Walter is always making excuses(借口) for forgetting to do things. His usual excuse is "I am too busy." 1 "I don't have time."
Walter's 2 are worried about him. "If he makes excuses all the time, nobody will 3 him," says his father. "I don't know 4 we can do," says his mother. "I have a good idea," his father says.
5 next day is Walter's birthday. When he thinks of 6 birthday gifts, he gets up 7 and expects(期待) his parents to 8 him "Happy birthday!" 9 they just say "Good morning, Walter." There are no gifts, not even a card. He is not 10. "Never mind," he thinks. "Maybe they'll give me a surprise(惊喜) after school when I 11." But they don't.
Finally, at dinner he says to his parents, "Today is my 12."
"Oh!" his father says, "I forget it." "Me, too," his mother says. "How can 13 forget it?" Walter asks. His father says, "We have a really good excuse for forgetting your birthday, Walter. We don't 14 your birthday only because we are too busy." Poor Walter! But he will 15 have an excuse for not doing something again!
