gripped THE LITTLE SONGBIRD By Kerry house. ‘Mama! Mama! Guess ‘I the snowstorm, Mari trotted through the kitchen and living room leaving a trail of tiny puddles behind. ‘Mama! Mama!" Mari charged down the hall and into Mama's room. With a big leap, she landed on the cushioned chair, feet first. Her mother lay in a metal hospital bed beside the chair. “Oh Mama!" Mari exclaimed, ‘| got a hundred on my addition test!” Unzipping her coat pocket, Mari pulled out a crunched up piece of paper. Her big brown eyes sparkled excitedly as she smoothed the paper out and pushed it toward her mother. Lifting a thin arm, her mother took the paper. The dark rings around her eyes seemed to disappear as she smiled. ‘I'm proud of you Mari.’’ she said. “Daddy and Grandma will really be proud too.” Triumphantly Mari bounced up and down on the chair. Then, she of declare, the hall. | just followed the mud With her coat, Mari looked like a tan little rabbit as she hopped down the stairs with both feet. Walking over to the washer Mari sat down on a big Tide box. A curtainless window above the washer and dryer lighted the gray, concrete basement. After struggling a minute, she yanked off one boot, then Mari could still feel the warmth Father's cheek the other. against her own. of her She thought of how much she loved Mama. “I'll sure be glad when Mama is all better! It seems she’s been getting worser and worser. But when she’s all better, we'll bake cookies again, and make lots and lots of things. Daddy said that Mama had had an operation on cancer, or something like that, and now Mama would get better. Mari never doubted that. She believed everything Daddy said.’ But... a fear leaned over and gave her mother a kiss on her warm, pale cheek. Her mother grasped Mari's cold hand and squeezed it lovingly. “Hey! What's my little songbird doing 26 heart this don't . . . time? “What Oh let Mama gained strength window and play the in until if her Dad, she climbed up on his knee. “See?” she said with a big grin, ‘'l made it for Mama, all by myself!” Daddy smiled and squeezed her almost ‘till it hurt. He was so strong. “What's inside?’ he asked. Daddy God, please die.” As the winter storms came ches of new snow, Mama's puddles and | found you!"’ Grandma said putting her hands on her hips. ‘‘And then | find, you jumping on the chair! Your mother. knows better than to let you do that young lady. Take your coat and rubbers off in the washroom. On the double!” Mari smiled mischievously as she bounced once more and leaped to the floor. As Mari trotted past the doorway, Grandma gave her a love pat on the behind. She headed for the stairway at the end what her wrong please jumping on the chair with her rubbers still on?’ Mama's green eyes twinkled while she scolded. Grandma's heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway. “You better take them off before your Grandma gets you. Hurry!" It was, too late. Grandma's stout body was blocking the doorway. The lines from her mouth deepened and her gray eyebrows arched above her wire glasses as she frowned sternly. Mama?" Forgetting her sloshy boots with clanky buckles, and her furry coat, damp from CRIED Brethouwer The year's first snowstorm swirled downward in large heavy flakes blanketing the green grass and late September flowers. Splashing through puddles of slush, six-year-old Mari hurried home with a proud grin on her face. She could hardly wait to show her very first addition test to Mama. “Mama will be so happy | got a hundred on it,’’ she thought, She trailed across the covered grass, leaving tiny footprints in the snow, and then started running; she was almost home. j The storm-door slammed shut and Mari's excited voice vibrated through the quiet is she could watch Mari snow.: Often adding inthin body sit by the her dad and Mama Well,"’ read fairy tales while Mari sat and colored elves or reindeer. And then when Daddy came Mama home with a big Christmas tree, made sure she got to help decorate it, Mama sat on the couch handing the tree ornaments to Mari as she hung them around the tree. Grandma popped popcorn and threaded it, while Daddy strung the lights. When the icicles had been hung and the popcorn draped, the evergreen was ready for the finishing touch. Mari giggled with delight as Daddy swung her onto his broad shoulders and E her set the angel on the very top of the tree. Then, after plugging in the lights, daddy sat down and put his arm around Mama hugging her. ‘‘Honey, you shouldn't have worked yourself so much," Daddy’s voice was concerned but loving. know you are still weak.”’ “But Daddy,’’ Mama protested, at how much fun we had, and ‘You ‘‘Look isn't the tree beautiful?’’ She smoothed his dark wavy hair and kissed him on the cheek. Mari skipped around the tree, her heart pounding with excitement. ‘‘Tomorrow,” she thought, ‘I will bring Mama's preee from school, and put it under e tree. The next day Mari came home carrying her gift for Mama all wrapped up in Christmas paper. Grandma was busy na dishes as Mari entered the warm Be Boy sat at the table beside a ltchen window eating a bowl of Daddy!" what | got?" Mari exclaimed, ‘‘Guess | give up,” he said winking. ‘Take off your boots, then come 'n show me.” iocly fhe oe the gift down on the ene Mari said whispering, “it's a secret, but if you promise not to tell? . . . | promise,"’ Daddy said crossing his heart. She cupped her hands around hi and whispered. ae Oh my, Mama will just love that," Daddy said opening his brown eyes wide. | Mari giggled and jumping from her dad s knee she went over to Grandma. Grandma look what | made for Mama,’ Mari said holding up the package. Grandma _ nodded her head, not really looking. She continued washing the dishes. “Yes, yes honey: That's nice. But don't bother your mother now. She's not feeling well today.” Oh!" Mari sighed looking at the present. Gripping it tightly she slowly walked toward her own room. Then, turning around she looked at her dad. She rubbed a tear from her eye, “Mama is going to get better isn't she Daddy?" That evening Mari slipped quietly into Mama's room. A bed lamp was on, casting shadows on the wall. Mama's face looked yellowish and drawn as she lay there. “Mama,” Mari whispered, “‘Are you asleep?" Opening her eyes, her mother turned toward Mari. “No, | was just resting. How is my little songbird tonight?" she asked softly. ti Mari replied, forcing a smile. “What's the ackage you’ there?”’ asked Renta, Sa ee gn Mari held out her wrapped package. | made it just for you, for Christmas. But | thought it would make you feel better if | gave it to you now.” Mama took the package and held it tightly. “Here Mama, let me help you open it." Ripping off the paper, Mari showed her would es off her rubbers and coat. € present and running over to 27