Episode 5: The Birthday Surprise

Hi there, and welcome back to Classes with Cass—the podcast where you learn English through stories! I’m your host, Cass, and today’s episode is full of surprises… because we’re going to a birthday party! 

In this story, you’ll hear vocabulary related to birthdays, parties, and emotions. Listen carefully and see how many new expressions you can understand. If you want to follow along with the transcript, you can find it at classeswithcass.com.

Alright—are you ready for the surprise? Let’s begin!

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It was a chilly Saturday afternoon in early spring, and Olivia was sitting on the couch wrapped in her softest blanket. Outside the window, gray clouds floated across the sky, and a light drizzle tapped against the glass. She stirred a spoonful of honey into her tea and sighed.

Today was her birthday.

Normally, she loved birthdays—balloons, cake, laughing with friends. But this year felt different. She had just moved to a new city three weeks ago for her job. New apartment. New streets. New everything. She hadn’t told anyone it was her birthday—not because she didn’t want to, but because she didn’t know who to tell.

Her plan was simple: a quiet day at home. Maybe a movie. Maybe a book. Maybe ordering takeout for dinner. Nothing special.

Just as she opened her book and settled deeper into the couch, her phone buzzed.

She got a Text from Mia: “Hey! Want to come over for dinner tonight? Just a small get-together.”

Olivia smiled. Mia was the neighbour across the hall. They had only spoken a few times—mostly short chats in the elevator or hallway—but Mia had always been kind.

She typed back: “Sure! That sounds great. What time?”

Mia replied: “6:00. Just come hungry!”

At 5:45, Olivia brushed her hair, put on her coziest sweater, and packed up a little box of cookies she had baked the night before. She didn’t want to show up empty-handed. She glanced at herself in the mirror and gave a half-smile. “Happy birthday to me,” she whispered softly.

She walked down the hallway and knocked on Mia’s door.

The door opened… and suddenly—

“SURPRISE!!!”

Olivia jumped. Her eyes widened as she looked around the room. Colourful balloons floated near the ceiling. A banner across the wall read: Happy Birthday, Olivia! A table was covered with snacks, drinks, a bowl of party hats—and a big chocolate cake topped with candles.

Mia was standing in the middle of it all, grinning from ear to ear.

“Wait… what?” Olivia said, completely shocked. “How did you know?!”

Mia laughed. “You mentioned your birthday once when we first met—and I remembered. Plus… I saw your move-in form. I had to do something.”

Tears welled up in Olivia’s eyes—not from sadness, but from pure surprise and joy. “I thought no one knew. This is… wow. Thank you.”

Around the room, people waved and smiled—neighbours from the building, someone from the bakery on the corner, even the barista from the coffee shop she visited every morning.

“We’ve all been looking forward to meeting you properly,” said an older woman wearing a flower crown. “Mia told us you were new and sweet, so we said yes right away!”

There was music playing—happy, upbeat songs—and people chatting, laughing, passing plates of snacks. Someone handed Olivia a sparkling drink, and another person gave her a handmade birthday card.

She looked at Mia and said, “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Just say you’re glad you didn’t stay home alone,” Mia joked.

“I really am.”

They played games—like the one where everyone had to write a funny memory they’d made with Olivia, even if they didn’t really have one yet. People got creative:

“I once saw Olivia rescue a muffin from falling.” “She gave me the best ‘hello’ smile in the elevator last week.” “She remembered my dog’s name!”

The room was full of laughter. Then it was time for cake.

Everyone gathered around as Mia lit the candles.

“Make a wish!” they all said together.

Olivia closed her eyes. She thought about how sad she had felt just hours before—and how completely different everything felt now. She made a wish—not for anything big, just for more moments like this.

She opened her eyes and blew out the candles.

Later, she sat on the couch with a plate of cake and looked around the room. People were chatting, eating, and playing music on a Bluetooth speaker. The lights twinkled. The rain had stopped, and the clouds were clearing outside.

Mia sat next to her and asked, “So… did we surprise you?”

Olivia smiled. “More than you know. I thought I was going to have the loneliest birthday ever. But this turned out to be the best one I’ve had in years.”

Mia raised her glass. “To new beginnings.”

“To friendship,” Olivia added.

They clinked glasses and laughed.

And for the first time in a long while, Olivia felt right at home.

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What did you think of Olivia’s surprise party? Let’s review some of the fun vocabulary from today’s episode:

• Surprise – Something unexpected that makes you feel happy or excited.

• Banner – A long sign used for decoration, often with words like “Happy Birthday!”

• Candles – Small sticks of wax with a flame, placed on a birthday cake.

• Make a wish – A common phrase when someone blows out birthday candles.

• Get-together – A small, casual party with friends or family.

• Chilly – A little cold; a word used to describe cool weather.

  
  

Try saying these phrases out loud: 

“I’m planning a surprise party for my friend.”

“Let’s have a small get-together this weekend.”

“She made a wish and blew out the candles.”

Or, if you want a challenge, write your own short story about a birthday surprise—real or imaginary!

Thanks so much for joining me on today’s episode of Classes with Cass! I hope you enjoyed Olivia’s birthday story and picked up some fun new words. If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a story. And remember—you can always listen again and repeat the words to practice speaking.

Until next time—keep learning, keep practicing, and don’t forget to celebrate the little things in life!  See you soon!