checkers or sitting and listening to their father read a bedtime story Teddy often liked to wear his cape It keeps me warm he said One day Teddy came home from kindergarten holding an envelope that a boy named Bryan had given him It was an invitation to a birthday party to be held on Saturday I don’t want to go said Teddy Oh Teddy of course you’ll go said his mother You don’t want to hurt Bryan’s feelings It will hurt my feelings to go Teddy explained Nora loved parties and she had many invitations There were twenty-five children in her second-grade class at school and already though it was only mid-October
she had been to four parties Teddy there will be cake and ice cream and games and prizes she prom ised I don’t like games said Teddy who loved games at home but not away Especially pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey You don’t have to play anything you don’t want to said Mommy You can be an observer Not if I don’t go observed Teddy I’m staying home When Saturday came Teddy still didn’t want to go to the party Mommy took him to the store to buy a gift They bought a set of dominoes because Mommy said Even if you don’t go to the party it will make Bryan sad not to get a present She wrapped the box with paper that
had cakes and candles and presents all over it I’m staying home said Teddy The party was at three o’clock Let’s just take the present over to Bryan’s house said Mommy You don’t have to stay I’ll stay home and you can take it over answered Teddy We’ll go together said Mommy taking Teddy’s jacket out of the closet I’m staying home protested Teddy as his mother zipped his jacket on him Teddy had never been to Bryan’s house before The invitation said he lived four blocks away in an apartment building twice the size of Teddy’s building At the entrance a doorman greeted them He took one look at Teddy holding
the wrapped gift and smiled Ah you’re going to the party Yes said Mommy She smiled back Teddy said nothing but he knew that he was not going to the party It’s in apartment fifteen K said the doorman The elevator is on your left Mommy and Teddy entered the build ing and walked toward the elevator Teddy Mommy said we’ll just give Bryan his present and you can stay for a little while Teddy didn’t answer but he was determined not to stay On the fifteenth floor they had no trouble finding the apartment Balloons were taped around the door and there was a lot of noise coming from inside
