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Two Parties on One Day

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

Sarale holds two invitations in her hands. One is purple, with a glitter border. The other is bright yellow, with a drawing of a cake.

Both are for Sunday at two o'clock.

The purple one is from Bracha, her best friend since kindergarten. The yellow one is from Faigy, a girl Sarale has just become friends with this year.

"Both parties are on the same day, at the same time," she says to her mother. "I can't go to both."

Mommy looks at the invitations. "That's tricky. What do you want to do?"

Sarale wants to go to both. She wants to keep both of her friends happy. But she can't be in two places at once.

She thinks about it all evening. Her mind goes back and forth like a seesaw. If I go to Bracha's, Faigy will be sad. If I go to Faigy's, Bracha will be hurt.

At bedtime, an idea comes to her. I can tell one of them I'm sick. Then I can go to the other one, and nobody will be upset.

But when she imagines saying it, her stomach feels sick, for real. What if they find out? Then both of them will be hurt, and she will have lied.

She decides to talk to Mommy again in the morning.

"I was thinking of not telling the whole truth," Sarale says. "But it feels wrong."

"Good for you for noticing," says Mommy. "What would the truth sound like?"

Sarale thinks. "I have two invitations at the same time. I want to be a good friend to both. I have to choose, and it's hard."

"That sounds like an honest thing to say," says Mommy. "Now, how will you decide?"

Sarale makes a list. Bracha's party is a game afternoon, with just four girls. Faigy's party is a big picnic with the whole class. She and Bracha have known each other for years, and Bracha said at recess last week, "I hope you can come."

"I think I'll go to Bracha's," says Sarale. "She asked me first, and I promised her."

"What about Faigy?"

"I'll tell her the truth, and give her a card."

On Friday, Sarale finds Faigy at the lockers.

"Faigy, thank you for inviting me," she says. Her heart is thumping. "I got two invitations for Sunday, and I have to go to Bracha's, because I told her I would. I'm really sorry. I'd have loved to come to yours."

Faigy's face falls. For a moment, she doesn't say anything.

"I'm a little sad," she says. "But thank you for telling me the real reason."

"I made you something," says Sarale, handing her a folded card. "It's a happy birthday card. I drew it myself."

Faigy opens it. Inside is a drawing of two girls with a cake and balloons. Faigy's eyes light up. "Thank you, Sarale. That's really nice."

"Can we do something together next week?" Sarale asks. "Just us?"

"Yes," says Faigy. "I'd like that."

On Sunday, Sarale goes to Bracha's party. She laughs and plays games. She doesn't feel guilty. She has chosen honestly.

On Monday, Faigy tells her the picnic has been fun. "Everyone sang. I missed you, but I understand."

"I missed the picnic," says Sarale. "But I'm glad we can still be friends."

"We can," says Faigy. And on Wednesday, they sit together at lunch, sharing a bag of pretzels.

When her mother asks how it all turned out, Sarale says, "Faigy's picnic had a bouncy house. I heard about it all through lunch."

Mommy laughs. "Do you wish you'd gone?"

"A little," says Sarale. "But I'd still pick Bracha."