Chapter 20
TWENTY
‘We— What?’ I can hardly believe my ears.
‘We have a joint party. You could at least say yes, grand idea, why didn’t I think of it? Not a bother!’
‘Because I am trying to get my head around it. You’re serious, a joint party?’ My mouth is almost hitting the floor.
‘Sure, why not. The hall is definitely big enough.’ He gestures to the vast space around us. ‘You can’t argue with that. Besides, I’d say we have no choice in the matter.’
‘Yes, but…’
‘Twenty-five people you say.’ He’s marching off purposefully to a pile of chairs stacked in a corner. ‘And there will be fourteen children, so there are more than enough chairs. And tables, I’d say.’ He nods to a stack of tables. ‘There will be plenty of space. I will draw a line down the middle of the hall if you like,’ he offers.
‘I don’t think there’s any need for that,’ I say, although I secretly think it’s a good idea to divide the space up a bit.
But could it work? I am coming round to the fact that there may be no alternative. Someone at the council has made a terrible error, but it shouldn’t mean that anyone should suffer because of that. It is slowly dawning on me that there might not be any other solution.
‘So, we’re alright with sharing the space then?’ asks Kian, setting down some boxes.
‘I guess it will have to be,’ I reluctantly agree, my head spinning.
‘Good. Now, if you don’t mind me taking a few of those ceiling decorations down so I can hang this pi?ata.’
‘Take them down?’
‘Yes. Not all of them, but we want it to look like a children’s party too, right? And there are more Christmas decorations up there than Santa’s grotto,’ he says, glancing at the ceiling.
‘No, of course not. I will grab a ladder for you,’ I say, heading to a storeroom and praying that nobody minds the sudden change of plan. A kids’ party and pensioners’ party combined? Lord help us!
‘That’s grand, thanks. And don’t look so worried. Things don’t always go according to plan in life, but a party’s a party.’
‘I suppose so, it’s just a bit of a shock, that’s all,’ I say, trying to steady my nerves. He’s right of course, life doesn’t always go according to plan, but this is a nightmare. An unplanned event that is bound to be a disaster. It can’t possibly work. I feel sick.
‘I can imagine. But if there’s one thing I do know about, it’s how to throw one heck of a good party.’ He winks. ‘So relax.’
And all I can do is I pray that he’s right.
I decide not to tell the pensioners about the double booking just yet, as I don’t want it to put them off coming. Maybe I can play it off as the perfect surprise, rather than an insane idea – kids running around all over the place while pensioners try to chat quietly as they munch on Christmas lunch. And a bouncy castle! My stomach is in knots as I step outside and call Gemma.
‘You’re kidding me.’
‘I’m not. The centre has been double booked and the pensioners are going to be sharing the space with a bunch of seven-year-olds! Oh, Gemma, it’s going to be awful, I just know it. A few of the pensioners have heart problems. One or two get a bit confused.’ I sigh. ‘Especially old Wilf, who is as deaf as a post.’
‘Well, that’s alright, at least he won’t be able to hear them squeal after all the sugar they are likely to consume.’ Gemma giggles.
‘Oh don’t, this is not funny. And some of them use sticks or walking frames. What if there’s an accident? What if a child barges into one of them?’
I run through every scenario in my head. Spilled juice on the floor causing an old person to go flying. Pensioners trying to get on the bouncy castle after a drink or two. I can think of a couple of cantankerous old blokes that wouldn’t think twice about giving an unruly child a clip around the ear and ending up in court.
‘Will you stop right there,’ she tells me. ‘You’re talking about a group of kids, mainly girls, I assume, not a herd of stampeding elephants.’
‘I suppose so. Oh, Gemma, it’s just I wasn’t expecting this. Everything had been going perfectly to plan up until today. How could anybody have mixed up the booking?’ I say in frustration.
‘Who knows? But people are human and sometimes they mess up,’ she reasons. ‘It could have been a young apprentice or something. Remember when you worked on reception at that hotel, and you gave the wrong suitcase to a guest?’ she reminds me.
‘Oh my goodness, yes! Luckily, he returned it an hour later, although he wasn’t happy.’
‘I bet he wasn’t. What good would a Boy George fancy dress outfit be to a fifty-five-year-old architect? Although it takes all sorts,’ she says, and despite everything I can’t help but laugh.
‘Look, I know how hard you work to make this day perfect, but life doesn’t always go according to plan, does it?’ Gemma reminds me.
‘That’s what Kian said.’
I think about how he seemed to take it all in his stride.
‘Kian?’
‘Oh yes, I forgot to say, would you believe it’s hot shop guy.’
‘It never is!’ she gasps.
‘Yep. He’s having a birthday party for his daughter’s seventh birthday. She’s spending Christmas with him this year and he organised a party for her. It just so happens to be at the same venue as the pensioners’ party.’
‘Well, it’s a great opportunity to get to know him. And his daughter. Honestly, Lauren, I think everything will be just fine. And brownie points to him for being a good dad, hey.’
‘Under any other circumstances, I would agree. But he’s sabotaged my hall,’ I say, feeling my blood pressure rise. ‘And I do think it’s nice that he has gone to the trouble of organising the party for his daughter, of course I do. She really is adorable and it must be hard when birthdays at this time of year just merge into Christmas. I just wish he had booked a different venue.’
‘Maybe you are overreacting a bit. I’m sure everything will work out just fine,’ says Gemma, yet another person who seems completely unfazed by the idea. ‘A party is a party after all.’
‘Kian said that too. Maybe I am overly stressing.’
‘Possibly. And you never know, the kids might be a real tonic for the old people. You might even get a few of them to join in with a game of Twister.’ She laughs.
‘Oh stop. I don’t think our ambulance service could cope with that, thanks very much.’
I know she is joking, but her comment fills me with dread.
‘Maybe not. But honestly, it might be fun. As Kian said, you will have separate sides of the hall and he won’t be using the kitchen if the party food is being delivered. Just try and go with it. I would come and give you a hand if I wasn’t on shift today.’
Gemma works Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as she likes a couple of days off over New Year. With me doing the party here, we have kind of kept to that arrangement every year since.
‘Oh, I’ll try, really, I will. But it will feel so strange sharing the hall with children. And I’m not sure they will like the music. Sue’s bringing her record player and her old vinyls too. I don’t know if Glenn Miller will go down too well.’
‘You might be surprised. Just stop worrying,’ she tries to reassure me.
‘Thanks, Gem. I’ll try.’
‘I’ll call you later when I have finished work,’ she says. ‘When I’m sure you will tell me how brilliant it all was.’
‘I can only hope. Oh, and did you manage to get some wrapping paper?’
‘I did. Would you believe the last two rolls from the late shop. Adults and children alike will have their gifts wrapped in Grinch wrapping paper.’ She laughs and I wish I had some of her attitude to life.