Rescuing a birthday

We're late arriving at Little B's party, & a very sad sight it was.

PD had called asking us to call in en route as he had something that needed witnessing. In the end the Fox decided to drop me off at the Pub then go on to PD. I went in.

At the bar were a couple of young people, off duty staff. A pair of lovebirds too involved in themselves to include Little B.

Sat down in the lounge was Little B in his best bib & tucker, all alone, no one talking to him.

I hastily joined Little B. His face spread with joy as he saw me arrive, bearing not one but two cards - we'd brought one along from MK & Helen. I concentrated my full attention on him & he flowered like a thirsty plant. I think he'd seriously thought we'd all forgotten about him. As if we would.

During the course of the next half hour the numbers grew. Along came Den & Fran - they'd been held up at the hospital & were now ready to celebrate Fran's dismissal from hospital as a liver problem she's been having for a few years has finally resolved itself.

Soon the Fox was back, bringing PD too. PD is a rare sight these days & always brings so much jollity with him. Mr P, the music teacher, arrived sodden after his cycle ride in the rain back from school.

We all made a fuss of Little B, who beamed & even offered to buy us each a drink - a rare event for a man notorious for his tightness with money. By 5pm, he was ready to collect Mrs B to take her to the local Chinese restaurant for a meal. By this time his spirits were high once more.