A SMILE IN A WHISTLE

PART ONE: THE RETURN

Chapter 2

Thirteen years later

Sarah couldn't believe it. As she walked into her apartment at seven o'clock that evening, her parents were standing right in front of her, with big grins on their faces. Two seconds later, a whole bunch of people jumped up from behind the sofa and yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!" She had just turned twenty-five and she still didn't have any control over what she wanted to do on her birthday. She had been looking forward to a quiet evening after a long day at the office. All she wanted was to order Japanese take-away and devour it in front of a light movie with Ben, her boyfriend.

Sarah and Ben had always been close. At school, they used to hang out with Lydia, and they all knew each other very well. When Lydia met her sweetheart at the age of eighteen, Ben and Sarah decided to give it a shot. Why not date someone I am comfortable with? Sarah considered after Ben had awkwardly asked her out on a date at the back of the bus on their way home after school. So, she gave it a try. After four years dating and three years living together, she was still very comfortable around him. They had always looked out for each other –  well... until tonight, of course. The imposed birthday party made her feel betrayed by her boyfriend. Seeing him behind the sofa, taking part in this unwelcome surprise, made her very angry. How did he let this happen? she asked herself. He knows how much I hate these dictated birthday parties! She felt like a fifteen-year-old girl all over again, but there was no bench to escape to on the eighth floor of the city building. Sarah bottled up her feelings, smiled, thanked everybody and rushed to the bathroom for a moment of peace before facing the long evening ahead.

Among the guests, there was Lydia and Jim (the sweetheart); her mum and dad (inevitably!), her brother Mark and his egocentric girlfriend (who was desperate to give a speech about her own birthday that was coming up); and Ben. The rest of the crowd were strangers who had to be introduced to Sarah throughout the evening. She wondered how they all managed to fit into her little apartment. She received fifteen boxes of liquor candy, and she wasn't even a fan of alcohol. She opened five packets during the party with hope that they would all go. It turned out people preferred drinking wine to nibbling candies.

By midnight Sarah was exhausted. She was so tired, she could barely stand on her two feet. She wished everybody would leave immediately, so she could close her eyes and rest her head on her favorite, yellow-stripped pillow. A pillow she had kept since her childhood. While trying to find her boyfriend amongst the crowd, she came upon her parents.

"How are you doin', love? 'Bet you didn't expect such a surprise!" her father shouted through his white, shiny moustache.

"Indeed," she replied without further enthusiasm. "Have you seen Ben?"

"No, we thought he was with you. Have you opened his present yet?" asked her mother.

Her long earrings, shaped like shooting stars, distracted Sarah... She was afraid her mother's long curly hair would get caught in them. Every move her mother made, was a threat to her curls' well-being.

"No," Sarah finally replied.

"He's got you somethin' quite special..."

Honestly, Sarah couldn't care less. She just wanted to know when the party was meant to end. She didn't dare ask her parents; it would surely begin an argument, just like on her fifteenth birthday when she begged them never to throw a party for her ever again. That promise was obviously out of the window!

As she began to walk away, dragging her feet along the carpet, Sarah heard her father mention a familiar person's name. Sam, she heard. And she returned to her parents at once.

"...I hope he likes curry. I'm plannin' on cookin' a hot curry. Do you think he likes spices?" her mother asked her husband.

Food had always been her primary worry when people came over.

"I don't know, Katherine," he replied.

Sarah couldn't help but join in the conversation.

"Is Sam back?" she asked, curiously.

"Yes dear, he's comin' for dinner next Friday. It's been a while since we last saw him," said her father.

"Where has he been?"

"He travelled for a while. That's all I know."

Sarah immediately felt wide-awake. She had had mixed feelings about Sam for years... Sadness and disappointment. Curiosity and joy. Tonight, the news of his return made her very excited.

"I'm surprised you remember him," commented her mother.

"Yes," added her father, "you were very young when he started his trainin' with me. I don't even recall when you might have met him..."

"He was invited to my birthday parties! Just like the rest of the world!" exclaimed Sarah, then left the discussion.

Her mind was suddenly filled with grass whistling memories. And thankfully, the party seemed to end quickly after the news.

When she woke up the next morning, Sarah was still caught up in her thoughts and she had completely forgotten about Ben's gift. He had bought her a silver heart-shaped necklace and had given it to her just before bedtime. At a loss, she had said that she loved it and that she would wear it every day. But, when she got up that morning, it was still in its gift box. Unlike her mother, Sarah didn't think much of his gift. She would have preferred a quiet birthday.

Sarah and Ben went for a walk with her parents in the morning, before Katherine and Patrick needed to head back home. Having both drunk a little too much the night before, her parents had made the wise decision not to get behind the wheel. And their improvised short stay worked out perfectly for Sarah: she took that opportunity to insist that she come to dinner at their place next Friday, to see Sam. Katherine and Patrick lived just outside the city; it was hardly a thirty-minute drive for her.

"You are always welcome, dear," said her mum, delighted. "Will you be comin' too, Ben?"

"No," he replied. "I have a meal planned with my colleagues from work. Next time!"

Deep down, Sarah was glad Ben couldn't make it. Ever since they had been going out, he had always been to every meal, every party and every event with her. She was looking forward to an evening alone with her parents and Sam.