The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer

kitchen.
    â€œQuick, quick, quick,” Mother called. “I still have to get changed!”
    Suds splashed around merrily.
    â€œWhat people?” asked Father.
    â€œAunt Pie,” said Thomas.
    â€œPerhaps you could push the table over to one side and arrange the chairs in a circle,” said Mother.
    â€œJust for Pie?” Father asked anxiously.
    â€œOf course not,” said Mother. “There are a lot more people coming.”
    â€œBut who?” said Father. His voice was getting louder. “It isn’t anybody’s birthday, is it?”
    â€œFriends of mine,” said Mother. “Quick, quick, quick, perhaps you would like to get changed too?”
    â€œWhy haven’t I heard about this before?” Father exclaimed. “Why doesn’t anybody tell me anything?”
    â€œSorry, Papa,” said Margot. “Forgot.” She was drying the carving knife.
    Father watched as she put the dried knife in the drawer.
    â€œYes, sorry,” said Mother. “It completely slipped my mind.”
    â€œSorry, Papa,” said Thomas. “I meant to tell you, but then I suddenly had to go to the bathroom and then …”
    â€œHow many chairs should I put out?” Father asked.
    â€œA dozen or so, I think,” said Mother.
    â€œTWELVE?” Father looked at her, aghast. “Where did you suddenly get TWELVE friends from?”
    â€œMargot and Thomas and you and I will want a seat too,” said Mother.
    â€œEIGHT? EIGHT FRIENDS?”
    But Mother did not respond anymore. She handed the dishwashing brush to Margot. “Can you finish up?” she asked. “I really have to go and get changed.”
    She pushed past Father into the hallway and ran up the stairs. “The table over to the side and the chairs in a circle,” she called once more.
    â€œEight friends,” Father muttered.
    â€œMama is just guessing, you know,” said Margot. “There could be more. Some of my friends are coming too.”
    â€œWHAT?” Father shouted.
    With a lot of clattering, Margot stacked the plates in the cupboard. Thomas played a serenade on the saucepans. From the bedroom, Mother gave a performance of “Ev’ry Bud Is Springing Open, Ev’ry Blossom’s Peeping Out.”
    â€œAnd what about ME?” Father called up the stairs. “Where am I supposed to go tonight?”
    No one answered. Dejectedly, he went into the room and started tugging at the table. He dragged it into the back room and then arranged the chairs in birthday formation. “But it is nobody’s birthday as far as I know,” he complained.
    â€œWho is making the coffee?” Mother called from upstairs.
    â€œI will, Mama,” Margot shouted back.
    Then the doorbell rang. Thomas pulled the rope at the top of the stairs and the front door clicked open. It was Aunt Pie. “Halloo-oo!” she sang out. “We’re here!” Two more ladies climbed up the stairs behind her.
    â€œLeave the door open, Aunt Pie,” called Margot. “There’s more people coming.”
    The door stayed wide open.
    â€œThere you are, my boy,” she puffed when she got to the top. She carried a white box into the kitchen. Then she got hold of Thomas and hugged him. “This is Aunt Magda.” She indicated a huge flowery dress behind her.
    â€œOh,” said Thomas.
    â€œAnd that is Aunt Bea.”
    Aunt Magda and Aunt Bea shook his hand. They were brand-new aunts Thomas had never seen before. Aunt Bea had a gold tooth that glittered cheerfully when she laughed. And she laughed a lot.
    They went into the room.
    â€œThere you are, man of God,” Aunt Pie called toFather. She went and kissed him. There were red spots on his cheeks from her lipstick. “You’ve met Magda and Bea, I think?”
    â€œI haven’t had the honor,” said Father. Under the huge flowery dress, all sorts of things wobbled about while they