Katie's Nan

     In November 2012, I was invited by my friend, Mary to her daughter’s 18^th birthday party in The Tavern pub in Passage West.  Fashion is important to Mary so I made the effort to look ‘dressed up’.  I wore the only shoes I had with heels which happened to be black, black tights, black skirt worn below the knee and a black polo neck jumper.  

“How do I look?” I said to my son.

“You look like you’re going to a funeral.”

     I looked in the mirror.  He was right.  ‘Ah, to hell with it,’ I thought, ‘I’m dressed now.’ I added sparkly earrings to lift the mood.
     I walked in the door of The Tavern, looked around but couldn’t see anyone I knew.  I went up to the barman and asked for Katie’s party.  He replied, “Upstairs.”  As I ran up the stairs I could hear the music pounding through the walls. 
     I opened the door. It was as if I had landed on another planet.  The boys looked normal enough but every girl seemed to be wearing 8 inch heels, had tanned bodies, hair extensions, sparkly stuff on their faces and long, painted nails. They were beautiful. I panicked. Walking through this forest of glittering people I searched desperately for someone I knew.  Finally, I spotted Katie.  I ran over to her. I gave her present, wished her happy birthday and said, “Where’s your mother?”  “Downstairs,” she said.  “Thank God,” and fled back down to the main bar. 
     Mary, her mother, brother, sister, husband Tony and about 12 other friends had taken over the corner of the lounge where a live band played all 70’s and 80’s classics.  We had a great night as we sang and swayed along to the music. At about 11 o’clock, Mary said to me, “Ger, will you give me a hand with the cake?”  “No problem.”
     Katie is a trainee hairdresser with Peter Marks and so the cake was made in the shape of a hair dryer.  Mary carried the cake up the stairs while I followed with the candles, box of matches and a breadknife.  At the top of the stairs, I held the cake while Mary lit the candles. I then flung open the door and Mary walked in with the cake.
     The DJ stopped the music.  Everyone gathered around Katie, Mary and the cake and sang ‘Happy Birthday’.  Katie blew out the candles, made a wish and everyone cheered. 
     The DJ re-started the music and as Katie and Mary danced together, I began to back away towards the door.  But just then, a pretty, blonde girl tottered over to me on her killer heels and catching both my hands started to sway to the music.  I decided to humour her and sway along too. After a minute or two, I looked at her kindly and said, “Are you Katie’s friend?”

She smiled back at me, “Yes,” she said, “are you Katie’s nan?”