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1ThePresentItwastheoldlady'sbirthday.Shegotupearlytobereadyforthepost.Fromthesecondfloorflatshecouldseethepostmanwhenhecamedownthestreet,andthelittleboyfromthegroundfloorbroughtupherlettersontherareoccasionswhenanythingcame.Todayshewassurethewouldbesomething.Myrawouldn'tforgethermother'sbirthday,evenifsheseldomwroteatothertimes.OfcourseMyrawasbusy.HerhusbandhadbeenmadeMayor,andMyraherselfhadgotamedalforherworktheaged.TheoldladywasproudofMyra,butEnidwasthedaughtersheloved.Enidhadnevermarried,buthadseemedcontenttolivewithhermother,andteachinaprimaryschoolroundthecorner.Oneevening,however,Enidsaid,I'vearrangedforMrs.Morrisontolookafteryouforafewdays,Mother.TomorrowIhavetogointohospital--justaminoroperation,I'llsoonbehome.Inthemorningshewent,butnevercameback--shediedontheoperatingtable.Myracametothefuneral,andinherefficientwayarrangedforMrs.Morrisontocomeinandlightthefireandgivetheoldladyherbreakfast.Twoyearsagothatwas,andsincethenMyrahadbeentoseehermotherthreetimes,butherhusbandnever.Theoldladywaseighttoday.Shehadputonherbestdress.Perhaps--perhapsMyramightcome.Afterall,eightywasaspecialbirthday,anotherdecadelinedorenduredjustasyouchosetolookatit.EvenifMyradidnotcome,shewouldsendapresent.Theoldladywassureofthat.Twospotsofcolourbrightenedhercheeks.Shewasexcited--likeachild.Shewouldenjoyherday.YesterdayMrs.Morrisonhadgiventheflatanextraclean,andtodayshehadbroughtacardandabunchofmarigoldswhenshecametodothebreakfast.Mrs.Grantdownstairshadmadeacake,andintheafternoonshewasgoingdown2theretotea.Thelittleboy,Johnnie,hadbeenupwithapacketofmints,andsaidhewouldn'tgoouttoplayuntiltheposthadcome.Iguessyou'llgetlotsandlotsofpresents,hesaid,IdidlastwerewhenIwassix.Whatwouldshelike?Apairofslippersperhaps.Oranewcardigan.Acardiganwouldbelovely.Blue'ssuchaprettycolour.Jimhadalwayslikedherinblue.Oratablelamp.Orabook,atravelbook,withpictures,oralittleclock,withclearblacknumbers.Somanylovelythings.Shestoodbythewindow,watching.Thepostmanturnedroundthecorneronhisbicycle.Herheartbeatfast.Johnniehadseenhimtooandrantothegate.Thenclatter,clatterupthestairs.Johnnieknockedatherdoor.Granny,granny,heshouted,I'vegotyourpost.Hegaveherfourenvelopes.Threewereunsealedcardsfromoldfriends.Thefourthwassealed,inMyra'swriting.Theoldladyfeltapangofdisappointment.Noparcel,Johnnie?No,granny.Maybetheparcelwastoolargetocomebyletterpost.Thatwasit.Itwouldcomelaterbyparcelpost.Shemustbepatient.Almostreluctantlyshetoretheenvelopeopen.Foldedinthecardwasapieceofpaper.WrittenonthecardwasamessageundertheprintedHappyBirthday--Buyyourselfsomethingnicewiththecheque,MyraandHarold.Thechequeflutteredtothefloorlikeabirdwithabrokenwing.Slowlytheoldladystoopedtopickitup.Herpresent,herlovelypresent.Withtremblingfingersshetoreitintolittlebits.