On the twenty-first of April 1936 you’re into double figures, so we shall have to celebrate in a special way, Daddy had said, coming into the nursery to read them a story after tea, though she could easily have read the book he had chosen. But Jamie, who was not quite six, enjoyed the stories and Daddy liked reading them, so Anna never said anything. Besides, it was a treat to get him to themselves for a little while, so the after-tea read was their favourite time of day.After a great deal of solemn discussion, the form the party was to take had been decided. They were to have a conjurer, with a magic hat and a white rabbit, a Punch and Judy Show, and tea – with ice-cream – on the lawn under the cedar tree, which was a bit brave in April, only Daddy said he would hire a marquee if it looked like rain.Jamie, sitting on the dumpy while Nanny ran his bath, had got very excited, bouncing up and down and clapping, even though it wasn’t his party. But Mummy, when she heard about it, hadn’t been nearly as enthusiastic.
