i was following my dad into our suspiciously dark living room as he muttered things like `` what a shame we did n't plan anything for your birthday '' and `` oh well , there 's always next year , '' when all the lights flooded on to reveal streamers , balloons , and a motley assortment of aunts , uncles , cousins i rarely spoke to-anyone my mother could cajole into attending-and ricky , whom i was surprised to see lingering near the punch bowl , looking comically out of place in a studded leather jacket .