Big Four-Oh for Mary

Write a story or poem about a birthday celebration without one of the letters in the word "celebration"-- A, B, C, E, I, L, N, O, R or T. You can choose which letter of the ten not to use (and please post that letter at the top of your item), but the letter cannot appear anywhere in the actual poem or story.
Written for "The Writer's Cramp" 

Word count: 470
No "T" please.

"Does she know?" Jenna asked, as she placed a final black balloon.

"No, Jimmy says she is clueless. He's bringing her here around seven, saying we're playing cards." Amy said.

"Wonderful, we sure fooled her."

"Oh, yeah, she would never imagine us planning a shindig a week early."

"You know she said she'd never forgive us if we got any foolish ideas."

"Why is a big "four-oh" remembrance foolish?" Jenna asked, wide-eyed, and laughed.

Everyone else had arrived by now and were looking for chairs. Darkness suddenly fell as someone whispered "She's here."

Some giggling and whispering were heard as Mary opened Amy's door and saw all her friends huddled in darkness. Someone flipped a wall dimmer and she could see black balloons adorning chair-backs, black paper napkins and large fours and zeroes placed everywhere.

"SURPRISE!" everyone yelled.

Mary backed up in shock, glared down her husband, Jimmy's, way, and shook her head, smirking. She said "I said no big deal, Amy, no surprise, Jenna, no balloons and such. You said okay. You lied." and she broke up laughing.

Amy handed her a large drink, winked, and said, "You know us. We'll be old soon as well, may as well enjoy our early years before we become fuddy-duddies like you."

Mary made a face and said, "You and Jenna are only a year-and-a-half younger."

Jenna sighed, and said, "Ah yes, sis, sad, we know. We'll always be younger... Hey, why'd you chunk a cherry on me?"

Jenna, Amy and Mary all laughed.

Amy said, "I'll be back." and dashed off for a huge cake iced in black and green, capped by a four and zero, plus a bunch of small candles.

Everyone sang "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow" and "Auld Lang Syne" as Mary grinned and rolled her eyes, blowing on the candles and dousing all.

Someone gave her a warm and cold pack for her old age aches and pains, someone else gave her aspirin wrapped in black paper, and one gave her jelly beans labeled as "pep" pills. Everyone laughed as Mary opened each silly package.

When everyone else had gone, she hugged Jenna and Amy. She said, "You guys are so wonderful, you did a good job, and you were so sneaky I was really surprised." She winked, and said slyly, "Be ready, a year-and-a-half will come soon."