One Small Thing: The Birthday Wreath

Some time ago, my family was decorating the house before my birthday party;. We put in balloons, banners, streamers, etc. There was also a birthday wreath. It was made of plastic pieces, with the colors of yellow, red, blue, pink, white and green, all cut into unblemished letters, which spelt “HAPPYBIRTHDAY”

6 months later, the house was all cleaned up, with all the decorations gone, except for the wreath. The wreath was small, barely noticeable, and it had squeezed itself into our household. This might seem as an act of laziness, for my family and I have passed it by plenty of times without noticing it. However, now that it has been on our walls for 6 months, it fits in like any other painting, flower or calendar. It now seems as one of our decorations of daily life. It is vivid and colourful, making the house aura seem lighter and cheerful. Not just that, but it maintains the memory of my birthday, since it was one like no other. That was my first sleepover party and it was extremely joyful. Anyways, a visitor or guest would not easily notice the words formed by the slim plastic pieces. Most likely, they’ll simply find it as a typical wreath. It is awkward for a guest to ask whose birthday it is, but soon find out there was no birthday. But then, if people don’t notice it, they won’t find it peculiar.

Just because it was on our walls for 6 months, it doesn't change the fact that we can’t take it down, since for several other reasons, the wreath is completely out of place. Over the 6 months, my family had made a silent agreement to keep it in our house and to accept it as decoration.