Because the harvest could not possibly be postponed just because of a birthday party, Glenys washed and dressed as fast as she could and then went down to the parlour, where Nain had been sleeping whilst she found the stairs rather too much. Rather to her surprise, Nain still appeared to be slumbering, but as she turned in the doorway to sneak out again Nain turned her head and grinned at her.

‘Pass me my teeth, cariad,’ she whispered. ‘A feeling I have that I’ll be receiving visitors before too long, and I want to look seventeen again and not seventy.’

‘Happy birthday, dear Nain. You certainly don’t look seventy,’ Glenys said. ‘I won’t deny that you looked pretty grim when you were carted off to hospital with all your broken bones, but since then you’ve shed years.’

‘Aye; done me good the rest has,’ Nain acknowledged. ‘You’ve been grand, so you have, and if you have time I’d not say no to a nice hot cup of tea and a bit of a hand to get dressed, but not if you’re too busy. I know what it’s like at harvest time.’

‘I’m never too busy to spend time with you,’ Glenys said with perfect truth, for she and the older woman had grown very attached to one another. She handed Nain the little blue box which contained her teeth and turned to the door, but was called back.

‘A nuisance it has been, having me downstairs and the rest of you up,’ she said firmly. ‘Tonight I intend to go back to my own room with Taid. If you can just put out my clothes each night then Taid will help me dress in the morning. Not that I need much help now.’

Glenys agreed happily, knowing that it would do Nain good to regain her independence, and went to the kitchen to make the cup of tea with which Nain always started the day.

By the time she had carried it through to the parlour there were sounds of stirring upstairs, and when she returned to the kitchen, having left Nain cradling her cup in her hands, the back door opened and Sam and Taid came in. Glenys, measuring oatmeal into the big black saucepan, turned to smile at them. ‘Pour yourselves a cuppa,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I’ve already drunk mine, and Nain is probably draining her teacup even as I speak.’ She turned to Taid. ‘Morning, Taid. I’ve set out Nain’s best clothes on the chair by her bed. If you take your tea through to her you can give her a hand to dress whilst I make the porridge and Sam does the toast. Knowing the kids they’ll be down as soon as they smell cooking. They’ve been longing for today, and can’t wait to hand over their presents.’

Presently the children bounced into the kitchen, shouted a greeting and went straight to the dresser, in the top drawer of which they had hidden their gifts. They grabbed the little parcels and disappeared into the parlour whence presently came the sound of Nain’s appreciation and praise. Sam and Glenys exchanged smiles. The celebratory day was getting off to a good start.