A Surprise for Christine.

I had never seen my friend Christine looking so low. She was normally such a cheerful person, always bouncing back no matter what the trouble. But I had to admit, being made redundant at twenty-seven was pretty depressing on its own without having her boyfriend leave her for some brassy blonde.
            Making my way to meet Jean and a few other friends, I wondered if there was anything I could do to put the smile back on her face. Normally she joined us at these Monday evening get-togethers, but tonight she had promised to help her mother with some dressmaking.
            Naturally the others were sorry to learn that Christine’s boyfriend had left her.
            “Isn’t that just like a man to kick you when you’re down?” said Jean.
I agreed, adding it would be nice if we could do something to cheer her up. “Does anyone have any suggestions?”
The girls sipped at their drinks, while giving the matter some thought.
            “What about a party?” said Ann at last.
            “I don’t know; is she really in the mood for…?” Jean began.
But I quickly interrupted. “Hang on, that’s a good idea. It’s Christine’s birthday next Saturday, why don’t we give her a surprise party?”
            “Well, if you’re sure. I just wonder if she’ll want so much fuss at the moment.” Jean sounded doubtful.
            “Of course she will,” I replied. “Fuss is exactly what she needs. Throwing this party will show how much we all care. But we only have until Saturday so we need to set out a plan of action. ”
            By the end of the evening it was agreed that we would hold the party in the community hall. Being on the village green and close to the duck pond made it the ideal setting for a summer party.
            We had also made a guest list. Ann, having recently completed a course in computers, offered to print the invitations. We decided that the party should start at 7pm prompt; therefore it was important that all the guests were in the hall by 6.30pm at the latest. Any one arriving after that would stand a chance of bumping into Christine and the whole surprise would be spoilt. 
            My head buzzed as I walked home. For some reason I had yet to fathom, I’d volunteered to make the cake. I must have had too much wine. My skill at cake making went no further than fairy cakes.                             
            Vi had promised she would decorate it on Friday, which meant I had to make the wretched thing tomorrow; allowing it a few days to settle down. Now, what else had I said I would do? Oh yes. I was going to ask my brother to provide the music.
            Suddenly I panicked. It had been very rash of me to offer Jerry’s services. He is into heavy beat; what we really wanted was something light for a summer evening.
            But he had just set up a band and I knew he would relish the opportunity to play to a live audience, even if it was for nothing. Nevertheless, I would need to make it clear exactly what we wanted.
            We all met up again the following evening having decided to get together every day until the party.
            “I’ve made the cake.” I gave Vi a sheepish grin. “I’m afraid it’s sunk a little. Well, quite a lot actually; I’m hoping you can do a repair job with the icing.” I hastily went on to say I had explained to Jerry what we wanted and he was more than happy to provide the music.
            I crossed my fingers under the table. He had appeared to take in what I said, but I couldn’t really be sure. Jerry was always inclined to do his own thing.
            Ann told us she had booked the hall for the whole day, giving us time to decorate it. She had also brought a copy of the invitation cards for approval, saying she would post them the following day if everyone was happy.
            Some of the others had already started making cakes, sausage rolls and quiches to freeze. Sandwiches and other such items would be made on the day. So far everything was going to plan.
            By Friday all Christine’s friends had telephoned to accept the invitation to the party, promising faithfully to be there before 6.30. Everyone who knew of the surprise had been sworn to secrecy. I had kept well away from Christine, fearing I may slip up and give the game away.
            I was picking up the fresh bread and rolls the next morning, while wine, nuts and crisps were all stored in Ann’s garage. Everything was organized; nothing could go wrong. We would simply set up the hall in the morning and then lock the door until we needed to lay out the food.
            I awoke to a lovely sunny morning. Normally on a Saturday I enjoyed a lie in, but today there wasn’t a moment to lose.
            The hall was buzzing with activity when I burst through the door. Ann was in the middle of blowing up a balloon. Startled at my sudden entrance, it slipped through her fingers and whizzed around the hall, making everyone laugh.
            “I don’t think I can blow up many more of these,” said Ann, when the laughter had subsided. “It’s more difficult than I thought; I haven’t enough puff.”
            “Don’t worry, we’ll all take a turn,” I assured her. Though I wasn’t sure how we would manage it if Ann couldn’t. Being a superb diver, her lungs were far superior to ours.
            Meanwhile, Helen was making a good job of the floral arrangement, which would be the centre-piece on the table and Ann’s rather pompous brother, David was up a ladder. He had volunteered to fasten a large net onto the ceiling. It would hold the blown-up balloons. At the appointed time, a single thread would be pulled allowing them all to fall on the guests below.
            “There, what do you think of that? I bet you girls couldn’t have made such a good job of it.” David made a gesture towards the net only to lose his footing on the ladder.
            His hands, thrashing around at the empty air, caught hold of a cord, which turned out to be the switch for turning on the three large newly-installed ceiling fans. The yank on the cord, caused the three fans to spring into high speed action. The sudden blast of air blew Helen’s delicate blooms off the table.  
            “Turn it off!” she yelled, clutching her precious flowers to her ample bosom. “You idiot! What are you playing at?”
            “I’m sorry,” said David, still wobbling perilously on the ladder; one hand frantically grabbing out for something more stable. Unfortunately, he caught hold of the balloon net and, being only fastened with a four small pins, it came away causing him to crash to the floor. Ann and I rushed over to where he was desperately trying to disentangle himself from the net. We burst out laughing at the scene.
            Once he had managed to free himself, David jumped to his feet, red-faced with embarrassment. He threw the net to the ground. “If you can do any better, then you’d better get on with it.”
            “I’m sorry,” I said, stifling my laughter. “We shouldn’t laugh. Are you alright?
He nodded his face still very red.
            “You’re making such a good job of it, David, we’d be most grateful if you’d put it up again.” A sudden thought struck me. “And after that, would
you be an angel and blow up the balloons. I really appreciate you offering to help us; I know we couldn’t manage without you.” I gave the girls a sly grin.
            “Well, I suppose if you put it like that I could stay a while longer,” said David, recovering his dignity. “How many balloons are there?”
            “Thank you David. There’s quite a lot actually, but you needn’t blow up them all, a couple of hundred or so will do.”
            He looked horrified. Giving him my most endearing smile, I moved swiftly across to the kitchen where Jean and Mary were standing ready to make the sandwiches.
            “What happened out there?” Mary nodded towards the hall.
            “David was fooling around with the ladder.” I grinned, recalling the scene.
            “Didn’t you tell him we don’t have time to fool around?” said Jean.
            “Yes, you’re right,” I said. “I have the bread in the car; perhaps you could give me a hand to bring it in.”
            Jean and Mary gaped at me. “We’ve brought the bread,” said Mary at last. “We thought you were bringing some of the fillings.”
            I was stunned. “No it was the other way around. See, it’s written here.” I pulled my list from my pocket.
            “No. Bread is definitely on our list.” said Jean pulling it from her bag. “Mary and I were to collect and pay for the bread. Let me see.” She paused, running her finger down the page. “There!” she said triumphantly. “Order and collect loaves. It says you and Helen were to buy the fillings between you.”
            I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Well,” I said at last. “This is a fine state of affairs. We’re going to have to do some quick thinking. I only hope no one else brings bread.” I called Helen and Ann into the kitchen and began to explain the problem.
            “Really! Women! Can’t you do anything right?”  David’s head appeared around the door.
            I reminded him of his recent tussle with the balloon net and what his friends might make of it if they were to hear. He slunk away without another word.
            “Helen, have you brought anything we can use for sandwiches?” I asked, getting straight to the point.
            “Yes. Bread and rolls, they’re in my car.” She looked at the expression on our faces. “What? Why are you looking at me like that? It says two dozen medium sliced loaves and four dozen rolls on my list. I can’t help it if someone has messed up.” She went back to her flower arrangement.
            “Look! Let’s just decide what we want and I’ll go and get it,” I said, wearily. “But for heaven’s sake be quick; we can’t afford to mess around any more. The time is slipping by.”
            It was true. There was still so much to do and now I had to go rushing off to the food store. We really needed to keep David sweet; he might be useful later.  
            Another problem awaited me on my return. This time it was the fridge, it wasn’t working properly. David was on his hands and knees peering at the works.
            “It’s simply too old. I believe the hall committee is in the process of buying another one,” he said.
            “That’s all very well, but what are we going to do in the meantime? All this cooked meat will be spoiled if we leave it out in the heat.” My patience was fast wearing thin. Perhaps a surprise party for Christine hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
            Jean came to the rescue, or at least her parents did. It appeared they had a lightweight fridge in their caravan. “It’s small, but it might do for today.”
            I didn’t care how small it was, it was a Godsend. Jean and I went off to find the fridge.
            I was dreading my return to the hall. It seemed that every time I walked in I was met with trouble. This time was no exception. Ann, suddenly startled when a balloon suddenly burst, had dropped a large tray of glasses. She was brushing up the pieces.
            “I’m not sure we’ll have enough now. What do you think?” she asked.
            “Would now be a good time to mention we’re short of cutlery?”
            “And plates?”
            “Has anyone thought about serviettes?”  
         “This salmon doesn’t smell right. Do you think it’s off?”
            Voices came at me from all directions. “I don’t know and I don’t care,” I yelled. Why was everything going so terribly wrong? Calming down a little, I suggested that we all brought some cutlery and glasses from our homes when we came back that evening.
            We worked quietly for the rest of the afternoon and by late afternoon we seemed to be getting to the stage when I thought we could relax, despite several of the balloons bursting due to the heat and the net falling down twice.
            At that point I suggested it might be a good idea if we all went home to change. “But we’d better come straight back in case there’s another catastrophe.”
            “Why don’t you come to the party, David?” I asked. “You’ve been such a help today, it seems a shame to miss out on all the fun.”
            “I’m not sure I’ll be able to stand the pace.” His blue eyes twinkled. “The party hasn’t even started and I feel dizzy already. I’ve fallen off the ladder once and nearly passed out twice while blowing up the balloons. I shudder to think what might happen once it’s in full swing.”
            I suddenly felt guilty. I had noticed he’d gone crossed eyed a couple of times, but I’d merely believed him to be fooling around. What if he had fainted?
            Just then Helen, who was rummaging in a cupboard, called out. “Look what I’ve found! It’s a gadget for blowing up balloons.”
            I pushed David out of the door before he exploded. “Come back when you’ve showered and changed, you’ll feel much better, I promise.” Giving a final glance at the hall, I pulled the blinds and left.
            When we came back, a further nail-biting situation awaited us. A burst water main had caused lengthy traffic diversions to be put into place. Fortunately, the guests arrived with a few minutes to spare.
            It was almost time for the surprise. We all stood in the darkened hall hardly daring to say a word. I glanced at David and smiled. He wasn’t really so bad after all, at least he had given me a lift to make sure I wouldn’t be late and I must say, he washed and brushed up very well. Perhaps I had misjudged him.
            Looking around the hall, I gave a sigh of relief. Everything was ready. The balloon net had finally agreed to stay aloft, the hall was beautifully decked out, the buffet looked delicious and we had managed to find enough glasses, cutlery and plates at the back of the cupboard. Even Jerry’s music was what we wanted. I felt really confident about the evening; what could possibly go wrong now…?
            It was at that very moment a small voice at the back of the hall said, “Did anyone think to invite Christine?”

The End.