I still don't own anything... Please enjoy part 1.
Maddy was pacing around the hall nervous as could be, she didn't know what to do. That morning she received a call from her cousin, Christopher, asking her to throw Grandpa Felix's next birthday party. It wasn't like she could really refuse. He was turning 100 this year and, of course, that was a really big deal.
The invitations were going to be a bit of a problem. She had lost contact with most of the family long ago. And besides that, the family seemed to grow and shrink at random. Even when she was still talking to her family, she didn't know everyone who was part of it. Just before college she had an argument with some of the family and had refused to talk to them since.
Christopher always talked about his two children, Claudia and Charon, and they would sometimes talk about their children meeting but that never seemed to happen. She couldn't say she wasn't a little jealous at how successful his children already were but she was happy with her own.
She hadn't prepared dinner that night, she was too distracted to think about something like that. Jack had tried to talk to her several times but she wasn't ready to talk about it. She was going to tell them but she wanted to wait until she was ready.
When everyone was sitting around the table she stood in front of everyone, a little to nervous to sit, and started explaining the situation. "My grandfather, Felix, is about to have his 100th birthday and it's my turn to throw him a party."
"That's what's got you all worked up?" Jack exclaimed loudly. "It won't be a problem." Her kids, on the other hand weren't quite as excited. "Mom," said Jazz uncertainly, "if our great-grandpa is still alive, why haven't me met him?"
Maddie sighed. That was fair. "I haven't always gotten along with all of my family so I am avoided talking to most of them." "Don't worry Maddie." said Jack with the same enthusiasm he had before, "we are going to give your grandpa the best birthday ever."
With that, the family went their separate ways to plan the perfect birthday party for grandpa Felix. Maddie, on the other hand, took his time to call her cousin.
While Jack went to get some balloons for the party, Jaz and Danny were sitting at the kitchen table trying to figure out what to do for this party. Jazz had a pen and paper spread in front of her and she was taking notes.
They had been at this for a while and things were starting to get frustrating. Sam put her chin in her hands and blew her hair out of her face, "What do old people even like?" Danny slammed his head on his desk. "I'll do some research on what was popular 100 years ago." Jazz said, writing that down as well. Tucker smiled cheekily, "Maybe we should ask Mr. Lancer."
Even though he was just joking around, the idea seemed like a good one to everyone. "Where is he when there is no school?" asked Danny. But no one seemed to know anything about him.
As they were talking they heard Maddy scream. Danny rushed into the room, ready to go ghost at a moments notice.
Instead of a ghost though, his mom was hugging a tall handsome man. "Danny," he didn't think that he had ever seen his mother smile so widely, "this is my cousin, Christopher. Christopher, my son Danny." Danny gave him an uncertain look. "I thought you just called him?"
The man smiled gently and stepped forward with his hand outstretched, "Yes, well, I was on my way anyway. I knew that Madeline was going to call me. Besides, Claudia said that we needed to come early so here we are." Maddy giggled a little before looking a little curious about something. "By the way," she asked, drawing his attention again, "where are Claudia and Charon?" He made a motion like he was waving the thought away, "Oh you know, they went exploring."
As they were talking Sam, Tucker and Jazz walked into the room. "Oh," said Maddy, "this is my daughter, Jazz. Jazz, this is my cousin Christopher." He smiled wider as he shook her hand, "I see that at least one of your children inherited the red hair."
Maddy smiled and turned to her family. "Most of my family has red hair. I didn't get the golden eyes though." Christopher shrugged his shoulders. He had moved over the couch and was doing something on his phone.
"Golden eyes?" asked Danny. "Yeah," Maddy smiled, "it's one of the predominate features of my family. It was passed down from great-grandpa Huey."
"Speaking of which," Christopher interrupted, "have you heard of the going-ons within the Martello's? Apparently, Maiza's gotten himself into a bit of a mess gathering up the others. He's been online every now and again but it seems like we're only getting bits and pieces."
Maddy shook her head, "I don't really talk with any of them anymore." He chuckled slightly, "You should. It gets pretty crazy sometimes."
"I'm really happy you're here," Maddy said, "Are you only staying until the party is over?" "That's the plan," Christopher replied, "but, you know, the best laid plans of mice and men."
He stretched and pocketed his phone. "Anyway, I really should head out. Oh, one more thing," he said turning back to them, "Uncle Firo's started listening to this singer Ember for a while but Czes kept saying that it was evil music, or something like that. He seems to have a nack for sensing these types of things. So, if you could just keep that off the playlist for the party."
"What kind of 100 year old guy is going to want to listen to Ember anyway," said Tucker. But it seemed like he was being ignored.
She looked a little shocked, "Wait," replied Maddy, "is Czeslaw coming?" He smiled sadly, "No. Even if this wasn't a party for Grandpa, he wouldn't come to this town for anything. He believes this space is evil. Aunt Ennis believed him about the music though."
"He believes everything is evil." Maddy came back. Christopher gave her a dark smiled, "Only when it comes to our family." She nodded, "That's true, I guess. I'll see you tomorrow." "You too." he said as he walked out the door.
"Mom," said Jazz, as Christopher left, "if you listen to this Czeslaw guy, why does he think our family is evil?" Maddy frowned and looked at the ground, "A long time ago Grandpa... picked on him. Ever since, he thought that everyone in our family is evil." "That's not fair." Jazz said. Maddy shook her head, "It's hard to explain."
The next morning, as Danny was walking out the door, some red-headed girl came energetically walking over to him, "Hi, hi there!" she waved at him. "Um...hi," he replied. She looped her arm around his and started guiding him down the street, luckily it was the way he wanted to go anyway.
"Do I know you?" Danny asked. She giggled a little, "No, but you will. We're cousins. My name is Claudia. So, your family is planning the birthday party for grandpa this year. I want to get in on that." "What?" Danny asked. He was generally confused but if she wanted to help then it would be less work for him.
"Look," she said impatiently, "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. He's only turning 100 once. When you're finished with school we'll meet at a local restaurant. Where is a good place to eat around here?" "The Nasty Burger is pretty good." Danny answered. Claudia scrunched up her face in disgust. "Fine, I guess we can meet there."
She released his arm and walked off confidently. He stared at her for a moment before continuing on to school. While he was there he told Sam and Tucker about his cousin that he had just met and her offer. They agreed to come with him to the Nasty Burger when school was out.
When they walked in Danny pointed out Claudia, who was sitting in the corner with some boy, who he assumed was Charon. He and his friends got their food and walked over to where Claudia was sitting. "Sit! Sit! Sit!" she said as soon as she saw them.
She had several notebooks in front of her and a couple of books and magazines, she didn't even have any food in front of her. "I've been going over things. I think I have a really good plan." Danny sat across from her and Tucker across from Charon while Sam went to find her own chair. She displayed all of these books in front of him with a lot of notes and things circled.
"Wow," said Tucker with a mouth full of food, "that's really...uh," "Methodical." Sam finished. While they were talking, Charon didn't seem to be paying very much attention. He was too busy analyzing his burger, like he wasn't sure that it was even food. Claudia nodded proudly, "Of course. Everything is going to be perfect."
"So," Claudia continued, "I think that Amity Park is going to be perfect." Danny gave her a skeptical look, "I Thought that we were going to have it at my place." Claudia shook her head, "No, there wouldn't be enough room. We are going to invite everyone."