Surprise Birthday

Written in response to https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-26th-2023/ and family.

‘Stay quiet,’ Charlotte said, putting her finger to her lips.

A family gathering, but with the main guest missing. It wasn’t quite a surprise, not really. Her husband thought he was going for a pub lunch, but she was never quite good at keeping secrets.

Private messages, a WhatsApp group, dedicated to making his 60th birthday special. He wanted a trip to Las Vegas, or a shed. The second was easier to organise, but harder to wrap.

They hid at the back, waiting for the door to click open. Lily held her big brother’s hand, trying not to giggle. Her granddad, or Grumpy Duck (Like her favourite cartoon character, Donald Duck) needed to hurry up. The food looked delicious, and she was hungry.

As the light switched on, so did he – a group full of people, friends, family, and a spread worthy of all their aunties.

‘Surpise Grumpy Duck,’ Lily said.

He grinned, perhaps being 60 wasn’t so bad, at least he would get a one pound roll and soup from Asda.