The Birthday Surprise

Grandpa Joe turns eighty on Sunday. He says he doesn't want a party. “At my age, a quiet day with a good book is enough,” he says.

But his granddaughter Lia has a plan. She calls her aunts, her uncles and her cousins. “It's a surprise. Don't tell Grandpa!” she says to everyone.

On Saturday, the family cooks all day. Aunt Rosa makes a big chocolate cake, Uncle Paulo prepares rice and chicken, and the cousins blow up forty balloons.

On Sunday afternoon, Lia takes Grandpa for a walk in the park. “Just one hour,” she says. Meanwhile, everybody hides in his living room.

When Grandpa opens the door, the room is dark and silent. He turns on the light, and thirty people shout: “Surprise! Happy birthday!”

Grandpa puts his hand on his heart. For a moment he says nothing. Then he laughs and says: “I said no party… but I'm very happy you didn't listen.”

They sing “Happy Birthday” and Grandpa blows out the candles. There are not eighty candles on the cake, only an eight and a zero. Everyone claps.

Later, Lia gives him her present: a new book. Grandpa smiles. “Perfect. Tomorrow I will have my quiet day.”