Stella came through the door about twenty minutes before midnight and as she saw the beers and smelled the heavy order of cigar smoke in the air she said “Sounds like you boys have been living it up. Don’t mind me, ya’ll just hang out as long as you want, and I leave you be.”
“That’s alright Ms. Sanders,” Joe said. “We gotta be getting back anyway. Coach has scheduled a meeting and practice tomorrow before our Wrestling camp next week and we better get some rest.”
“Well hon,” Stella said, “I’m no cop, but I figure you are in no condition to drive,” and then she put her hand up as Joe was about to open his mouth to say something, “and before you say I’m fine, I am going to tell you there is no way in hell I am going to let you drive home tonight.”
“But I gotta get my truck home so I can’t take a cab,” Joe replied in a whiney “Ah come on” tone trying his best to counter Stella’s argument. “So how in the heck am I supposed to get home now?”
“Simple, I am going to pay to have your truck towed home.” Stella replied as she dialed a number on her cell phone. “It’s the same service we use on New Years to get drunks home.”
Stella conversed with the person on the other end, gave him her credit card number for the tow charge then hung up the phone. “They said they would be here in about 10-15 minutes. “Phillip why don’t you wait here with your pals while I go shower and get ready for bed.”
“Sure mom,” Phillip said “I’ll see you in the morning then?”
Stella just smiled and said, “We’ll see,” then went upstairs to her room and where she showered and got ready for her surprise for Phillip.
The tow truck got there in about 10 minutes and within another five minutes Joe’s truck was loaded and ready to go.
“I’ll see ya when I get back,” Joe said as he and Fred got in the tow truck. “Happy birthday dude and hope you have a great one.”
“Thanks guys, it was a blast,” Phillip replied as he watched the tow truck drive off and walked back inside and locked the door.
By now, it was about 3 minutes before midnight and Stella was just descending the stairs into the living room where Phillip was. She was wearing her shoulder length golden blonde down and was dressed in her full length white robe she always wore.
She went into over to where her bag was and opened it. She pulled out a chilled bottle of Champagne and a bottle of whiskey.
“I thought we would celebrate your ascendance into manhood with a little bubbly and a few drinks if that’s okay with you,” Stella said. She also had a few noise makers people use for New Year’s.
Stella waited until it was about 10 seconds to midnight and began the traditional countdown: “10, 9, 8,…3,2,1 Happy Birthday baby.”
With that, Stella blew her noise maker then took the bottle of Champagne, popped the cork and fizz went everywhere. She then took two glasses and poured one for herself and one for Phillip.
“Happy Birthday sweetie,” Stella said, “Drink up and let’s celebrate.”
Stella quaffed the glass of bubbly in one fell swoop then repeated the action as she poured another and quaffed it.