Wednesday morning, November 25th. A regular day at school. The average GZAAT student: feeling sleepy, as usual. The weather is briskly cold and a little cloudy. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary until Ninth-grader Lizi Schierman arrives at school. Lizi seems to be acting suspiciously: she is carrying a large box and, instead of taking the regular route through the building -- down the long corridor lined by Georgian classrooms, she stealthily ducks up the stairs to the left. Her father, Mr. Anthony, who is walking ahead of her, appears to be checking around each corner to make sure that the coast is clear. But clear from what? Lizi makes an effort to run quietly into her dad’s classroom. When she re-emerges, she is no longer carrying the box and seems to be relieved. On to the first period. However, after the second lesson, the nervousness returns: Lizi and her classmate Anamaria Kand are spotted running from Mrs. Lela’s English classroom to Mr. Anthony’s, from which they emerge with the box! Everything has to be timed perfectly. They make their way to the cafeteria. Anamaria is walking ahead of Lizi, keeping an eye out. Everything seems to be going well until Anamaria holds out her hand: “Stop!” Lizi turns her back and tries to conceal the carton with her coat. Anamaria is talking to someone, then whispering and making strange hand gestures. A group of Ninth graders standing in a circle, as if guarding something (or someone), maintain their circular formation as they change their location. Lizi takes this opportunity to make a run for it. In the cafeteria, she is met by eager and excited classmates.
“You’re dropping the candles” yells Tasi Zuroshvili, “Hurry hurry!” whispers Tatu Shavishvili, “Ok, we’re ready” says Desha Chokoshvili. The students take up their positions: “Where is she?”, “Who’s bringing her?”, “Is she coming from outside?”, “There she is!”, “Guys let’s start singing!”. The cafeteria door opens and a shadowy figure enters the stuffy room. The group, upon identifying the perpetrator, erupts in song. Wait! It sounds familiar! Yes, it’s a rousing recital of “Happy Birthday”. But for who? Finally, with the third line of the song all becomes clear: today is the one and only Riso Petviashvili’s birthday! As the song comes to an end, the flattered Riso blows out the candles. While receiving her birthday wishes, the big box is produced: it’s filled with donuts! Suddenly, people are stuffing their faces with quarters, halves, and even full donuts! But sweet Riso is unbothered by the fact that her donuts are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why is this? Well apparently, Riso does not like donuts! What a disaster! This is the worst thing that could have happened. However, despite the utter failure of the celebratory snacks, Riso still looks satisfied. She seems happy, even delighted. Maybe the event wasn’t such a disaster after all…
Edited by Kato Ambokadze
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