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The Most Amusing Birthday Present I Ever Lost (But Didn’t Really)
A cautionary tale of birthday parties, forgotten plants, and unexpected foster care.
I was just pondering today how a birthday gift I received around 14 years ago is doing. I don’t know, you see, because I no longer work with its caregiver!
I was on my birthday night out with the gang from the office I worked in 2011. A lovely middle-aged Chinese lady who used to make us gorgeous, fluffy lemon cakes brought me this sort of plant/tree thing with berries on it as a birthday gift. I really loved it and was excited to keep it as I do like a nice plant, especially when it is masquerading as a sort of tree with berries. As she gave me the gift, she provided in-depth instructions on how to care for it. I tried to follow, but it was my birthday night out after all, and I was at the silly, merry phase where seriousness is simply not an option.
As the night went on, I forgot all about berry tree plant and probably ended up on a sticky dance floor in a dive somewhere downing shots. I can’t remember now, but anyway, when I eventually woke up the next morning I realised I hadn’t brought berry tree plant home with me. Oops. How very ungrateful of me.
