There once was a family of spies. One of them is celebrating his birthday, and the Mommy spy gave him gifts. The celebrant did not say anything; instead he gave this set of words:
toes
heat
ambition
nose
kiss
see
for
oneupmanship
route
tough
And because the family are spies, the Mom understood the message.
If you read the first letters beginning from the first word downward, and then the last letters from the last word upwards, you will reveal the message.