She's old he whispered She's literally one hundred years old Heather whispered back What a wild wacky wonderful whipping wind we had for a bit said Nanny Pippa Too bad the rain is stopping And here comes the sun That's disappointing Nanny Pippa found a chair and plopped down 10
Happy birthday Heather Whirl weather girl she said She motioned Heather over and whispered in her ear Before your other guests arrive we have something special in store It's time for the magic to begin Heather smiled politely With Nanny Pippa it was always best to pretend to understand Nanny Pippa held out the wrapped package Hurry unwrap it she said I don't have all the time in the world you know Heather tore off the paper and opened the box It was an umbrella Heather loved umbrellas and this one was especially beautiful with a shimmery green gemstone glowing on the handle It's an antique said Nanny Pippa Given to me by my great-grandmother and now given to you by me That's a special gift said Heather's mother An heirloom added Heather's father 11
Something to keep forever said Edward Thank you said Heather I'm gobsmacked That was one of Nanny Pippa's British words It will be the most wonderful umbrella in my collection It isn't just any umbrella said Nanny Pippa This umbrella holds magic Magic asked Heather What kind of magic Nanny Pippa patted the empty chair next to her Heather sat down and Nanny Pippa smiled Fog sniffed at one of Nanny Pippa's pointy-toed boots Blizzard crawled over the other one Do you know the story of the night you were born she asked Heather Of course Heather replied I was born at midnight and the nurse wrapped me in a soft blanket and handed me to Mom I mean the whole story dear said Nanny Pippa Yes said Heather getting excited There was a big wild storm and I had a lot of hair It twisted and frizzed as if blown by the wind and it stayed that way 1 That's right Nanny Pippa turned to Heather's parents 12
And when she got older Heather had to fall asleep to the sound of rain or thunder or wild wild wind Heather's mom said And I remember her favorite bedtime story was about a big flood in a Winnie-the-Pooh book And she would never take off her rain boots even to go to bed Edward snickered You did that he whispered Heather shrugged I loved rain boots she said I still love rain boots 13
