Birthday parties

“Daddy. Can you tell me a story?”

“I’ll tell you the story of your birthday party.”

​“Am I not three anymore?”

“Today you are four. At your birthday party lots of friends came to see you. You hadn’t seen them  in a long time. With some of them it took a little bit to remember how to be friends, with others, it felt like no time at all. 

Some of your friends brought people who didn’t know anyone and weren’t really sure how to be there. There was cake at your party and some of your friends really wanted a second piece, one of them got another, so did you. When we lit the sparklers and sang happy birthday, you ran away into the nearest building. I think having everyone at the party looking at you was uncomfortable. 

I noticed more than one person was upset during the party. Each time one of their friends or family members came to talk to them and sometimes there were hugs. 

Some of the food got eaten, some of it didn’t. Some people went home early, some people stayed late. There were presents and most people smiled for most of the time. 

That’s the story of your fourth birthday party. Goodnight.” 

“Dad, can you tell me the story of your birthday party.” 

“It’s pretty much exactly the same.”