短編ストーリー B1: The birthday gift

It is going to be my father's birthday.

What can I give him?

I don't have much money.

I have looked all through the stores,

and I have not found anything that I think he would like, or that I can afford.

I have thought very hard about what to buy for him.

I thought that he might like some candy, but my father really doesn't eat many sweets.

I thought that he might like a new shirt, but he has lots of clothes.

I can't afford a new car or computer for him.

I was watching him on the weekend.

He cut the grass, washed the car, took out the garbage,

weeded the garden and watered the plants.

I got an idea.

I went to my room and took out some paper.

I cut out pieces of paper, and I wrote on them.

I wrote on one piece of paper that I would wash the car every weekend for the summer.

I wrote on another piece that I would take out the garbage every week for the summer.

I also wrote that I would cut the grass,

weed the garden and water the plants every week for the summer.

I made a birthday card for my dad, and I put the pieces of paper inside it.

I went downstairs and gave my gift to my dad.

My dad thought that the gift was very thoughtful.

He said that it was a gift from the heart.

I did all those things for my dad all summer.

He said that he had a lot of free time because I helped him so much.

My dad and I are good friends.

I don't mind doing things for him because I know that he is always there to help me out.

A good gift doesn't have to be something that costs a lot.

My dad says that the best gifts are the ones that show how much you care for the other person.

I'm glad my dad liked his gift.