The pad was abuzz with excitement, as preparations were made for a very special party, for a very special girl.
"Alright, let's go through the plan one more time," Micky said, nervously pacing the floor.
"Again?" Peter asked. "We've already gone through it sixteen times."
"Step One: Micky takes Becca out for a romantic picnic in the park," Mike recited.
"Step Two," Davy said. "Davy picks up the cake from the bakery while Micky and Becca are out of the house."
"Step Three," Mike said. "Mike puts up the party decorations while Micky and Becca are out of the house."
"Step Four," Peter said. "Peter prepares the snacks while Micky and Becca are out of the house."
"Step Five," Davy said. "Micky brings Becca back to the house after the picnic."
"Step Six," Mike said. "All the guests jump out and yell "SURPRISE" when Becca comes through the front door."
"Step Seven," Peter said, smiling as he recited the next step: "Everyone has fun at the party."
"Alright, so you all know the plan," Micky said. "Hey, I just wanted to make sure everything is perfect."
"Don't worry so much," Davy said. "Everything will be fine."
"Yeah..." Micky said, clearly not convinced. "Just... make sure it is."
"Aye-aye, Skipper!" Davy said with a salute.
"Heh," Micky said dryly. "Cute."
There was a knock at the door.
"It's her!" Micky exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Do I look alright!? How's my hair!? Is my nose on straight!? Does this shirt make my shoes look big!?"
"Relax, man!" Mike said with a chuckle as Peter moved to open the door. "You look fine."
The door opened and Micky's girlfriend of three months, Becca, came in. "Hello, Micky," she said with a smile. "Hi, guys."
"Becca, what a pleasant surprise," Mike said. "What brings you here this fine day?"
"Oh, you know, I was in the neighborhood, decided to drop by," Becca quipped
"Happy birthday, Becca," Peter said.
"Thanks, Peter," Becca said with a smile.
"Happy birthday from me too, Becca," Micky said. "Ready to go?"
"Yep!" Becca smiled. "I packed our lunch, we can head out any time."
"Good, well, let's go ahead and head on out now," Micky said. "Where's the picnic basket?"
"I put it in the Monkeemobile," Becca said. "We are driving, right?"
"Yeah, sure we are!" Micky said, sending a quick panicked glance at Mike, who grimaced, but nodded. They couldn't let Becca suspect anything, but they had planned on using the car to prepare for the party.
It couldn't be helped, though, and so Micky led the way down the walkway and opened the passenger door for Becca before sprinting around the car and hopping in the driver's seat. He smiled at her as he started the car, and they drove to the park, chatting about the sunshine and the falling leaves.
When they reached the park, Micky picked up the basket and blanket, and followed Becca as they made their way through the trees.
"Here," Becca said, stopping in a small grove near a particularly nice flowerbed. "Right here. It's perfect!"
"It is," Micky agreed, looking around as he walked to where Becca was standing. He set the basket down and laid the blanket out. He and Becca sat down on the blanket and Micky opened the basket. "Ooh, fancy!" He said, pulling out two sandwiches in Ziplock bags. "Let's see what we have here," he said. "Ham and cheese. Classic choice. Ah, what's this?" He reached into the basket again and pulled out two bags of potato chips. "Sour Cream and Onion, Nice, nice," He said. "And I see we also have two Cherry Pepsis, and, to top it off, two Snickerdoodles. All my favorites. However did you guess?"
"I do my research," Becca said with a smile. "And Peter always liked to play spy."
"The snitch," Micky laughed, popping open his Pepsi and taking a sip. "Although, I can't say I mind all that much."
Becca laughed as she opened her sandwich, and as they ate lunch in the brisk autumn air, the sun shone down on them, bathing the place in a golden light. The meal might not have been much, but to Micky and Becca, it couldn't have tasted any better if it were steak and mashed potatoes.
After lunch, they went for a long walk through the park, admiring the red in the trees and the golden leaves flittering through the air on the fall breeze. At one point, Micky picked a few little white flowers and put them behind Becca's ear. They continued their walk until they came to a large tree with many branches, and they both climbed high into the tree and sat among the leaves, listening to the song of the wind and the sunlight dancing through the leaves.
Their walk continued, taking them to a little bridge over a small winding river, and Becca dropped a stick into the water, watching it float under the bridge. Micky skipped a small stone, and they sat together by the riverbed and talked, dipping their bare feet in the rippling water.
A flock of small birds flew by, and Becca laughed as Micky jumped up and began imitating different birdcalls he had learned throughout his life.
Finally, they returned to their picnic spot and packed up their stuff, and began the walk back to the car, hand in hand.
"Hey, Becca, you wait here," Micky said as he put the basket in the Monkeemobile. "I'm gonna go to the corner store there and grab us some popsicles."
"Alright," Becca said. "Hurry back!"
"Definitely," Micky said before heading into the corner store.
"Hey, can I use your phone?" He asked the cashier, who nodded. "Thanks."
He made his way to the phone and dialed the Pad. After a few rings, Mike picked up.
"Hello?" Mike said.
"Hey, Mike, this is Micky," Micky stated. "Hey, we're about to head home. How are things going?"
"They're going perfectly," Mike said, but something in his tone made Micky worry.
"Really?" he asked. "No mishaps, no misfortunes, no Monkee business?"
"Nothing," Mike said. "Everything's absolutely great here."
"Yeah, well, I certainly hope so," Micky said. "Everything has to be perfect. I really want this to be memorable, you know? I want it to be something she'll never forget."
"Mick, I can personally guarantee you, Becca will never forget this party as long as she lives," Mike said.
"...Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better," Micky said dryly.
"Man, everything's gonna be fine," Mike said. "Just come on home, we're all ready. Well... Yeah, we're all ready."
Micky raised an eyebrow at Mike's pause, then sighed. "Fine," he said. "We'll be there in five minutes."
Hanging up the phone, he bought two cherry popsicles and went back out to the car.
"Here you go," he said, handing one to Becca. He ate his as fast as he could without getting brain freeze, and then began the drive as Becca enjoyed hers more leisurely.
Becca took a sidelong glance at him. "What are you grinning about?" She asked him.
"Huh?" Micky said. "Oh, nothing. I'm just happy, that's all..."
Becca seemed suspicious, but said nothing more, and they continued driving home, Micky trying to be more careful not to let his excitement spoil the surprise.