Family: One Last Chance To Redeem Myself Poem by Margaret Alice

I promise him I’d do everything
make it special; friends would bring
gifts - and we’d sing - but as time
drew near I listened listlessly as he
called friends still away on holiday;
I should have made another plan,
we could have thought of a different
scheme; but no, he wanted everything
on his birthday, and though just one
friend came, it had to be enough;
then back to school in private clothes
as birthday boy, and all jeered,
where’s the sweets and cake; dejectedly
he returned, I promised to prepare
bags of sweets, and put his older
sister on to this – she cold-heartedly
said you’re birthday’s done - and made
little pauper packages; this morning,
eyes brimming, he said, I cannot
hand these out; once again, let him
down…this afternoon I have one last
chance to redeem myself by making
lovely packages that will restore
his pride, make him grand
amongst his cocky friends…