A lighthearted story of the power of true friendship.
It is often said, that In order to really live life to the fullest, you have to learn how to find amusement in almost any situation. I always considered myself to be a person with a pretty decent sense of humor, taking most things in stride. That is, until the fall of 1995. Prior to then I was considered the reigning “Practical Joke Queen” among my friends. Rarely was I ever caught off guard, but little did I know all that was about to change.
“Today’s gonna be a great day, I can just feel it!” I smiled at my own reflection in the mirror. There I was away at college- enjoying my newly-found independence and learning what life was really all about. That semester, I was fortunate enough to find two terrific roommates. We shared a pretty decent apartment on campus, and, overall my classes were going along fine. I had even made quite a few friends. Basically, life was good.
“Good morning, Roomies!” I emerged from the bathroom, unusually jovial for that time of morning. Julie, the self-proclaimed diva of the house, just grunted at me, still donning her fuzzy pink bathrobe. I could tell that she was in a semi-conscious state, and in no apparent hurry to move from her comfortable spot on the couch. Krista was, hands down, the more prudent of the two. She was already dressed and enjoying her second cup of coffee at the dining room table, meticulously scanning some of her notes for her upcoming Biology exam. “Good morning, Steph. Want some coffee?” “No thanks. I think I’ll just grab a muffin on my way out. I don’t want to be late for my 8:00 class.” It was evident to me that Julie wasn’t too far gone, because she managed to sneak a glance at Krista as if to say, “Yeah right.” Those two knew all too well that I was definitely not a morning person. I glanced over at Julie, who had buried herself neck-deep underneath a flannel blanket. Motivated in part by a genuine concern for my roommate’s well-being and in part by my inherently calculating disposition, I carefully opened the blinds letting in a burst of sunlight. Krista simply sat there, shaking her head in amusement. “Heeeey, what are you doing?” she whined in her raspy, sleep-deprived tone, obviously vexed by my devious act. “C’mon get up! You’re gonna be late for work.” I shoved her and then quickly jumped back to avoid getting swung at. Blindly, she reached one arm out from underneath the cover and flung a couple of throw pillows in my direction, nearly missing a porcelain figurine on the coffee table. “Oh well... suit yourself. I was just trying to help. Don’t come crying to me when you get fired. You know jobs are pretty hard to come by.” I marveled at how I could use some of the same guilt-invoking psychology tactics my mother used on me growing up. Julie, clearly outdone, awoke and sat up muttering something under her breath. “What time is it, anyway?” she asked, letting out a series of yawns and stretches. “Seven-fifteen,” I obliged. Trying to focus with one eye open she peered up at the clock on the wall and then gave me a dirty look. “That’s all? You could have let me sleep ten more minutes. I don’t have to be at work until 8:30. Besides, what are you doing up so early and in such a good mood?” She had a point there because usually she was the one who pounded on my bedroom door every morning in a futile attempt to rouse me from a deep slumber. “Yeah...”Krista chimed in, “since when did you become such a morning person?” “Well, today is a very special day,” I paused to give them the occasion to shower me with well wishes. Instead, Krista blurted out, “Oh yeah... today’s the day you find out what you made on that mid-term, right?’ “WRONG!” I thought, cutting my eyes at her. I downplayed my frustration with a quick retort. “No, it’s just a beautiful morning that’s all.” I wondered how my own roommates could forget my birthday; yet, I gave them the benefit of the doubt by creating all sorts of excuses for them in my mind. In actuality, I didn’t believe a word of it. Still, I shrugged it off and decided that my day would get better. It just had to.
“What’s up, Steph.?” my friend Cindy called out in her usual loud tone of voice walking toward me. A couple seated at a nearby booth glanced over to see what the commotion was about. She flung her book bag over her shoulder and dropped it on the floor. I could tell she was in a hurry. Every Thursday Cindy and I met at a popular little coffee shop near campus before heading off to our Sociology class. “Just waiting for you. How’s it going?” I purposely avoided mentioning anything about my birthday just to test her. “I’m okay. Just running a little late that’s all. Listen, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m not going to be able to stay very long. I’ve got some errands to run before class. Maybe we can get together later on… Come to think of it, this really isn’t a good day for me. You know I’ve got to get my nails done and finish my research paper, and…..” Somehow her voice began to oddly resemble that of that unidentified teacher from the Peanuts® cartoons. To me, any excuse was a good one. It was obvious that I was the one being tested. “That’s okay. Maybe some other time.” I resisted the urge to just blurt out, “IT’S MY BIRTHDAY FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!” I knew there was no way that Cindy could have forgotten after all the rambling on I did about it just a few days before. In fact, I remember her writing it down in her day planner which she claimed she couldn’t live without. “Surely Cindy hasn’t forgotten, too. How could she?” By now, I knew that something weird was going on, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.
I arrived home later that afternoon and checked my voice mail. To my dismay, there were only two new messages: one from a telemarketer trying to sell me vinyl siding at fifty per-cent off and the other a wrong number. I was utterly disgusted. I wondered if I was having one of those “Twilight Zone” encounters. I concocted all sorts of crazy notions that were so incredible, I wouldn’t have dared repeat them to another soul. I reasoned, “Maybe my friends had been visited by extraterrestrials in the night that warped their memories; and just maybe I was the one who was spared so I could save them.” Then again, maybe the effects of my overindulgence in the Sci-Fi Channel were finally beginning to manifest. Nevertheless, none of those excuses were acceptable. I pouted for a moment then made my way into the kitchen to check the wall calendar. Sure enough, there my name was in big red letters. To add insult to injury, Krista had left a note for me on the countertop: “SORRY I MISSED MY TURN TO COOK TONIGHT./ I’LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU./ THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING./ P.S.-COULD YOU PICK UP A CARTON OF MILK AND SOME BREAD THIS EVENING?” I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The nerve of her-not only forgetting my birthday but also having the audacity to ask me to go grocery shopping? On my special day? I wasn’t having it. No sirree. Confrontation was inevitable. I had mentally rehearsed what I was going to say to the both of them that evening when they got home. I was determined to have them eating out of the palm of my hands for weeks to come.
“Some birthday,” I muttered to myself as I reached inside the icebox. The refrigerator was so bare, I thought I heard an echo. Suddenly, the grocery store idea began to sound better and better, but I refused to appease my seemingly thoughtless roommates in any way. “How could they treat me this way? After all I’ve done for them? And this is the thanks I get?” My brief sulking episode was interrupted by a phone call. By then, I was desperate. I rushed over to the phone hoping that it was that telemarketer again. At least I’d have someone to talk to. Instead, it was Krista’s best friend Sylvia who lived in the apartment downstairs. I always thought Sylvia was on the quirky side, but still, she seemed nice, so I had no problem hanging out with her from time to time. “I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner but I had to work late today. Are you doing anything special?” I was touched by Sylvia’s warmth and sincerity. “Actually, not too much.” I didn’t want to let on that I was really pretty disgusted so I pretended to sound upbeat. “Well, when you get a chance, come down here. I got you a little something for your birthday.” “Aww, Sylvia, you didn’t have to do that.” But I sure was glad she did. I began to feel a much better. “I’ll be down in ten minutes,” My anticipation was evident. “Finally,” I thought, “somebody with some sensitivity.” I paused a moment to give thanks that I wouldn’t have to spend my birthday alone after all. Who cares if it was with someone who wasn’t that close to me? A friend was a friend. I was in such a hurry to get downstairs, I didn’t even notice that I was wearing my favorite, well-worn pair of bunny slippers.
I arrived at Sylvia’s apartment about two minutes later. In my haste, I nearly tripped over a stray cat that was curled up on the bottom step. “Come on in. I was just straightening up my room.” I hesitated to come in right away because it was practically dark outside, and all the lights were off inside. Feeling a bit suspicious, I thought about reconsidering her offer. Still, I didn’t want to be rude. I figured, “Why look a gift horse in the mouth?” She led the way into the apartment. “Could you flip the lights on for me?” Needless to say I was more than happy to oblige. “SURPRISE!” I shrieked wildly, obviously scared out of my wits. There I was standing in the middle of Sylvia’s living room, heart racing, and feeling like I was going to hyperventilate. I quickly composed myself and scanned the room, which happened to be decorated with colorful balloons and streamers. Best of all, in the midst were fifteen of my closest friends- including Cindy. My two roommates appeared from the back carrying my favorite–a Triple Ripple Chocolate Birthday Cake from the best bakery in town. Krista insisted on leading the group in a heartwarming, off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday to You”. “Those stinkers.” I thought, ashamed of myself for thinking the worst of them. “We really had you going didn’t we?” Julie was so giddy that she could hardly stand it. Finally, they got one over on me. At last, the “Queen” had been de-throned. It was baffling how they managed to do it. Still, I was relieved that it was all just a cruel, ingenious hoax; and that my friends really did care about me. That alone made the whole experience worth all the anguish I had experienced that day.
Looking back, I must say that I learned some lessons that stick with me even to this day: One, that blessings in life sometimes come from unexpected sources. Two, to never underestimate the power of true love and friendship, and most importantly, a Triple Ripple Chocolate cake can cure just about anything that ails you.
All in all, my instincts were right…It was a great day after all.
He Keeps Me is a devotional journey of revelation and insight birthed out of prayer.Searching the Word of God revealed the many ways that He has kept me and continues to keep me. Each day is an opportunity to recognize that God is mindful of you, eve
