The next morning, Grandfather and the Alden children drove to the Elmford Museum. Mr. Mason looked up as they all walked into his office.
“My granddaughter has something to say to you, Mr. Mason,” Mr. Alden said.
Mr. Mason looked very nervous. “Oh,” he said.
Jessie wet her lips. “Mr. Mason, I’ve decided that I want to give my necklace to your museum.”
“You do?” Mr. Mason cried out. “How wonderful! But are you sure?”
Jessie nodded. “I’m sure,” she said as she handed him the jewelry box. Mr. Mason put an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s all put it back into its case.”
They walked to the little room that had held the necklace. Mr. Mason opened the display case and put the necklace in it. The six of them stood and admired its beauty.
Suddenly, Mr. Mason, said, “Just one minute. I’ll be right back.” He left the room and returned five minutes later. He had a small card in his hand that he slid into a yellow window below the necklace.
Jessie bent over and read aloud, “Donated by Miss Jessie Alden.”
“Wow!” Benny said. “You’re famous now, Jessie.”
Mr. Mason smiled. “Jessie, when you get older, anytime you want to wear the necklace … to a dance or a very fancy party, whatever, you just call me.”
Jessie smiled. “I’d like that.”
Mr. Mason turned to Violet. “You draw very well, young lady. Don’t stop.”
Violet grinned. “Thank you!”
Then the Aldens left.
The ride home was a happy one. They were all excited by the events of the morning.
Jessie said to Violet, “You know, you can borrow the necklace anytime, too.”
Violet laughed. “I’ll wear it to my first real grown-up dance or party.”
As soon as the car pulled into the Alden’s driveway, the children ran to the boxcar. The word “party” had made them all think of the same thing … Grandfather’s birthday.
“It’s only a week away,” Henry said.
“We have a lot to do,” Benny said.
“Let’s go up to the attic and pick out what we are going to wear,” Jessie said.
Henry and Benny both frowned. “Are you sure we should do this?”
“Of course,” Violet insisted. “It will be fun.”
They went up to the attic and started going through trunks and closets. Henry decided to wear the velvet coat he had found before. Violet wanted the lavender hat and she found a long white dress to wear with it. Jessie held up a blue chiffon dress that reached the floor. “I like this one,” she said.
“Think of how lovely your necklace would look with that,” Violet said.
Benny found an old child’s sailor suit and complained when his sisters made him put it on.
“You look wonderful,” Jessie said. “Grandfather will love it.”
But Henry covered his mouth with his hand, so Benny wouldn’t see him laughing.
“I’m only wearing it for Grandfather,” Benny said. “I think it looks silly.”
The next day the Aldens went to Barlow’s Men’s Shop and looked at sweaters for Mr. Alden’s gift. Benny wanted to buy a bright red one. Violet wanted a blue one. Jessie loved a green sweater. Henry finally said, “Let’s buy one that Grandfather would want, not one we’d like for ourselves.”
They all had to agree that the gray wool was what Grandfather would like the best.
When they reached home, they went up to Violet’s room and she wrapped the sweater in gift paper. She had made her own card and they all signed it. When she made a big bow for the top of the gift box, Benny said, “Violet, you’re the best wrapper in the world.”
They had planned the party as a surprise dinner party and had invited Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy. The morning of Mr. Alden’s birthday, the children all pretended to sleep late, so that Grandfather would go to his office before seeing them. They wanted to give him his present at the dinner party.
That day, Mrs. McGregor made Mr. Alden’s favorite dinner … fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a big salad. All the children helped make the chocolate cake. Violet decorated it very carefully. When the cake was finished, Jessie decorated the dining room and living room with balloons. Then she hung streamers around the portrait of their grandmother. Violet practiced the Blue Danube waltz, which she had decided to play on her violin. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy arrived at five o’clock, and everyone was waiting when Mr. Alden came home at five-thirty.
The children all had on their clothes from the attic and they shouted “Surprise!” as Grandfather came into the balloon-filled living room. A big sign on the doorway read HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Grandfather laughed out loud when he saw the children. “Where did you get those clothes?” he asked.
“From your very own attic,” Benny answered.
Grandfather said to Benny, “You are wearing your great-grandfather’s sailor suit.”
“Really,” Benny said. “I didn’t even know I had a great-grandfather.”
Mr. Alden opened his present from the children, and even though it was a warm evening, he put the sweater on for a little while. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy gave him a book he had wanted.
Then they all went into the living room and enjoyed every bite of Mrs. McGregor’s wonderful meal. When she came in carrying the cake everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” Watch barked along with the song.
Violet played her violin piece and Henry recited his poem. Just then the doorbell rang. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy looked at each other slyly. Mrs. McGregor answered the door and came back with Mrs. Newton, who was carrying an armful of roses. “I always seem to be visiting you uninvited. But Aunt Jane told me it was your birthday, Mr. Alden. I wanted to bring these flowers to put on the mantelpiece next to your wife’s picture. They are my own prize-winning roses, which I grow in my yard. I though they would look very pretty with the portrait.”
The whole family went into the living room. Jessie got a vase filled with water and they placed the roses next to the portrait.
Grandfather smiled. “This is one of the best parties I’ve ever had.”
He looked at the portrait. “And do you know what one of the best presents I’ve ever gotten is?”
“What, Grandfather?” Violet asked.
“It’s knowing,” Grandfather said, “that your grandmother’s necklace is safe and sound. I thank you children for that.”
“Aunt Jane helped, too,” Benny said.
Grandfather turned to his sister and said, “I thank you, too, Jane.”
Jane smiled. “It really was the children, not me. They just wouldn’t give up. I told them they took after you.”
Violet said shyly, “There is no better person to take after.”
One by one they went over to their grandfather and kissed him. Even Henry forgot about trying to be grown-up and kissed his grandfather.
Jessie looked at the necklace in the portrait and said, “I think it is sparkling more now than any other time.”
“That’s because it’s Grandfather’s birthday,” Benny said.
“I think he’s right,” Mrs. Newton said.
They all laughed and turned to Grandfather who was looking at his wife’s portrait with love. “Thank you, all,” he said.
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