Another story from my life. I was once again invited to a party. For the anniversary. Invited by a colleague at work. There were four of us from work. Julia we all know each other well and for a long time, as we have been working together for quite some time. Well, it was an anniversary! Julia is 55 and it’s a sin not to celebrate such an event. All the girls at work and I decided to pool our money and buy a nice and expensive gift. I won’t name the amount or the gift itself, but Julie has often mentioned that she wants to have something like that in her apartment! Done and done.
Julia decided to celebrate such a momentous event at home. She did not spend money on a restaurant or cafe. “Let’s have a homey, small get-together,” she said. I don’t like those restaurants. There’s loud music and a lot of people there. Well, home is home. Everybody agreed. We were invited to the anniversary party at three o’clock, it was Saturday, the day off. There was no need to hurry anywhere, you can have as much fun as you want.
Usually when people invite guests they try to prepare food in advance, so there’s no need to rush and make a fuss when the guests arrive. Personally, my experience of hosting guests: I always have everything ready. Salads, appetizers, various cuts, hot dishes. There’s always a table and it’s already set. All I have to do is cut the bread. That’s all, come to the table, as they say.
That’s not what happened here.
On the appointed “anniversary” day, I went to the salon for a manicure, did my hair at home, prepared an outfit. So what a holiday will take place at home. All the same I wanted to look decent. Ready to go to the party, or rather to the anniversary. We called up the girls, decided to come together and to present a present to the hero from our friendly company. But then Julia suddenly called me and asked to come over an hour early. She said we could sit and chat while the guests were getting ready. All right, I said, I’ll try. It was already half past two. Like an idiot, I quickly got ready, called a cab, and drove to Julia’s house.
I arrived and rang the doorbell. The birthday girl in a robe opens the door. She had no makeup on and no hair. I am perplexed.
-Oh, hello. Happy birthday dear, with jubilee! Aren’t you ready yet? Now the guests will start to gather. Hurry up and tidy up.
-How nice of you to come early. Help me make the salads, I don’t have time. Go to the kitchen, you’ll find everything you need there. I’ll go get my makeup. And by the way, wash the plates and glasses. Oh, and don’t forget the salad bowls.
I kind of had no plans to cut something and cook, but since the birthday girl does not have time, can not do anything, I’ll help. I go into the kitchen, and there’s nothing ready. No salads, no dinner. There are dishes I have to help wash. I go to Julia’s room, she’s sitting there doing her makeup.
-Give me an apron or something, because I’m afraid to get my dress dirty. And hurry up with your makeup. Do you know that you don’t have anything ready?
-Oh, no way. We’ll do everything quickly. I didn’t do anything from tonight, I was afraid it would spoil.
Here the guests began to gather. And me birthday girl “harnessed” to make salads and wash dishes. What did I need? And Julia invited ten people and did not care about the food beforehand. Some of the guests decided to “help,” too. Someone was putting hot food in the oven, someone was cutting up food. In general we sat down to celebrate and to honour Julia almost at five o’clock in the evening, though she invited all guests to three o’clock.
How do you prepare for the holiday? Do you make salads and appetizers in advance, or just like my colleague Zoya, strictly before the arrival of the guests?
