Page 42 of The Village Christmas Party

‘I told you not to worry, didn’t I?’ says Kian, looking around at a place that unbelievably is set for a joint party.

‘You told me to chill my bones as I recall.’

‘I did, didn’t I?’ He grins. ‘Well in my experience, being stressy never achieves anything.’

‘Nor does lack of organisation,’ I retort.

‘Stress is a killer. No one ever died from forgetting something.’ Kian shakes his head.

‘What about forgetting to take life-saving medication?’ I say triumphantly, and he rolls his eyes.

‘Well okay, but you know what I mean. Maybe you should learn to lighten up and just go with the flow sometimes,’ he says, but not unkindly.

Glancing at the two halves of the room makes me think of how the partygoers are at such opposite stages of their life. It also makes me consider how precious life is and how quickly itpasses by. My mind flits back to a birthday party one summer, where I was blessed with a sunny day and a group of school friends came to my house and we had a wonderful time. It’s hard to believe that was over twenty years ago now. I don’t remember every single detail, of course, but Mum took lots of photographs. Whenever I leaf through the albums all the memories of that happy day return in an instant.

Thinking about it, perhaps everyone is right about the two groups sharing the space as I loved being around my grandparents, especially at this time of year. My grandmother had the patience to teach me things such as biscuit baking and making paper chains. And I remember the year my grandad made me a wooden doll’s house, allowing me to help him by knocking nails into the wood and applying pastel-coloured paint. I have the doll’s house to this very day. I am truly grateful to have so many happy memories to look back on.

‘We both planned these parties, but I don’t think we had any choice but to share,’ says Kian. ‘But you have to work with what you’ve got, has always been my motto. No good putting yourself into an early grave through stress.’

‘Well I can’t argue with that, although sometimes it is easier said than done,’ I reply just as a large van pulls into the car park.

‘That will be the bouncy castle,’ he says. ‘Thank goodness for the blue sky, hey?’

There is no sign of rain on this beautiful, but frosty morning and I pray it stays that way.

‘It’s still cold though. I hope the children will all have coats with them,’ I say, feeling a little guilty that they can’t have the bouncy castle inside but there simply isn’t the room.

‘I did think about that, so I had the foresight to text the parents that the bouncy castle will be outside,’ he tells me. ‘I realised that children like to wear next to nothing when I picked Bella up from school last week on a non-uniform day. One kidwas wearing nothing but a thin sleeveless dress and fairy wings.’ He gives a little shiver. ‘A couple of boys wore football kits, and not a coat or hat in sight. Sure it’s up to the parents, but I don’t want them catching their death of cold on my watch.’

‘I can’t blame you for that,’ I agree.

TWENTY-FOUR

All the food prepped, I walk outside with Kian as we continue chatting. The truck reverses carefully and in no time at all the giant castle has been erected in the large rear yard of the community centre garden that has been fake turfed.

‘That’s pretty impressive,’ I say, eyeing the giant purple structure adorned with stars and musical notes.

‘It is, isn’t it? It’s called the party dome. Music plays out from some speakers, flashing lights, the lot. Watch this.’

He presses a button and music blasts out. He invites me to look inside and with the press of another button, the interior of the dome is lit up with stars and looking like a night sky. It’s so beautiful I’m reluctant to move for a minute, just taking it all in.

‘Fancy a go before the kids arrive?’ he asks, and I’m not sure if he is being serious or not.

‘Tempting as that is, I think I’ll pass,’ I say.

‘Maybe later then. It might do you good to let your hair down.’

I’m not sure what to make of that. Is he suggesting I need to loosen up a bit?

‘I hope Bella likes it,’ he says then, before I have a chance to overthink his remark. ‘They were all out of princess castles, as Ileft the booking a little late,’ he admits. ‘Luckily my daughter is mad about space. She’s loving a project she’s doing in school, so I think I am off the hook,’ he tells me. ‘Plus, the princess castle didn’t have an inbuilt disco.’

‘Then this is definitely the winner. The kids will absolutely love it, I’m sure. And, of course, inside the hall looks very girlie with the Little Mermaid and the pink balloons.’

‘That’s what I was hoping.’ He nods.

‘A kids’ party is nothing without a bouncy castle, although Gemma tried to give me a heart attack when she said the pensioners might like to have a go.’ I shake my head.

‘They might do.’ He gives a wicked grin. ‘Just joking. I imagine you don’t want any broken hips.’

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