The Celebration

The one hour and forty minute movie took us exactly five hours (that’s how long it took us to watch the movie while having lunch for Dad would want us to rewind every scene he missed in the split second he looked away to pop some grub into his mouth!) and that left me an hour to get dressed as well as get myself to Exotica, which was a fifteen- minute walk.
"Excuse me people, I have to get to Exotica to meet Tumi and Nicky."
"Go on, get dressed. We’ll drop you there when you are ready," Aunt Cathy said sipping her black coffee.
"Thanks, I will be right down."
I hurried upstairs and after a quick shower, got dressed and opened my wardrobe to get my new necklace. It looked stunning with my black top.
I hurried downstairs.
"I am ready!"
"All right, Cathyyyyyyy!" Uncle Ralph yelled, "Let’s go!"
"Wow, the necklace looks good on you. That’s one birthday present I am glad of having chosen myself," said Aunt Cathy as if she had just come first in a food preparation contest.
"Dee, here’s some money. I think this will cover your party expenses," said Dad coming out of the kitchen and handing me some cash.
"Thank you so much Dad."
We got into the Jeep, Uncle Ralph’s baby.
"Lunch was delicious, Sis," said Aunt Cathy, rolling down her window.
" I totally agree," Uncle Ralph complimented while reversing the Jeep onto the street.
"Thanks. Dee, have fun!" Mom said waving.
"Yes, enjoy yourself, Dee!" said Dad.
"Bye!"
We reached Exotica in less than five minutes.
"Thanks for the gift and also for taking the trouble to drop me," I said as I got off the Jeep.
"No problem, Exotica is on the way home and you are welcome," said Aunt Cathy through her car window.
They drove away, leaving me at the entrance to Exotica. I glanced at my watch. One minute past eight. Good timing, Dee. I headed towards the back of the eatery to our usual booth. That place was cut off from the rest of the restaurant and was vacant most of the time due to its position.
I wasn’t in any way ready for what I saw next. Tumi and Nicky had decorated the entire area with balloons and party streamers. On the table, was a chocolate cake topped with chocolate icing, whip cream and chocolate sprinkles.
Yum. "Wow," I whispered.
"That’s all you could come up with?" questioned Nicky with a mock frown. He came forward and gave me a peck on the cheek and a hug. "Happy birthday, again!"
Tumi did the same.
"Ooh, gorgeous necklace," she said fingering the pendant.
"Could you give me the number of the guy who gave it to you? I need to get one for my girlfriend," said Nicky searching for paper.
"Aunt Cathy and Uncle Ralph gave it to me and by the way, when did you get yourself a girlfriend?"
"Now, what makes you think I tell you two everything, huh?"
"This is absolutely great. You didn’t have to do all this," I said, still awed by the spectacle in front of me.
"That’s more like it. Oh, we didn’t do it. Exotica did," said Nicky.
"Yeah, right," I said disbelievingly.
"All right, why don’t we cut the cake?" Tumi suggested.
"Are you sure you want to, Dee?" asked Nicky in a loud whisper.
"Why, what’s wrong?"
"Tumi made the cake. It’s her first one. She tried it out especially for your birthday."
"Nicky, don’t scare me," Tumi said looking genuinely worried.
"Nicky, shut up. From the look of it, it looks so rich and scrumptious and promises to add inches to my waist," I comforted Tumi while picking up the knife with an aquamarine bow tied around its handle. My pals sure knew my beloved colors.
"In that case, you better stay away from that cake, in case it turns out to be delicious. We don’t want to be seen with a baby elephant."
"Get lost, I am going to cut the cake now."
Tumi started singing and Nicky joined in.
"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Dee Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, (Pause)
Happy birthday to you!" sang Nicky and Tumi.
I blew the fourteen candles and cut a piece of cake, which I held out to Nicky. Mr. Shilling, Exotica’s assistant manager, a friend of ours, snapped pictures.
"You try it out first, Dee," said Tumi anxiously.
I ate the piece of cake. It was the yummiest, creamiest, most ‘chocolatey’ cake I had ever tasted. I acted as if I was about to puke.
"Oh no, it’s horrible, isn’t it? I should have let Mom bake the cake," said Tumi almost close to tears.
"I am kidding. It’s great, Tumi. Taste it, Nicky. I bet you haven’t tasted better cake than this before."
After assuring Tumi that her cake was first-rate, we sat down to enjoy the rest of the evening. Mr. Shilling brought us our menus.
"The drinks are on the house," he said.
"Thank you, Mr. Shilling," I said and as I opened my menu, Nicky and Tumi produced a box covered with candy pink tissue paper.
"Thanks a lot," I said not waiting to be to told to rip it open. "A disk-man! Wow! You guys are the greatest!"
"Well, we knew you were saving up for one. So, we got one for you, so that you could use the cash you saved up on our birthday gifts," said Nicky looking very wise and grave.
"I will think about it, Sir."
"Yes, I do recommend you give a lot of thought to the issue, Ma’am."
"Here’s your card," said Tumi handing me a card that would reach my knee.
"Happy birthday, Dee," I read, "our closest pal. You make life beautiful and worth living."
That got me. My eyes were instantly moist. My throat felt like there was a tennis ball stuck there.
"Aww, you guys are the sweetest," I said in a thick voice, hugging them.
"Tumi, we are good liars, aren’t we?" asked Nicky mischievously, nudging Tumi in the ribs with his elbows.
"I definitely agree with you, Nicky."
I shoved them playfully; they were making fun of my show of emotion.
We ordered a large pizza, a plate of lasagna and one large salad along with a side dish of garlic bread and potato wedges and ginger beer (non-alcoholic, of course) for beverages. And we, being food lovers, easily finished all the grub on the table, leaving enough cake to take home to our families. After warm brownies topped with creamy vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup with a cherry on top for dessert, I paid the bill, after which we walked to Movie Mania to get ourselves a horror movie. Tumi isn’t exactly the horror movie type but she didn’t object. On the other hand, Nicky and I just adore horror movies. We rented ‘Final Destination 2’ and made our way home, which was only five minutes away.
"Mom! Dad!" I called out as we entered. We made our way through the kitchen to the den where the TV is. I noticed a note on the fridge:

Dee, gone to book discussion at the Wakefield’s.
May be a little late.
Don’t stay up. Enjoy!

"Parents out of the house," I yelled out to Nicky and Tumi.
"Cool," they said in unison.
"Give me 15 minutes. I will pop some popcorn and open some cans of ginger beer."
"Don’t worry. But make it fast. I am gonna start playing it in a minute," said Nicky.
"You impatient jerk. Take your time, Dee. I will make sure that he doesn’t start," said Tumi scowling.
"You are just saying that because you are scared," accused Nicky.
"I am not!" said Tumi in defense.
"Scary cat, scary cat, chicken, chicken," taunted Nicky.
"Stop it," yelled Tumi.
I laughed and went to the kitchen. When I returned with the snacks, Nicky was glued to a rugby game and Tumi was flipping through the entertainment guide.
"Nicky, will you switch to the Chic Channel on 21?" queried Tumi, "Why watch grown up men get on top of one another squabbling over an odd shaped ball? How immature!"
It may have slipped my mind to tell you. Tumi is a softie... a little on the sensitive side. She can’t stand violence and rough games such as rugby. She also adores family drama and romantic ‘wet’ movies. She prefers movies and novels with happy endings. "Why watch depressing movies when life is not that joyful either?" is her question. Well, I guess her philosophy does make sense. However, Nicky and I are mad about rugby, horror movies and yucky, nasty stuff. The both of us are the type to be the first to watch the new Shwazenegger movie.
"No way! They are going to have a goal any minute now," said Nicky keeping his eyes riveted on the screen.
Tumi just sighed hopelessly and continued to flip through the entertainment guide. In a second, we were sitting on our comfy couch, eating popcorn and Pringles, sipping ginger beer and watching Final Destination 2, which was getting disgusting by the minute, at least for Tumi. Nicky and I were enjoying ourselves immensely.
In about an hour and a half, the movie was over and I was saying ‘ciao’ to my chummies at the door.
"Bye and thanks for making my birthday a day to remember."
"Hey, what are friends for?" asked Nicky.
"You are welcome, Dee. We enjoyed ourselves too. Thanks. Good night," said Tumi.
"Sweet dreams, Dee Dee," said Nicky.
"Good night. Bye," I said watching them both go in opposite directions to their homes. I watched till I saw their bedroom lights come on.
I love the house when it’s all quiet and tranquil. It’s so relaxing. I cleared up the den, showered, made myself some hot chocolate and settled down on the swing-bench in the veranda, sipping the warm thick liquid, which always managed to make me fell all toasty inside, all the while thanking God for the amazing friends and family He has given me.