It was Granny’s birthday and Little Ted, his Mummy and Daddy were going to visit her in the car. Little Ted was sitting in the back carefully guarding the present they had bought last week.
“How old is Granny?” Little Ted asked.
“Put it this way if she had a candle on her cake for every year, the fire department would be called” joked his Daddy.
“She’s a lot older than you and a lot younger than the Queen” answered his Mummy more diplomatically.
“Do you still get cake and presents on your birthday when you’re old?”
“Of course, birthdays are to be celebrated with family and friends where possible, no matter how old you are. But the party games aren’t usually as lively. I don’t think we’ll be playing musical chairs today, although you never know...”
“Still a fire hazard though, all those candles” his Daddy continued to joke.
When they got to his Granny’s house, Little Ted ran to the door while his Mummy brought a big box out of the car.
“What’s that?” Little Ted asked.
“This is Granny’s birthday cake – look it has icing all over it. And to keep your Daddy happy we only have two candles - for each number of her birthday, rather than individual ones.”
Little Ted liked birthday cake, especially ones with lots of icing on them and he couldn’t wait to taste it. But first...
“Happy Birthday Granny” Little Ted said loudly as he gave her a hug “we’ve brought you a cake! Did you get many nice presents?”
“Yes, I’ve had some lovely presents thank you, but the best present of all is seeing you Little Ted. And your Mummy and Daddy of course. You’re getting taller every time you visit – we’ll soon have to start calling you Not So Little Ted.”
Little Ted quite liked the idea of being called Not So Little Ted and he stood up as straight as he could next to his Granny and announced “It won’t be long until I’ll be taller than you Granny. Then I’ll be Big Ted and you’ll be Little Granny” which made everyone laugh.
Soon everybody had arrived and Little Ted was getting impatient to taste the birthday cake – “is it time to blow out your candles yet Granny? I can help you if you like.”
“That’s kind of you Little Ted but I think there’s plenty of puff left in me yet. But you can do the countdown. Are you ready – one, two three, pooff.”
As the candles went out everyone cheered and started to sing Happy Birthday. Little Ted joined in and since it was a grown up’s birthday he made sure he sang the proper words. Then it was the moment he had been waiting for – the cake was sliced up and put on plates, with Little Ted at the front of the queue.
“Thank you Granny - can I have that piece with the extra icing on it?” Little Ted said.
“Of course, although I really think you’re sweet enough already. Enjoy.”
The End