Late at night, I am all set to bimble up the hills to Bedfordshire when the telephone rings. Obviously someone has died or some other dire emergency has befallen my loved ones.
“Hello?”
“Can I speak to her,” asks my daughter’s pal.
“I’m sorry she’s already in bed……..........some hours ago.”
“Can you give her the phone?”
“I could……...... but she’s asleep. May I give her a message……tomorrow?”
“Can she come to my party?”
“Ooo how lovely. I’m sure she’d love to come. When is it?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Oh…….what time?”
“4…….it’s a sleepover.”
“Ah……well ……..I think that should be fine,” I reply peering at the calendar.
“Tell her to bring me a present.”
“Well…….yes……indeed…….a birthday present…it is your birthday party afterall……it shall be my first priority tomorrow morning.”
I’m not sure if she heard my reply as the line is dead. I can think of few worse scenarios than taking three children to shop for a gift, unscheduled, unplanned and with no prior notice or warning. Fortunately, these modern times provide other alternative solutions. I am quite certain that the inventors of gift cards had me in mind.
2 hours ago
