"What do you want for your birthday?" the father asked his daughter.
"Do you want a doll?" She wrinkled her nose and scrunched her eyes and thought.
"No."
"A tea set?" "A pony?"
"No, Father, I have a year to think. I want this year to be a special year, to remember."
"All right. You think and let me know."
Ellen thought. She thought of bonbons, chocolate, new dresses, hats, kid boots, books, gloves, lace collars, but none of these were what she wanted. What would be special?
Each day her father asked her, "Ellen, do you know what you want for your birthday yet?" And Ellen would shake her head, "No, Father, I’m still thinking." After four days her father said, "Ellen?" "Yes, Father, I’ve decided."
"Do you want a doll?" She wrinkled her nose and scrunched her eyes and thought.
"No."
"A tea set?" "A pony?"
"No, Father, I have a year to think. I want this year to be a special year, to remember."
"All right. You think and let me know."
Ellen thought. She thought of bonbons, chocolate, new dresses, hats, kid boots, books, gloves, lace collars, but none of these were what she wanted. What would be special?
Each day her father asked her, "Ellen, do you know what you want for your birthday yet?" And Ellen would shake her head, "No, Father, I’m still thinking." After four days her father said, "Ellen?" "Yes, Father, I’ve decided."