Each year comes faster and faster. Even as time has sped up, I have one memory from several decades ago to share with you.
Balloons in the Trees
As I think back, some birthday parties stand out while other recollections are barely images; some have no sound or color. One that recently floated into my mind was my kindergarten birthday party.
Most all the kids from my class attended that sunny May day. It was a typical birthday yard party; we played outside, ate birthday cake, and I opened presents. Two guests remain in my memory: Billy Joe Cameron and his mother.
They arrived as we were playing chase in the front yard. He was dirty-faced and wore faded clothes. His mom, a shy woman, wore a well-used housedress and stayed for the party. She stood back and watched us run around and shyly laughed every once in a while.
When it was time to eat, Mrs. Cameron helped pass out paper plates and cake. She barely said a word, but I remember her watching us with a longing in her eyes. At the time I didn’t understand much about Billy Joe, his mother, or their life situation.
At gift opening time, Mrs. Cameron handed me an unwrapped doll. Billy Joe got excited as he watched me look at it. The doll was flat and made of black cloth. Her legs dangled from her square body; she wore no clothes. She had a red rag wrapped around her head like a turban with tiny hoop rings dangling on each side where an ear belonged.
That’s all I remember about the party.
I imagine we returned to playing in our front
yard until it was time to send everyone home.
After the party, my mom explained that
Mrs. Cameron probably made the doll using
material scraps. It probably took her hours she
didn’t have to give, but she wanted her son to
bring a present to the party.
Over the years, gifts from most of my elementary parties disappeared or were given away when I outgrew them. I still have the doll from Billy Joe.