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MY FIFTH BIRTHDAY

     I followed the path of many parents when their children want to complain about their lot in life.  When my sons would complain about whatever ailed them, my best retort was, “Did I ever tell you what I got for my fifth birthday?”

     My little brother, Bill, was born two days after my fifth birthday.  I told the boys my parents were too busy with the birth and all I got was a dime.  The dime wasn’t even from THEM!  A little girl down the street gave me the dime.  She wrapped it up in a little box .  You think you have it bad… did I ever tell you what I got for my fifth birthday?  They would groan…. YES you got a dime.

     Years later, my wife and I were visiting my parents in Texas.  We were driving down the streets of Whitesboro to visit my father and I pointed out the house of the girl who gave me the dime.

     Nancy said, “Wait a minute!  You were in Whitesboro?  You were with Granny who you say loved you more than sliced bread.  You are trying to tell me that Granny didn’t make you a cake and give you a party for your birthday?”

     MY GREAT LIE was revealed.  My snappy retort  was….  “Uh…huh huh huh huh.”   Nancy says I have a wide eyed smile that gives away any attempt to lie.  Needless to say, she revealed to the boys it was all a ruse.  That doesn’t stop me though.  

     The story continued to grow.  I said the Sunday following my birthday, I dropped the dime into the collection plate at church.  I also got a shoe box with a string that I pulled behind me.  I found a rock and a dead cat and put it in the box as my only toy and pet.  I am forced to remind my wife often of the Texas state motto,  “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.”


Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 30, 2017 at 5:17 AM

    I remember well that "wide-eyed smile that gives away any attempt to lie." ;)

    ReplyDelete

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