I read it twice, then I said, Well, why don't you?Why don't I what?Why don't you wish her many happy returns? It doesn't seem much to ask.But she says on her birthday.Well, when is her birthday?Can't you understand? said Bobbie. I've forgotten.Forgotten! I said.Yes, said Bobbie. Forgotten.How do you mean, forgotten? I said. Forgotten whether it's the twentieth or the twenty-first, or what? How near do you get to it?I know it came somewhere between the first of January and the thirty-first of December. That's how near I get to it.
In this passage from "My Man Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse, the speaker is engaged in a conversation with Bobbie about the importance of remembering someone's birthday. Bobbie admits to having forgotten the exact date, expressing only a vague recall of it being sometime during the year. This casual disregard for the birthday highlights a humorous yet relatable struggle of memory and social obligations.
The dialogue illustrates the tension between the expectations of wishing someone well on their special day and the reality of forgetting such details. The speaker's surprise at Bobbie's casual attitude towards the birthday emphasizes how significant personal connections can sometimes be overlooked. This moment reflects Wodehouse's wit and ability to capture the complexities of human relationships in a lighthearted manner.