The flowers cost eighteen dollars, and the silver stars, cardboard, and supplies for his crown had cost fourteen.

He had been proud that we bought both without borrowing anything from Margaret’s party cupboard.

I set the jar at the end of the table, away from the serving trays.

The place cards had changed overnight.

Mine was no longer beside Noah’s.

His chair faced the cake table, with Ethan’s on one side and Margaret’s on the other.

At the far end, seats had been arranged so that the work guests would have an easy view of the room.

I checked beneath a folded napkin, then beside the glasses.