Serali awoke with a start, a feeling of something wonderful suffusing her. She lay in bed for a moment, savoring the knowledge of what day today was. Then she leaped out of bed, throwing on her clothes and rushing down the stairs from her little attic room. She alone, of all her siblings, had a room to herself. The rest of them were sharing two larger rooms on the ground floor. None of them were out of bed yet but in the kitchen her mother was already up, cooking. On days when there were travelers staying in the little inn she went over there well before dawn to get things ready for any who wanted breakfast and to make sure that all was well, but travelers were few at Land's End and most often she was home, cooking breakfast for her five children.

Serali's mother Marilla was a small, dark woman, beautiful in a plump and somewhat matronly way, who loved to cook and garden and who did an excellent job of managing her husband's business. She also had an enduring passion for cleanliness and would periodically decide that the house was too dirty and dragoon all five of her children into helping with the chore. Serali always complained, but she didn't really mind. She loved her parents and she was, by and large, an obedient child.

This morning Serali's mother was starting a couple of loaves of fine white bread, the kind she made only for special occasions. "Up already?" she asked in a teasing tone.

"As if I could sleep in today, Mama," replied Serali with a grin.

"Well, in that case, why don't I start breakfast? You can go get your slug-a-bed siblings up and send a couple of them down to give me a hand."

"Yes Mama," said Serali with a smile and darted off towards the back of the house, nearly plowing into her father Falio as she did.

"Slow down, long-legs, one of these days your legs are going to go so fast they'll leave the rest of you behind." Serali giggled. The teasing about her height angered her because it was teasing, and meant to hurt, and the ill-feeling behind it was what she hated, not the words themselves. From her father these similar words were a sign of his affection, and she didn't mind them one bit. Searli grinned up at him. He was still taller than she was, but not by a lot. A year or two more of growing like she had been of late and she would top him, and no doubt keep going after that. He too was dark, with thick curly hair that was just beginning to go gray. She gave him a hug, filed with enthusiasm, and then dashed on, shouting over her shoulder "If I ever slow down, it won't be today!"

Bursting into the room shared by her two younger brothers she hollered "Last one out of bed has to wash all the dishes!" and then dashed out again, slamming the door behind her. She repeated the procedure in the room shared by her sisters, the youngest of the five. Then, breathless, she dashed back to the kitchen where her mother was putting sausages into a pan to fry. She inhaled the spicy aroma. Sausages were one of her favorite foods and she wondered how in the world she was going to be able to wait until they were done.

There was a commotion behind her as her two brothers spilled into the room, cuffing each other in a half-friendly dispute of some sort. Marilla interrupted their tussle, setting them to work putting plates and forks on the table. When Serali's sisters came in they were similarly employed fetching various things from the pantry. When all was finished and the sausages were done the family seated themselves around the table. Serali was bouncing up and down in impatience but Falio insisted on invoking the blessings of the Creator before they began. Then, in a teasing manner he made a little speech. "Today is a most important day," he began. "Twelve years ago today an important event happened." Serali was squirming with impatience, but he kept speaking. "On that night, twelve years ago, Serali was born. And today is her day." He exclaimed it with mock pomposity. "Today we shall let her do whatever she pleases..."

At last it was too much for her. "Yes and right now what I please is to eat!" She interrupted.

"All right," her father laughed. "Let's eat then."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Serali and she began to heap sausages on her plate.