It is 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of the big day. Selma plunks herself down in a chair and it creaks. She hopes people will feel comfortable enough on these chairs to stay a few hours.
Her friends are making tea in the kitchen while Lucy, Glen, Collin, Gerard and Trixie carry on with decorating the main room. Earlier in the afternoon, they had been out in the canoes and are all in good spirits now. Glen is on an aluminum ladder affixing twisted crepe paper streamers to the window frames with masking tape. Collin is handing him streamers. After having blown up their share of a few balloons, Trixie and her mother occupy themselves with the table centerpieces. They fold colored paper and sort out glossy decorative balls and pipe cleaners as they try to decide the best presentation.
The flowers are stored in a fridge for the time being. Bridal breath will be added to frost the appearance of the centerpieces. The head table where the woman of the hour will sit will feature a bouquet in the event’s color scheme of yellow, white and pink.
The theme is spring, of course. “Why not consider this a beginning,” Bonnie had recommended. “Indeed,” Lucy had answered, “birthdays can be a time to reborn, a time to set sail on a new voyage.”
This had pleased Selma Blais. Though she is wearing a smock over a simple house dress at the moment, her dinner dress is a comfortable sateen in a style reminiscent of the 20’s and has yellow and white streaks with swirls of pink over them. Trixie had surprised her with a white boa to complement the dress, which had made her Grandma giggle.
Just in time for tea, Nona, her mother, Louise, and Sophie Malinsky arrive to the venue, all sporting blue jeans. Lucy asks if they have checked into the hotel yet and they tell her they have. Lucy refuses their offers of help for the time being, and gets them to sit round a table for tea.
“It’s break time right now. Besides, I think everything is coming along fine. We’re in good shape.”
Glen descends the ladder and approaches his sister with a bear hug. “Sis! You made it! How was your flight?”
“How was yours?” is the response. Glen went to the funeral on his own and only returned two days ago.
“I’m right as rain. Not to worry,” replies Glen with a shrug.
“Where’s your homestay son, Minsun? Isn’t he coming?”
“Oh, yes, but he’s been with his parents who are visiting their friends and a family in Burnaby this week. He’ll be along later with his real folks.”
As the recent arrivals remove their coats and gather round the table with the star of the affair, Mable leads the pack from the kitchen serving quartered oranges and apples with crackers. “Sure, we’ll have a grand feast tonight but I’m sure we need something now to tide us over,” explains Mable as she lays one platter on one table and another platter on a neighboring table where she and her companions sit themselves.
“Hey, this is a cool place,” remarks Nona. “It looks nice, too.”
“We were out on the lake earlier today,” brags Collin.
Just then Bonnie arrives with her crowd. They all greet the family cheerfully and fly into the club house bearing containers of food.
“Bonnie, I told you all the food was taken care of. You shouldn’t have!” admonishes her employer.
“We couldn’t help it,” replies Bonnie. “It’s what we do!” They all laugh.
“Yeah,” echoes Chirpy, “It’s what we do. You’ll just have to take it.” She takes a box full of a vermicelli noodle dish to the kitchen, and Bonnie follows her carrying a cassava cake.
The return and the confusing introductions are made. They all say how much they have heard about each other and how much they have been looking forward to meeting each other today.
Chirpy starts video-recording everything with her phone. “Soon to be in cinemas, everywhere,” she laughs.
Bonnie presents Alex, her date for the event. When Lucy asks how the two met, Bonnie and her friends and Selma’s friends all point at Selma.
Bonnie gives Mrs. Blais a big hug. “Thank you, thank you, again!”
“For goodness sake, there’s enough going on already, girl. I can’t take it anymore. You must have thanked me a thousand times.
A cell phone rings and one of Lucy’s brothers informs her that he and his entourage have arrived to Abbotsford airport and are pushing through the slow freeway traffic now. They make up six more guests who have been expected to attend the fete.
Then the musicians enter the hall and begin setting up for a brief rehearsal. There is a guitarist, a violinist and a singer. Within a few minutes, everyone else is sipping tea and listening eager to the preview performance. After, the band prepares to leave the hall confirming the time of their appearance at the gig by 9:30 in the evening.
“Come early and have a bite, why don’t you?” calls out Lucy.
“You bet. Thanks!” is the reply from the youthful looking guitarist.
Glen asks, “Where did you find them, Luce?
“Oh, I didn’t. Mom scouted around. They’re a local group from Victoria.”
“Remember, we’ll have to remove the flowers from the fridge by 6:30 because the caterers will come around that time and they’ll need the space in the fridge,” says Selma nonchalantly.
“Yes, yes, Mom. I remember. Even if I forget, you’ll probably remind me, again.”
“Yes, I will,” answers the elderly woman cheerily.
Another phone goes off. It’s Nona’s. After a few words over the phone, Nona reports to her mother. “Mom, my friend Angela wants to see me. She wants to meet me in a café up on Hastings. It’s not far. Can I go?”
“Now?”
Nona nods.
“You just had tea.”
“That’s not the point. She wants to rap before she comes to the party here.”
“She wants to rap. Well, how are you going to get there? I don’t have a car here.”
Nona looks imploringly at her aunt Lucy.
“Right. I guess I can drive you. I’ll pick you up around seven when we go to wash up and get dressed at the hotel. All right?”
“All right.”
Lucy swallows the rest of her tea and gets up to put on her jacket and lead Louise and her daughter out the door. Looking back at her husband, she calls out, “I’ll only be about 15 minutes. Take care of things while I’m gone.”
“I think there a plenty of experts taking care of things very well here. You don’t need me,” replies Glen laughingly as the ladies grin.
“Dad, let’s the three of us guys go for a hike,” proposes Collin with an eager Gerard looking on.
“Sorry, guys. No can do. You two can take off –ONLY FOR AN HOUR. Got that? One hour!”
“Really? Okay. One hour. We’ll just walk around the lake part way and come straight back.”
“You better, or else,” warns the father with a lowering of his chin, a grim mouth and raised eyebrows. “Don’t go far. If you don’t get back here on time, no banquet for the two of you. Got it?”
“Yes, Dad. You don’t have to be a sergeant about it. I have a watch.” Collin raises the wristwatch to his ear. “It’s working. No problem.”
“Got the cell?”
“Yes!”
“Get out of here,” says his father good-humoredly. “Well, gotta get back to work.” He claps his hands and moves toward the ladder, stopping to grab the next portion of a yellow streamer to take up the ladder with him. “Where’s my buddy? Trixie!”
Gertrude and Mable rise to collect the used mugs and plates. They proceed to the kitchen to wash them quickly.
Lucy and Louise soon return and within another 30 minutes, the tables are finished and looking fresh. Workers from the catering company arrive early to unload some dishes, napkins and cutlery. The women buckle down to laying the tables and one of Bonnie’s friends shows them a technique for folding the napkins elegantly.
At 6:30, Collin and Gerard show up as scheduled. The flowers are taken out to be turned into bouquets in the designated places. The stems are clipped, the vases prepped and filled, and the bunches arranged carefully.
When all is ready, photos are taken and more video recording is done. Then everyone heads to the restrooms or the hotels to change their clothing and groom themselves.
“It’ll be perfect,” says Lucy to her mother, giving the elder a quick hug. “Well, we better zip off and collect Lucy and Angela before we make a pit stop at the hotel. Come on, Glen, Trix, Collin. You too, Gerard. You’ll see your parents at the hotel, Gerard. Let’s go!”
“What about Grandma?”
“We’re all fixed up, dear. Don’t worry about me.”
By eight o’clock, nearly all are assembled back at the rowing club center. First, family photos are taken by means of available cameras. Then wine and cheese are served for the adults, and a sparkling punch to the under-aged guests.
Forks and spoons begin a chorus of chimes as they are tapped against glasses. Mrs. Blais steps up to the microphone provided by the band with Lucy. At first, the mike does not work. Sound plugged in, Lucy takes the apparatus first to thank everyone for coming, and to thank all those who have labored to make the event happen that day.
There is a round of applause. “This is a very special day for us, but especially for my mom, mother of three and grandmother to seven. More applause.
Lucy guides her mother to the mike. “Hello, everyone. I’m so glad you could make it.” Selma Blais is too happy to be nervous.
“This means so much to me. I think I’ll do this again when I’m 80, and again when I’m 90 and, what the heck, again when I’m 100.” Everyone laughs and claps. “I hope everyone has a good time tonight, and tomorrow. We’ve had fun putting this little affair together. Times like these only come along once in a blue moon, so make the most of it.”
At that cue, a recording of the old jazz ballad, “Blue Moon” is played over the speakers. “Let’s have a little waltz to work up an appetite, why don’t we?”
She calls her eldest son forward to dance with her. They rock a bit and she waves for others to get up and join in. Husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends face each other. The kids hold back, until Collin grabs Trixie by the hand. Trixie giggles. Gerard shrugs, and walks up to Nona to bow clown-like and they dance red-faced but enjoyably. His sibling then asks Angela for a light spin on the floor.
The melody ends and a faster pop tune is heard. Everyone then dances in whatever fashion they like or can with whoever is there.
The music ends and the dinner bell rings loudly. The supervising caterer takes the mike to ask everyone to take their seats at the dining table and ask the family to begin making toasts.
Flushed and a little out of breath, Lucy begins the task with a toast to her mother. “Mom, even though we’re separated by a few mountains, we always think of you. Everything has worked out so well today. You look great. I love you. Happy birthday!”
Selma’s friends then take over to recite a few carefully scripted anecdotes of their experiences. They add a few jokes then ask Bonnie and a couple of her companions to get up and do likewise. Bonnie begins with a comical story of her first meeting with her “boss,” which causes a lot of chuckles, especially from Mrs. Blais herself. Selma’s friends together with Bonnie and her friends finish by raising a glass to “the MacLaren family.”
Minsun and his family are invited to say happy birthday. Shyly but determinedly, they approach the mike and Minsun introduces himself and his parents. Then they sing “Happy Birthday” in Korean. They teach the audience the few words of the song and get them to sing it too.
Next, Glen and his son Collin take over the mike to return the greeting. “We’ve been very grateful and happy to get to know Minsun,” announces Mr. MacLaren. “Yeah, Minsun. You rock!” follows Collin.
Lucy announces that there will be a guest book circulating. She asks everyone to write a few words of wishes and greetings and sign it before they leave that night.
The salads and bread presented on the buffet table, pictures of the tables are taken before the cue is given to line up for the first plates of food. Water is poured and jugs of water left on each dining table. Teacup candles are lit that give the room a cosy glow. It is well after sunset.
The first course dishes are removed and the buffet table laden with the main dishes. More pictures are taken of the food.
Lucy looks around proudly. She confides to her mother that the seating arrangement seems to have worked well, for everyone is chatting to each other. They may not understand who everyone else is and what they are doing there, but they appear to be enjoying themselves and the fare, thinks Lucy with satisfaction.
After the main course, Selma announces that she will open a few of the gifts. The beautifully wrapped gifts are arranged on a table near the doorway and coat rack. Bonnie suddenly remembers to take a photo of the gifts table before the gifts are removed and unwrapped.
“You’re such a shutterbug, you,” remarks Mrs. Blais with a feigned shake of the head.
Lucy walks across the floor to survey the treasures and find her and Glen’s gift while Bonnie searches for hers. Selma’s sons follow suit and pick out their gifts.
“That’s enough for the moment,” says Selma with a wrinkled brow and the wave of the hand. “We can look at more of the gifts later.”
Minsun and their parents look at each other and shift in their seats, for opening gifts in front of the giver is not normally done in their culture. Lucy notices and breezes up to Minsun to say, “Don’t worry, Minsun. We won’t open yours tonight.” She smiles at his parents as Minsun translates. The parents nod.
When the musicians take to the floor, the gifts are laid to rest. Dessert is presented and left on the buffet table for the guests to take as they see fit. While the music is playing, coffee and tea pots are served by parading servers.
A few guests moan that they are getting full. “You’re supposed to feel that way,” offers the guest of honour. “It means we’ve done a good job. I guess we’ll have to dance some of it off.
After a couple of slow jazz tunes, a jig of sorts is played and the band members motion for the guests to rise and dance as they please. Most guests respond. Minsun and his parents are unfamiliar with this sort of music but very curious and entertained by observing.
The jig having warmed everyone up, the band embarks upon a swing tune. More dancing is encouraged. Minsun and his parents finally take the floor, laughing. The dancing goes on and off for about an hour, until the band’s time is up. They leave with a track of pop tunes, old and new, playing over the speakers so that the dancing does not have to stop right away.
Glen mixes cocktails for awhile, and sneakily offers half a beer to his son, nephews and their friends. “Just a little,” he whispers to them.
By about 11:00, the birthday cake is brought out and presented. Everyone gathers around to watch the birthday girl make a wish and blow out the candles. Naturally, more photos are taken. Then a few more gifts are opened and eyed with “ooh’s” and “ah’s.”
Minsun’s parents rise to leave. Lucy tells them that they may stay late for they have the place until noon the next day, but they protest. However, his mother gets Minsun to suggest that they meet to see the sun rise in a few hours.
“Do you know a good place to watch the sun rise?” asks Minsun of Lucy on behalf of his mother.
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Well, I suppose one of the parks overlooking the Fraser River would be a good place.”
The listeners nod and smile. Minsun informs her that it is a tradition.
“Why don’t you meet us at the hotel at—hm, when is sunrise? It’s March, so maybe 6:30 a.m.?” proposes Lucy.
“Six-shirty. Yes. Okay,” replies the Korean lady. “See you, your hotel about six. Okay?”
“Okay. Six.” Lucy escorts them to the door and says good-night. She finds her husband to report on this development.
“Sounds, good, Luce. I’m sure some of us will still be wide awake at 6, anyway. Ask your mom.”
Lucy asks her mother about rising at 6 to go see the sunrise. “I’m having such a good time. I doubt that I’m going to sleep tonight, anyway. So, why not? That sounds like fun. I haven’t gone out to see a sunrise in ages.” Her friends concur and beam at the proposition.
A screen is set up and a slideshow of old and recent photos are shown, thanks to the Filipinos. They also show video clips of their outings with Mrs. Blais.
Then the fireplace is lit and games are brought out. Some guests linger outside on the deck to chat and look at the stars. It is a clear night with a bright half-moon.
The girls dance some more, and take Selma by the hand to the join in. Selma’s friends and Bonnie and her women friends join in. They act silly posing this way and that and making faces.
However, Glen is seen propelling Lucy to the dance area where they press against each other in a waltz. Their eyes gleam brightly.
Around one in the morning, the guys go out for a walk. The area comprises a park with a well-groomed path around the lake, though it is dark except for the sports center. Lucy feels that they will be safe as they are going in a large group, but she ensures that they take flashlights.
Lucy looks around and decides she can afford to relax finally. She sits herself down next to her sisters-in-law. Soon, her mother joins them. They look over the guest book and discuss the messages and gifts.
By two-thirty, the guys return and more tea and coffee is prepared. “We’ll need it to make it to six o’clock,” asserts Collin. Then he challenges his cousins to a game of battleship.
Trixie has valiantly declared that she will stay up all night, too. “Give me some tea, too, Mommy. I don’t want to fall asleep.”