Jamie lay sprawled on the couch in the living room, her stomach feeling like she had swallowed a bowling ball. She had never gotten herself so full at Thanksgiving before. But both of her grandmothers had introduced her to an assortment of specialties that she couldn't resist. Grandma Brown's baked macaroni and Grandma Hattori's hako sushi in particular had Jamie going back for more a few times.

Gloria poked her head into the room. "Have room for birthday cake?"

Groaning, Jamie asked, "What kind of monster are you?"

"The kind that wants you to hurry up and blow out your candles so we can start eating this cake."

Jamie groaned again, rolling over until she fell off the couch onto her hands and knees. Slowly she got to her feet and stumbled to th...

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