The ONLY thing George wanted for his fifth birthday was a shiny red bicycle with training wheels, but his parents had some questions. Was he old enough to be responsible for a bike? Would he remember to put it in the garage every night and keep it off the driveway? Would he obey his parents and ride ONLY where they gave him permission?
Daddy took George to the toy store to see if they could find a shiny red bicycle. "Daddy, daddy," George excitedly exclaimed. "Look over there! It is a shiny red bicycle! Can I please have it for my birthday? Please, please,and pretty please," George begged his daddy.
His father didn't promise to buy the bicycle and told George that he wanted to talk with his mother. On the way home all George could talk about was the red bike
"Daddy, if only I could get that bicycle for my birthday." George kept asking his father on the way home. His daddy and mommy had been thinking about getting George his first bicycle. Of course, it would have training wheels. But how could they keep it a surprise? They didn't want him to expect a bike and then not be happy with whatever he received for his birthday.
It wasn't easy. George kept talking and talking about the red bike to every one he met. Jennifer was getting tired of hearing about that 'red bike'. "George, why don't you stop talking so much about that red bike? I can't stand it. You haven't been any fun this week,and all the kids are saying the same thing."
"But, you don't understand Jennifer, I really do want that red bike."
"Well, George, maybe you do, but just stop talking about it and come and play baseball with us this afternoon." Jennifer responded.
"Ok Jennifer, but I still hope I get that bike for my birthday."
George promised that he would not talk about it any more. His baseball game that afternoon wasn't very exciting. He struck out three times and missed catching four fly balls. He just couldn't keep his mind on the game, so he decided to go home. Jennifer felt very bad for him. What if he didn't get the bike for his birthday? She was very concerned about her best friend.
The morning of George's birthday, he was up early and ran down stairs to see if he could find the shiny red bike, but he couldn't find it anywhere. He looked in the all the rooms and out in the garage, but no red bike! He was so disappointed. Then he remembered what his father told him, "George, if you don't get the red bike for your birthday, I want you to be happy with whatever you do get." But, instead of a shiny red bike waiting for him, there was a big box wrapped up in ugly newspaper. George didn't even want to open it.
His mother came down to start breakfast. and saw her sad little boy sitting in the middle of the living room with his hands resting on his chin in his lap., "George " she asked "Where is my happy birthday boy this morning? You look so sad."
"I am trying to be happy , but I didn't get the shiny red bike I really wanted Mom". George sadly replied
"I know George, you must be very disappointed that you didn't get the bicycle you wanted for your birthday, and you are trying to be grateful for what you do get." his mother empathized. She tried to help him understand that there are times in life when we just can't get everything we want but we always need to be thankful.
His father came downstairs and saw George sitting on the living room floor.
"What is all the commotion about this morning?" Daddy inquired. "Why haven't you opened your present George"
George didn't say a word. He didn't want to his dad to think he was ungrateful for his present. His father called George over to the big box sitting in the middle of the living room.
"George, why don't you open your present? asked daddy
Reluctantly George started to open the big box. His mind was not thinking about what could possibly be in the big box. In some ways, he didn't even care, What do you think was in the big box?
You will have to wait for chapter 3 to find out what was George's special birthday present in the the big box. I will give you one clue. George NEVER expected what he found in the big box!!
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