Rose, the oldest by eleven minutes according to hospital estimates, became serious and protective. She learned to read before the others and believed rules existed to prevent disaster.
Lily laughed loudly, climbed trees, and once brought a live frog to Sunday school.
Iris rarely spoke in groups but remembered every sentence people thought she had ignored.
Violet loved music and turned pots, tabletops, and windowsills into drums.
Daisy wanted to fix things. At seven, she dismantled Richard’s alarm clock and returned it with two pieces left over.
Jasmine organized her sisters into plays, clubs, and household rebellions.
Heather loved numbers.
Holly loved animals.
Anne, the smallest, followed Richard everywhere until she was old enough to realize she preferred running ahead.
Richard gave them the same birthday because no one knew the exact order of their births. Every year, the house became chaos.
Nine cakes were impossible, so he baked one enormous sheet cake and divided it into nine sections, each decorated differently.
Rose received books.
Lily received roller skates.
Iris asked for a lock on her diary.
Violet wanted a guitar.
Daisy wanted tools.
Jasmine requested a typewriter.
Heather asked for a calculator.
Holly wanted a puppy.
Anne wanted whatever Richard said she could not have.
Money remained scarce.
