Free Accidents Waiting to Happen by Simon Wood Page A

another car pull up,” Abby said, bouncing on the spot excitedly.
    “Well, isn’t it your job to greet them?” Josh asked.  
    Abby agreed it was by nodding vigorously.   She bounded off down the alley next to the Michaels’ home to meet the visitors to the party.   Wiener scampered behind her acting as her second in command.   As she got to the front of the house, she found people getting out of a Toyota Camry parked curbside.
    “Uncle Bo-bo and Aunt Nancy!” Abby called.   Her ribboned, pigtailed hair bounced as she ran, as did Wiener’s, whose ears were tied with similar ribbons.   She crashed into Bob Deuce and hugged him.
    “Hi, Abby, you look pretty,” Bob said, picking Abby up.
    “Hello, Abby.   Yes, you do look very grown up,” Nancy Deuce said smiling.
    “Thank you,” Abby said, grinning.
    Bob nodded at the dog.   “What’s up with Wiener’s ears?”
    “I wanted to put his ears in pigtails like mine,” she replied.
    “Oh, very nice,” Nancy said.
    “Who’s this?” Abby asked.
    “This is a colleague of mine, James Mitchell.   I thought I’d bring him.   Hope that’s okay?”
    “Yeah, that’s okay,” Abby said.   “Hello, Mr. Mitchell.”
    “Call me, James,” Mitchell said.
    Bob put Abby down at her request.   She led the invited guests to her father in the backyard.
    Josh was stocking an ice-filled bucket with beers on the lawn next to a trestle table.   It was one of two tablecloth-covered tables smothered with snacks and drinks.   At the rear of the yard Kate manned the barbecue and waved to her friends.   Other early arrivals sat at a picnic table with drinks.   The CD player, relocated to the rear porch, sent music across the backyard.
    “Hey, buddy, happy birthday,” Bob called across the yard.
    “Happy thirty-eighth, Josh,” Nancy added.
    Josh looked up from the ice bucket and smiled at his approaching friends with a stranger in tow.
    “I’m glad you made it.”   Josh checked his watch.   “A fashionable thirty minutes late, I see.”     
    The birthday invitations were for seven but Josh didn’t expect most people until eight.   Bob’s arrival swelled the numbers into double figures.
    “Josh, I hope you don’t mind me bringing someone.   This is a colleague of mine, James Mitchell.   He’s in the area for a few days with nothing to do and you know what that’s like, so I invited him.”
      “No, not a problem.”   Josh put out a hand to Mitchell.   “Hi, James, I’m Josh.   You’re very welcome.”
    “Thanks very much.   I hope you don’t mind me gate crashing.   I’m not as desperate for a night out as Bob makes out.”
    “No, really, make yourself at home.   There’s plenty to drink and food soon,” Josh said.
    “Is Kate manning the barbecue?” Bob asked.
    “Yeah, I’m on drinks and public relations tonight,” Josh replied.
    “Barbecuing, that’s a man’s job.   You’re losing your control, my man,” Bob said, in mock indignation.
    “Oh, shut up, Bob,” Nancy said and punched her husband in the arm.
    “You forget, Bob, when it’s my birthday, my loving ladies do all the work for me and I get to enjoy my day.   So, who is in control now?” Josh responded.
    “I think I’ll see if Kate needs any help now that the testosterone is flying,” Nancy said.   “I’ll leave you to your fantasies.”
    “Thank you, my love,” Bob called to her and blew her a kiss.  
    Nancy blew a kiss back.
    “Can I get you guys a drink?” Josh asked.   They nodded and Josh removed three bottles of beer from the freshly stocked ice bucket and popped the caps.
    “Happy thirty-eighth,” Bob said, producing an envelope from his back pocket.
    Josh had a bemused look on his face when he opened the envelope.   The present was a gift certificate for adult swimming lessons.   “You bastard,” he said grinning.
    “I thought you’d like it.   I’m glad to see you smiling again,” Bob said.
    “Happy birthday, Josh!” a