Bernadette was born on December 25th, and this year she is celebrating her 13th birthday. Like each and every year, she suffers the injustice of celebrating her birthday on Christmas Day at the family Christmas gathering. Tradition has moulded her dreary celebration into cutting of the cake on the patio and then delving into the Christmas celebrations with her extended family, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

At today’s party, her mother has asked her to collect her Aunt and Uncle from inside the house to cut the cake on the patio. Bernadette learns too much about her impotent, overachieving Uncle and overbearing, champagne-intolerant Aunt. For Bernadette, this year seems to hold some promise of enjoyment.