might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lined or endured just

as you chose to look at it.

Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that.

Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited--like a child. She would enjoy

her day.

Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought

a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs

had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy,

Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn't go out to play until the

post had come.

"I guess you'll get lots and lots of presents," he said, "I did last were when I was six."

What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be

lovely. Blue's such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a

book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many

lovely things.

She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle.

Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.

Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.

"Granny, granny," he shouted, "I've got your post."

He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth

was sealed, in Myra's writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.

"No parcel, Johnnie?"

"No, granny."

Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later

by parcel post. She must be patient.

Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open. Folded in the card was a piece of paper.

Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday -- Buy yourself

something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harold.

The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady

stooped to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it

into little bits.

U 4 Many people in the United States spend most of their free time watching television.

Certainly, there are many worthwhile programs on television, including news, educational

programs for children, programs on current social problems, plays, movies, concerts, and

so on. Nevertheless, perhaps people should not be spending so much of their time in front

of the TV. Mr Mayer imagines what we might do if we were forced to find other activities.