Nell: Where’s your party hat?
Me: Can’t I put it on later?
Nell: What do you think of the photos I chose?
Me: Perfect. Kev will love them.
Nell: He’s having poached eggs on toast for his birthday breakfast so can you help Malcolm cut the toast into hearts, please?
Me: I’m not sure I’m going to be much use. Don’t you need a beak for that?
Nell: A heart shaped cutter will do fine.
Me: Right.
Nell: Would you like to hear the poem I’ve written?
Me: Yes, please.
Nell: ‘Open your hearts
Lift up your voices.
Pass the jam tarts
And make the right choices.’
Me: Gosh, that’s rather profound. Do we even have jam tarts?
Nell: Of course we do. It’s Kev’s birthday. There are always jam tarts. May I continue?
Me: Please do.
Nell: ‘For today is a day
Celebrated across Devon
When together we say
‘Happy Birthday dear Kevin’’
Me: Across Devon?
Nell: It should be the world but that didn’t rhyme.
Me: I see.
Nell: ‘Corgis are singing
Llamas are vaulting
Whippets applauding
At seals somersaulting.
Everyone’s doing
The best that they can
To celebrate this wonderful
Extraordinary man.
We love you dear Kev
From our heads to our paws
From our tails to our beaks
From our teeth to our claws.
With you in our lives
We are never alone
Because you are our rock
And you are our home.
So, thank you, dear Kev
For all that you do
For loving us all
For just being you.’
Me: That’s wonderful, Nell. It brought a tear to my eye.
Nell: I mean every word.
Me: I know. We’re very lucky to have Kev in our lives.
Nell: We’re very lucky to have each other. Now, put your hat on, please.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
