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Show 18b On the morning of his sixteenth birthday, Karl woke up because Henry was sitting on his chest. "Happy birthday," Henry said. "When are you going to play with me? All you do is sleep since you got home." "No," Karl corrected him, "since I came home, all I've done is eat, sleep, and soak myself in the wooden tub. But finally I'm clean, full, and rested. So I'll play with you." He flipped Henry over onto the mattress and wrestled with him, taking pleasure in the little boy's squeals of delight. Later he sent Henry downstairs with a message for their mother that Karl would be down as soon as he'd dressed. He was hoping Maggie Rose would make pancakes for his birthday breakfast, since that was his favorite. When he reached the kitchen, Maggie Rose stacked pancakes on a plate for him, saying, "So you finally got out of bed? I was ready to go upstairs and give you what Paddy gave the drum. Happy birthday, darlin'. I made enough batter for twice this many pancakes, so eat your fill. Henry already had his." "Thanks, Mom. They look great. They taste great," Karl said, sampling them. "I wanted to put a candle on your pancakes," Henry told Karl, "but Mom wouldn't let me." |
