Jamie was happy when he woke up because it was his birthday, but the best part of the day was yet to come!

Use these words to complete the story.

ages     celebrate     competition     delighted     disbelief

discovered     explode     expression     favourite     kitchen

knew     ordinary     rarely     room     sheer     special

struggled     sure     ushered     wildest     wrapped

At last it was Saturday. Jamie thought today would never come. It wasn't just any Saturday. It was his _____________day because today was Jamie's tenth birthday. Jamie rushed downstairs. His mum and dad were waiting for him in the _____________. "What's the rush?" said Dad teasing, "Is the house on fire?"

For a minute, Jamie thought they had forgotten, but then he saw the presents _____________up in the corner.

"Go on," said Mum "open them before you _______________." Jamie was _________with his new football and football socks but the _____________on Jamie's face when he opened the last present was one of ________ joy. It was a football shirt - a replica shirt of his favourite team, City. He'd wanted one for ________but he _________they were so expensive.

Between thanks and shouts of "This is great", Jamie had ___________to put the shirt on over his pyjamas and was now standing in the middle of the __________, a smile from ear to ear, chanting "City, City City". He was so loud that his mum felt _________he would be heard in the next street!

"I think you should open your cards now, Jamie," suggested his Mum, as she __________him towards the table. "Come on, sit down and let's see who they're from."

Jamie started to open the pile of cards on the table. There was one from Gran and Grandad, another from Auntie Sue and Uncle Bill, a funny one from his friend Adam and one with a footballer on the front from Uncle Ian and Auntie Joe.

At the bottom of the pile was a long, white envelope. He __________ got a letter so he was surprised to find one this morning. His heart beat faster.

"Go on Jamie," encouraged Dad, "open it". There was something in Dad's voice that told him this was no ordinary letter.

He tore at the envelope and stared in ___________as he read. Jamie had entered a _____________ in the local paper two weeks before. At first was convinced he would win but then he ___________ hundreds of people had entered as well so he had given up all hope Now his _____________dream had come true. The letter was telling him he had won. He looked at Mum and Dad and could see that they already __________.

"Well?" said Mum. Jamie just grinned.

What a way to ___________your birthday. A football shirt, a letter inviting him to the City ground, a chance to meet his _______________player and in the envelope - two tickets for this afternoon's match!

Jamie punched the air! "Y--es!!!" he shouted.