Big fat raindrops rolled out of the sky and splattered onto the concrete yard. A bunch of balloons sagged by the front fence. A soggy drip-streaked sign was peeling itself away from the wall.

Inside the apartment, the mood was just as grey.

Mr Lim was making frantic phone calls while Philip and Dave played Star Wars with two broomsticks. Kaylee just stared at her white lacy socks and felt sad.

The birthday party was ruined.

In twenty minutes, fifteen of Kaylee’s classmates would be arriving in their fancy party clothes and they’d have to squash inside the apartment. You can’t play Pass The Parcel or Pin The Tail On The Donkey or Musical Statues inside a crowded stuffy apartment. You can’t have running races or balloon blowing competitions inside a crowded stuffy apartment. You can’t eat cake and ice cream, and sing songs and dance around to the Black Eyed Peas inside a crowded stuffy apartment.

The whole thing was a giant disaster. Mr Lim hung up the phone and put his head in his hands.