Jack's Wish

One day Jack woke up early, it was his birthday; he hoped his mother
had got him the kite.

His mother had told him to wait and see what 'birthday bill' would
bring, Jack was very excited.

He got out of bed and went down stairs. He opened the door, inside he
saw a pile of presents, each one a different shape and size.

Jack's mother gave him a big hug and said 'happy birthday'. Jack
smiled, he walked over to his presents, picked up the first one and
shuck it, it didn't rattle.

"I wonder what it is" he said to his mum.

"You find out till you open it" laughed his mother.

Jack tore off the wrapping paper, slowly at first; then when he spied
what the present was he ripped the rest off in one go. It was a huge
box of paints from his mother. The next present was from his grandma,
it was flat and hard. Jack tore off the wrapping and shouted with gell.
It was a book about dinosaurs. He held the book up so his mother could
see, "Its got big dinosaurs on, its great" he said.

The next one was a funny shape, Jack turned it this way and the other
way, trying to figure out what it might be. The message on the card
said, 'To Jack, Love from Uncle Tom'. Uncle Tom was always telling
jokes and making Jack laugh, jack knew it would be something funny. He
opened the paper, inside was a strange shaped box. It looked kind of
square with triangles on its sides. Jack turned it in his small hands;
there was a lid.

He pulled at the lid and suddenly out popped a very long squeaky snake.
It made Jack laugh, it made his mother jump. Jack loved the
present.

When Jack had finished opening all the presents, he had a football from
his mother, a jumper from Aunty Beryl, a pencil case and lots of stuff
to go in it from Grandpa Joe and a video from Uncle Mick. No
kite.

At last when all the paper and string had been moved and Jack's
presents put in a safe place, his mother made breakfast.

Jacks mother told him to hurry and get dressed so he could go out and
play with his new football. Although Jack was pleased with all his
presents he still secretly wished for the kite. 'Oh why didn't
'birthday bill' listen he wondered.

Back in his bedroom Jack felt sad, he couldn't stop thinking about the
kite. He'd seen it in a shop window in town. It was on one of the days
he'd stayed with his dad. They had been walking to the bus station on
the way to the zoo and seen it. Jack's dad had said they could take a
closer look, but not then or they would be late for their bus. Jack
wanted that closer look now.

By the time Jack had his boots and coat on, Paul his best friend was
sat in the kitchen waiting for him. His friend wished him happy
birthday and gave Jack a card with ?2 in it. They went out in to the
garden with the new ball and kicked it to each other. Jack told Paul
all about his presents, he went in to detail about the dinosaur book;
something they both loved. He never mentioned the kite.

Soon it was lunch time, Paul went home and Jack went in for his
favourite meal of egg on toast.

His mother sat down beside him at the table; "your dad will be here
soon so hurry up and get cleaned up". Jack stared at his food, he
wasn't hungry, he moved his plate away and went upstairs. His mother
watched him, and sighed.

In the bathroom he wiped his face with the cloth; downstairs he could
hear his mother talking. He couldn't make out who the person was but it
was probably Susan, she was always popping in.

He walked slowly back down the stairs. He opened the room door and
quietly tip toed in. He wanted to make Susan jump, he liked to make her
laugh. It wasn't Susan. Sat on the big soft settee was his dad, "hello
son, happy birthday" he said. "Did you get what you wanted for your
birthday then" his dad said, winking.

"Yes, thank you dad", although he never mentioned that there was one
missing he didn't want to hurt his mothers feelings. After all he had
asked for a football and the paint set.

"Are you ready then Son?"asked his dad. "Where we going today, dad?"
asked Jack excitedly.

"Thought we'd take another look at the zoo again, didn't get time to
see everything last time, did we". "Nope, I want to see the lions this
time" Jack said jumping in to his dad's arms.

Jack kissed his mother and set out wih his dad, all the time thinking
about the kite they would see in the shop window.

Going through town took forever; it seemed to Jack that the toy shop
had been moved, then it was there, the shop with the kite. Jack ran up
to the window and pressed his nose to the glass. The kite had gone.
Jack could feel tears burning the back of his eyes.

On the bus Jack kept his head down, he didn't want his dad to see the
tears that were now falling freely down his cheeks. His dad had not
seemed to notice the look of disappointment on Jacks face at the shop
window.

They walked hand in hand through the gates of the big zoo. "Thought we
might go see the giraffes first, what do you think" said his dad
happily.

Jack didn't think anything, he wanted to go home, but instead he looked
up to his dads face and said "that'll be good".

As they neared the giraffe enclosure, Jack could see somebody he
thought he recognised. A little closer and he could make out the face
of his grandpa Joe. He ran up to him and was swept him up in to his
grandpa's big strong arms. "Happy birthday lad" he said. On a bench
next to where his granpa had been stood was a huge parcel with a card
on the top. Jack's grandpa handed the parcel to Jack. The only word on
the card was 'Jack'. Jack looked from his dad to his grandpa.

"Aren't you going to open, then son" asked his dad.

"Yeah, I erm, I was just...." oh ok" jack laughed.

Jack slowly unwrapped the present, sure as he could be that it wasnt
the kite; it was not the right shape. Inside packed flat, ready to be
made up was the big box kite from the shop window and tied to the
ribbon was a note. It said ' Here is your closer look, Lots of love
from DAD'. Jack threww down the wrapping and put the kite on the bench,
he hugged his dad until he could hardly breathe himself. "Thank you
dad, its brilliant" laughed Jack

The threeof them spent hours chasing and flying the kite. Jack had a
brilliant time, he knew it was the best birthday ever.