Birthday Memento

"You know I adore you," said Mr Boxe, "however it's a rather odd choice for my birthday present."

"It's a very fine binding," said Mr Foxe. "The woman in the shop said so."

"Yes," said Mr Boxe, "but--"

"And it's in Latin," said Mr Foxe. "You love Latin. You mention the fact in any conversation longer than four sentences."

"Did you read the title?" said Mr Boxe.

"Some of us," said Mr Foxe, "grew up in the forest without a fancy boarding school education."

"Memento mori," said Mr Boxe, "means 'Remember, you will die.'"

"Oh," said Mr Foxe.

"Yes," said Mr Boxe. "You see my point."

"I don't read Latin," protested Mr Foxe.

"Did you look at the pictures?" said Mr Boxe. "Did you notice all the skeletons?"

"I had forgot my glasses," said Mr Foxe. "I thought they were bunnies."

"You had better let me have the biggest slice of the birthday cake," said Mr Boxe, barely surpressing a giggle. "By way of making amends."

"I should have given it to you in any case," said Mr Foxe. "

"Because you are a gentleman of noble heart," said Mr Boxe. "Even if you did grow up in the forest."

"Darling," said Mr Foxe sweetly, "You're such a son of a bit--"

"Who wants cake?" said Enid.