Minka and Marco and the
Birthday Party Written and Illustrated by Sharon Young
Minka and Marco were often told how similar they were, but being twins was only part of it. They loved doing things together, from riding bikes to sharing ice cream.
On this particular day they were reading their favorite storybooks, shaded by the tree in their backyard.
Marco was reading a book of medieval knights, when he was distracted by the mailman.
“Oh, Marco!” Minka exclaimed. “We’ve been invited to a birthday party.”
“I absolutely love parties! There will be so many amazing things to do...�
“There will be party games! Like musical chairs...�
“Lots and lots of cupcakes...”
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“I just can’t wait! Are you excited? Because I’m excited!”
Marco was not sure if he was excited as his sister. What if he did not like the food? What if he was terrible at the games? He wished he could be brave like the knights in his book.
Minka and Marco passed through Clara’s living room. They admired the beautiful paintings and cute little nesting dolls.
“Come this way,” Clara said cheerfully. “The party is outside.”
Clara introduced Minka and Marco to her younger brother, Maxim, and some other kids in the neighborhood. “Now, for a game of cossacks and robbers!” Minka couldn’t wait to start...
Until she found out that she was not very good at it! The game was just like cops and robbers. The cossacks had to search for the robbers while the robbers ran and hid. They were divided into two groups. Minka was chosen to be the robber, which she did not like at all! Early on in the game she was captured and had to watch on the sideline.
“I’m hungry,” Maxim said after awhile into the game. Clara showed everyone to the food table. To Minka’s disappointment... there were no cupcakes! “We have a lot of yummy foods,” smiled Clara. “ There’s potato salad, salted fish, lapsha soup, and caviar.”
“Wow Minka, isn’t this cool?” Marco said. He was beginning to enjoy himself. But Minka did not reply. She was not hungry anymore. Minka walked away from the snack table...
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Marco found Minka by herself. “Minka, are you ok?” he asked. Minka hid her head in her hands. “You like the party better than I do. I can’t do anything right, there isn’t any food I know, plus I knocked over Clara’s presents! She won’t think I’m any fun.”
“It’s alright if you don’t know the food or the games. We could try them together. “It wouldn’t be fun if you went home now. You won’t know what you like unless you try.” “Ok,” Minka sighed. “I’ll try, but only for you.”
“There you are Minka! I was starting to worry that you had left,” Clara said when she spotted Marco with Minka. “You were?” asked Minka. “Of course,” replied Clara. “Friends always look out for each other.”
They got ready to play the next game of caraway. “No mom,” protests Clara. “I’m too old for this.” Everyone held hands in a circle, with Clara in the center. They sang and danced around as Clara tried to break through. Caraway, caraway, You can go any way, You can go to your left, You can go to your right, You can be very tall, You can be very small.
By the end of the game Minka was smiling again.
“Finally - the cake!” Minka whispered to Marco. “Happy birthday, Clara!” everyone sang. “Make a wish!” Clara took a deep breath and blew out her candles.
When the party is over, Minka and Marco are sad to leave. But Clara promises to have them over another time. “Glad you stayed,” Marco said to his sister on the way home. “It wouldn’t be fun trying new things without you.” “Me too,” Minka agreed. “And I still absolutely love birthdays.”
THE END