Around the time I was nine years old I decided to throw
my mom a surprise birthday party. I only told my sister about it and
we wrote down a few of the things that a party needed. Cake, Ice
cream. . .done. We couldn't afford Ice cream or make a cake so we
worked out a plan where we could get the guest bring the party and
themselves and kill two birds with one stone and ask that stone to
also clean and gut them for us. I got on the phone and invited all of
my aunts and uncles and told them to bring some cake and Ice cream
and to come down to our house for a party for my mom's birthday. I
only gave them about three days notice but they all said they would
come the forty miles to our house that Sunday. My grandfather,
grandmother and adult mentally handicapped son were also on board so
the guest list was starting to look like about thirty. I knew about
cake and ice cream as objects and concepts of refreshment but not as
a quantifiable, consumable commodity so I woefully underestimated the
amount of refreshments that thirty guests would need. I also had not
considered the logistics of consumption and made no provision for
plates and utensils for thirty. Come Sunday we were coming home from
church walking home with my mom when she noticed about six cars in
the driveway. She was definitely surprised. In fact, her surprise
bordered on panic when I told her what I had organized for her. We
lived in a mobile home which has about enough room in the kitchen and
living room for about 12 people. That left us approximately 18 short
of fitting everyone in. My aunt had brought one 9”round double
decker 'ugly cake' that if it was cut really thin could feed 12. Once
again 18 short. We had no where enough cups, forks, or plates and I
had not actually thought of any sort of plan as far as activities
went so everyone was just milling around hanging out. My mom was
running around trying to get seats and plates and treats for everyone
and it was not working. All the kids were fine we just ran off and
played so I was not sure how the rest of the party went but after
everyone went home I was strictly forbidden from organizing anymore
surprise parties. Fine. You're welcome.
