Page 70 of Chaos Theory
Black balloons => Halloween
Orange balloons => Halloween AND/OR Birthday
Candles on top of food => Birthday
Candles inside food => Halloween
References to ageing => Birthday
References to death => Halloween
Shane has assigned me the task of projecting a light show onto a wall for the duration of the party. I am unsure if this is needless busy work – as Shane might style it – or essential to the creation of ‘a party atmosphere’, an area in which Shane holds some expertise.
‘Is there a formula for creating a party atmosphere?’ I ask Shane.
He climbs a chair and secures a banner to the ceiling.
‘Yes, but no one knows what it is. It’s ineffable.’
‘That is unhelpful data.’
I offer him my hand to steady his descent from the chair. He high-fives it instead and jumps down. He picks up a packet of balloons.
‘I can describe it to you but it’s impossible to reverse-engineer it. There are several key ingredients, and they need to combine in certain quantities, but no one can specify what those quantities are. I can tell you this though – the key to a good party is girls.’
‘Girls? I presume you mean women.’
‘Yes, Kobi. I mean women.’
He rolls his eyes and smiles. He blows into a balloon.
‘Do you mean the presence of women will ensure a good party?’
He ties the balloon.
