Henry's Birthday

One day when Henry was asleep, the holes heard the pipes whispering about Henry’s birthday. Now the pipes and the bellows and the reservoir all thought the holes arrogant. The holes thought the others were silly because the others all had to play exactly what the holes chose. Nevertheless they all did have one thing in common. They all loved Henry. “What’s this about a birthday?” one of the holes asked the pipes.
“Yes, it’s Henry’s birthday tomorrow”, said the pipes in perfect harmony.
The frame joined in. “Let’s make him a present.”
“What can we do?” said the others.
“Well”, said the frame who stood there with both feet firmly on the ground, “I’ve been thinking.”
The frame was so sensible and very good at thinking.
“I’ve heard him singing a song about his darling. It’s a lovely tune and I think we should play it to him on his birthday.”
The others recalled hearing the tune too and so the holes decided to arrange themselves on a part of the paper-roll, which was blank.
They worked all night trying to get it right, but it was such a pretty tune it didn’t seem like hard work at all.
The pipes were most excited and could hardly get a wink of sleep.
In the morning before the cock-a-doodle-doo sounded, the holes told the others that they were ready. They were all so pleased and waited nervously for Henry to wake up. Then just as he started on his rounds, the crank started turning and in no time at all the pipes were playing their best. It started off with a quick round of “Happy Birthday” and then they played in beautiful harmony “Henry’s Tune”. All the twiddly bits were there and it sounded marvelous.
Henry was really very touched and the bellows weren’t sure whether they’d seen a little tear in his eye or whether it was just the usual glint he had when he was especially happy.
“Please play it again”, he said, and they did and Henry sang out loud to the music all about his darling.
Henry went on his rounds and checked everything and he was so delighted that all was in apple pie order. In fact no one could ever remember the holes being so well behaved.
“Well Done!”, he said in that special way he had that made everyone feel good.
And Henry hummed that tune to himself all day.

Click here if you would like to hear Henry's Tune and see what he sang

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