“That’s my goldfish!”

The words stung my ears. I looked back. “What?” I asked.

So close. I was so close.

Thomas marched up to me. “Its MY goldfish and you know it, uncle! Give it!” He demanded.

I sighed. “No, it’s not. It’s mine, remember? I just let you take care of it for a week.”

He wasn’t convinced. “Well, it hasn’t been a week. And i want to take care of it! Now GIVE IT HERE!” He snatched at the bowl.

I stepped aside and he tripped, his momentum tumbling him onto the carpet.

I sighed inwardly. My nephew’s birthday was today. I had dropped by, as far as he knew, to pick up the goldfish and spend his birthday with the family. He just wasn’t ready to let poor goldie go.

“Why don’t you go help your mother with icing the cake?” I suggested as I helped him up.

He brightened. “Yeah!” Forgetting about my goldfish, he bounded into the kitchen, allowing me to escape outside to put Goldie in the car and bring in my surprise. My sister Amy knew about it, as did her husband James. But this little surprise was unknown to Thomas.

I made my way inside again, toting a huge box with small holes in the side. Thomas ambled over, his face covered in vanilla icing, and noticed my present.

“Woah! What’s that, uncle?” He asked eagerly.

I smiled knowingly. “You will find out after we eat.”

And eat we did. Amy had outdone herself yet again with the cake and salad, and James was a master at the barbecue.

Afterwards, with the grandparents and other family, I made my way to the living room. “Who wants to open some preeeseeents?” I asked, grinning eagerly at Thomas, who was polishing off the rest of the cake and fruit salad.

“I DOOOOO!” Shrieked Thomas, bolting through the living room door. We all laughed as he made his way through all the lovely gifts. Soon he was covered in bows and ribbons.

He had one box to go. I handed him the huge bx i’d carried in earlier. Small, prying hands opened the box

Out sprang Thomas’s new puppy.