Cassie opened the door to her apartment very slowly. She was exhausted. Her work day had just ended, eleven hours after it had begun. Her boss had dumped on her for something that wasn't her fault, but she had to stay after hours to rectify the matter. The one thing that had made her day the worst of her life was that it was her twenty-eighth birthday and her lover, Mark, was out of town on business. It would be her first birthday alone.
As she entered the door she sensed some movement within her apartment. She suddenly threw the door open and simultaneously flicked on the lights hoping to surprise her intruder. Standing at the door, looking into her apartment, everything seemed to be in place with the exception of a large present sitting on the coffee table. She cautiously entered her apartment and started towards the present. She looked around the apartment one more time before she started to unwrap her present.
She removed the ribbon, while looking for a card but found none. As her hands reached the bottom of the box she realized that it was only a cover. She slowly lifted the lid to reveal three separate boxes; the first was a 26 inch television, the second a new DVD player and the final box contained a video camera. Cassie was astounded. She just sat back and stared at her new acquisitions.
Suddenly she was aware of a light in the corner of her eye coming from the direction of the kitchen. She turned to see Mark in the doorway holding a birthday cake with twenty-eight candles burning on top, and her best friend, Shawna, just behind him holding a bottle of champagne and three glasses.
"Surprise!", they both yelled in unison and broke out into a chorus of "Happy Birthday To You" as they walked toward Cassie. Cassie was overcome with joy and she began to cry a little. She jumped off of the couch and gave Mark and Shawna a kiss.
"If you hurry up and blow out your candles, you can give me a hug to go along with that kiss", Mark ventured with a slight smile.
"But don't forget to make a wish before you blow them out", Shawna said in a hurry before Cassie began to blow.
"My wish has already come true, just having you two here with me tonight". Cassie then blew out her candles in a single breath.
Cassie quickly took the cake from Mark and placed it on the table beside her new toys and ran into Mark's arms. Shawna had by this time prepared to pop the cork from the champagne bottle. She let the cork out with an explosion of champagne. Shawna tipped the bottle to her mouth to catch the overflow of the bubbly nectar as some of the excess dribbled down her chin and neck.
Mark took the glasses and passed them to Shawna. "Remind me not to let you open a bottle of champagne again. I've developed an erection just watching you."
"Mark, that's awful!" Cassie injected with a slight tap on Mark's arm. "Mind you it was somewhat erotic."
Shawna, blushing slightly, handed the glasses to Mark and Cassie. "May I propose a toast? To Cassie, may all your birthday wishes come true."
They all clinked glasses and drank down their champagne, immediately pouring more. They retired to the dinning area where they consumed the Chinese food that Mark and ordered prior to Cassie's arrival, the cake and two more bottles of champagne. During dinner they talked about old times, present insecurities and future dreams.
Mark had just prepared some B-52 coffees for everyone and suggested that they try out the new camera. Cassie and Shawna sat on the couch as Mark read the instructions. After awhile he had the camera all hooked up and ready to shoot. He pointed the lens at the girls and told them to improvise. They talked, hugged and sang "My Bonnie".