the salsa dancing sweeper

Jerry always wanted to learn salsa dancing

for some reason he never got round to it

he mentioned it to a friend one day

then promptly forgot all about it

he listened to salsa music every day

great music for doing housework

the brush was his dance partner

Jerry was the salsa sweeping king

one day he was at home alone

listening to the salsa beat 

the doorbell rang

whoever could that be he thought

all of his friends were at the door

they brought in food and drinks

transformed his home into a dance studio

they brought a dance teacher for Jerry

Jerry followed her lead

he was finally doing a real salsa dance

it was the best day of his life

they all wished Jerry a happy 85th birthday

Birthday wish

it was his twelfth birthday

his parents threw a party

family and friends attended

there was food a plenty

he opened his presents

party games followed 

music and dancing

lots of laughter and fun

tit was time for the birthday cake

candles spelled out his age

everybody gathered around

as the candles were lit

the happy birthday song

was sung by all

he looked around the room

young smiling faces lit up by candle light

it was time to make his birthday wish

he closed his eyes tightly

I am tired of being a boy he thought

I wish I was a fully grown man

he blew out the candles

cheers rang out

he held his eyes closed longer

repeating his wish to himself

as he opened his eyes

the candles were still smoking

but the numbers had changed

it now said forty two

he looked around the room

all his young friends were gone

older faces he did not know

this was not a dream

he saw a boy across the room

who looked exactly like himself

the boy hugged him and said

happy birthday dad