read by Dorothy Swindells

"Mother" said Albert
"What I'd like for me birthday is to hire a monkey suit,
They've got one in the corner shop
And me mates think it would be a real hoot".

Mother knew better than to talk Albert
Into a more practical gift
And said "What ever next Albert,
But if you insist."

Albert had been to many parties
And never won a prize
But he had other ideas this time around
And it left a twinkle in his eyes.

Mother gave him the idea
When she was practicing the pass the parcel game,
Every time she turned the music down
The place in the tune was the same.

"Em" thought Albert
With a sneaky little grin
"There's nothing certain about it
But it's a clue on how to win."

Mother said Albert could send a dozen invitations
But a dozen names were hard to find,
So Albert included the names of a couple of girls
And mother didn't seem to mind.

Mother made cup cakes and lemonade
And little apple pie treats
And Albert thought "mother's not the coolest in town
But she sure makes something fancy to eat."

Albert's friends all arrived on time
And then the games began,
Pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel
All part of the plan.

Although they blind folded Albert
Albert was peeping through the monkeys mouth,
And when he pinned the tail on the donkey
It left him the winner without any doubt.

And when they played pass the parcel
Albert was tapping his foot keeping time
And quite often when mother turned the music down
Albert exclaimed "it's mine, it's mine!"

When everyone had gone home mother said
"Albert, I hope you weren't being a cheat.
It's not a rumor I'd like to encounter
While I'm gossiping out on the street."

"You know what mother" said Albert
"I've learnt a good lesson today,
Winning games is great fun
But only when you practice fair play."

"And you can have all the prizes back,
Except the one I won honestly,
If you promise not to tell father
When he comes in for his tea."

"I won't tell your father" said mother
"If you promise not to do it again."
"I promise" said Albert with his fingers crossed
And then under his breath, "unless me circumstances change."