Tim Ross jumped out of bed and ran to the window. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, there were a few high fluffy white clouds and the whisper of a breeze but not even the slightest suspicion of rain. Just right.
And it was his birthday.
But ... it was a school day. He went back and sat on the bed and pulled a face. It really wasn't right that a fellow had to go to school on his birthday. He'd have to see what could be done about that.
"Breakfast's ready!" The voice of Mrs Ross floated up to him and he sighed and left the bedroom, still in his PJs. She smiled across at him as he sat down to his cereal and fruit juice.
"Happy birthday. I'll give you your present when you get home from school this afternoon."
"Hmm." He attacked the cereal half heartedly and then lifted his eyes to her. "I don't want to go to school today."
"You never do." She laughed as she sat down opposite him with a cup of coffee.
"Today's my birthday. Lots of the kids have a day off when it's their birthday."
"Really?" She smiled and raised her eyebrows. "And you think you ought to have the same, do you now?"
"Well, why not? It's such a lovely day. Too nice to be inside sweating over facts and figures all the time." He could think of many better things to do than go to school; but could he convince her? He suspected not, but he was certainly going to give it his best try.
"And what will happen if you don't go to school?"
"Ah, they'll survive without me for a day." He looked up at her mischievously. "Or maybe two? I could go fishing, or to the pictures. We could go shopping - you love going shopping - and then we could visit the zoo."
"No way." Mrs Ross drained her coffee and put the empty cup down determinedly and looked at him. "Birthday or not, you still have to go to school. And you'd better hurry yourself up if you don't want to be late."
"I don't want to be late. I don't want to go at all!" His face dropped. "Oh come on, just one day. My birthday!!"
"No."
"It's going to be a terrible day." He scowled at his toast. "Old McGregor, he teaches history first period and as soon as he sees me he'll be after me for something or another. And then there's that ghastly woman who takes all the kids for P.T. It's not surprising they all call it physical torture. She nags."
Mrs Ross was briskly unsympathetic. She picked up the empty plates and looked pointedly at the clock.
"Come on, hurry up now! Go and finish getting ready and I'll drive you there."
"I don't want to go to school today."
"Go - and - get - ready."
"It's not fair," he muttered as he unwillingly levered himself up and dawdled towards the bathroom and bedroom. "Lots of other people get the day off when they have a birthday. Lots of people even have their birthday during school holidays. Hmm." For a moment, he wasn't sure whether that would be better or worse. He wouldn't have to go to school on his birthday, true, but it wouldn't be quite the same as having a day off because it was his birthday.
Rebelliously, he jumped back into bed and pulled the covers up over him. Moments later Mrs Ross stuck her head in the door.
"What are you doing? Get up and get dressed! Now."
"I'm sick."
"Rubbish." She took two steps to the bed and pulled the blankets off and tossed them onto the floor. "Come on, get up and get dressed. I have to make the bed today anyway."
"Unsympathetic woman!" he muttered under his breath as he went into the bathroom. "You'll be sorry if I'm sick at school and have to come home."
"You aren't going to be sick on your birthday," she pointed out from the doorway. "And you're not seriously going to try to tell me you're sick anyway. Not after that man sized breakfast you just put away."
"Huh." He dressed slowly, still muttering under his breath. When he came downstairs she smiled brightly.
"Ah, that's better. Now you look more like my Tim, not like some surly lout."
"I still don't want to go to school today."
"Hah! Maybe if you tell everyone there what day it is, they'll all be nice to you?"
"Nice? Too nice!" he responded. "The teachers will all make a fuss if I do that, and the kids - the kids'll be worse. They'll probably want to sing Happy Birthday to me or something! Yech!"
"Have you got everything?"
"I suppose so." He carried his bag out to the car and got in beside her. "What are you going to do today?"
"I'm going shopping." She smiled down at him. For a birthday present for you, and for something special for tea." Her voice was teasing.
"Seeing as it's your birthday, do you fancy icecream cake for dessert?"
"No!" He rolled his eyes. "I grew out of wanting icecream cake years ago."
"Yes." Mrs Ross grinned at him as they approached the school. "I thought you might have."
She pulled the car into the kerb but he made no attempt to get out.
"I'm early."
"I'm sure you can find something to do."
He sighed.
"Aargh. All right then."
"You really do have to go, you know. They couldn't manage without you, birthday or no birthday."
"I still don't want to." He made one last effort. "They don't like me anyway. None of the teachers really like me. They just pretend they do. But they're all always after me for something or another. And as for the kids - "
"Rubbish! They all like you. I'm always hearing how popular you are. Anyway, you have to go to school. You're the principal!"
And, smiling, Susan Ross kissed her husband Tim goodbye.