The $20,000 Birthday Fight
Anthony walked into the kitchen, looked at the papers on the table, and nearly dropped his phone. What he saw was about to start the funniest argument of the week.
Anthony:
“Shayla… please tell me I’m reading this wrong.”
Shayla:
“You’re reading it just fine.”
Shayla slowly looked up from her coffee while Anthony picked up the paper again.
Anthony:
“TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS?”
Shayla:
“For Kai’s birthday.”
Anthony:
“Kai is turning TWO! He can’t even remember what he ate yesterday!”
Shayla:
“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve a nice birthday.”
Anthony:
“A nice birthday? Shayla, this says $20,000!”
Shayla tried not to laugh as Anthony pointed at the paper like he had just discovered a financial disaster.
Anthony:
“You just said ‘and’ like you asked me to buy a birthday cake!”
Shayla:
“You always complain before you understand the full plan.”
Anthony:
“No, I understand enough. Twenty thousand dollars is not a birthday party. That is a down payment on a house!”
Shayla folded her arms and calmly explained that the money was supposed to cover several different things.
Shayla:
“Venue.”
Anthony:
“Okay.”
Shayla:
“Decorations.”
Anthony:
“Fine.”
Shayla:
“Food.”
Anthony:
“Still following.”
Shayla:
“Entertainment.”
Anthony:
“Okay, that makes sense.”
Shayla:
“Photography.”
Anthony:
“Alright.”
Shayla:
“Cake.”
Anthony:
“Of course.”
Shayla:
“Special surprise.”
Anthony:
“Special surprise?”
Shayla:
“Yep.”
Anthony:
“What surprise?”
Shayla:
“You’ll find out.”
Anthony:
“So I’m supposed to give you twenty thousand dollars and just hope the surprise doesn’t involve a helicopter?”
Shayla:
“You’re getting warmer.”
Anthony:
“Wait… WHAT?”
Shayla laughed and walked away, leaving Anthony standing there completely confused.
The argument became even funnier when Anthony discovered that Shayla had already started making plans.
Decoration samples were everywhere. Blue and gold balloons covered the table. A giant number two was leaning against the wall.
There were cake designs, invitation cards, and pictures of different venues.
Anthony:
“Why does this birthday venue have a red carpet?”
Shayla:
“Because Kai deserves the best.”
Anthony:
“He’s going to spend most of the party trying to eat the decorations!”
Shayla:
“He’s still going to look cute doing it.”
Anthony shook his head, but then he noticed something strange.
One of the papers on the table had been turned upside down.
Anthony:
“What is this?”
Shayla:
“Nothing.”
Anthony immediately became suspicious.
Anthony:
“You said that way too fast.”
He turned the paper around. Shayla quickly tried to take it from him.
Shayla:
“Give me that.”
Anthony:
“Hold on!”
Anthony looked at the document again. It was not a normal birthday contract.
Anthony:
“Shayla…”
Shayla:
“What?”
Anthony:
“This isn’t for the birthday.”
Shayla suddenly became quiet.
Anthony:
“Then what exactly are you spending this money on?”
Shayla:
“You really want to know?”
Anthony:
“Yes!”
Shayla:
“Fine. The birthday party is only part of it.”
Anthony:
“ONLY PART?”
Shayla nodded.
Shayla:
“I wanted Kai’s birthday to be something everyone remembers.”
Anthony:
“You are going to make me remember this bill for the rest of my life!”
Before Anthony could say anything else, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Both of them looked toward the front door.
Anthony:
“Who is that?”
Shayla:
“I told them to come at this time.”
Anthony:
“Who?”
The doorbell rang again.
Shayla suddenly became serious and grabbed Anthony’s arm.
Shayla:
“Wait.”
Anthony:
“What?”
Shayla:
“Let me open it.”
Anthony stepped back, but his suspicion only grew.
Shayla opened the door and a man was standing outside holding a large black folder.
Anthony:
“What is that?”
The man handed the folder to Shayla.
She opened it while Anthony leaned closer.
Inside was a document with one huge number printed across the top:
$20,000
Anthony:
“Shayla… what did you do?”
Shayla:
“You’re going to find out at Kai’s birthday.”
Anthony shook his head.
“You cannot keep doing this!”
Shayla smiled.
“Oh, I can.”
Then she leaned closer and whispered:
“And trust me… when you see who the twenty thousand dollars is really for, you’re going to be the one apologizing to me.”
Anthony stared at her in complete confusion.
“Who is it for?”
Shayla smiled again.
“That’s the surprise.”
And just like that, Anthony realized Kai’s birthday party was hiding a much bigger secret than he ever imagined.
