Chapter 9: The Luck and Charms Slumber Party

The second Saturday in March 2019 was milder when my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri met me at my mentor, Jenna and her sister, Jill's apartment in Point Breeze. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. Before we helped volunteer for the youngest Mifflin daughter, Samantha's Luck and Charms slumber party, we went out to the Square Cafe in Regent Square for breakfast. "I always love going to this place for breakfast," James told us. "Me too," Henri stated. "I especially love their pancakes." We all had pancakes included in our breakfast. "Can we do a Breakfast Intern this summer instead of an Ice Cream Intern?" I asked my friends. "You know, so we can be like Carly and her parents." "No, we are still doing an Ice Cream Intern this summer, and I didn't know Carly and her parents had a Breakfast Intern," Sarah told me. "I was just kidding about that, Sarah," I told my female friend. "I don't really go out to breakfast with them for an intern, but mainly just for fun, although we haven't been eating breakfast out recently," I told everybody. "I think we should go to Eat n' Park for Sunday brunch in 2 weeks to celebrate my birthday," Henri told us. "We'll see, Henri," James told his younger stepbrother. Then, we headed a few blocks up the road to the Moser-Mifflin apartment. Only Samantha was at the apartment, because the others had things to do. "Hi, guys," Samantha told us. "Jenna would like you guys to help me make the Rainbow Gelatin Cups and hang up my Under the Rainbow decorations." "Angel and I will help make the Rainbow Gelatin Cups," Sarah stated. "And, Henri and I will help hang up your Under the Rainbow decorations," James stated. There was some party music playing to help get in the slumber party spirit. "How do you expect to make this gelatin in one day, Samantha?" Sarah asked me. "It has to set out for a while, so you should have prepared it yesterday with Jenna!" "I'm sorry, but I needed somebody to help simmer the lemonade and gelatin on the stove," Samantha explained, "and that you would be the best person for the job!" "Well, I haven't made gelatin in a while, since I am trying to eat healthy," Sarah explained. "This is my first time making gelatin," Samantha explained. "I have not made gelatin before either, so this is my first time," I agreed. "Why couldn't you just stick to something simple like chips or pretzels for your guests to enjoy?" Sarah asked. "Like we had when you baby-sat me and Henri when he was Samantha's age for the first time?" I asked. "Wait a minute, you baby-sat your friend and younger stepbrother when you were a teenager?" Samantha asked. "Yes, Samantha," Sarah replied. "I did." "Besides snacks, we played fun card games, like Uno and Go-Fish," I explained. "That's cool," Samantha remarked. "Speaking of card games, I am going to play a fun card game with my guests called Seven Slap." "How do you play Seven Slap?" Sarah asked. "If you place a 7, anyone can slap the deck and claim all the cards," Samantha explained. "We are also going to play High Rollers with pieces of candy and dice, in which if you place the lowest number, you must put a piece of candy in a bowl in the center, and if you run out of candy, you are out." "I wonder how James and Henri are doing with the decorations," I stated. "I baby-sat Angel and Henri when James was away on his high school ski trip," Sarah explained. "James also threw a back-to-school house party when he came back from his ski trip. Why don't you go in the living room and ask him about it?" Samantha went to the living room where the music was playing. "Hi, James," Samantha greeted. "Hi, Henri." "Hi, Samantha," Henri greeted back. "What was your house party like, James?" Samantha asked. "It was a lot of fun, Samantha," James explained. "There was music almost exactly like what is playing now, and also pizza and other refreshments." "Did you have any games at your party?" Samantha asked. "No, because it was mostly a teenage party," Henri explained. James and Henri were hanging Samantha's handmade rainbow clouds from the ceiling and attaching them to the wall with poster putty. Samantha volunteered to position a lucky "pot of gold" under one of the rainbows, which was a large bucket filled with party treats and favors. Samantha also gave us favors for helping volunteer. I got a pair of lucky socks, Sarah got a bottle of nail polish, James got a pack of gum, and Henri got a decorated rock. "These are cool crew socks, Samantha," I remarked. "Thanks," Samantha replied. "I am using them to do something else that I forgot to tell you guys about." "What is that, Samantha?" James asked. "Our craft, which is a lucky cat, of course," Samantha replied. "That's cool," Sarah remarked. "I love cats." "This is a 'beckoning cat', which is a symbol of good luck in countries such as Japan," Samantha explained. "Wow, you got my favorite color of nail polish," Sarah remarked. "And, this gum is my favorite flavor," James remarked. "I will place this decorated rock in my room for good luck at work on my windowsill," Henri remarked. "Did you also know that I am going to be in my school's 3rd grade spelling bee next week?" Samantha asked. "This slumber party will bring me good luck for that!" "Well, I hope you win, Samantha," Sarah remarked. 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!"