, and it was time to break open the mold to see what they had accomplished. Jim cracked the mold in two, and Eric exclaimed, “Perfect! She’s going to love it!”
Cari’s birthday finally arrived, and Brenda prepared an especially delicious dinner coNsisting of filet mignon, pasta salad, and fruit salad. The four of them ate quickly, and then Brenda brought out the cake while Jim and Eric sat the colorfully wrapped box in front of Cari. “Go ahead and open it,” Jim said. She slowly untied the ribbon and removed the tape from the wrapping paper. “Hurry up, Cari!” demanded Eric. He was more excited than she was. Cari opened the lid, peered inside, and asked, “What is it?” “It’s a birthday candle!” Eric explained gleefully. “In doesn’t look like a candle,” Cari replied questioningly. “Here, let me light it.” Jim struck a match and touched the tip of the slender wick with the small flame. As the light spread across the room, Cari’s eyes fastened on the candle, and she said, “It’s so beautiful! Thank you, everyone!” “You know, you really are an excellent carpenter,” Brenda said to her husband. “I had good help,” Jim replied as he winked at Eric.
The flame on the wick grew longer and Cari’s smile bigger – for on the sides, all around the birthday candle, were Cari’s new bike, dress, doll, and many of the other things that she dreamt of at night.
This truly was Cari’s best and brightest birthday.
The End
