Gerry was feeling very sorry for himself. He had broken his leg, and he was in hospital. He had already been there for three weeks. Worst of all, it was his thirteenth birthday, and he didn’t want to be in hospital for that. He was stuck in bed, and it was boring, boring, boring.
His birthday had started in the same way as the previous days in hospital. At half past ten the doctor came to see him. “Happy birthday, Gerry,” she said. “Can I look at your cards?” Gerry had received cards from his family and a cute one from his neighbours, but not one from his friends. Even Frankie, his best friend, had forgotten him. He was feeling rather miserable. Maybe they didn’t care about him.
At lunch time his mother arrived. She had brought a dozen gifts for Gerry and soon his bed was covered in wrapping paper. His best present was a CD player. “Thanks, Mum,” he said. “That’s just what I need in here.” Things were looking up.
Suddenly there was a lot of noise from outside the door. Then the door flew open, and his whole class walked in. First, they sang “Happy Birthday to You” very loudly and gave him a huge card. Then they crowded round his bed and looked at all his gifts. Next, Frankie’s mother came in with a big birthday cake and paper plates. After that his classmates gave him three CDs of his favourite band. Finally, they sat around his bed and ate birthday cake.
Then Gerry’s doctor came in. “We need some peace and quiet in here,” she teased. “How would you like to go home tomorrow?”
“Wow,” said Gerry. “That’s a spectacular birthday present.”