Two weeks after sending my son Leo to stay with his grandmother, I received a call that terrified me. Leo’s voice trembled as he begged, “MOM, PLEASE SAVE ME!!! I’M SCARED!” The call abruptly ended, and I couldn’t reach him or my mother-in-law, Martha.

Panicked, I rushed to her house, fearing the worst. When I arrived, the house was empty, except for a note on the table that read, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Suddenly, my family and friends, including Leo, appeared, shouting, “Surprise! Happy Birthday, Arlene!” It was all a planned prank, with Leo saying, “I practiced that scared voice for days!”

While relieved to see everyone safe, I was initially upset by the scare. But as I hugged Leo and saw the love around me, my anger faded. Brandon, my husband, apologized, “We just wanted to make your birthday unforgettable.”

This was definitely a birthday I’ll never forget, but I made them promise never to surprise me like that again!