Happy Birthday My Son

My son’s seven year old birthday took me by surprise

Our birthday tradition, the birthday boy can choose,

Either go somewhere special or have a birthday party

Both options are enjoyable, so he has nothing to loose.

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My oldest boy chose to have a party with his friends

For the day that he was to turn seven years of age,

The surprising part of his decision was his request

Turn our house into a theatre, complete with a stage.

The setting was not hard to achieve to his satisfaction

As our spacious lounge room had plenty of room to spare,

I used a large mat to pretend to be the staging area

And in front I set up bean bags and some sofa chairs.

***

On the ‘stage’ the set up consisted of a large screen TV

A stereo system with large surround sound speakers,

And lastly a video tape machine to play the chosen show

I even included movie trailers to play before the feature.

I do understand that none of this sounds out of the ordinary

So you’re probably waiting for the, ‘Took me by surprise’,

Well it was the title of the show chosen as the nights feature

A show that both my boys watched every day and idealised.

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You see I had, a few months before, attended a theatre show

A musical production composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber,

Cats the Musical, based on the poetry collection of T S Eliot’s

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the musical so clever.

Not the normal all time favourite, for children 6 years and under

Both my 4 and my 6 year old boys knew the songs off by heart,

And it’s no exaggeration to say they watched this every day

That's how the birthday request for this show played it’s part.

***

So after much excitement, so much so he didn’t sleep well

The big day has finally arrived and the weather is perfect,

A happy birthday boy woke me early, jumping with glee

He carefully opened his gift, ecstatic with the LEGO project.

The party guests were not expected to arrive until early evening

So the LEGO was opened and scattered all over the floor,

Birthday boy had great joy commencing with help from his brother

Until the hours passed and it was time to put it all in the drawer.

***

We had a little time to spare, so I read the boys a quick story

In an effort to tamper down the impatience and stimulation,

We were able to get through a few chapters of Harry Potter

And once all were calm, it was time for the house transformation?

It was important to my son that the ‘theatre’ set up was just right

From the theatre stage, to the seating and of course the lights,

As the musical was to begin, the timing of the lights to be dimmed

The curtains closing out any glare and the food and drink delights.

***

My son had even made a list of the delicious food and beverage

That was to be served up to his guests on his movie night,

Popcorn a must, hotdogs as well, lolly bags and potato chips

Refreshments to be a selection of Coke, Fanta and Sprite.

So while the party goers were watching the magical world of cats

All participants focused on the characters dancing and singing,

I began to prepare the hot food and lay out all the snacks

So during intermission, they could all start eating and drinking.

***

Well I can promise you that, all my child’s wishes come true

And he and his friends had the most magical birthday party,

Lastly I had organised, a surprise for my son and all his guests

A large decadent slice of chocolate cake covered in smarties.

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