A Surprise Party

My brother Daniel turned thirty last Saturday, and we decided to organise a surprise party for him. It took two weeks of secret planning. My mother called Daniel's closest friends and asked them not to say anything. We booked a private room at his favourite Italian restaurant. My sister designed the invitations and sent them by email. I was in charge of the cake — chocolate with orange cream, because that's his favourite combination. The plan was simple: my mother told Daniel they were going out for a quiet family dinner, just the two of them. Meanwhile, the guests arrived at the restaurant early and waited in the dark. Everyone was very excited, but also nervous. One of his friends, Marcus, kept laughing and we had to tell him to be quiet several times. At eight o'clock, we heard footsteps outside the door. My mother opened it, and Daniel walked in. For a moment, he looked confused. Then forty people shouted 'Surprise!' and turned on the lights. Daniel's face turned completely red. He covered his mouth with his hands and didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then he started laughing. 'I had absolutely no idea!' he said. He hugged our mother first, then me, then practically everyone in the room. We ate, danced, and told stories until midnight. Daniel said it was the best birthday he had ever had. Looking at his face that evening, I believed him.