Expecting
Arthur never really looked forward to his birthday. He knew what to expect.
His father was always either in a bad mood or just sad, because it was the anniversary of Arthur’s mother’s death. There were plenty of presents, although Arthur knew it was his father’s assistant who was sent out to buy them.
His friends at school looked at the expensive gifts enviously. They all wished they were Arthur.
Merlin loved his birthdays. He knew what to expect.
His mother always baked a special cake that sank in the middle but still tasted good. His friends came round for tea, because Hunith couldn’t afford to pay for them all to go to the cinema or bowling or something equally exciting, so they watched an old video instead and made fun of the bad special effects, and laughed so much it hurt.
Sometimes the mean kids at school made fun of him when they heard he only had a few inexpensive gifts. None of them wished they were Merlin.
His father was always either in a bad mood or just sad, because it was the anniversary of Arthur’s mother’s death. There were plenty of presents, although Arthur knew it was his father’s assistant who was sent out to buy them.
His friends at school looked at the expensive gifts enviously. They all wished they were Arthur.
Merlin loved his birthdays. He knew what to expect.
His mother always baked a special cake that sank in the middle but still tasted good. His friends came round for tea, because Hunith couldn’t afford to pay for them all to go to the cinema or bowling or something equally exciting, so they watched an old video instead and made fun of the bad special effects, and laughed so much it hurt.
Sometimes the mean kids at school made fun of him when they heard he only had a few inexpensive gifts. None of them wished they were Merlin.