It was a Friday morning in the city of Pasadena. Today was Maria's birthday. Mike wanted to celebrate by taking Maria out to eat. Maria's favorite place to eat breakfast was at a well-known pancake house called IHOP. Mike also knew that Maria had not been to IHOP in a long time.
He therefore wanted to surprise her by taking her there. While Maria was still asleep, Mike was in the living room wrapping her gift. After Mike wrapped her gift, he grabbed the balloons he had bought and quietly entered the bedroom where Maria was sleeping. He set down the gift beside her, and gently woke her up.
