Chapter 2: The Up-All-Night Neon Party
The third Saturday of January 2019 was chilly and rainy when my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri met me and my mentor, Jenna along with Jenna's sister, Jill at their apartment in Point Breeze. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Would you guys like some lunch before we get started?" Jenna asked. "Sure," Henri replied. "What all do you have?" "Well, we have soup," Jenna stated. "Would you like that?" "Of course," James replied. "Soup is a nice food for us to warm up on a cold winter day." "Oh look, you guys are decked out in neon colors, too," Jill noticed. "Well, that's because we have slumber party spirit," James explained. "It was sort of like how at the baseball game at my high school that Sarah and Angel went to with me, everybody had Yellowjackets spirit." "What are the Yellowjackets?" Jill asked. "That is the name of Freeport Area High School's baseball team, Jill," Sarah explained. "I used to be a Pittsburgh Pirates fan until they got rid of my all-time favorite pirate, Andrew McCutchen." "That happens sometimes, Sarah," James reminded his sister. James took a bite of his soup. "Mmm, this soup tastes good and warms me up when it is so cold outside like it is today," James told us. "As a matter of fact, I can't wait for summer so I can do lots of things." "But, in winter, you can do many other things besides host a slumber party," Jill pointed out. "I know, like ice skating, skiing, and throwing snowballs," Henri added. "I personally think that you can host a slumber party any time of the year, whether it be in the spring, summer, fall, or winter," Jenna told us. "I dream of a nice, hot summer day where I can do fun things like swimming, playing in the water sprinkler, and volunteering to sell cold refreshments, just like we did at the zoo that one day in September," James remembered. "You volunteered at the zoo?" Jenna asked. "Yes, we did, Jenna," Sarah replied. "But, I wasn't there since I went to the Pitt football game with my dad, and I even wished that you guys were there with me." "We also volunteered as teenagers on a really hot early spring day by selling lemonade," James explained. "Well, one of our refreshments involves lemonade," Jenna explained. "Really?" Henri asked. "What is it?" "Glow punch, which is a combination of lemonade drink mix, tonic water, and sugar," Jill explained. "I think you should be careful what you wish for, James," I stated. "Once we go straight from winter to summer (and actually HAVE a summer this year), you will be complaining," I stated. "We still would like to volunteer once a month during our meetings. Do you guys know some reasons why we should volunteer?" "It helps teach work ethic," Sarah replied. "It promotes a good cause to give back," James added. "It is also part of networking, and we can add it to our resumes," Henri chimed in. "What are some other organizations that are looking for volunteers?" Jenna asked. "Like real volunteer organizations besides just volunteering for the girls' monthly slumber parties?" "How about volunteering to give food to the homeless at the winter shelter?" Sarah asked. "Maybe, we can try that once a month in addition to doing this." "I am interested in joining you guys some of the time," I stated. "Yes, we can be mature, responsible adults most of the time, but deep down inside, we are still young teenagers," James stated. "We already have a connection with your monthly slumber parties by helping out with things like recipes, favors, and decorations," I stated. "I wrote an e-mail to let you know that we were still interested." "I already saw that e-mail, and I have a reminder sheet for you guys about which days we will host the slumber parties," Jenna reminded us. "Hannah's Sweet Swap will be on February 16, Samantha's Luck and Charms Party will be on March 9, and Abigail's Sleepaway Glamp will be on April 13, and of course, today is the Up-All-Night Neon Party!" "Every Saturday, I will be reviewing topics related to communication, employment soft skills, and living independently with Sarah, James, and Henri, as well as having meaningful discussions about these topics and engaging in meaningful volunteer experiences with these guys all while expressing situations within our own group dynamics like expressing our needs and wants, taking turns, being supportive to our peers, and controlling our own frustrations," I explained to Jenna and Jill. "We should also choose one goal to work on, like how I plan to ask about goals weekly and wait to talk since I am always so anxious to talk to you guys," I stated. "I want to actively participate in these discussions, since I was antisocial at the home baseball game and when we had that unseasonably hot spring day," Sarah stated. "I need to use theory of mind when I think of people at social events like baseball games and lemonade sales," James stated. "I want to be on time despite not being at the baseball game, but for all volunteer experiences, like selling lemonade," Henri stated. "I want to be more aware," Jenna stated. "I want to learn the people and norms of the group," Jill stated. "We don't really know anything about baseball games or lemonade sales, though." "Speaking of neon, did you happen to see the glow-in-the-dark 2019 that lit up the sky as the clock turned to midnight?" Sarah asked. "Yes, and that was pretty cool, too," Jenna replied. Sarah and I helped out with the refreshments, while James and Henri helped out with the decorations. Jenna turned on some party music to help get in the slumber party spirit. Sarah and I helped make the Neon Bark candy, while Jenna helped Jill with the Glow Gelatin and Glow Punch. I agreed to melt all the candy melts in the microwave according to their package directions, while Sarah agreed to help pour the melted candy onto the cookie sheet and spoon and splatter the colors onto the dark candy. James and Henri helped out with both the Bright Balloons and the Garland Glow by blowing up balloons and activating glow sticks to put into the balloons, and James also helped Jill hang the garland on the wall. "This is fun," I stated. "I think this is like helping James and Henri sell lemonade, except we didn't have blueberry Jell-O or chocolate bark candy to serve." "It was ridiculously hot that day," Sarah stated. "I also had a lot of homework to work on that exact same day. It was also pretty hot the day that we volunteered at the zoo back in September." "Also, the Highland Park picnic that I went to with Carly and Alex was that exact same weekend, which was originally supposed to be in early June," I remembered. "I remember that picnic very well," Jenna stated. "The Mifflin girls were also able to come and meet Angel's friends, which I thought was nice," Jill stated. We then brought all the refreshments to the table. "I almost forgot that you guys get a special favor in exchange for all of your help volunteering," Jenna told us, "and the favor is Light-Up Lanterns, which glow at night." "I also plan to give these lanterns to my 4 guests when they leave the party tomorrow morning, and I made them by dotting the outside of clean plastic jars with glow-in-the-dark puffy paint and letting them dry," Jill explained. "These are filled with inexpensive neon bracelets, glow sticks, and hair accessories," Jenna continued. "Wow, a neon headband since one of my plastic headbands broke this morning and a brand new light-up lantern since the light in my room burned out," I stated. "I am sorry to hear that, Angel," Jenna stated. Pretty soon, it was time for my friends to leave. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"