Family BBQ
Harold Dobey got the BBQ set up while his wife started bringing out trays of salads, marinated chicken and smoked meats, coleslaw, corn on the cob and so on. As the spread on the benches (that they'd set up earlier) grew and grew, Harold looked mystified.
"Er Edith? Just how many people have you catered for? I mean, my brother has a large appetite but even so!"
Edith smiled sweetly. "Well dear, I invited our next door neighbours and a couple of other friends."
"Oh."
Harold supposed that he had been very busy working extra hours the last week. If Edith had mentioned the extra guests before he probably hadn't taken it in. He got busy cooking the meat. After a few minutes, he heard someone knocking at the door.
"I'll just go that," Edith said, hiding a smile.
Cal and Rosie, who had been playing ball together, giggled with excitement. Their father didn't notice.
As the first guest came into the garden, Harold looked up and his mouth dropped open. A steady stream of friends, neighbours and work colleagues came pouring into his garden.
When he found his voice, he asked, "What on earth is going on?"
Suddenly, the crowd of guests parted as Edith appeared carrying a large cake with lighted candles on it. Everyone started singing Happy Birthday and Harold Dobey shook his head with fond exasperation. When the singing finished, everyone clapped and cheered as Harold blew out the candles. His children hugged him and Edith kissed him on the cheek.
"I thought we weren't going to make a big deal of me being fifty," Harold protested.
"Aw Cap, don't be grouchy with Edith. We told her she had to make a big deal of it," Starsky said.
"I might have known you'd be involved in anything to do with food," Dobey responded with a twinkle in his eye.
"To be fair to my always hungry partner, who wouldn't want to come and have your BBQ, Captain? It's legendary!" Hutch said.
Harold harrumphed then said, "Well, thank you all for coming. I feel very moved to see you all here. Now make yourselves at home and let's get eating."
Starsky rubbed his hands together and rushed to be first in the queue. Hutch dragged him back out of the way of some female colleagues.
"Ladies first, Starsky. Where are your manners?"
"Why do ladies get to go first?" Starsky grumbled. "I bet they're not as hungry as I am!"
"No one's as hungry as you are! Ever!"
Starsky glared at Hutch and stage whispered to Rosie who was next in line: "Rosie, darling, get your Uncle Dave a hot dog, won't you?"
Rosie giggled but did as she was asked and soon Starsky was sitting next to Rosie happily munching. Harold looked out over his family, extended family and friends and felt very grateful.