Short Story--Her Turn to Party--Day 4

Thanks so much for joining us this week to read my birthday gift to you, a short story. If you need to catch up, the first day is here, Tuesday is here, and yesterday is here. Have fun!

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“Whoa, Mom! This is amazing!” Carter spun in a circle in the middle of the dining room.

The night before, Pete had hung the banner while Ginny placed all her candy Lego bricks on the store-bought cake. Honestly? It didn’t look that bad. Maybe even better than not bad, considering the boy’s reaction.

Balloons and streamers hung in other corners. Ginny had printed out a game online where the kids could challenge each other to build different structures or vehicles. And Michelle had helped her make a pinata that looked like a big Lego brick. It was enough to make any almost-seven-year-old boy happy.

Still, it would’ve been nice if the first words out of his mouth to her this morning were, “Happy Birthday.”

Just a single recognition. Was that too much to ask?
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“Why don’t you guys go outside and play with those?” Ginny pointed to the cans of silly string one of Carter’s friends thought would make a great gift, then to the back door.

The mess would be all over the yard, but it would disintegrate … eventually. Or they’d just have colorful string mixed through the grass for a while. Either way, she didn’t care. It wasn’t in her house.

“Boys, huh?” Kathy, a friend and fellow mom, gathered up leftover cake and half-filled cups, disposing of the mess.

“It’s a lot of energy out there, for sure.” Ginny watched through the back window for a minute. Glancing over her shoulder, she spied several dads standing around in the living room. “Pete, you want to go supervise?”

“Huh?” He glanced over.

“The boys. Why don’t you guys go supervise?” Ginny motioned toward the backyard.

“Oh, uh …” He glanced at his watch.

“They’re fine, Ginny. Your yard is fenced in.” Kathy touched her shoulder. “And I have most of the mess cleaned up.”

“Right, but—”

“It’s fine, Ginny. Besides, it’s your birthday.” Kathy winked.

Ginny blinked. What was that about?

“That’s right. It is your birthday today, isn’t it?” Regina, another friend sidled over.

“Ye-es.” What did that have to do with anything? Today was about Carter—not her.

“You’re such a great Mom to host a party for your son on your own birthday.”

But was she? Sure, she’d planned this whole thing. But she hadn’t been happy about it.

She’d pretty much had a rotten attitude about having to share this day the whole time. And still wasn’t terribly happy about not getting her own shindig. Or more than the card Pete had handed her that morning. Maybe she’d go get a pedicure this evening when everyone was gone.

That was better than having nothing special for herself today.
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And there she went again with her pity party.

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One more day of story left. Can you guess what will happen?
​Come back tomorrow to read "the end."