When five-year-old Alex Nash was invited to a classmate’s birthday party at a local ski resort, he was thrilled to attend.
His father let his colleague’s mother know that he would be present. But on the morning of the party, his mother realized he had “booked twice” and missed the party.
Now Alex’s parents have been accused by the birthday boy’s mother, Julie Lawrence, of not showing up:
“JULIE LAWRENCE AND I WEREN’T FRIENDS, WE DIDN’T TALK TO EACH OTHER AT SCHOOL, BUT I FELT BAD ABOUT ALEX NOT GOING TO THE PARTY.”
“I SEARCHED FOR THE PARTY INVITE AFTERWARDS AND I’M NOT SURE WE EVEN HAD ONE.”
Party guests enjoyed “three toboggan runs, a snow tube ride, and a hot birthday meal with ice cream or jelly during the Christmas holidays.”
Lawrence confirmed Alex’s attendance with her father, Derek Nash, two days before the party, according to a Facebook chat between the parents obtained by The Mirror. The skating center requested the final number of guests 48 hours before the party.
Nash sympathizes with Lawrence’s plight but not with his methods:
“I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT SHE’S UPSET ABOUT LOSING MONEY. THE MONEY ISN’T THE ISSUE, IT’S THE WAY SHE WENT ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE MONEY FROM ME.
“I TOLD HER SHE SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN TO ME FIRST AND NOT PUT THE INVOICE IN MY SON’S SCHOOL BAG.
“I WOULD HAVE SYMPATHISED WITH HER ABOUT THE COST OF ALEX NOT SHOWING UP, BUT I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THE WAY SHE HAS GONE AROUND IT.”
Lawrence states that his contact information was based on the invitation and that they should have told him that Alex chose to spend the day with his grandparents instead of attending the party.
She claims that Alex has never been to any other parties before and that “the friendly way around it, I think, is to pay me some money and learn a lesson.”
The boys’ friendship fell victim to conflict. According to Alex’s parents, the two children no longer play together at school.
Invoice Row: Julie Lawrence has said Alex’s parents had all the details needed to tell her the boy wasn’t coming
