The celebration was in a multilevel building narrow and long. One corner of the rectangle was devoted to stairs, another to a bathroom. The rest of each level consisted of low tables with legless benches around them and throw pillows on the benches.
We arrived and were seated at a long table on the 2nd floor which, in this place, was actually the 4th floor by my count. There was another larger square table and shorter rectangular table in our seating area as well. At first we were the only ones there, ten girls 11 1/2 to 12 1/2 years old, Hương and me.
Kids' fare was served including pasta and a kind of omelette. The signature item at this place, different kinds of milk tea with tapioca pearls, was served as well. Hương and I had also bought a birthday cake.
The girls all seemed to have a good time and later Nhật Mai told Hương this was her favorite birthday party.
While we were there the other two tables filled. Mostly girls at the large square one and boys at the smaller rectangular one.
It got quite rowdy. The kids at the other two tables were loud and running around the tables quite a bit. I was waiting for someone to crash across our table because the quarters were so tight and the kids seemed totally oblivious to the surroundings.
Then at the boys table someone broke out sparklers! That's right the kind made from metal bits that burn hot, shower sparks and have metal rods down the center. I watched with real concern as they were lit and showered sparks over everything at the table and onto the pillows as well. And once they went out a few more were offered up to keep the pyrotechnics going. I finally relaxed a bit when they all went out and no more were offered up to be lit.
Once all that was over the other girls' table started smearing the cake frosting on each other's faces and a bit on the arms. Then the boys' table started the same. Hương told me smearing cake frosting on each other's faces is something that has become quite common at kids parties.
Our table of girls didn't run around and didn't smear cake. A relief for me. I was near the maelstroms but not in them.
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