Chapter 2: A Birthday- I Begin School Chapter 2 A Birthday I Begin School Pale morning sun streamed through the narrow windows of the cottage as clutching my shawl around my thin shoulders, I made my way down the steep flight of steps to the kitchen. My heart raced with excitement as I did so, for I knew that this was to be a special day—my seventh birthday. An aroma of freshly baked bread filled the room, where my family were waiting, assembled around the table as

There were seven of us at the cottage to begin with, seven chairs arranged around the kitchen table, seven pairs of boots lined up in front of the stone fireplace that dominated the cramped low-beamed room. A rug and some flowery curtains, and a jug of wild flowers picked from our steep garden brightened the kitchen. In the evening when the fire was lighted copper pots and pans reflected its warm glow. Next to the kitchen was another small room containing a pair of high-ba