Tasmania: Day Five
Yesterday was, according to schedule, the day of A’s SURPRISE 30th birthday. I had dreaded releasing the secret to him – after being confided in, and made complicit to the plan, by his mother over a month ago. That dread came from a lack of confidence that I actually could keep such a secret.
I am not good at keeping secrets on this scale. Especially, I just can’t lie when confronted with a direct question like:
Is there something going on tonight? Why are there balloons in the storage space under the house?
My lips curl in an expression that wants to go poker face but slips to embarrassed grin. The truth falls out.
Nevertheless, the scale of the surprise was surprising: when A, small one and I returned at 8pm for the party proper, the bellowing SURPRISE made my heart race and small one scamper from A’s arms to my own. I quickly retreated with him to get pyjamas on, change nappy and recollect myself. That part was only properly achieved with the end of the first champagne.
Glass in hand, small one safely stowed in A’s sister’s arms, A took me around to meet his guests. A outdid himself with magnanimous acceptance of an unasked for party and small one charmed the people ably. I think I managed to not disagree with too many people on native title issues.
Finally, the party ended at 2am, small one woke at 4am, resettled until 7.30am. And today we travelled for five hours in a car up to Cradle Mountain. Big big day
