Twenty For A Dozen

03 || Honourable Guest(s)

03 || Honourable Guest(s)

         Kira brushed her teeth with one hand and flipped through her phone with the other. The cake was ready to be delivered, no guests had cancelled at last minute, the DJ was booked, and the special guest was arriving on time. She spit into the sink and smiled widely at herself in the mirror over the sink.

         Trevor’s birthday party was going to be great.

         “Your dress is ready, the hoops are set up, and your brother has been de-stressed.” The smell of coffee hit Kira’s nose as soon as she exited the bathroom.

         “Monique, you are my queen. Where would I be without you?” Kira asked her assistant. The French brunette was in her mid-twenties and had been Kira’s sidekick since she had started working at Joy-ful Birthday Planners.

         “In bed, with your skin breaking out horribly. Now let’s go get this party started before Lee decides to feel guilty again for not telling his friend about his surprise party.”

         With the coffee in her hand, Kira headed downstairs and outside into her backyard. The bushes bordering the fence were draped with streamers and balloons, and decorations hung from one tree to another. The basketball hoops were set up, and their boxes were ready beside them for Trevor to take home.

         Kira smiled. Even the weather was lovely.

         “It’s wonderful, Kira!” Kira turned to see Auntie Em walking towards her with a smile on her face.

         She leaned to kiss both cheeks of the older woman. “Thank you. Although I really do work better with themes,” Kira said with a smile.

         When she had first finished with high school, Kira’s parents had already started planning birthdays and Kira had created her own themed birthday portfolio at the age of nineteen. Business grew, and Kira’s heart swelled with pride when Lee got into his university of choice without any debt.

         “He’s a quiet boy, just his friends and their basketball games will be enough. Don’t worry, he will love this,” Auntie Em replied. The basketball hoops along with a signed basketball from Michael Jordan were a joint gift from the Moreno parents and the Joy family.

         “Has she arrived yet?” Kira asked.

         Auntie Em shook her head. “Your Uncle G picked her up from the airport an hour ago, they should be here any moment. Lee will be here by noon, as well.”

         “Good, we have two hours to make everything perfect.” Kira felt her heart beat with the same excitement she felt whenever she envisioned the birthday person’s face. It was her reason for working.

         Her cellphone beeped with a text, and Kira excused herself before heading to the refreshments table and checking her phone.

         It was Lee. Wyh her brother texted her when they were in the same setting, Kira didn't know. There was another honorable guest arriving. Kira’s eyebrows furrowed, and her mind raced with questions. She would have to re-arrange seating, and place cards on the tables scattered around the grass, and-

         “Stop freaking out.” Her brother poured himself a glass of punch. “What? I’m thirsty.”

         She only glared at him. “Who is this honourable guest? Eva isn’t bringing a plus one from Japan.”

         Lee licked his lips before answering. “Didn’t Auntie Em tell you? It was all she talked about last night. Trevor’s brother is coming with Eva for the birthday, too.”