I was in Mrs. Black's third grade class and one day I brought home an invitation. "I'm not1", I said. "She's a new girl named Ruth, and Bernie and Pat aren't going. She asked the2class, all36of us." Mom studied the handmade invitation, then she said, "Well, you are going! I'll3a present tomorrow." When Saturday arrived, Momma rushed me out of4and made me wrap (包装) the pretty pink mirror-brush-and-comb set she'd bought. Then she drove me over to Ruth's home in her car. The biggest cake I ever saw5on one table. It had6pink candles and a messily printed "Happy Birthday Ruth". Thirty-six cups filled with homemade candy were near the cake-each one with a7on it.
"Where's your mom?" I asked Ruth.
Looking down at the floor, she said, "Well, she's sick."
"Oh.8your dad?"
"He's gone."
Then there was a9, except for a few coughs from behind a closed door. Some 15 minutes passed…then 10 more. No one else was coming. Looking up I saw Ruth's face with tears. All10my eight-year-old heart was filled with very sorry for Ruth and anger at my 35 classmates. I said, "Who needs11?" Ruth's sad look changed to excited12. There we were—two small girls and a big cake, 36 named cups and games to play. In a flash it was noon, Mom drove to pick me up. "Mom, Ruth just loved the mirror set. I was the only one there—out of Mrs. Black's whole class. And I can't wait to tell13of them what a great party they missed!" Mom stopped the car and14me tight. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I'm so15of you!" That was the day I learned that one person could really make a difference. I had made a big difference in Ruth's ninth birthday, and Mom had made a big difference in my life.
