The birthday

Elena and Julia had been friends since they started kindergarten. Now they were in second grade and walked together because they lived very close to one another. Both came from middle-class families. But that year Julia's father lost his job, the factory closed, and her mother started sewing, mending clothes for acquaintances and people recommended to her; she wasn't a seamstress, but she had always sewn for her family.

That covered the main expenses, but the mood in the house changed. The father was always in a bad temper because he couldn't find work, he no longer played with the children, he didn't laugh and sometimes argued with the mother. Julia suffered through that and talked about it with her friend Elena.

After school, Elena's mother would pick them up and the two little girls would have their snack together; then they'd do their homework until Julia's mother came for her.

That week Elena was turning 8 and was celebrating on Sunday. She invited a group of classmates to her house. At school everyone talked about the gift they'd bring: a pencil case, colored pencils, storybooks…

Julia knew she couldn't buy her best friend a proper gift, and she told her mother she wasn't going to the birthday party because she had nothing to bring. Her mother answered: "Maybe... we'll see. Perhaps a magician will appear and bring you a gift for your friend."

Sunday arrived. Her mother dressed Julia in the best dress she had. Julia cried: "I'm not going." Then her mother brought out a beautiful package tied with a bow and told her: "You give this to Elena from me, and tell her a magician brought it for her."

"Mom, tell me what it is," Julia begged. "You'll see when she opens the package."

Julia was afraid of making a fool of herself: she knew her mother couldn't afford to buy anything.

She arrived at the party and, at the door, her mother handed her the package for her friend, gave her a kiss and told them to have fun: "Call me when it's over." Julia went in with her package and, very serious, sat down to wait for Elena to finish greeting everyone and their gifts, which were already piling up on a little table.

Elena went over to her friend, hugged her, delighted that she had come, saw the package and said: "What's this?" "My mom sent it, and she said for you to enjoy it."

With trembling hands, the two of them began tearing off the wrapping, and out came a beautiful cape of burgundy red velvet. Elena let out a scream, hugged her friend and said: "Your mom is a genius!" She put it on right away over her white dress, where it shone in all its splendor, and she didn't take it off for the whole party.

Julia recognized the fabric of her mother's finest dress, and her heart filled with gratitude. Her mother had sacrificed her own dress so her daughter wouldn't suffer and could enjoy the party.

Years went by, and Julia, every time her children have a birthday, remembers that day and understands and treasures what her mother did.