Submerging the ping-pong ball in the cup of water to rinse it off, Wendy flicked it softly and watched it roll it's way back to the top. With a deft flick of the wrist she shock the excess water from it and lined up her shot. The boys were down to half the amount of cups of the girls, two to four, and were getting desperate. On the other side of the table Stan began singing and dancing, quickly followed by Kyle.
"I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt," they sang badly as they began to strip.
While they were distracted trying to be distracting Wendy sharply bounced the ball into the foremost cup.
"What," they erupted angrily as Melissa bounced her own pong ball in the water and flicking it the same as Wendy.
"I assure you that doesn't have the same effect as if we did it," she said said tossing the ball and groaning as it bounced off the table and into the grass.
"I say we test this theory," Clyde chimed in from where he was sitting behind them on the patio.
"I agree," Kenny said from where he sat between him and Cartman, his face splitting into a grin.
As Stan threw them a dangerous look, Wendy felt her back pocket vibrate and slide her phone out to check the screen. Seemingly distracted, Kyle quickly tried to use his turn to bounce his ball in, but it was snatched out of the air by Melissa. Typing back a short reply Wendy crammed her phone back in her pocket.
"I have to go the bathroom," she said suddenly and grabbed Melissa's arm. "Come with me." The other girl looked at her confused.
"Wait," Stan said, "can't you hold it? We're almost done." Looking back at him she begrudgingly agreed. "Fine. You miss this, you lose."
He stood for a moment gaging the distance and testing his throw. With great dramatics he lined up his shot and began to make it when Wendy suddenly lifted up her shirt and flashed him her bra. Surprised, Stan took his eyes off his target for a split second, but that was all that was needed for his ball to narrowly miss the last cup and the table entirely. The boys raged and Wendy grabbed Melissa's arm again.
"Let's go! Butters, you come too."
"That's cheating," Stan yelled after them.
"We missed it," Kenny cried looking at Clyde.
"Losers refill," Cartman said standing up.
"I did not see that coming," Stan muttered as him and Kyle headed into the kitchen, his best friend patting him on the back. "Don't worry dude, it would have happened to anyone of us." With the cups rinsed out, restacked, and refilled everyone sat around waiting for the girls to come back.
"What the fuck," Kyle said after a while, "Where did they go, Narnia? Why is it taking so long?"
"Why did they take Butters," Cartman asked staring through the sliding door.
"They're probably talking about secret girl stuff or doing their make-up or something," Kenny said more interested in the game at hand.
"Wendy," Stan asked dubiously.
From the side of the house someone pushed the gate open and Butters stood holding it open as Bebe came through with the cake. Red and Wendy followed with Melissa bringing up the rear, and the flames flickered as they made their way to the patio. Standing off to the side with Butters, Melissa smiled as the other three began to sing happy birthday to Clyde. In high school they had been in choir and their voices harmonized well together. At the end Clyde blew out the 18 candles that had stayed lit and everyone cheered.
"Happy birthday," Bebe said happily, kissing him on the cheek and taking the cake inside.
"Our little baby boy all grown up," Red grinned pulling him into a hug.
As they all followed inside Stan rummaged through the cupboards till he had twelve shot-glasses in a circle on the counter. "I think it's time for a toast," he said letting the clear liquid splash on the counter as he poured in a continuous flow till they were full, Clyde's birthday shot bigger than the rest.
"To friends! To the ones we meet in diapers," he said looking at Kyle, "and to the ones we made along the way. To the ones you love, and to the ones you hate. Even though we have our differences and often get in fights, what's important is that we're there for each other. To true friends!"
The cry went up around the kitchen as everyone threw back their heads and chocked down burning liquid. Leaning by the fridge Kenny shook his head and let out a loud whoop and everyone cheered in expectation of the night as the cake was passed out.