Kelly’s birthday started off with a plot set up by her younger sister and her mom. I was an unknowing accomplice. When I dropped the two of them off at school, Claire and I went to get what I had heard was a “big balloon” in my trunk. It was HUGE. It was bigger than Fiona. Giant. Filled up my whole trunk. Claire grinned handing it to Kelly who shouted, “NO I DON’T WANT THAT!” and several other statements.

As I was driving off, Claire pleaded with me, “What do I do?” I said, “Tie it to her locker!” and off I went to work wondering how that was all going to work out.

I called Kathy to report. Apparently having a giant birthday balloon handed to you to haul around for the day is a thing that happens in high school. It is embarrassing, everyone knows it is your birthday, and really you get a lot of fun attention.

Not Kelly. She would have none of it.

Fortunately, her good buddy Jessie came upon Claire attempting to tie the balloon to Kelly’s locker, asking Claire, “Is it your birthday?” When she found out it was Kelly’s she immediately joined the conspiracy and took it to Kelly’s first period class to hand her. Kelly couldn’t believe the giant balloon had found her. “AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!” she yelled like Charlie Brown.

The balloon soon passed from person to person and class to class, not by Kelly. Anyone carrying it was asked if it was their birthday.

That night the three conspirators (Kathy, Claire, and Jessie) and 6 other girls along with Danny and I joined it for a loud and fun birthday slumber party. One thing different this year is the girls all showed up with their own cars (and one truck.) Kathy and I had to play traffic cop to get all the vehicles parked in the driveway and cul de sac.

I’m now hiding in my room, two levels away from the… festivities. Happy birthday Kelly!

In this photo: Danny Cashin, Elisa R., Nina E., Ashley B., Megan M., Sarah H., Cow, Christina S., Jessie G., Claire C., Kelly C., Grapes