"Hello?" answered Mariah on the phone.
"Hey, Mariah it's me."
"Oh hi, Brian. What's up?" greeted Mariah, cradling the
phone between her ear and shoulder as she prepared the food.
"Oh nothing, I was just wondering, do you need any help
preparing for the barbecue?" offered Brian.
"Thanks Brian, that's sweet, but no, I'm doing fine."
replied Mariah.
"No really, it's okay. I don't have anything to do
anyways."
"Well, since you don't have anything to do, sure, I could use
a little help, I guess. Come on over."
"Great! See ya' in a bit!" said Brian.
They hung up and Mariah continued working. She had to get the food
they were going to cook ready. She had been working non-stop for a couple of
hours, her hands were beginning to ache. She decided to stop working on the
food and instead set up the picnic table outside. She'd leave the dirty stuff
to Brian. Mariah laughed out loud as she set the picnic table.
"Hey!"
"Hey!" replied Mariah.
"I rang the doorbell and no one answered so I came back
here."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be here so soon."
"That's okay." replied Brian. "So, what do you want
me to get started on?"
"Well, I've got some steaks inside that need to be marinated,
and vegetables that need to be cut for the salad."
"I think I'll start with the salad." said Brian.
"Okay, come on, I'll show you where everything is."
Mariah brought him into the house and showed him where all the
utensils were.
"This is how you hold a knife, and this is how you cut. You
have to be very, very careful not to cut yourself. Understand?" Mariah
looked up at Brian. She couldn't help but laugh. He put on a face of a little
boy.
"Yes, mom, I'll try really, really hard."
Mariah continued to laugh. "Alright, well, they should be
here in about 2 hours, so I'm going to go take a shower and clean myself up.
Remember, be careful!"
"Alright, alright, I'll be fine. Now, leave the chef to his
cooking." replied Brian, in a French accent. Well, what seemed to be a
French accent.
Mariah laughed and went upstairs. She could hear him singing
something ridiculous while he was cutting.
While Mariah was in the shower, the phone rang.
"I guess I'll pick it up," thought Brian.
"Hello?"
There was a pause.
"Uh, hello?" a woman's voice came on the line.
"Yes?"
"Um, I'm sorry, but I think I've got the wrong number. Is
this 713-8951?"
"Yes, it is." replied Brian, beginning to get puzzled.
"Can I help you?"
"Well, you wouldn't happen to know who Mariah Henson is?"
"Yes, I do. I'm a friend of hers. She's in the shower right
now, can I help you?"
"I'm her mother."
"Oh, hello Mrs. Henson. I'm Brian."
"Oh you're Brian, I see. Nice to finally meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. I gather that Mariah's told you about
me."
"Yes, she has. Well, I don't mean to keep you, but I wanted
to talk to my daughter. Seeing that she's busy, could you please tell her that
I called and that I said happy birthday?"
"Yes, of course I will." Brian paused, then said,
"Today's Mariah's birthday?"
"Yes, it is. She didn't tell you?"
"No, she didn't."
"Oh, well, she doesn't really tell anyone when her birthday
is. She doesn't like people making a big fuss about it."
"Oh, I see."
Mrs. Henson and Brian seemed to get a long quite well. They talked
for a little while. Soon, Brian heard Mariah getting out of the shower.
"Sorry, Mrs. Henson, I have to go. Mariah's getting out of
the shower. It was nice meeting you."
"Nice to meet you too, Brian. You're a very nice young man.
Good luck with your plans tonight. Good bye!"
"Thank you! Good bye!"
Brian hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" called Mariah.
"Oh, it was Howie," Brian called back. "They just
called to say that they will be here soon."
"Oh, okay. So is the salad done?"
"Oh! The salad, I, uh, forgot, I ended up talking with Howie
on the phone. Sorry." apologized Brian sheepishly.
Mariah sighed. "Oh well, at least you didn't cut
yourself."
Brian laughed. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Well, if you need me, I'll be upstairs getting ready."
"Alright."
Brian went back into the kitchen and picked up his cell phone. He
called the guys and told them his plan for Mariah's birthday. After all the
arrangements were done, he went back to cutting the salad and preparing the
rest of the food. He was excited about that night. He wanted Mariah to have a
special birthday. One that she would never forget.