The Middle

Is there anything better than a surprise party?

The only hard part's keeping the secret.

But when you pull it off, it's something no one ever forgets.

Yep, everyone loves a surprise party.

I invited my whole class to my birthday on Saturday.

Surprise. Saturday? You're just telling me about this now? Oh, Brick.

I don't have time to throw a party for 20 kids in 3 days.

Here's a list

of everyone's food allergies and dietary restrictions.

We all voted on a peanut butter cake,

Except for two kids who will die if they go anywhere near it.

I'll let you hash that out.

Look at you, ready for work without having to be dragged

out of bed, and only 20 minutes late.

Yeah, new manager working at the movie theater.

I wanna make a good impression. Oh, don't forget to take Saturday off.

Yeah, like I'm gonna give up a Saturday to party down

with a bunch of 6-year-olds. Mnh. I'm 9.

Yeah, that's much cooler. Ugh.

Brick, if we're gonna do this, you got to invite a lot less.

See, this is why they need smaller class sizes.

Oh, the other thing I'd like this year

is to finally hear the story of the day I was born.

Um, actually, you know,

this list does seem very doable.

I'm gonna get on it right now.

I'll go out and see if we still have those plastic chairs. I'll go.

Come on.

Hmm.

- Where you been? The movie started ten minutes ago. - Sorry, man.

I can't let you guys in for free anymore.

I got some new manager coming in today.

Whatever. I'm still filling up my soda jug.

Uh... Whoa, dude.

You must be Axl.

I'm Kasey. Rhymes with lacy.

Now I know you're late, but don't sweat it.

I get you're not planning on working here forever.

I mean, I'm only doing this until I get my grades up enough

to get into beauty college.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi.

Hi.

Now get to work.

Oh, my God! I got a hot boss.

There's, like, whole web sites dedicated to the concept.

Enjoy the fantasy, bro, 'cause that's all it's ever gonna be.

Wrong. Why? 'Cause check it out...

Late nights, close quarters, and no competition

except that 50-year-old weirdo who works the projector.

Did you not hear her? She's going to beauty college.

She's gonna learn how to be even hotter.

You got no shot.

What kind of an idiot puts a plastic bag

in a garbage disposal?

Okay, Brick, here's the thing.

You invited 25 kids to the party,

but everything comes in packs of 24.

We're not gonna buy a whole extra set just for one kid,

So you're gonna have to uninvite someone. I can't.

Come on. There's always one kid nobody wants at the party. That's me, mom.

Now keep in mind,

if we're throwing you this expensive party,

we might not be able to spend as much money on your present. I already told you what I want.

I just want to hear about the day I was born.

Brick was starting to realize that

every time he asked to hear about the day he was born,

He never really got the full story.

It was a rainy day, and I was at the grocery story, when...

Uh-oh. Doorbell. It was a snowy day, and your mom was helping me shovel...

Was that the doorbell?

It was a really hot day, so I was getting mom a Popsicle,

and, uh... oh, dude, doorbell.

Why is it every time I ask about the day I was born,

No one ever answers me?

I've heard a million times how Sue was born on a leap day,

so technically she's still only 3 years old,

and Axl came out with a pointy head,

But no one ever talks about my story.

It's almost like you don't want to tell me. Of course I want to tell you.

It was one of the happiest days of my life.

Mike, I'll need to see you in the dining room.

How would you like a brand-new bike?

Turns out having a hot boss is the one thing

that'll get a teenage boy to work on time.

In fact, Axl went in a whole hour early.

Oh, Axl, thank God you're here. I can't find the register key.

You know, there's a spare key in the office.

I'm allowed to go in there? But the sign...

Uh, it says "personnel only."

You're personnel.

Oh! I thought it said "personal only."

It's so stupid how they spell those words the same.

Yeah, um, I'll go get the key.

- You rock! - Mm.

What do you think, Brick? I made the "B" myself.

Great, great...

Though it looks like rain...

Much like the day I was born.

Uh... Yeah.

Oh, God. I totally forgot to wrap your present.

I gotta go.

Alright, Sue. What's going on?

What's the deep, dark secret everyone's hiding?

Nothing. I know what it is. I was adopted, wasn't I?

That'd explain a lot. You're not adopted, Brick.

- Then why is your lip sweating? - Because... I was afraid I'd ruin your surprise.

Might as well tell you now.

I wrote down the whole story of the day you were born.

- That's the gift I had to wrap. - Really?

Yeah. You can read it if you want now. It's in my closet.

In the back behind the hula-hoop.

Do you see it?

Hey!

Brick's on to us! He knows we're hiding something.

He thinks he's adopted, but he's gonna keep digging!

What are we gonna do?

Alright, this has gone on long enough.

We're just gonna have to bite the bullet and tell him

what happened. Oh, no! He'll never forgive us.

He's getting older, Frankie. We can't wait too long.

You waited too long to tell Sue about unicorns. That was embarrassing.

I did a whole science project about them.

And the unicorn's primary food source

is rainbows,

But they have also been known to eat clouds.

Brick already thinks he's adopted.

Let's just go with that. Come on. What adoption agency would give us a baby?

Sue! Let me out!

I'm no good under high-pressure situations!

Hey.

Okay. That's it. I want answers, and I want 'em now.

What are you people hiding?

Okay, Brick. Here's the truth.

Uh-oh. Doorbell.

No, really.

It's the doorbell for real this time.

Luckily for me, once his party started,

Brick was too busy to ask any questions.

Well, thank you l for coming to Brick's birthday party.

Brick thought it'd be fun to start

with some quiet reading time here

And then later we'll all walk to the library.

Hey! You think Brick wanted to play in the bouncy house

at your party? Or race go-karts at your party?

Well, this is Brick's party, so suck it up and start reading.

Whoa. Looks like a rager.

Sorry I gotta miss it.

I thought you were taking today off.

I did, but my genius boss forgot to schedule anyone else.

Sucks I gotta work on a Saturday...

But at least she's hot.

Mnh!

Hello? Is there anyone selling tickets?

Chill. I gotta fix this cheese pump,

or you're all gonna have dry nachos, and then what?

Kasey, you're, like, three hours late.

So, so, so, so sorry.

I was at this "Oh, My God" party

last night at this tall guy's house,

and then Mindy and Tonya wanted to get into the hot tub,

but I didn't bring my bikini,

and I wasn't wearing any underwear.

And then we downed, like, 20 body shots

and had to sleep it off. Together?

No, silly. Tonya's bed's only big enough for two.

But of course Mindy crawled in anyway. Pfft. That's so Mindy.

I know. Is this all the candy you have?

Uh... Did you order more candy?

Order? I thought the big truck just brings it.

Okay. I'll order more candy and put more popcorn

in the popper.

Make a wish, Brick.

Shh! Okay. Just... Look.

Here. Look. Do it with your hands like this.

Isn't that fun?

Oh, okay. Go have fun, but remember, in ten minutes

we're all gonna pose for a picture with the librarian.

Happy birthday, Brick. Thanks, dad.

Cool.

A manual!

And it's in German, Japanese, and French.

Thanks, mom. Thanks, dad.

What's the matter?

Nothing. It's just I didn't get the thing that I wished for

when I blew out my candles.

I really, really wanted to hear about the day I was born.

Well, you told your wish. Now it can't come true.

Okay, Brick. It's time you knew.

What? Mom!

No. He deserves to know.

Well, it was a beautiful, sunny day,

and I was in the kitchen standing by the sink

eating sauerkraut when my water broke,

so I called your dad, and he came home and got me,

but when we got to the hospital, your dad thought it was...

Ridiculous to pay $10 for parking...

So he dropped me off and circled around for a meter,

But it took so long, that by the time he got

to the delivery room, you were halfway out, so your dad ran in,

took one look, and boom! Passed out cold.