Amanda turns twelve.
Amanda – Princess Party
- Table in the picture window overlooking the main street (so that everyone can see us) – check.
- Pink balloons floating on the roof with hanging pink streamers – check.
- Pink balloons with ’12’ in silver glitter tied to the back of each chair – check.
- Tiaras at every setting – check.
- Extra large, extra sparkly tiara for me (I put a hand to my head to see if it is still there) – check.
The place looks like a Pink Bomb went off. A good thing I decided against the rainbows and unicorns. Mum was right, they would have been over the top. Now all I need is my friends. Ohhh! I’m sooooo excited!
I’m wearing a pink ballet leotard with pink stockings, a graduated pink tutu and pink ballet slippers. I didn’t do ballet classes but now I almost wish I had. It looks so cute! I do a twirl on the spot just to see how it feels. Bec and Mich come in and catch me mid twirl. I race over to them and give them each a big hug.
“Thank you so much for coming. You both look amazing. Loving the pig tails.”
Mich is wearing a pink Hello Kitty t-shirt dress with matching pink Hello Kitty handbag. What is it with Asian girls and Hello Kitty? Her long jet black hair is tied into two pigtails either side of her head.
Bec is in a pink sweetheart line t-shirt with a grey pinafore.
I help them with their tiaras and show them to their chairs either side of mine. This is going to be the best!
***
I stand and tap my glass with a spoon to get everyone’s attention. Ding! Ding! Ding! The din of voices quiets and they all look up at me. I can see the excitement on their faces. Beyond my friends the mothers have stopped talking and are looking on as well. My mum has her camera out as she moves to get the best position. Ohhhh! I sooooo love being the centre of attention.
“Ladies; thank you all for being here today to celebrate my twelfth birthday. I must say you all look absolutely adorable!”
“Now, I know some of you are wondering what I was thinking with the theme for this party. And what is with the ‘No Boys’ bit? Well, that is exactly my point. The fact that some of you were even asking these questions proves it. In years to come, perhaps when we are at Uni or even when we have our own children, we will look back and think “When did I stop being a little girl?”.
“Well ladies, while we are not yet adults, we are no longer children. The next few years will bring many changes as we evolve into adulthood. Things like: exams, jobs, relationships, cars, mortgages, children.”
All eyes are on me. Some of the mothers are nervously glancing at each other, probably wondering what I will say next.
“So what I propose is that today is that day. Today we will celebrate everything girly. Let there be pink; and sparkles; and Barbie’s; and rainbows; and unicorns – for tomorrow we will leave childhood behind to become young adults. Please join me in celebrating just being little girls.”
I nod at mum and she signals the waiters to bring in the cakes. A big pink icing one with a ’12’ candle and lots of sparklers on it for me and individual pink icing cupcakes with a single sparkler for each of the girls.
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Amanda. Happy birthday to you. Hip Hip, Hooray. Hip Hip, Hooray!”
I blow out the candle and everyone cheers. I can’t wait to be grown up!
***
All people, places and events depicted are real, just not in this universe.
© Paul Shipley