Maria had everything meticulously planned for her husband Tom’s 40th birthday—a surprise party that would leave him speechless. But what she didn’t expect was that the surprise would be on her, with strangers walking through the door instead of Tom. What was meant to be a perfect celebration turned into a chaotic, but unforgettable night involving an unexpected Airbnb mix-up.
Tom’s 40th birthday was approaching, and I wanted to make it special. So, I came up with the idea of throwing him a surprise party. To make it work, I told him I was going out of town on his birthday, and we agreed to celebrate another day. The night before, I pretended to pack my bags and head to the airport, while secretly staying overnight at my friend Karen’s house to set everything in motion for the party the next day.
“Are you sure he won’t figure it out?” Karen asked, watching me stuff clothes into a suitcase.
I grinned. “Not a chance. He’s completely clueless. He thinks I’m visiting my sister.”
Karen laughed, shaking her head. “You’re sneaky, Maria.”
The next morning, I woke up early, ready to set everything up. Tom usually came home around 6 p.m., so I invited all of his friends and family to arrive at 5 p.m., giving us plenty of time to decorate. By 4:45, people started trickling in, beginning with Tom’s brother, Jim.
“Hey Maria, need help with anything?” Jim asked, carrying a box of decorations.
“Sure! You can start with the streamers,” I replied, handing him a bundle of blue and gold ribbons.
Soon, the house was buzzing with activity. Tom’s best friend Dave arrived with his wife, Lisa, who complimented the setup.
“You’ve outdone yourself, Maria!” she said, admiring the colorful decorations.
“Thanks, but there’s still a lot to do! Can you blow up these balloons?” I handed them a bag of blue and gold balloons, the party’s theme.
By 5:30, the living room was decked out. Streamers hung from the ceiling, balloons filled the corners, and a huge banner reading “Happy 40th, Tom!” stretched across the wall. The party was ready to go. At 5:45, I gathered everyone into the kitchen.
“Alright, everyone! Tom will be here soon. Lights off and hide!”
