Sixty Nine

As narrated by Sumayya:

Tayibba’s birthday is on Sunday, which means I have, like, 3 days to prepare everything. That should be more than enough time!

I decide to first sort out the jumping castle because that isn’t something I can, like, do too last minute.

I do a quick Google search and not long thereafter, I find a few possible options.

I ring up the first number, but much to my disappointment they don’t have what I’m looking for!

All they offer is the standard square jumping castle, and for this party to be the best ever, I’m not going with standard things! Really now, if you hire out jumping castles, surely you should have various options!

I try the second number.

‘The number you have dialed does not exist.’ 

Are you kidding me?! That’s ridiculous! Their site was updated yesterday!

I dial the number again, slowly this time, in case I hadn’t dialed properly the first time.

It rings.. and rings.. and rings..

Getting slightly annoyed now, I cancel the call and try the third number.

A young lady answers on the second ring.

She’s quite helpful and friendly.

I end the call with a smile on my face.

Jumping Castle – Sorted!

As I place the house phone back on the deck, I realize something.

Where on Earth am I going to get R600 to pay for the jumping castle from?? I also can’t possibly have the party here at our house, because then my parents will find out! Dammit, now what am I going to do?? 

“Raees was saying that the paper was very difficult,” I hear mummy say to Hamza, as I walk into the kitchen.

“It wasn’t too bad,” replies Hamza looking up at me with a smile.

That’s it! I’d get Hamza and my cousins to help me out!

I quickly turn around to go to my bedroom.

“Hey, where you running to?” calls Hamza.

“Come check this out!” I say, pretending to sound excited.

Hamza follows me to my bedroom, cereal bowl in his hand.

Hamza’s cereal.

I close the door and we sit down.

“What’s up, energy ball?” asks Hamza, raising his eyebrows.

“Okay, so you know it’s Taybs’ birthday on Sunday, right?”

“Nooo, but thanks for informing me!” he replies, sarcastically.

I hit his leg, rolling my eyes.

“Anyway, I want to throw her a party but the parents are saying no! Soooo, I decided that I’m still going to throw Taybs a party, buuuuut they just won’t know!” I explain, excitedly.

Hamza frowns thoughtfully.

“Thing is, I can’t do it by myself. So I thought that maybe you can help if you want, and I’m going to ask Raees and Shakirah for help too. I’m sure they won’t mind. You know what suckers they are for throwing a good party!”

“The other problem is, we can’t have it at home, because then mummy will obviously find out. I’m just going to double check with Amz and them but I think she said they not going to be at home on Sunday, so maybe we can have it at their place. I’ve already sorted out the jumping castle, I just have to phone and change the delivery address. Now all I have to do is bake the cake, invite her friends -”

“WHOA WHOA WHOA! Slow down there, Sugatti Peyron!”

My heart sinks a little.

“What? And it’s Bugatti Veyron, so can I have my initials back, thank you!”

He grins at me, then shoves his last spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

Now I have to wait for him to chew all that cereal first!

I roll my eyes at him in annoyance.

Once he’s finished his cereal, he places the bowl on his lap and looks at me seriously.

“Don’t you think if mummy said you shouldn’t then you shouldn’t? I mean, it is right what she’s saying.”

“Oh God, not you also!” I groan.

“I don’t mind helping you but maybe you should think about what mummy said. Surely there’s some wisdom behind it.”

“Okay, okay, thanks for the bayaan (lecture). You may leave now!” I say to him, annoyed at his reaction.

“Make sure you don’t tell mummy!” I say as he walks out my bedroom.

“AND COME AND FETCH YOUR DIRTY DISHES!!” I yell at him, noticing his bowl on my bed.

I message my 19-year-old cousin, Shakirah, next, explaining to her the whole saga and asking her if she won’t mind helping.

While I wait for her to reply, I message Amz. She confirms that she won’t be at home, but Dee will, so I’ll have to ask Dee.

By late afternoon, Shakirah has replied. As I expected, she’s totally ready to help and doesn’t mind at all. She also said that she will come and stay over on Friday till Sunday so she can be of more help. She wasn’t too sure about Raees helping out too, because like Hamza, he had exams going on at the moment.

Although I insisted that she stay and hang out with us, Dee said that she’ll go over to Zee’s and that we could use the house, if it is fine with Amaani. I had phoned the jumping castle people to give them Amz and Dee’s address and Shakirah said she didn’t mind paying.

I glance down at my ‘To Do’ list:

1. Hire Jumping Castle.
2. Invite friends.
3. Buy birthday decorations and treats.
4. Find new, different games for the kids to play.
5. Bake a cake.
6. Set up everything.

Only 5 more things to do. No biggie!