"Happy birthday, Jackie!" Cole exclaimed handing his twin sister a tiny present. It was wrapped a bit odd, but knowing Cole, she was not surprised. Cole summoned her to come over to the counter. She she arrived, he displayed his extraordinary vanilla cake he had made for her earlier.

"Awe, Cole!" Jackie awed at the sight of a cake made just for her,"wait, you made the cake?"

"Yes." Cole replied proudly, setting his hands on his hips.

Jackie felt terrible. Cole did all of that for her, and Jackie did nothing for him. Usually, she would go to the store and buy him a few caramel bars, which were his favorite. Since she had no access to a store within walking distance, she had no idea what she could give him. All she wanted to do was embrace him and somehow have a present and cake prepared for him. Jackie watched as Cole went over to the counter to cut the cake. As she scanned the room, her eyes eventually landed on the clock. It was then when she realized it was 7:00 a.m. Jackie gasped, angry that she was up so early, but was in a good mood.

"You remember me waking you up quite early this morning, right?" Cole asked, watching as Jackie grew upset at how early she woke up.

Jackie tilted her head and scanned the room, "Uh, no, not that I can recall."

"Maybe that's for the best," Cole laughed, placing a hand on her shoulder.

I wish father and mother were here.

Jackie thought as she felt warm tears sting her eyes. She turned away from him to hide her tears as she bit her lip. An unexpected tear rolled down her cheek and on to her outfit.

Eventually, Cole strolled over to Jackie with a piece of cake and called her to the table. Jackie sat down nonchalantly, removing a stray hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

  "Come on, open your present!" Cole urged, leaning over the table with hope in his eyes.

Jackie unwrapped the gift slowly, she always had, she loved to "savor" the suspense of opening a gift. Soon she made her way to a tiny black box. She glanced up at Cole who had a smile reaching his ears. She placed her finger on the lid and lifted it gently. Her eyes bulged at the sight of a small necklace with a letter J. It was almost an exact replica of the E her mama had. Jackie took the necklace and hugged it close to her chest, as if it was her teddy bear. Jackie turned to face Cole, a hazy mist forming in front of her eyes. Jackie ran over to Cole and hugged him tightly.

"You're welcome." Cole replied softly with a smile.

###

"Happy Birthday guys!" Finn exclaimed after Cole told him that his was their birthday.

Jackie's eyes landed on Finn for a split second, allowing her cheeks to brighten in seconds. Finn met Jackie's eyes and he smiled softly at her. Jackie assumed he was smiling simply because her birthday was the reason that he did not have any chores. Mr. Vandel let the kids off the hook, including Finn, since it was their birthday. 

While the kids celebrated indoors with cake and fun games, Mr. Vandel spent a large chunk of the morning shoveling the snow and making sure the chimney was working properly.

###

"Jackie...Cole, can you both come here?" Mr. Vandel called from the porch. 

    A mail man with a brown mustache had just dropped off an envelope addressed to the twins at their original home, but once it was determined that no one lived there anymore, it was sent to Mr. Vandel. Jackie and Finn were playing a board game while Cole was trying to finish one of his two favorite books. Jackie and Cole exchanged worried glances as they slowly stepped out of the room to the porch.

"Yes, Mr. Vandel?" Jackie asked curiously, her large smile still on her face from what had happened this morning.

Mr. Vandel handed Jackie a parched envelope which looked like it lived through a hurricane. It was burned, ripped, wet, and nearly diminished. They both tore it open immediately, but as they began to read the first line, their happy-go-lucky smiles faded in an instant.

Dear Jacqueline and Cole Clugsglot,
We are very sorry to inform you that your father has passed away on Sept. 23rd. My condolences to you children and your ma. Our greeting was brief and scarce, but know that I am open to listen. Write back if you desire. I assume you would like to know the cause of death. Unfortunately, was shot precisely in the heart and died almost immediately according to an ally stationed nearby. Before he died he muttered these words,
"tell my family I love them."

Kind Regards,
Gen. Walter

"Oh my-" Jackie clasped her hand over her mouth, her eyes bulging out of its sockets.

Jackie and Cole stared blankly at the letter as they allowed the message to sink in. Then Jackie ran into her room and cried while Cole was wishing that everything was normal again.

One of hell of a birthday.