This idea came from a scene in "Bad Hair Day" when Tara talks about somebody stealing her stapler, specifically Bobby. I decided that there was probably an interesting story behind it and decided to write it. This is the first of my series of one-shots from Sue Thomas.

Let me know if you have any ideas for me to write. I would love to hear from you.

The day started off bad and got worse. Tara had slept through her alarm, her car battery was dead, and she had accidentally burned her bangs with her straightener. At least her coffee was good. She walked into the office and noticed that everyone else had already started on that day's work.

As soon as she saw her desk, she knew something was off. "Something's missing," she said.

Her desk looked extra cluttered, as if someone had been looking for something. Her pencils and fuzzy pens were all present and accounted for. Her computer looked like it hadn't been touched. Her rubix cube was solved and sitting on the corner rather than by her monitor where it normally was. Then she realized. Her stapler was gone.

Tara plunked her coffee down. That was the last thing she needed that day. Her stapler was the best one in the office and she didn't mind lending it to her friends, but only when they asked first.

However, she was not able to pursue the thief that had taken her precious office supply due to a sudden terrorist threat. Great, she thought. Of course the world would be about to explode on today of all days. Because that day was also Tara's birthday. And it was rotten.

The day was spent running around chasing down bad guys and foiling evil plans. Tara longed to go home and soak in the tub and watch a movie or something equally as relaxing. But she had yet to discover who had taken her stapler.

The last of the debriefings were done by eight o'clock and Tara walked to her desk to gather her stuff. Taped to her monitor was a note. This is a ransom demand for the return of one stapler. You are required to go to Sammy's at exactly nine o'clock tonight in a dress. Failure to meet these demands will result in the permanent confiscation of said stapler.

Tara read the note and looked up in time to see several knowing glances cast her way. She smiled as she took the note from her computer. Maybe her day was looking up after all. "Seems like I have a blind date to get ready for," she said as she waved the note in the air. Tara drove home, grateful that her car started this time and didn't require a jump start like it did that morning.

In seemingly no time, Tara was wearing a lovely midnight blue dress and was standing in the lobby of Sammy's, an upscale restaurant. She gave the hostess her name and was led over to a table. At 9:05, Jack, Sue, Lucy, Myles, D and Donna, and Bobby all came and sat down around her wearing party hats.

Bobby handed her a small wrapped gift. "This is for you. Go ahead and open it." And so she did. She tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box to see her stapler. "We needed a way to get you to come to a birthday party tonight. I figured that taking your stapler would get your attention."

Tara laughed. "Well, you certainly succeeded. And I am never allowing you near my stapler again." Surrounded by her closest friends, her family really, Tara decided that it was the perfect birthday after all.