Hank walked across the tiled path in the front yard to pick up the cocktail tables from his neighbours. The weather was unexpectedly good for this time of year, usually it rained on his birthday. Therefore he had decided to have the party in the garden and in case the weather would change horribly, he had put up a gazebo tent.
"lovely weather," Hank said to his daughter when he entered the backyard through the patio door.
Katherine, 17, glanced up from her phone and gave her father a cynical smile. With her fingertips she let the straps of her bra slowly slide down over her shoulders. She did so for two reasons; firstly, to make her skin tan smooth without tan-lines, secondly, to make her single father aware that his daughter was unfolding into a sexual, adult creature.
The neighbour, who was looking from his attic window to see if his cocktail tables were handled properly, grunted approvingly. The tables were unfolded in exactly the right way. Then he turned his gaze to Katherine, who apart from a bra was also wearing so called hot pants. He grabbed his Polaroid camera, took a picture and hung it with a peg on the clothesline next to the others.
"Are you nervous, Dad?"
Hank paused from the scrubbing of the rented beer tap and put the yellow viscose cloth aside.
"Why would I be nervous, Katy?"
"Don`t act like you don't know."
He picked up the cloth again and polished the spotless tap some more.
As the afternoon progressed and the party approached, Hank started sweating more and more. He looked at the thermometer which was stuck to the wall of the shed, twenty seven degrees it read. But he had never trusted that measuring instrument, so it could just as well be above thirty degrees.
It took another half hour before the first guests arrived, but everything was already prepared. The cocktail tables had white paper covering them and trays filled with cocktail nuts on top, the large table was ready for the buffet and he had put up garlands. Hank sat on his chair which he had decorated with balloons, confetti streamers and a sash that read; Hurrah, 50 years.
A little after five o'clock Hank opened the door for the first guests. Two couples: John and Emily and Julia and Guy, which you pronounced like french. Congratulations was said, shoulders were pat and cheeks kissed.
"Are we the first ones?" One woman asked rhetorically.
Richard inquired how she had experienced the trip and was told a story about a new lease car. Then they left the porch and Richard led them through the house to the garden. Hank got two beers, poured some wine and meanwhile said that he made a test drive in an Audi R8.
Guy nudged John and motioned with his head towards Katherine, who was still sunbathing in her bra and hot pants.
"i wouldn't mind test riding that" he said, just a little too loud.
John took a step backwards and punched Guy down.
"Not already," Julia said to Emily. The women skulled their wine.
John ran to the bench where Katherine was, placed his arm around her and asked if she was alright. He stroked gently over her bare shoulder. In the bushes the neighbor was hiding to take pictures of the scene.
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"lovely weather," Hank said to his daughter when he entered the backyard through the patio door.
Katherine, 17, glanced up from her phone and gave her father a cynical smile. With her fingertips she let the straps of her bra slowly slide down over her shoulders. She did so for two reasons; firstly, to make her skin tan smooth without tan-lines, secondly, to make her single father aware that his daughter was unfolding into a sexual, adult creature.
The neighbour, who was looking from his attic window to see if his cocktail tables were handled properly, grunted approvingly. The tables were unfolded in exactly the right way. Then he turned his gaze to Katherine, who apart from a bra was also wearing so called hot pants. He grabbed his Polaroid camera, took a picture and hung it with a peg on the clothesline next to the others.
"Are you nervous, Dad?"
Hank paused from the scrubbing of the rented beer tap and put the yellow viscose cloth aside.
"Why would I be nervous, Katy?"
"Don`t act like you don't know."
He picked up the cloth again and polished the spotless tap some more.
As the afternoon progressed and the party approached, Hank started sweating more and more. He looked at the thermometer which was stuck to the wall of the shed, twenty seven degrees it read. But he had never trusted that measuring instrument, so it could just as well be above thirty degrees.
It took another half hour before the first guests arrived, but everything was already prepared. The cocktail tables had white paper covering them and trays filled with cocktail nuts on top, the large table was ready for the buffet and he had put up garlands. Hank sat on his chair which he had decorated with balloons, confetti streamers and a sash that read; Hurrah, 50 years.
A little after five o'clock Hank opened the door for the first guests. Two couples: John and Emily and Julia and Guy, which you pronounced like french. Congratulations was said, shoulders were pat and cheeks kissed.
"Are we the first ones?" One woman asked rhetorically.
Richard inquired how she had experienced the trip and was told a story about a new lease car. Then they left the porch and Richard led them through the house to the garden. Hank got two beers, poured some wine and meanwhile said that he made a test drive in an Audi R8.
Guy nudged John and motioned with his head towards Katherine, who was still sunbathing in her bra and hot pants.
"i wouldn't mind test riding that" he said, just a little too loud.
John took a step backwards and punched Guy down.
"Not already," Julia said to Emily. The women skulled their wine.
John ran to the bench where Katherine was, placed his arm around her and asked if she was alright. He stroked gently over her bare shoulder. In the bushes the neighbor was hiding to take pictures of the scene.