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HOME WORK - PLANNING THE PARTY

"Hola Hector, mi hermano, que pasa?"

"Celia, mi bonita, todos a bien. What can I do for you?"

"When was the last time that Mickie had any kind of action going on?"

"By action you mean like entertaining male company?"

"Yes, other than you or Felix."

"Well her dad is still here. Does he count?"

"No, and you know it. I meant like going on dates, having fun getting, her happy on."

"It's been a while. She tried dating that EMT guy, Joe, for some time, that didn't work out. Then there was Malcolm, the car salesman. I think she went out with him just to get a good deal on the Tesla. And then there was the has-been Miami Dolphins player Sean Ryan. For the last two years there's been no-one, not that I know about anyhow. Why, you got someone in mind?"

"As a matter of fact I do. Carlos."

"Carlos, like your brother Carlos?"

"I don't know any others by that name. You know I'm right, don't you. They're perfect for each other."

"Except for the fact that he lives in Trenton New Jersey and Mickie lives in Miami."

"He's here now, isn't he."

"Yeah, but for how long? Julies parents will be back in June, and there's nothing keeping him here."

"Exactly, if he had something or someone, besides Julie, he might stay."

"Well, he is better suited than any of Lulas or Sallys suggestions. Those two know some really shady characters."

"Shadier than an ex-gang banger?"

"Way shadier. Any sleasy actor wanna-be from any where is good in Lulas book. And you should have seen this one guy that Sally brought over once. A California surfer dude, long blond hair, tan, muscular with bright green eyes. Turned out he was a cross dresser. He went trough Mickies lingerie drawer and asked if he could borrow the black and gold lace bra and panty set because he had a hot date with a drag queen later."

"So even you admit that Carlos is perfect for her."

"I guess you're right. How do we make it happen?"

"We can't be too obvious, it has to happen 'naturally' say like at a party."

"You have a party in mind?"

"I do. I turn 40 (whispers) in a few weeks. That would be the perfect opportunity."

"The rest of your family coming down?"

"Yeah, those who can get away. And you know what else is great?"

"What?"

"I can use Julies project as an excuse."'

"How do you mean?"

"You read the lesson plan, yes?"

"Yes."

"Well they have to plan a birthday party. Think about this as a part of the assignment, but it is for real."

"I like the way you think bonita."

"OK, lets talk details later. I'll call Julie at get the ball rolling. Now though I got to go to work."

"Later chica!"

One part of the assignment was to plan a party and do I have a party to plan. I had to beg and plead Michael to participate. It was my aunts 40th birthday in two weeks. He would of course have liked to plan his own birthday but I bribed him to go along. I promised we'd do their family Christmas instead of ours. Not that it differs all that much but some of the foods and other traditions are different. So my aunts party was to be held at daddys house. He has the space and quite frankly it is really beautiful.

Auntie CC's favorite flowers were roses, that much I know, but it also had to be a specific shade of apricot, the Ausjameson Juliet. There was only one plant nursery in Miami that supplied those, the Alton Road Nurseries. Luckily it's close by so I'll get those on the day.

The cake we'll get at The London Baker at King Arthur Court in Hialeah. They have exactly what I want. I'll need daddy to go get it. Michael said the cake is too girly, but DUH, my aunt is a girl. We have to try and make this party chic and sophisticated on a shoestring budget. We'll need tablecloths for the buffet, cups and saucers, spoons, cake plates, napkins, champagne glasses, water tumblers, bread plates for the canapés, coffee makers and creamers and sugar bowls. And water pitchers, cake cutters and cocktail tongs. Cake forks and the list is endless. Hopefully we can borrow most of these things from SoBe and I think daddy has something in that big kitchen of his as well. For the tablecloth I found a really nice marbled wallpaper, it's way cheaper than real tablecloths. And the napkins were in the discount bin. Can you believe only 2$ for a hundred napkins, that's a bargain if ever I saw one.

The cake will be a Pink Champagne cake with raspberry filling. It's buttercream watercolor, white ganache drip, macarons, chocolates and candy to top, sounds too sweet to be true. But it is. For canapés we'll have small salmon tartar on rye bread, bacon stuffed mushrooms, petit choux filled with beetroot or carrot hummus, avocado paté on rye crisp, bruschettas, toasted slices of baguette with tapenade, grilled jumbo shrimp with lime and coconut mousse, fruit skewers, fillet of lamb with pesto on french bread and fresh vegetables and dip. For the birthday toast of course there'll be champagne. Coffee and tea with the cake and champagne and punch with the canapés. Huh, that seems quite extravagant for a minimal budget. I hope CC is on good terms with her wholesale partners. I think we might score extra points with Mickie if we gather a few classmates to make all this food. I'll try to persuade daddy and Hector and Felix too. And of course Enrique. They can't say no to me, right?

"Come on Julie, why can't we just hang on the beach for a bit longer?"

"I told you, uncle Enrique has to make the order for auntie CCs party food. In order to do that we have to tell him what we need. Did you print the recipes?"

"Yeah I did. Lets go then, were wasting daylight."

"Hardy har har. I'll race ya!"

"Hola Carlos, how is my favorite baby brother?"

"Hi Celia, what's up?"

"Do you have any plans for next Friday ?"

"Nothing definite. I met a woman and thought I'd ask her to dinner and maybe go dancing. Why?"

"Well you have to put that on hold, consider your self invited to a party that day."

"Oh, ok. What party?"

"Dearest brother, your big sister turns 40 and Julie and Michael have been so nice as to plan it for me."

"They have huh? So there'll be cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream and balloons? Maybe even a clown doing magic tricks."

"Carlos, you sound like a party planner for a five year old. I've seen the menu, the decorations are beautiful and the venue is spectacular."

"You know that they only do this on pretend, right?"

"Oh, this party is very real. You're actually hosting it."

"I am?"

"Not really, I'm hosting, but we'll be at your house. You don't min do you?"

"So how many guests have I invited to this party?"

"Just family, some friends, some of Julies friends. Maybe fifty people."

"Fifty!?"

"Yes, a girl only turns 40 once you know. I'm officially middle aged."

"Remember that abuela is 89 and abuelo was 92 when he died. You're not even close to being middle aged."

"And I still feel like I'm 25."

"So why can't I bring this woman to your party?"

"Do you really want to her spend your first date at your home, with the whole of your family. Talk about putting pressure on the poor girl."

"Yeah, I think you're right. I'll make arrangements to take her out Saturday instead."

"But, what if you meet a really nice lady at my party. Wouldn't it be kind of awkward to see her the next day?"

"Are you trying to set me up with someone?"

"What if I am?"

"Please don't."

"Oh, come on Carlos, she's a nice lady, you'll like her, I promise."

"No."

"Well, she'll be there anyway."

"So you're ready to set your friend up, with the family around, but I can't bring a date? Don't you think she will feel the pressure?"

"No she won't, because she's there first and foremost as my guest, celebrating my birthday. So will you come alone? Please."

"She has no idea about all of this does she?"

"No, and she won't. If you two don't hit it of, no skin of either of your noses. She's still my friend and you get to take the other girl out. Do we have a deal?"

"Ok, I'll play along, but just this once. Don't think that I need help finding a woman. I'm not even sure if I want to have a relationship at the moment. All this with Julie is still new, we're just getting to know each other. And I don't know what I'll do when Rachel and Ron return in June."

"I hear ya! It's a one time thing, I promise."

"Look, I have another call waiting. Were finalising the buy of the bonds office in Trenton and Lester just mailed me the final contract. We'll talk later."

Ok, later. Love you"

"Love you too sis."