A Special Birthday
WRITTEN BY LYNDA FRANKLIN
For Karen, turning fifty was a big thing that she had to get used to…
Karen couldn’t believe what she was actually doing. She’d been in the shop many times before, but not with the same objective and definitely not in the same undercover manner. Cards for Every Occasion – everyone shopped there. They did after all have a wonderful selection of cards and gifts for that special person and special occasion, and she just needed time to prepare for her own special occasion.
She let her eye fall casually on the age range before her. She was standing in front of the 18 and 21s and that was never going to work. Shifting along she browsed the 30s, casually picked up one or two from the 40s, and finally allowed her gaze to rest on the colourful selection of quality cards screaming “50 today” at her.
Oh goodness, she thought, this is what she’ll get next week. This is the number that will be on each and every card chosen lovingly for her by well-meaning friends and family. It actually should be against the law. Only a child likes to see their age blazoned on a card standing on the mantelpiece for all to admire. Nifty 50, fabulous at 50, fantastic fit and 50 – you can dress it up however you want, it’s still 50!
There were bound to be banners, too. Her husband and children were thoughtful enough to make sure they had plenty of banners and balloons and each and every one of them would have that number on them. The number she couldn’t believe she’d reached because she didn’t feel it, privately considered didn’t look it, and sounded so different from a number with a 4 in front of it.
“Hard to choose isn’t it?” The voice came from the person next to her.
Karen looked up and smiled. “Mmm,” she murmured, at the same time feeling obliged to pick up a card and seemingly consider it.
“I mean what sort of card’s best when you’re 50? I sort of like the funny ones but then again I don’t want to offend my Aunt,” the other person said.
Karen looked up. The girl looked barely twenty, pretty and fresh faced in denim jeans and short jacket. She had long auburn hair that shone and bounced around because it was untouched by hair colour or hair spray.
My hair used to be that colour, Karen thought, before she began noticing grey creeping in at the roots that is. She made the decision then to have some light brown highlights put in and her natural red seemed to disappear. Now her hair would be described as brown. Realising she was staring at the young girl she picked up another random card that said: Who says you can’t be sexy at 50? Oh good grief, she put it back quickly.
“Love that one!” the young girl said, giggling to herself.
“Do you really?” Karen looked up at her and smiled.
“I don’t know where they get all these ideas for cards. Still, I suppose 50 year olds still like to be thought of as sexy.” She chuckled to herself again.
“Yes, I daresay.” Karen murmured.
“I think I’ll go for this one. I can’t go wrong with this one, can I?”
Karen glanced at the card covered in cupcakes and flowers with Happy 50th Birthday written on it. “It’s about right for a 50 year old, isn’t it?” she said, satisfied with her choice.
“Very nice,” Karen said automatically, wondering how many cards she would receive that looked exactly like that one. Cupcakes and flowers. There was nothing really wrong with it, it was very pretty. The only real problem was that number.
“Still looking?” the girl asked her, fishing for her purse.
“Yes, I can’t decide.” Karen lied. “I think I’ll try another shop.”
“Yeah, it’s hard buying for older people, isn’t it? Good luck!”
Karen swallowed back a smile of pleasure as she realised this young girl hadn’t included her in the age 50 bracket. OK, it was vain and silly but today she needed to be vain and silly.
After all, changing your number is something you need time to get used to, and the young girl’s throwaway comments had made her day.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about,” her husband had said. “It’s not going to be tattooed on your head!”
The children had laughed then and picturing them giggling together made her feel warm inside.
They were so looking forward to celebrating with her. She’d lost count of the times she’d found them in a huddle whispering about something they’d planned, falling silent when she appeared. She was so lucky. She wouldn’t want to change a thing about her life. Apart from one thing that is.
She left the shop with a spring in her step. She had auburn hair colour to buy.
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Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
