The Worst Surprise Party Ever

West Walton Advertiser September 2015 By Robert Reed

A surprise party that took nearly 8 months to plan ended with all the emergency services being called
out and with 3 people charged by the police for public order offences. Furthermore, two relationships have
suffered irreparable damage resulting in a bitter split in the local community that has set neighbouring families
against one another.
Michael Fowler decided to set up a surprise party for his girlfriend, Tracy Boyles, to celebrate her 30 th
birthday. The couple had been living together for 6 years and were engaged to be married. They were both
popular figures in the village of West Walton and consequently the guest list for the party was considerably
large. As such, keeping the party a secret from his girlfriend was going to take some careful planning.
However, unknown to Michael, his furtive behaviour resulting from the planning had aroused the
suspicions of his girlfriend. She started to follow him and one day she was horrified to see him go into a hotel
with her best friend. They didn’t come out until 2 hours later. What Tracy didn’t know was that the hotel was
also the base for a catering company and that Michael and Tracy’s best friend, Sharon, had gone there to talk
to somebody about providing food for the party.
Nonetheless, Tracy had concluded that Sharon and Michael were having an affair and decided to get
her revenge. Sharon’s boyfriend, Roger, was also Michael’s best friend and had been appointed Best Man for
the forthcoming wedding. Tracy decided that she would seduce Roger to teach Michael and Sharon a lesson.
Roger was not easy to seduce as he was loyal to his best friend and girlfriend. However, one night after
Roger had drunk a little more than normal she took advantage. Roger then fell in love with her and the affair
lasted for quite a few weeks.
Finally, the night of the surprise party arrived. Michael seated all the guests in the living room and told
them all to be quiet and then he sat in an armchair close to the door with the light turned off.
When Tracy got home she saw Michael sitting in the dark and asked him what he was doing. She then
concluded that he had found out about the affair with Roger and asked if he knew about her and Roger. When
Michael asked her what she was talking about she confessed all and then switched on the light. That was when
she saw the 45 guests all standing at the back of the living room with shocked expressions on their faces.
One of the guests started to sing Happy Birthday but soon stopped when Sharon hit Roger over the
head with a chair and walked out of the room. Tracy followed her and accused her of having an affair with
Michael which she denied. A fight then broke out between the two women.
At the same time, Michael and Roger had started to fight and very soon the whole house had begun
to resemble a battlefield. After a while, Sharon went back into the living room and set fire to the curtains.
Everyone quickly left the house and the Fire Brigade was called to put out the fire which had very quickly got
out of control.
That wasn’t the only thing that had got out of control. The fight had now extended to passers-by and
the neighbours. The Police then arrived and had to use tear gas to break up what was quickly becoming a full
scale riot. Several people had to be taken to hospital suffering from a variety of injuries.
However, not everybody at the party was upset by what occurred. One anonymous party-goer said
that it was without doubt the most interesting party she had ever been to. She said that if there was ever a
reconciliation between the couple, she would gladly go to the wedding.

Connect each of the words on the left with their definition on the
right.
1. Call out a. Oppose, make enemies.

2. Split b. For something bad to begin.

3. Set against c. Discover.

4. To have an affair d. Impending, approaching.

5. Forthcoming e. Extinguish.

6. Find out f. To request somebody to attend or to come.

7. Break out g. To have a secret lover.

8. Put out h. Division.

 Wedding Debate
You are a member of the Fowler family. Read the
letter below and then read your personality card.
Debate the question that is being discussed
according to your personality card with the other

Dear Fowlers,

As you may know from local gossip or otherwise,

Michael and Tracy have reconciled and have expressed the
wish to get married after all. However, they have also decided
they will only do so if the family agrees.
This is because of the divisions and bad feelings that have
existed ever since the “incident” at Tracy’s surprise party a
few months ago. As such, a family meeting has been convened
for the weekend and all are requested to attend to debate this
question.
The meeting will be at my house at 1pm on Saturday and
there will be food and drink. A decision must be reached
before the meeting ends.

Lots of love,
Pauline
 Wedding Debate Role-Play: Personality Cards
You have never liked Tracy and
you think she is always flirting
with other men and very
aggressive towards other
women. You would rather not
have her in the family.
A few years ago you had a big
argument with Tracy and you
walked away from her because she
was getting too aggressive. That
night somebody threw a brick
through your window and you
suspect it was her. You would hate
to have her in the family.
You are Michael’s cousin and
care for him very much. You have
known Tracy since you were a
child and you think she is very
manipulative. As far as you are
concerned, the only time she is
good to people is when she
wants something from them.
You think that Tracy is a really
likable young woman. You have
mobility problems and Tracy has
helped you on several occasions
by doing the shopping for you
and helping with the housework.
Michael is your son and you think
his happiness is the most
important thing in question. You
know that, despite everything
that has happened, Tracy is the
only person in his life that really
makes him happy.
You are Tracy’s friend and have
known her since you were
children. You are also Michael’s
cousin and was partly responsible
for getting them together. You
think they are perfect for each
other.
You believe strongly that Tracy
should not be part of the family. A few years ago, Tracy saved your
You used to live in the house next life when you fell in a local river.
door to her and think she was the You have never forgotten this.
worst neighbour you have ever had. Michael is your nephew and you
You constantly argued with her and think that Tracy would be a
you still cross the street if you see positive influence on him.
her walking towards you.

CHOOSE ONE OF THE PERSONALITY CARDS ABOVE AND THEN USE THIS AS
YOUR MOTIVATION DURING THE ROLE-PLAY.

Answers

1. Call out a. Oppose, make enemies.

2. Spilt b. For something bad to begin.

3. Set against c. Discover.

4. To have an affair d. Impending, approaching.

5. Forthcoming e. Extinguish.

6. Find out f. To request somebody to attend or to come.

7. Break out g. To have a secret lover.

8. Put out h. Division.

Answers
1) = f)
2) = h)
3) = a)
4) = g)
5) = d)
6) = c)
7) = b)
8) = e)