Birthday Fodder

On the road to church, the boys sat in the back of a very spacious truck. Puck watched the scenery flash past with great satisfaction.

“I can look out the window with ease and watch the road go by,” he said. “It gives me a good feeling. You know?”

A couple of hours later, Carrie-Bri set out plates of baby pickles with artichoke dip, macaroni and cheese bites, and kale chips, courtesy of Rose.

“They’re awful. I hate them,” she explained.

Before another hearty Carrie meal of chicken drumsticks, sweet potatoes, salad, and homemade Amish yeast rolls, there were gifts to celebrate Carrie’s birthday two days late and Mom’s six days early.

Later, when I brought out the cake with two sparkling candles, Francis looked skeptically at the top.

“Is that coconut?” he whispered.

“It is.”

If it hadn’t been for the chicken drumsticks, I think Francis would have cried “foul” on the whole birthday feast. So when his birthday comes around in three months, Carrie will remember to put a hold on the coconut, and Rose probably won’t offer any kale.