Margaret & Taylor (2 page)

Margaret wanted to touch the elephant to make sure, so she punched her finger through the wrapping. Taylor wanted to try it, and just as he was about to, Margaret grabbed his hand.

“No,” she said. “Remember, we're here to buy a present for Grandpa.”

Margaret led Taylor to the furniture department.

“Grandpa's chairs are all too hard,” said Margaret. “I think he needs a soft one.”

“Do we have enough money for a chair?” asked Taylor.

Margaret didn't answer. She was already sitting on a chair, testing it.

Margaret moved back and forth. She bounced up and down.

“That looks like fun,” said Taylor, as he climbed onto a chair of his own.

“Get down from there,” said Margaret. She pulled Taylor's leg. “Come on, we're here to buy a present for Grandpa.”

“Grandpa could use a new hat,” said Margaret. “His is old and gray.”

“I like it,” said Taylor. “So does Grandpa. He wears it all the time.”

“But look at those,” said Margaret, pointing. “They have feathers and birds and bows on them.”

“Grandpa would look funny with feathers and birds and bows on his head,” said Taylor.

But Margaret wasn't listening. She was trying on the hat with feathers. She tried on the hat with birds. She tried on the hat with bows.

Taylor picked up one of the hats.

Margaret looked at him.

“There isn't time for you to try on hats,” she said. “Did you forget? We're here to buy a present for Grandpa.”

But it was getting late. It was almost time for the party to start. Margaret and Taylor had to go.

As they left, Margaret said, “Just because of your playing around, we have nothing for Grandpa. You didn't remember.”

Taylor nodded. He pulled his hand from behind his back.

“Oh, yes, I did,” he said. “
I
remembered. I remembered all the time.”

A
fter they got home from Grandpa's, Margaret and Taylor sat on the front porch before going to bed.

They were holding their balloons from the party. Margaret's was yellow with orange stripes. Taylor's was red all over.

The wind was blowing, so the balloons bobbed up and down.

“Look!” said Taylor. “Mine's a giant floating tomato.”

Margaret didn't look. She was tying the string from her balloon to her wrist.

“See?” she said. “Now my balloon is safe. It can't blow away.”

“Will you help me do mine?” asked Taylor.

“You're big enough to tie by yourself,” said Margaret. “Don't be a baby.”

Taylor looped the string around his wrist. When the wind gusted again, his balloon sailed away.

“Help!” yelled Taylor. “Come back!”

But it was too late. His balloon was gone.