I dialed her number and when she answered, I said, "Hi, Jan! Today's my birthday!"

And the wonderful thing really happened. I had hardly finished speaking, when Jan said,

"Happy Birthday, darling!"

Happy tears slid from my eyes, releasing the remembered scorching pain of other birthdays and heartache. "If your folks can spare you a while from the family celebration I'd like to see you, " Jan said. "I want to get a present for you and—”

"Celebration?" I said. "Oh, Jan, there isn't any. My folks never celebrate my birthday. Never have. Never will."

I knew my remark stunned her. There was a moment of silence during which I could feel the rush of sympathy that came straight from Jan's heart.

At last she said, "In that case, honey, if you'll let me, I'll spend your birthday with you, any way you like. What would you like to do?”

"Just be with you," I said in a gush of breath. "I'll pick you up and bring you over here," Jan said happily. "Then we'll plan our day. Right?"

"Right!" I sang out. "So very right!" Nothing in all my eighteen years of life had ever felt more right.

I changed into a black skirt and pink, low-necked, curve-clinging blouse. I snatched up my blue sweater and waited for Jan on the front porch.

"When will be home?" Mother called to me. you

"Had you any reason to want me here at any special time?" I asked.

"No, " she said. "But I'm not keen about the company you'll be with. Why can't you have girl friends like Beth's? Nice, respectable girls we've known ever since you were a child.'

9.9

"I like Jan," I said. But my heart and soul yelled out, “I LOVE Jan!”

When Jan and I were having coffee in her apartment, 24

she said,

"Honey, I'll buy you a new present tomorrow. And surprise you with it. But for now, I want you to have the one thing that I value most among my material possessions."

I watched her take a tiny box from her cabinet where her personal papers and valuables were kept. She-held it tenderly in the palm of her hand, and her eyes misted.

"Here, honey," she quickly handed the box to me. "To you, on your birthday, from me with all my love!" When I opened the box, I saw a tiny, heartshaped locket.

"Oh, Jan! It's lovely!" I said, as I took it out and held it tenderly as she had held it a moment before. "It's my first birthday present." I fought to keep back the tears. “I do appreciate it, Jan. More than I can explain.

9.9

"Melba," she sat beside me on the divan. "Honey, that little locket was given me by my Mother when I was a tiny child. She died when I was six. But-in spirit, I believe she goes on loving me."

I almost envied Jan. She had the idea of her mother loving her in spirit. I knew because I was the same blonde coloring of my father, and not dark-haired and olive skinned like Mother and Beth, my mother never had and never would love me. Jan had more than I did. Yet I was not envious. I loved Jan and I was glad for her comfort.

"Maybe I

shouldn't take it," I said hesitantly, fingering the locket. "It means so much to you." "You mean so much, darling, that it's right that you should have it. I'd love to see you wearing it." Jan got up and stood behind me. "Let me fasten it for you." And for the first time I wore Jan's present. The first birthday present I'd ever had. I felt old wounds miraculously healing.

So,

25