March was a month

of great celebration,

a joyous occasion

with much anticipation.

For March was the month of Ava's Birthday,

and Benson the Brat

could not wait to play.

Every year Ava’s party had a new theme,

and stealing the show

was Benson’s big dream.

Each year the parties

were full of ways to have fun,

and so far Benson’s tricks

had almost ruined every one!

This year the theme was to be Sideshow Alley,

Benson the Brat would need to

'Roll Up' and rally!

Benson had seen

a great deal of preparation.

The more decorations there were,

the greater chance of devastation.

There were posters and balloons,

banners and streamers.

With this many party bags

there were sure to be

screamers!

Benson couldn’t wait

for the big day to arrive.

He had planned his own games to play-

not one but five.

He had thought up new tricks

that he could use,

as he sought to surprise,

bedazzle and amuse.

Finally it came,

the day of the party.

The food was all checked,

down to the last smarty.

The games were setup,

stands all shapes and sizes,

the party bags ready,

a stand for the prizes.

Ping pong cups,

fish in a pond,

catch the ducks,

tic-tac-toe.

Knock’em down tins,

shoot the target-

games everyone would know.

Benson had made plans for all of these games.

He had studied each one

 and knew all of their names.

Gradually

the children started to arrive.

They came one then two,

before you know it-

twenty five!

Then

an unexpected sight to see,

up came the ponies,

one,

two

and three.

Benson could hardly contain his excitement,

real ponies to tease,

his plan needed refinement.

Just as he started to work it all out,

Mum scooped him up

leaving Benson to pout.

‘I see you plotting and planning’ she said,

‘I think it would be best if you stayed in your bed’.

And with that she locked him in the cat run,

caged like a tiger,

now how could he have fun?

Showing off to draw the crowd was just not enough,

Benson needed to get out,

but this would be tough.

He jumped from his platforms and performed tricks,

He acted like Spiderman and scaled the bricks,

He went thru the tunnels and popped out here then there,

He moved around so fast

he was everywhere!

The children all loved it,

he put on quite a show,

but he was getting desperate,

it was time to go.

Every chance he got

he would test every out,

pushing on doors

as he jumped all about.

He picked out one child

who looked at him with fond eyes,

and begged her to release him

with his love as her prize.

She turned the handle

to let him run free………

And so began...

Benson's Birthday Party crime spree.

First

he scaled the wire mesh to the top.

Waited for a pony

and then let himself drop.

The pony was moving faster

than he expected,

and Benson went splat,

left lying unprotected.

Feeling exposed

and little bit silly,

he decided to redeem himself

and grab the next filly.

But just as he sat up

to plan his retort,

the next pony put his nose down

and let out a

snort.

With his hair on end

Benson flew as high as can be,

before coming back down

in the apple tree.

He hung for a minute

then slide down the trunk,

landing in pony poo,

and oh boy it stunk!

With so many other things

still yet to do,

he gave up on the ponies

and launched his next coup.

He jumped over a poster

and landed somewhere strange,

Benson was in the middle

of the target range!

With targets around him

and foam bullets left and right,

he wasn’t sure whether

to run or to fight.

Benson the Brat ran -

he was a tease not a hero,

and so far his party score

was still stuck on zero.

In a desperate attempt

to strike his first party blow,

he jumped high and long,

landing in tic-tac-toe.

He landed tail first

in an empty hole,

making him the first one

to get 3 in a row!