"Hip hip hooray! It's my eighth birthday today! I'm going to be a very big boy, hip hip hooray!"
Darren Jones was jumping with joy. Today was his birthday - at last! He always loved birthdays, and this one was to be extra-special, as he was born on the eighth of May - he was to be eight on the eighth.
"Good morning champ! Happy birthday!" said his dad Daniel, who picked him up and flew him through the air. "You are a very lucky boy, Darren - not many people have their eighth birthday on the eighth!"
"I know, Dad - that's why I'm so happy," replied Darren, slightly dizzy from the flight through the air. "Can I open my presents now?"
"Have your breakfast first," said his dad. "Then you can open your presents!" Darren eagerly munched down his sandwich and cereal, gulped down his juice and ran towards his room, which was full of presents. He tore each wrapping away, revealing cool stuff such as cassettes, a guitar, books, trains...everything a child could ever wish for.
"Hey, thanks Dad!" said Darren. "But there is something missing..."
"What could be missing, my son?" asked Daniel, even though he knew what his son was talking about.
"The letters I get from Mom on my birthday," replied Darren. "Mom said in last year's letter, there will be a special letter for me today!"
"She sure did - here you are, kiddo," said Daniel, pulling a thick letter from his pocket and giving it to Darren.
"Do you know what Mom wrote this year, Dad?" asked Darren, looking at the letter.
"I'm not sure, son," replied Daniel. "But whatever it is, I'm sure your mother wishes you a very happy birthday!" Daniel hugged his son and left his room, leaving Darren with all his presents and the letter. Darren opened the envelope and removed the letter, reading it out.
Dear Darren, happy birthday! How are you today? I hope you are very well. You are eight years old today - wow, you have grown so fast! Your father must have given you loads of goodies. Take care of them.
I trust you to be a mature, grown-up boy so I think it's appropiate to tell you a true story. A story of a young man named Darren...
"DARREN?" asked Darren to himself. "Why would Mom be telling me a story about myself?" He shook his head and read on.
