The Visit That Moved to Wednesday

Chapter 1The Tin on the Shelf

Suri had saved a round biscuit tin for Bubby's visit.

Inside were twelve small shells, a smooth white stone, and a paper she had folded into a pocket for the smallest shell.

Bubby had promised to bring her own old shell collection. They would spread both collections on the dining table after lunch.

Suri put the tin on the low shelf by the door, where Bubby would see it first.

Then Mommy came in from the kitchen.

"Bubby's appointment was changed. She cannot come this afternoon. We have arranged the visit for Wednesday instead."

Chapter 2Not This Afternoon

Suri lifted the tin from the shelf.

"But we were going to sort them today."

"I know."

Mommy sat beside her, smoothing the edge of her headscarf.

"Is Bubby all right?"

"Yes. It is her usual checkup. The time changed."

Suri put the tin down again. Wednesday was not today. It was not the afternoon she had already pictured.

Her little sister Malka came to the doorway holding a bag of buttons.

"Can I show Bubby these?"

"She is not coming."

Malka's smile disappeared.

Suri wished she had said it less sharply.

Chapter 3The Long Hour

After lunch, Suri sat on the sofa with the tin closed beside her.

Malka played on the rug. Mommy went to put away the lunch dishes.

Everything sounded ordinary. Plates touched plates. A drawer closed. Malka dropped a button into a little bowl.

This afternoon should have sounded like Bubby taking off her coat and asking where the shells were.

Suri opened the tin, then closed it.

She did not want to sort them without Bubby. She did not want to do anything else, either.

Chapter 4The Button Bowl

Malka's button rolled under the sofa.

Suri found it beside her shoe and handed it back.

"Thank you. I am making pretend cakes."

"With buttons?"

"Only pretend. Nobody eats them."

Malka set one button in each small paper cup.

Suri noticed the shells in her tin. Some looked like little bowls. She could lend one for the pretend bakery.

But Bubby had not seen them yet.

Suri reached for the tin and stopped. She could leave the collection for Wednesday and still help with something different.

Chapter 5A Shop with No Sign

"Your shop needs a sign," Suri said.

Malka looked up. "Can you make one?"

Suri fetched scrap paper and wrote Malka's Button Bakery in careful letters.

She drew a cake that looked more like a stack of pillows.

Malka liked it anyway.

"Now prices."

"What does a pillow cake cost?"

"Two pretend coins."

Suri drew paper coins. Soon she was the bakery's customer, buying one very flat cake and a button pie with no filling.

She laughed when Malka offered to wrap the pie in its own tiny cup.

Chapter 6The Missing Visitor

When Mommy returned, Suri was making a little paper bag for the bakery.

"It sounds cheerful in here."

"I still wish Bubby came today," Suri said.

"You can miss her and enjoy playing with Malka."

Suri looked at the closed tin. "I want to keep those for Wednesday."

"Then we will leave them ready."

Malka held up her button bag.

"Mine, too. But Bubby can visit the bakery."

"If you save a cake," Suri said.

"A fresh pretend one."

Chapter 7A Place for Wednesday

Suri returned the tin to the low shelf with a card beside it: Shells for Bubby.

Malka's bakery sign stood on the table. The lopsided cake still looked like pillows, and the paper bag would not stay folded.

Bubby had not come through the door. There was also a pretend pie waiting in a cup.

Suri left the tin closed. On Wednesday, Bubby would have plenty to hear before they opened it.