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“Citizen, what do you want? You’re probably mistaken!” the
price squawked.
“No. Certainly not. I’m your aunt. Aunt Mirdza. Don’t you
remember? I cooked wonderful pancakes for you!” The
bony crone rattled her jaw and the teeth clattered like
stilettos.
Jacob couldn’t bear the horrors any longer and fled from
the bathroom.
“Well, the birthday boy’s still acting up!” mama said to
shame him. ‘Deserts his guests! Nothing to be done,
children, I hope you’re not offended.”
Jacob hangs his head. The excellent scholar buttons her
coat. The winner of a mark of two ties his boots, his
colleague with the dirty ears pulls his hat over his eyes.
“Well it was nothing,” Jacob throws out.
Mama didn’t answer. The children left. Suddenly the
celebrant heard a cry. He dashed into the bathroom, and
his breath stopped short. The personages had won. They’d
found the sea and freed it from the horrible basement. The
personages rejoiced, Jacob too cried out with joy and
jumped up and down. The sea flowed from the mirror and
trickled into the bathtub. Jacob tasted it, the water was salt.