January 24th:
Little e: Momma, what would you like for your birthday?
h.: I want two things from you. I would like you to be kind to your sister tomorrow. And, I would like you to sing "Happy Birthday" to me tomorrow morning.
little e: But you don't sing that song in the morning. You sing it at night with cake.
h.: But I would like you to please sing it in the morning, and at night.
little e: You need cake for that song. (Flat tone with no room for bargaining...)
January 25th: the Birthday morning, after breakfast in bed.
h.: What did I ask for as my birthday present? (This after little e has driven her sister to tears.)
little e: To be nice to my sister, but I didn't do that.
h.: What else did I ask for?
little e: I don't know.
About ten minutes of little e thinking goes by without effect.
h.: Did I want you to sing "Happy Birthday"?
little e: Oh, ya. You need cake for that.
Now, I will add that post-pre kindergarten she did sing "Happy Birthday" without any hints or duress, and it was lovely... and there was no cake... Oh, and she made me a lovely birthday crown.